Faraday Future will unveil its production car at CES 2017
You shouldn’t have to wait too much longer to see what Faraday Future’s production electric car looks like. The company tells us (and has confirmed on Twitter) that it will unveil its production vehicle at CES 2017, which kicks off in early January. It’s not divulging any new details beyond that, and says only that the car is a “premium” EV with “holistic design,” loads of technology and “industry leading range” thanks to LG’s super-dense batteries. One thing’s for sure: we’re only weeks away from finding out whether or not Faraday can translate the hype from its supercar concept to a street-ready car you can actually buy.
1. We founded a company. #FaradayFuture
2. We created a concept. #FFZERO1
3. We joined a race. #FormulaE
4. We unveil the future. #CES2017 pic.twitter.com/TVk3gZ2Dey— Faraday Future (@FaradayFuture) October 19, 2016
Source: Faraday Future (Twitter)
Apple ‘Hello Again’ Mac event: What to expect and where to watch
Apple has scheduled an event for 27 October.
Two months after unveiling the latest iPhone models, the Cupertino, CA-based company has invited the media to a second autumn hardware event, where it will likely introduce new Macs. Here’s everything you need to know about the event, including what to expect and how to watch.
Apple ‘Hello Again’ Mac event: What’s with that tagline?
The tagline on Apple’s invite, “hello again,” is an obvious nod to the Mac, as Apple originally introduced the product with the word “hello” in 1984. Several reports have also previously claimed that Apple plans to introduce a new MacBook Pro soon, as well as a new iMac desktop, new MacBook Air, and new standalone 5K display. Also, the last Apple event held in October was in 2014, when the company revealed the latest iMac.
Apple ‘Hello Again’ Mac event: When time is the keynote?
Apple will kick off its event on 27 October in San Francisco with a keynote at 10 am PST. For other time zones, check the list below:
- New York (Eastern Time) – 1pm
- Berlin/Paris/Barcelona (Central European Time) – 7pm
- Cape Town, South Africa – 7pm
- Dubai, UAE – 9pm
- Mumbai, India – 10:30pm
- Sydney, Australia – 3am on 8 September
Apple ‘Hello Again’ Mac event: Can you watch online?
Apple will stream a broadcast (otherwise known as a livestream) of the event, and there are a number of ways you can access that stream.
- iPhone: Visit this link with Safari on iOS 7.0 or later
- iPad: Visit this link with Safari on iOS 7.0 or later
- Apple TV: Go to the Apple Events channel on your Apple TV (2, 3, or 4)
- Mac: Visit this link with Safari 6.0.5 or later on OS X v10.8.5 or later
- PC: Visit this link with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10
You will not be able to embed the livestream anywhere, but if you miss it, Apple normally publishes the video within a few hours after the event, so you’ll be able to catch up (possibly even on YouTube).
Apple ‘Hello Again’ Mac event: What will Apple unveil?
MacBook Pro
Martin Hajek
Apple’s MacBook Pro laptop line hasn’t received a major upgrade since 2012 (though it’s added a Retina display, Force Touch trackpad, and other improved specs). The new MacBook Pro is expected to be overhauled. It’ll be much thinner and lighter than the current models, with the trackpad getting a bigger footprint. The machine will also add USB-C for connectivity and charging.
The new MacBook Pro will therefore ditch the MagSafe. The biggest change coming, however, is the addition of a new OLED touch strip. It will replace the physical function keys at the top of the keyboard. The strip might be contextual, according to rumours, with virtual buttons that change based on apps currently in use. For example, when using iTunes, the bar could show media and volume controls, where as in a photo-editing program, it could show tool shortcuts or commands. Apple is said to be working with third-party developers to ensure that apps will work with the touch strip at launch.
The new MacBook Pro might also add Touch ID on the power button of the machine, allowing users to unlock their machine without typing in their actual password. You can also expect some speed boosts under-the-hood. Check out Pocket-lint’s round-up for more rumours.
MacBook Air
Apple is rumoured to be discontinuing the 11-inch MacBook Air in order to direct more attention to the 12-inch MacBook and 13-inch MacBook Air. The MacBook Air’s design and display quality will likely remain the same, but it could add USB-C support, according to a new Bloomberg report. Keep in mind this is Apple’s entry-level laptop, so don’t expect top-of-the-line features.
According to ZDNet, the latest rumours suggest the MacBook Air will drop the MagSafe 2 power port, replace all the existing ports with a single USB-C port, and add a Touch ID sensor as well as the Force Touch trackpad.
iMac
Pocket-lint
Like the MacBook Air, the iMac isn’t expected to receive a major upgrade. Bloomberg claimed it would get under-the-hood changes to keep it up to date, such as a graphics performance boost and maybe even the addition of USB-C.
External 5K Display
Although Apple discontinued the Thunderbolt Display earlier this year, Apple is rumoured to introduce a new 5K external display that includes a built-in GPU. According to 9to5Mac, it should feature a resolution of 5120 x 2880. Other specs – as well as pricing – is unclear at this point.
AirPods
Pocket-lint
When Apple unveiled its wireless AirPods in September, it said they would be available in late October. We expect Apple to announce an actual release date at the event – or maybe even launch them after the event.
Want to know more?
Check out Pocket-lint’s Apple hub for related news and reviews.
Nintendo promises our ‘first glimpse’ of the NX tomorrow at 10AM ET
After all the rumors, we’re about to get a look at Nintendo’s mysterious NX system. The company has invited everyone to check out a “preview trailer” tomorrow on Nintendo.com at 10AM ET. Nintendo Japan tweeted that it will only last about three minutes, so prepare your expectations accordingly. Nintendo already announced the console will launch in March next year, but other than the release window and a few game titles, we don’t have much hard information to go on. What we do know for sure is that despite the success of Pokémon Go a new console can’t come a moment too soon for Nintendo.
Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima has called the NX “something unique and different” from its predecessors the Wii and Wii U. That shift is also necessary to separate itself from the PS4 Pro and Xbox One / One S / Scorpio competition it will face in 2017, which crank up the horsepower to focus on graphics, realism and VR. A Eurogamer rumor pointed to an NVIDIA Tegra-powered tablet with a docking station and detachable controllers, while a patent application showed off a controller with a large touchscreen.
Be among the first to discover #NX. Watch the Preview Trailer at 7am PT/10am ET! pic.twitter.com/R2QTzjyLUo
— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) October 20, 2016
【お知らせ】本日10月20日23時より、全く新しいコンセプトのゲーム機「NX（開発コード名）」の映像を、任天堂ホームページで公開します。3分ほどの短い映像ですが、よろしければご覧ください。 https://t.co/QNYCwf5cun
— 任天堂株式会社 (@Nintendo) October 20, 2016
Source: Nintendo America (Twitter)
Anonymously speak to a Trump supporter with ‘Call a Deplorable’
If this Presidential race has got you stuck in a political echo chamber on Facebook, then maybe you just need a safe space to ask someone how on Earth they could possibly hold different political views than yourself. That’s the intention behind CallADeplorable.com and CallAnElitist.com, anyway — an opposing pair of new sites that popped up in advance of tonight’s third and final Presidential debate.
The premise is pretty straightforward: if you’re With Her, you’ll want to visit the former to call a Trump supporter. If you’re hoping to Make America Great Again, then you can head over to Call An Elitist to speak with someone who has already made up their mind for Hillary. You have to enter your phone number, of course, but the sites connect you anonymously so you can still maintain some anonymity, should the other side turn out to have a frighteningly hostile opinion about their candidate. Keep in mind, however, that the matching process may take up to a few hours, depending on demand and how many of the opposite team’s supporters are willing to talk at that moment.
The sites were created by former Facebook product manager Alexandre Roche and although Roche admitted to TechCrunch that he thinks Trump is unreasonable, the goal is to start real-life conversations and acknowledge that the other side exists, rather than just shouting into the social media void. “I thought connecting people and letting them have some empathy would be good for both sides,” Roche explained. On the other hand, if the sites get overrun with trolls, there’s a chance Roche could pull the plug. Either way, here’s hoping it does reintroduce at least a modicum of civility into our civic process before November.
Via: TechCrunch
Source: Call a Deplorable, Call an Elitist
Android 7.1 Developer Preview now available to give your Nexus a Pixel shine
It’s been eight days since the announcement, and now the Android 7.1 Developer Preview is available to download.
Beginning with support for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Pixel C, the Preview brings a number of the Pixel’s features to these older devices, allowing developers to test Android 7.1 features in their apps.
These include circular app icons, app shortcuts, image keyboard support, and software A/B testing.
Released as Android 7.1.1 for the supported devices, Google says the Developer Preview represents “beta quality” software, and finalizes the APIs at Level 25. Thankfully, Google is now encouraging developers to update their apps to support Android 7.1 on Google Play, so Pixel owners will start seeing circular app icons and app shortcuts on third-party apps in the coming weeks.
Google also says the Developer Preview will be expanded to the Nexus 6 and Nexus 9 before Android 7.1 is released publicly in early December.
Android 7.0 Nougat
- Android 7.0 Nougat: Everything you need to know
- Will my phone get Android Nougat?
- All Android Nougat news
- How to manually update your Nexus
- Join the Discussion
Daily Briefing: Samsung hates GTA5 mods, LeEco dives into Le U.S., and the 7.1 preview is here for your Nexus
You can buy your LeEco phone at LeMall, but not the one with LeNordstroms.
Imagine if you had the new LeEco 85-inch uMax85 4k TV connected to your gaming computer to play Grand Theft Auto V. You would be able to see every little detail when the Note 7 you threw at your rival (which is Steve Haines no matter what anyone else says) blew up and caused a fire and/or a panic. You certainly won’t be watching it on YouTube, as Samsung has filed a DCMA claim over the video showcasing the popular mod. We get why Samsung isn’t finding the humor here, but abusing copyright laws isn’t how to fix it. Bad form, Samsung.
On a happier note that will get your freedom juices pumping (or something, cut me some slack) the Android 7.1 developer preview is now available for the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Pixel C. You know the drill — enroll in beta, receive download, turn to internet to say how awesome/horrible it is. We’re checking it out, too.
And who would have thought that Verizon would be the cheapest place to find a V20?
Samsung files DMCA claim against GTA5 video showing Note 7 as a weapon
Techdirt points out a YouTube video about a GTA5 mod that turned a Note 7 into a handheld grenade has been pulled over copyright claims. This is funny and sad at the same time.
Android 7.1 Developer Preview now available
Google has released the Android 7.1 Developer Preview for three Nexus devices, allowing developers to publish their apps with support for circular icons, app shortcuts and a number of other features, on the Play Store. More
LeEco launching phones, TVs, and superbikes in the U.S.
LeEco made a big entrance to the U.S. market earlier today. Bringing two phones — the high-end Le Pro 3 and the low-end Le S3 to their online LeMall (Le all the things). They’re also serious about entertainment with a positively huge 4K TV and a streaming service to pair with it.
More
Verizon is selling the V20 earlier and cheaper than everyone else
If you’re looking for an LG V20 and are a Verizon customer, you’ll be pleased to know that the phone hits online sales and store shelves October 20 — and it’s more than a few dollars cheaper than it is from anyone else.
More
Android Pay is a go in Hong Kong
Starting today you can pay using your Android phone islandwide at over 5,000 locations in Hong Kong. This is of course in addition to the app perks like loyalty card management and app integration.
Bring a little bit of Pixel to your phone with the new Wallpapers app
Google has released the Wallpaper app from the Google pixel and Pixel XL to Google Play for everyone to download. There are tons of great wallpapers to choose from, both dynamic and static, and it’s worth having a look.
More
Microsoft bringing new features to OneNote for Android
Password protection, proper multi-window support, voice input and file embedding round out the October changes in the OneNote for Android app. While Microsoft may be struggling as a hardware vendor, they are killing it on the software and services side.
That’s it for tonight! See you tomorrow.
Twitter fires a VR manager after his past comes to light
Yesterday, Twitter announced that they had hired the former CEO of AngelHack Gregory Gopman as a contracted VR program manager. TechCrunch wasted no time reminding the Internet about his 2013 rant against San Francisco’s homeless, and just like that, it seems the social media company sent him packing. At 11 AM ET this morning, Gopman allegedly posted on Facebook that he was fired thanks to that post.
As Techcrunch and SFist point out, Gopman fled the city for awhile afterward until public pressure died down, then had some dalliances with the idea of helping San Francisco’s homeless before leaving for another personal reinvention. For Twitter, that’s probably not the guy you want leading your cutting-edge VR content experience when your company’s persistent abuse problems just potentially cost you getting acquired by Disney.
But Twitter’s decision to give Gopman the boot a day after announcing his hiring doesn’t bode well for the company’s VR strategy, either. It’s not like the incident was buried or forgotten: Even coverage as positive as Backchannel’s redemption piece, which explains the controversy following his rant, shows up in an easy Google search of his name.
Not that Twitter’s VR program has anything public to tarnish. While Facebook has soldiered forth into the space by open sourcing its 360-degree video camera and showcased how users will digitally hang out using its platform, Twitter hasn’t demonstrated any virtual reality applications. As TechCrunch notes, all of its VR/AR efforts come from its Twitter Cortex engineering group, which hasn’t announced anything since hiring former Apple UI designer Alessandro Sabatelli to lead the team at the end of June.
Correction: this article previously stated that Gregory Gopman was the head of Twitter’s VR department; he was a contracted program manager. It also stated that he was hired and fired in a 24-hour period; he had been employed for several weeks, but after Twitter announced he was hired on October 18th, his employment was terminated on October 19th.
Via: Fast Company News
Source: TechCrunch
Airbnb bans multi-listing hosts in New York and San Francisco
Airbnb knows that city and state governments are eager to crack down on abuse of its home rentals for makeshift hotels, so it’s taking action before it has no choice. As of November 1st, residential hosts are banned from offering multiple listings in both New York state and San Francisco — you can’t just buy up a string of apartments in the hope of turning a profit. At least in New York, it will also implement a three-strikes policy that permanently bans repeat offenders. It’s not yet certain that Airbnb will institute similar rules in other areas, though it wouldn’t be surprising if they spread elsewhere.
The effort comes just as New York’s Governor Cuomo is expected to sign a bill that fines Airbnb hosts caught violating the law. Airbnb is also proposing its own rules for the state, such as collecting taxes itself (which could prevent cheating and send money toward affordable housing) and a “simple, streamlined” registration system that would make it easier to track and thwart offenders. The company points to its cooperation with Chicago on a registration system as an example of what could happen.
The efforts could go a long way toward reclaiming real estate and lowering rental rates for honest-to-goodness residents, but they aren’t going to silence critics. Although Airbnb has taken down illegal listings and now agrees that hosts should only list one home, affordable housing advocates have asked why it took so long (and so much official pressure) to make that happen. Shouldn’t it have already been aware of the consequences of letting hosts offer multiple listings? And why can’t Airbnb deliver names of hosts with unregistered San Francisco listings, instead of suing the city to overturn the registration law? The voluntary policies are a start, but certainly not the end.
Source: Airbnb, New York Daily News, SF Gate
Russian arrested over giant LinkedIn password hack
You might not be happy that a hacker swiped millions of LinkedIn passwords back in 2012, but it sounds like you might soon get some justice. Czech police acting on behalf of the FBI and Interpol say they have arrested a Russian citizen suspected of compromising both LinkedIn and other US targets. Officials quietly caught the unnamed man in Prague on October 5th, but are only confirming the bust now for “tactical reasons.” A court will decide whether or not the alleged hacker faces extradition to the US.
Russia, not surprisingly, is demanding that officials send the accused back to his homeland. It might have a tough time making that happen, however. Prague is considered a staging point for Russian activities in Europe, and it’s no secret that the US is more determined than ever to hold Russian hackers accountable (the arrested man isn’t connected to the spate of hacks targeting the Democratic party). If the FBI gets its wish, this man could serve as a warning to hackers hoping that geography will keep American police at bay.
Via: New York Times, Mashable
Source: Czech Republic Police (translated)
‘Dead Rising 4’ DLC is as ridiculous as you’d expect.
Golf, but with ridiculous instruments of death like a fire-breathing triceratops head instead of woods and irons. That’s the pitch for Dead Rising 4’s season pass of add-on bits and sounds like the best kind of absurdity. Specifically, the “Super Ultra Dead Rising 4 Mini Golf” mode that’ll come out some time after the base game’s December 6th release date. A post on Xbox Wire says that the game of undead putt-putt is made all the more difficult with zombies acting as hazards and generally getting in the way on the mini links. It isn’t the Outlaw Golf sequel we’ve been clamoring for, but at least it’s something.
Not into golf? There will also be an add-on episode dubbed “Frank Rising,” which, as its name suggests, finds protagonist Frank West infected with the zombie virus and needing to find the cure before his life — and time — runs out. Sounds like an interesting twist on the original game’s ever-ticking countdown clock. And if you want to outfit Mr. West with a bit of [insert December holiday of choice] cheer, the “Stocking Stuffer Holiday Pack’ should do the trick.
The season pass will run you $24.99 if you’re going to take the wait-and-see approach (which is honestly the prudent option), or, you can go all out for the Digital Deluxe Version for $79.99. That’s a $5 savings over buying a physical copy plus the season pass, but you won’t have a green plastic case to put on your shelf. The choice is yours. Unless you own a PlayStation 4, that is. Sony fans will have to settle for an HD remaster of the first three games this fall, as DR4 is an Xbox One exclusive for the time being.
Source: Xbox Wire
AIVAnet 