Elon Musk answers your SpaceX questions on Reddit at 6PM Eastern
SpaceX has raised more questions than it has answered as of late. Just how will it finance its plan to colonize Mars? Can it improve the reliability of its rockets? And exactly when will it reuse a rocket? You might just get some answers. Company founder Elon Musk is holding a Reddit Ask Me Anything session for SpaceX today (October 23rd) at 6PM Eastern. There’s no guarantee that he’ll produce any stunning revelations, but we wouldn’t rule out a few surprises… or at least, answers to questions that don’t usually come up at media events. Just be sure to get in your inquiries quickly, since the AMA is bound to get plenty of inquiries.
AMA at <ahem> 3pm California time
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 23, 2016
Via: The Verge
Source: Reddit (not the AMA), Elon Musk (Twitter)
Sweden effectively bans camera drone flights
Don’t bring a drone with you to document your trip to Sweden — you could find yourself in legal trouble. The country’s Supreme Administrative Court has effectively banned camera drone flights through a ruling. Camera-equipped drones are surveillance cameras, the court argues, and that means they need a permit indicating that they’ll be used to prevent crime or accidents. And since you probably aren’t flying a drone to keep watch over your home, you’re likely out of luck.
It won’t shock you to hear that local drone owners are upset. The industry group UAS Sweden contends that the court might be killing Sweden’s drone market. Aftonbladet, meanwhile, points out that the ruling doesn’t make sense in the context of existing laws. It’s legal for Swedes to capture images in public places, so why is it wrong just because that camera is attached to a quadcopter? There are no journalistic exceptions, either, which is odd when other laws allow it.
The one consolation is that the ruling may be hard to enforce. It’s up to county administrative boards to report any violations to the police, and it could be difficult to make charges stick if there isn’t evidence of a camera drone in flight. Of course, that raises another question: why rule against these drones when it could be relatively easy for amateur operators to ignore the decision? The move may primarily punish those pros who have a good reason to record drone footage, whether they’re journalists or filmmakers.
[Thanks, Samuel]
Source: Aftonbladet, UAS Sweden (translated)
Amazon Echo now fact-checks politicians
You’ve probably heard politicians make more than a few outlandish claims, and not just in the run-up to the US presidential election. Do you really want to swing by a fact-checking website every time a candidate stretches credibility? As of now, you don’t have to lift a finger. Duke Reporters’ Lab has introduced an Amazon Echo skill that lets you fact-check any politician scrutinized by PolitFact, FactCheck.org or the Washington Post. If you want to know if Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is telling it straight, you just have to ask your wireless speaker whether or not a claim is true.
It’s not perfect. You have to sit through a lengthy introductory spiel before you can ask your question, and Duke stresses that you should mention major keywords to get the right answer. Still, there’s a certain pleasure to knowing that you can call a would-be leader’s bluff while you’re busy making dinner.
Source: Duke Reporters Lab, Share the Facts
Best Alcatel Idol 4S Cases
What’s the best case for Alcatel Idol 4S? Really, whatever’s available!
The Alcatel Idol 4S isn’t exactly a mainstream phone, and that’s made rather apparent in the selection of cases available for it, or, rather, the lack of cases available for it.
That being said, the cases that are available will work just fine for you and your Idol 4S. Here’s what’s out there!
- Incipio DualPro
- Vinve flip case
- J&D Tech
- Mama Mouth PU leather wallet case
- Harryshell Dream Catcher wallet case
- Starhemei slim wallet case
Incipio DualPro
Incipio makes great phone cases and it’s really the only bigger brand that’s making cases for the Idol 4S.
The DualPro is a hard shell case, made from strong and durable polycarbonate, which protect your phone from bumps and scratches. The inside of the case is flexible TPE, which is soft and great for shock absorption in the event of a fall.
Incipio’s DualPro cases come in black, gray, pink with gray accents, and rose gold with pink accents.
See at Amazon
Vinve flip case
Vinve’s flip folio case is made of synthetic leather and is for those who want their Idol 4s to look sophisticated while being protected from scratches and dings.
The flip cover folds back into a convenient stand for hands-free viewing, and all the necessary ports and buttons are uncovered for easy access. The opening in the cover also lets you check the time and see if you have notifications without needing to open the case.
The interior lining is soft, so your Idol 4S won’t get scratched up, and your phone is securely place by the snap-on shell inside.
See at Amazon
J&D Tech
J&D Tech’s case for the Idol 4S is a slim TPU bumper that’s flexible, providing shock absorption in a fall.
Being so slim, this case won’t add any bulk or weight to your Idol 4S, and it won’t add a ton of rugged protection either.
The textured TPU won’t feel slippery in your hands, so you won’t feel like you’re going to drop your phone every time you use it, and all the ports and buttons are left open so that you don’t have to remove the case to charge your phone.
Comes in black, blue, and red.
See at Amazon
Mama Mouth PU leather wallet case
Mama Mouth’s pleather wallet case is for folks who want their phone case to stand out, while also conveniently holding credit cards and a bit of cash, so they can ditch their wallets.
There are three slots for cards and ID and an inner pocket for a bit of cash, all held in by the flip cover and a magnetic closure. The PU leather is tear-resistant and will protect your Idol 4S from scratches.
There are eight gorgeous colors to choose from, and starting around $9, you might as well grab a couple and switch it up daily!
See at Amazon
Harryshell Dream Catcher wallet case
Another wallet case for your Idol 4S, Harryshell’s is one for folks who like more than just solid colors. The dreamcatcher design on the front is striking, and the case comes with a handy mini stylus, which is great for certain games and other activities.
The front cover folds back into a stand for hands-free gaming or video-watching, and there are slots for two cards, as well as a larger pocket for a bit of cash. You can leave your wallet at home and just carry the essentials!
Your Idol 4S is held in place by a bumper that provides shock absorption, while the folio protects your screen from scratches, dirt, and bumps.
See at Amazon
Starhemei slim wallet case
Starhemei’s wallet case is a slim addition to your Idol 4S that won’t add too much bulk or weight, but will hold up to three cards and a bit of cash in the larger pocket. Cutouts at the top and bottom let you take calls with the cover shut, so you can answer and then close it up instead of awkwardly trying to hold and open folio case.
These PU leather cases have a magnetic closure, and the front cover folds back into a stand.
They’re available in black, blue, brown, and red.
See at Amazon
What protects your Idol?
Are you using an awesome case with your Idol 4S that we didn’t mention? Sound off in the comments below!
Me, myself, and Android
Hi, I’m Florence. You’re welcome to call me Flo.
I’ve been at Android Central since September and though I haven’t written much since I’ve started (Have you seen our Smartphone Buying Guides? I helped!), I have been writing about and reviewing Android smartphones for the past four years.
Some of you might know me from my work at Ars Technica. Most of you likely know me from my time at PCWorld/Greenbot and as the co-host of Twit.TV’s All About Android. I’m a devoted Android user and have been since 2010. My goal in life is to get everyone else and their techno-phobic mother to see the glory of the Android platform. There’s a reason I’ve stuck with it for so long (except for those six months I was on iOS—that was for science, I promise).
As a platform, Android is constantly evolving and that’s something I relate to.
As a platform, Android is constantly evolving and that’s something I relate to. As a human being, I’m constantly evolving: to be a better writer, journalist, friend, sister, daughter, and wife. And that’s part of Android’s mission, too: To be better than it used to be, not just with its software features and design aesthetic, but also to be more inclusive so that those who might not have found their place in other tech communities can belong regardless of their technological abilities and interests. It’s a beautiful message and one that particularly resonates with me.
Android is also evolving in a way that may not be as enticing to those of us die-hard users. With the launch of the Pixel and Pixel XL, we’re seeing Google attempt to pivot Android as a lifestyle for the mainstream.Why now? we ask when we’ve subscribed to this way of life for the past eight years? It’s a perfectly valid question, but we won’t know until Google explicitly spells out the answer for us. Perhaps we’ll know more by next year’s developer’s conference, though I certainly hope to uncover the reason before then in my own reporting.
It’s a bummer that Google’s new Android smartphones cost as much as a typical Samsung device, and that its Pixels will come with exclusive features, but I don’t think it’ll be detrimental to the platform. If anything, it demonstrates that there’s a major shift on the horizon. This next year will be a defining one for Android as a whole and I can’t wait to see what unfolds.
As more people become interested in using Android, it’s up to us to show them why this is the “people’s platform.”
As more people become interested in using Android, it’s up to us to show them why this is the “people’s platform.” I’ll be writing about my varying experiences with my library of devices, as well as distilling all the important information so that it’s digestible for even the entry-level Android n00b. I also hope to talk to more of you in the developer community, to hear about how you’re weathering the transition and how these changes are affecting you as contributors. My goal is to make Android more accessible to the billion-plus people that use it. So, if you’ve got a question, a comment, or even a complaint, tweet me or email me. I’m here to help with whatever you need.
After Math: Let’s get nasty
It’s been quite the week for everything going to hell in a handbasket. This viscous election cycle is seriously stressing out half of Americans. Videogame voice actors are on strike, the cops are growing their facial recognition databases of US citizens, Twitter hired and fired a manager after discovering evidence of his past asshattery. And worst of all, it looks like we’re going to have a Cubs-Indians World Series, which can only be explained as a sign of the imminent apocalypse. Numbers, because how else will we measure how far we’ve fallen?
Ben Heck’s PlayStation 4 Slim teardown
Voiding warranties is what we do best here on The Ben Heck Show, and a new game console gives us the perfect opportunity. Join Ben as he tears down the Sony PlayStation 4 Slim to find out what makes it tick, and how it compares to Microsoft’s Xbox One Slim. From creating their own Blu-ray solution (you know, just because they can) to questioning the build quality, Ben guides us through the design decisions Sony made when building the PS4 Slim. The real question you might be wondering, though, is: Can Ben turn it into a portable console? Probably yes, but more importantly, what would you like to see us do with it? let us know at the element14 Community.
Here’s a great read about embedded AOSP to get your geek juices flowing
A start to finish primer on embedded Android from people who do it professionally is a must read for anyone who likes to roll up their sleeves and dig into things.
Android was designed for mobile devices, but it’s pretty scalable and actually not very difficult to get it to run on a long list of mobile and non-mobile embedded things. Of course, the difficulty is relative so you’ll need to be familiar with a few things. That’s where this great document from the folks at Stanfy comes into the picture.
Stanfy is a group of mobile software developers. They build and design software for iOS and Android, but the also develop custom Android firmware. Mixed in amongst their showcase of apps for phones and wearables, they’ve built a really nice document about embedded Android. They explain what it is, what it isn’t, how it can be used and how to get started. They even go the extra mile and have a tutorial for building AOSP from start to finish.
The guide does a great job of breaking down some pretty technical lingo into language for most everyone. If you’re a complete novice you’ll need to use the power of Google a time or two to understand everything, but if you’re familiar with it all you’ll still be able to learn something. I’ve been monkeying around with the Android source code since 2009 and I still got a lot out of it. I’m a step closer to bringing my Nexus Q back to life!
It’s a great Sunday read, so go have a look.
Stanfy’s Embeded Android Guide
Tesla’s self-driving future, and more in the week that was
Tesla is making several big announcements this month, and Elon Musk just delivered the first: From now on, all new Tesla cars will be self-driving. The electric automaker also teamed up with Panasonic to build solar panels for its Powerwall home battery, which it’s set to update next week. Hyperloop One is forging ahead on its futuristic transportation system by raising $50 million and hiring Uber’s former CFO as an advisor. It looks like Apple has scrapped plans to build a self-driving car, and BMW showcased plans for a next-gen smart motorcycle that will never crash or tip over.
In energy news, scientists accidentally discovered a cheap, simple way to transform CO2 into ethanol fuel. A new study shows that wind power could supply 20 percent of the world’s electricity by 2030, and Germany is preparing to build the first wind/hydro turbines, which can produce energy even without a breeze. A new type of solar panel is able to pull clean drinking water from thin air, and Dyaqua has developed “invisible” photovoltaics that look just like stone, concrete and wood.
Target is taking fresh, local produce to the next level — by actually growing fruits and veggies in its stores. The chain is planning to install vertical indoor gardens starting next spring. In other technology and design news, Biodome Systems launched a line of geodesic dome homes that can withstand major earthquakes, and we spotted an algae-powered oxygen bar that sucks CO2 out of the air. Yves Behar launched the world’s first smart crib to help parents get more sleep, while Fend invented a packable bike helmet that collapses down to one third of its original size. And we rounded up eight inexpensive homes made from earth that almost anyone can afford.
Cisco says it can cut live pirate video streams
It’s relatively easy for content providers to take down pirated videos when they’re uploaded to the web, but stopping live streams is another matter. Just ask anyone who has watched a bootleg stream for a pay-per-view boxing match or the Super Bowl — new streams usually pop up faster than the copyright holders can take them down. The party might soon be over, however. Cisco has created a new technology, Streaming Piracy Prevention, that promises to automatically cut off illegal live feeds.
The approach uses a forensic watermark to identify the sessions and subscriptions being used to leak the video (say, an HBO or UFC account), and shuts down those sources in real time. Companies wouldn’t have to send legal warnings and hope that offending streams go down before the event is over. They could take action as soon as they get wind of a feed, without any go-betweens slowing things down.
While clever, Cisco’s technique might raise concerns even if you have no qualms paying to watch big sporting events. Just because a company can circumvent the usual notice-and-takedown routine doesn’t mean that it should. What happens if there’s an error, or local laws require notices? While the likelihood of a mistake isn’t high, it’s possible that copyright holders could create trouble while clamping down on unofficial streams.
Via: TorrentFreak, Consumerist
Source: Cisco Blogs
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