4 Tips To Automate Your Halloween Scare Tactics

Use your Connected Home tech for evil.

Most of the time your Connected Home tech is busy lighting your home, pinging your phone when there’s a water leak, and letting you know who is at the front door.

While any Halloween supply store will gladly sell you something that will flicker a strobe light from a remote control while you’re hiding in the bushes dressed as a murderous clown, some of your Connected Home tech could help you have a lot more fun. Here’s a quick list of ways you can freak out Trick or Treaters with your smart home!

Activating the smoke machine when people walk up the driveway

This can be a lot of fun. Set a programmable button under a floor mat in the driveway. When people step on the mat, it activates a smoke machine on your front porch. This way you don’t have to have the smoke machine on the whole night, and when that fresh puff of fog shows fills the porch it sets the stage really well!

For this you’ll need:

• A smoke machine — See on Amazon
• Logi Pop smart button — See on Amazon
• Samsung SmartThings Outlet — See on Amazon

This is fairly easy to set up, especially if you’ve already got this hardware in your house. Through IFTTT, you can set Logi Pop to trigger an on command to the SmartThings Outlet. Connect your smoke machine to the SmartThings Outlet, and when the Pop button is triggered the smoke machine will start!

Setting your front porch lights red when someone walks up to the door

Is there anything creepier than things changing when it’s not clear no one is around? When people walk up to your front door, make the porch lights turn a bright red to greet them!

For this you’ll need:

• Philips Hue bulbs — See on Amazon
• Ring Doorbell — See on Amazon

You can use IFTTT to create a command that lets your Ring doorbell talk to Philips Hue bulbs. IFTTT lets you use the motion sensing function of Ring Doorbell to execute commands. Set up IFTTT so when Ring Doorbell detects motion, your Hue bulbs turn red. Instant automatic scariness.

Triggering a scream when someone presses the door bell

Some people can’t be scared by smoke and lights. That’s what loud noises are for! This setup lets out a loud scream once someone presses your doorbell, guaranteed to make people jump for their treats.

For this you’ll need:

• Sonos speakers — See on Amazon
• Ring Doorbell — See on Amazon
• Samsung SmartThings Hub — See on Amazon

This is a little tricky to get right, but so worth it. Set up your Sonos speakers on your front porch, but hide them so they don’t stand out. Bonus points if you hide a Play 1 speaker inside a carved pumpkin, but not totally necessary for this. Set up your SmartThings Hub to fire up a scary sounds playlist on your Sonos speakers, and configure an IFTTT trigger to make SmartThings start the playlist when someone presses your Ring Doorbell. It’s one hell of a surprise, even for people who think they aren’t scared of anything.

Turn all the lights off when you open your door

Loud noises and flashing lights not enough? Show off your acting chops by demonstrating how haunted your house is. When you walk through the front door to get people their candy, make sure all the lights go out and scream as the door slams shut!

For this you’ll need:

• A convincing scream — Not Available on Amazon
• Samsung SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor — See on Amazon
• Philips Hue bulbs — See on Amazon

Sit outside your house and tell everyone you’re afraid there’s something happening in there, but you’ll reach in real quick and grab your visitors some candy. Place the SmartThings Multipurpose Sensor on your front door so when it opens, IFTTT can tell your Hue bulbs to all turn off. All the lights will go out when the door opens, leaving you ready to scream and slam the door to save everyone waiting for candy!

Got any other connected home tricks you’re excited to pull on visitors this Halloween? Share them with us in the comments!

Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Which should you choose?

Google’s latest pure Android smartphones are finally here in the form of the Pixel and the Pixel XL. Both bring a lovely premium design, flagship specs and some serious competition to the rest of the smartphone market, including both Samsung and Apple.

The Pixel is the smaller of the two new devices, going head-to-head with Samsung’s Galaxy S7. How do they compare, what are the differences and which one should you choose? Read on to find out.

• Google Pixel review
• Samsung Galaxy S7 review

Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Design

• Pixel is slimmer and lighter
• Galaxy S7 is more water resistant
• Both have fingerprint sensors and premium designs 

The Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy S7 both offer premium, solid and lovely designs. The Pixel opts for a mostly aluminium build with a panel of glass featuring on the rear at the top, while the S7 has an aluminium frame with a completely glass rear.

The Pixel houses its circular fingerprint sensor and flush camera on the rear, offering a clean and fuss-free front with no physical buttons. It is IP53 water and dust resistant, which means it can handle a splash but not a dunk.

The Galaxy S7 has its fingerprint sensor built into the main button on the front, with the raised rear camera taking pride of place on the back. It has a higher water and dust resistance rating of IP68 though, which means dunking would be no problem.

The two devices are very similar in terms of physical size with the Pixel measuring 143.8 x 69.5 x 7.3mm, while the Galaxy S7 measures 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm. The Pixel is lighter though, hitting the scales at 143g compared to 152g.

Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Display

• Galaxy S7 has larger display
• Galaxy S7 has higher resolution display
• Both have Gorilla Glass 4 protection and AMOLED technology

Despite being very similar in terms of size, the Google Pixel has a slightly smaller display than the Samsung Galaxy S7. The Pixel offers a 5-inch screen compared to the 5.1-inch display found on the S7.

The Galaxy S7 also has a higher resolution with 2560 x 1440 pixels packed in for a pixel density of 577ppi. Meanwhile, the Pixel’s 1920 x 1080 resolution results in a pixel density of 441ppi. Theoretically, the Galaxy S7 will therefore deliver crisper images over the Pixel, but in reality, both have excellent displays.

The Pixel and Galaxy S7 are both protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4 and they both use AMOLED technology, meaning punchy, vibrant colours and rich blacks.

• Samsung Galaxy S7 tips and tricks: Master your new Galaxy

Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Camera

• Galaxy S7 has OIS and wider aperture
• Pixel has higher resolution front camera and larger pixels on both
• Both provide excellent results

The Google Pixel has a 12.3-megapixel rear camera, featuring 1.55µm pixels and an aperture of f/2.0. There is phase detection autofocus and laser detection autofocus, but no optical image stabilisation.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 has a 12-megapixel rear snapper with 1.4µm pixels and an aperture of f/1.7. Phase detection autofocus is on board once again and while laser detection autofocus isn’t, the S7 has optical image stabilisation.

The Pixel has an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with 1.4µm pixels and an aperture of f/2.4, while the Galaxy S7 has a 5-megapixel front camera with 1.34µm pixels and an aperture of f/1.7.

Both devices offer excellent results in the camera department, with good and consistent images. The Pixel is very fast when it comes to focusing and it keeps it simple with settings, while the Galaxy S7 offers more control options providing more flexibility.

• Samsung Galaxy S7 camera: Raw shooting expert guide

Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Hardware

• Pixel has newer processor and larger storage option
• Galaxy S7 has a larger battery and microSD expansion
• Pixel has USB Type-C, Galaxy S7 has wireless charging

The Google Pixel has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor under its hood, supported by 4GB of RAM and options of either 32GB or 128GB of internal storage, neither of which feature microSD.

There is a 2770mAh battery, charged via USB Type-C with Quick Charge supported for up to 7 hours of use in 15-minutes. The Pixel doesn’t offer wireless charging.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 offers either the Qualcomm 820 processor or the Exynos 8890, depending on region. Both models have 4GB of RAM and they come in 32GB or 64GB storage options with microSD support for further expansion.

A 3000mAh battery keeps things ticking along in the Galaxy S7, charged via Micro-USB, and Quick Charge is also supported here, along with wireless charging.

Both of these handsets are very powerful and excellent performers. They will also both see you through the day. The Pixel has unlimited storage online for photos and videos through Google Photos while the S7 has microSD expansion, as we mentioned.

Google Pixel v Samsung Galaxy S7: Software

• Pixel has pure Android
• Pixel offers Google Assistant built into its core
• Galaxy S7 offers more settings and choices thanks to bloatware

Google’s Pixel and Samsung’s Galaxy S7 both run on Android but the Pixel arrives with Android 7.1 Nougat, along with a few exclusive features that won’t appear elsewhere.

It also offers a pure Android experience, with no bloatware and the addition of a new launcher and built-in Google Assistant, all of which provides a slick, fast and powerful experience.

The Galaxy S7 currently runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface over the top, which provides an experience that is unique to Samsung. It offers more options than Pixel, as well as more settings and choices, and while this does mean a little software duplication, it is well executed.

We prefer the cleaner experience that comes with the Pixel and its vanilla Android approach, but that’s our personal preference. Both the Pixel and the S7 offer excellent experiences.

• Google Assistant tips and tricks: Master your Android assistant

Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Price

• Pixel is more expensive
• Galaxy S7 comes in more colours

The Google Pixel starts at £599 and comes in two colours comprising Quite Black and Very Silver.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 starts at £539 and it comes in five colour options, with black, gold, silver, white and pink gold all available.

Google Pixel vs Samsung Galaxy S7: Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy S7 might sit in the shadow of the S7 edge, but it’s a formidable smartphone in its own right. It’s compact, yet powerful, offering Samsung’s adaption of Android that’s very sophisticated and packed full of features. The hardware is good, but the battery life is a little on the short side. The camera is great, however.

The Pixel punches hard in the performance department, offering a slick and fast Android experience, enhanced with extras like Google Assistant. It also offers a great camera, which, although not as fully-featured as the SGS7, offers great results. 

The Pixel will last a little longer when you take it into battle however, with better battery life and it’s newer, offering the latest hardware, compared to Samsung’s slightly older device. With only £60 difference in price, the Pixel is likely to tempt you to open your wallet.

• Google Pixel review: Pure, wonderful, enhanced Android
• Samsung Galaxy S7 review: Samsung’s unsung hero

MVR Ascend brings virtual reality to the PS4 and Xbox One

If you’re interested in the idea of virtual reality and wish you could be immersed in your favourite PlayStation 4 or Xbox One games then the MVR Ascend could warrant your interest. MVR says there’s a gap in the VR market between the budget Google Daydream and high-end HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, and to some extent the PlayStation VR.

The MVR Ascend is a headset and controller combination that serves up tether-free gameplay from either console; the PS4 version relies on your Android smartphone while the Xbox One variant is bundled with a proprietary screen to stream your games.

Headset

The MVR H1 headset is the star of the show and features a head tracking sensor around the back. This sensor essentially mimics whatever analogue stick you have assigned to camera movements for each game. For example, if you’re playing Call of Duty, instead of using the right analogue stick to pan around, you can now turn your head instead.

It works with other games such as Project Cars, where if you select the in-car camera angle, you can again move your head around as if you’re actually sitting inside the car.

It’s not virtual reality in the same way that HTC or Oculus do it, as there’s no handheld sensors to that extra level of control. Instead, you get either a PS4 or Xbox One controller (MVR’s own version) to control all other aspects of the game.

The headset has been designed to be as comfortable as possible and has interchangeable lenses to switch between 2D and 3D experiences and glasses wearers can also be safe in the knowledge there’s enough space to accommodate them.

If you want to take a break from gaming, you don’t need to take the whole headset off, as the smartphone or screen cradle section can flip up. There’s a built-in speaker system for sound and you can even make and receive phone calls from the headset.

Controllers

The controllers look just like conventional PS4 and Xbox One controllers and both have what MVR is calling an ADS (Aim Down Sight) function. This lets you assign one or more of the shoulder buttons (L2, R2, LB, RB) to disengage the headset tracker when pressed.

For example, if you’re playing Call of Duty and you want to aim down the sight of your gun, by pressing the assigned shoulder button, you’ll no longer be able to look around you. Instead controls will revert to the default, so if you want to pan the camera, you’ll have to use the analogue stick.

You can also use either controller as a secondary controller for your games console when playing on the TV.

How to use

To use the PlayStation 4 version you’ll need an Android smartphone and the PlayStation app installed to stream games via Remote Play. MVR says the H1 headset can accommodate Android smartphones up to 153mm x 76mm in size. iPhone users are unfortunately left out.

The Xbox One version meanwhile comes with MVR’s own S1 screen because the Xbox can’t stream to smartphones. The S1 screen slides into the H1 headset and runs Windows 10, so you can stream to it from an Xbox as if it were a PC or tablet.

You don’t have to limit yourself to just gaming with the H1 headset though, as you can download any VR app and 360 degree videos on any smartphone and play back through the headset.

Availability

The MVR Ascend VR headset and controller is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter where you can pre-order just the headset for £79, the headset with P1 controller for PS4 from £129 and the headset with X1 controller for Xbox One and S1 screen from £179. Estimated shipping is from July 2017.

Moov HR uses your head for accurate heart rate monitoring

Moov has produced the HR to help better motivate you to complete workouts and gets you to perform exercises in a target heart rate zone. To make sure the heart rate monitor knows exactly what your heart rate is and better tailor the workout programme, the Moov HR sensor is worn on your head. The sensor picks up your heart beat from your temples, where the skin is thinner, making it more accurate. That’s the theory, anyway.

• Moov Now wants to be your wearable fitness coach

To make sure the sensor stays in place during workouts, Moov has designed the Sweatband and Swim cap. The Sweatband is worn when you’re out running, cycling, at the gym, or doing any other exercise that doesn’t involve water. When wearing the Sweatband, you can be guided through different high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts, to reach different target heart rates.

You can also use the Moov HR with the Moov Now and add passive heart rate tracking to existing workouts, including indoor and outdoor cycling, cardio boxing or running, with different training modes to choose from: internal, endurance, open or efficiency.

The Swim cap is worn when you want to take a dip in the pool and measures your heart rate during each length you swim.

The heart rate sensor has a built-in rechargeable battery that claims to last around one week one a single charge and can be pre-ordered now for £45 for a limited time. The price will rise to £75 when shipping begins. Moov will also offer a launch product package which combines the HR sensor, Sweatband and swim cap for £82.50.

Meng Li, CEO of Moov said: “Moov has once again stepped outside the ‘comfort zone’ and instead of launching another product that falls in line with all of the other fitness wearables out there, we are launching a heart rate product that provides its users with much more.”

“We chose to with the head based heart rate monitor for one simple reason, accuracy. We needed Moov HR to be incredibly accurate so that our users can train in the most effective and efficient way possible”.

How to watch Amazon Prime Video on TV: Your complete guide

Amazon’s video streaming service has been rapidly expanding since it was rebranded from Lovefilm in 2014. Amazon Prime Video is now the main global rival to Netflix and like its peer, it offers TV shows and movies to watch instantly on an internet connected device.

Amazon also invests fortunes in original TV content, including the multiple award-winning Transparent and the forthcoming new show from ex-Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May: The Grand Tour. All of the Amazon Originals are exclusive to the platform, so you need a subscription to access them.

So should you want to watch those or any of the thousands of other programmes or films, this is all that you need to know – including how to get it on your TV.

• Amazon Video review: Hitting the Prime time
• When is The Grand Tour on TV and how can I watch it?
• How to watch Amazon Video on your Android phone or tablet
• Which is the best movie streaming service in the UK? Netflix vs Amazon Prime vs Now TV and more

Amazon

What is Amazon Video and how much does it cost?

Amazon Video is the name given to Amazon’s TV show and movie streaming application and service available on multiple devices. It comprises two elements; there are thousands of films and TV box-sets to rent or purchase digitally, which you pay for on an ad hoc basis; there is also Amazon Prime Video, a subscriber service that offers thousands of other TV shows and movies to watch as part of a Prime membership.

Prime content is clearly marked as such, and much of the TV programming available is homegrown. Amazon Originals is the name of the many series made by Amazon itself, plus localised exclusives, such as Vikings and Mr Robot, that are screened on TV in the States but are first available to Prime members in the UK.

You use an Amazon Video application on one of many supported devices and the content streams over your internet connection. Video is available in standard definition (SD), high definition (HD) and 4K Ultra HD, depending on the device you stream with/to and your broadband connection.

You can either gain access to Prime Video through an Amazon Prime membership, which costs £79 a year or £7.99 a month, or can pay £5.99 a month for just Prime Video access. A 30-day trial of Amazon Prime is available for new users.

Does Amazon Video have offline viewing?

Rentals and purchases through Amazon Video can be downloaded, but unlike some rivals so can a lot of the subscription covered content on Amazon Prime Video.

Several of the films and all of the TV shows designated Amazon Originals can be downloaded to a mobile device for viewing later. The offline viewing functionality is limited to just two films or shows at a time, and once you start to watch one you only have 48 hours to complete it, but it’s a great service to have when you need to travel and will have no internet connection.

What do I also get with Amazon Prime?

As well as Amazon Prime Video, your £79 a year Prime membership fee gives you so much more. Here are the additional benefits you get when subscribing to Amazon Prime:

• Unlimited one-day delivery on millions of eligible items (same-day in some cases).
• Prime Music – ad-free streaming of albums, tracks and playlists.
• Twitch Prime – ad-free viewing of Twitch, a Twitch channel subscription and discounts on games.
• Unlimited photo storage in the cloud.
• Kindle Owner’s Lending Library – free rental of millions of ebooks.
• Early access to Lightning Deals, Amazon’s great product sales.

What broadband speed do I need for Amazon Video?

Amazon streams video using adaptive bitrate technology, which adapts the image quality depending on your device and internet connection. Its subscription includes 4K Ultra HD streaming (soon to be in HDR too), although there are currently few devices that can play it. You also need to be able to attain decent broadband speeds.

These are the minimum broadband speeds that are recommended for different resolutions:

• 900Kbps – recommended for SD quality.
• 3.5Mbps – recommended for HD quality.
• 15Mbps – recommended for 4K Ultra HD quality.

In most cases, bar mobile platforms, audio is offered in 5.1 surround sound.

Pocket-lint

How to watch Amazon Prime Video on your TV

Amazon Video apps are available for several Smart TVs from multiple manufacturers. These include, but are not exclusive to, TVs from LG, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony.

You just need to download the app onto your set, open it, enter your Amazon account details and away you go.

Some of the more recent TVs from several manufacturers are also able to playback 4K Ultra HD content too, including those from LG, Samsung and Sony. You can find out compatible models here.

Pocket-lint

How to watch Amazon Prime Video on a set-top-box

Amazon Video apps are also available for a selection of set-top-boxes, although its not as widespread as Netflix in support.

Amazon’s own set-top-boxes – the Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick – have access hardbaked into their operating systems, so you see the content as part of the homescreen menus. Other devices offer a separate Amazon Video application to download and install. These include the Roku boxes and Blu-ray players from manufacturers such as LG, Samsung and Sony.

You just start up the apps and navigate using your respective remote control.

4K Ultra HD support is currently only available through the latest Amazon Fire TV set-top-box. It also requires a HDMI 2.0 port with HDCP 2.2 copy protection enabled on your TV to work.

How to watch Amazon Prime Video on a games console

There are Amazon Video apps for all the major games consoles: PlayStation 4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U and even the Nintendo Wii.

All consoles, with the exception of the original Wii, are capable of streaming HD content. There is no word yet on whether Amazon plans to let the Xbox One S or PS4 Pro also play content in 4K and with HDR.

You just need to navigate using a gamepad or optional dedicated remote control.

How to watch Amazon Prime Video on Chromecast

Sadly, Amazon Video does not naturally support Google Chromecast. You can still play Amazon Prime Video content through your dongle onto your TV, but you have to do so through the Chrome browser running on a PC or Mac.

Start the video in the browser window, running from the Amazon Video site, then use Google Chrome’s own Cast button, which can be added to your browser as an extension from here.

Your Chromecast will then mirror what’s playing in your browser onto your TV. It’s not ideal and far from the full experience, but it is possible.

Pocket-lint

How to watch Amazon Prime Video on a smartphone or tablet

While iOS devices, such as iPhone and iPad, have their own Amazon Video apps, Android is not fully supported yet. At least, not from the Google Play store.

Instead, you have to jump through several hoops to get it downloaded and installed onto your Android device.

We have a handy guide explaining exactly how to watch Amazon Video on your Android phone or tablet here.

Naturally, Amazon fully supports all of its own Fire tablets and the now discontinued Amazon Fire Phone. They all have the content accessible from a dedicated section of the Amazon Fire OS.

How to watch Amazon Prime Video on a PC or Mac

Amazon Video content, Prime or otherwise, can be viewed on a PC or Mac through an internet browser. Just head to the Amazon Video section of its website and you can choose between Prime shows and movies or the retailers digital video store.

Video played on a computer can be viewed in either SD or HD, but will not have 5.1 surround sound.

ICYMI: Getting ethanol from more than just corn

Today on In Case You Missed It: Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory created ethanol out of carbon dioxide in a way that they believe would be easy to scale up. Most importantly, the conversion happens at room temperature so it could be done nearly anywhere in the world.

We are also tickled by this stop-motion music video for a new song by Dan Sultan, and enjoy the dress designer who wants to put alcohol in clothes. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

DARPA’s telescope will keep the military’s satellites safe

DARPA is officially done developing the Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) and has handed it over to the US Air Force. Pentagon’s most adventurous arm worked with the military division for over a decade to build the SST, which was designed to monitor space junk that pose a threat to satellites in orbit. It’s been observing asteroids and near-Earth objects since 2011 in New Mexico, but now that it has officially changed hands, the SST will go through some big changes. Perhaps the biggest of which is its home: the Air Force plans to uproot the whole structure and ship it off to Australia.

See, the division plans to use the telescope to keep an eye on space junk littering geosynchronous orbit. That’s the orbit 22,000 miles away from our planet where satellites mirror the Earth’s rotation, so that they appear stationary in the sky. Brian Weeden, a Technical Advisor at the Secure World Foundation, told The Washington Post in an email that having the capability to monitor that orbit is “a critical capability for the US military, as they have a lot of very important satellites in GEO, and are increasingly worried about threats to those satellites.”

Over the next two years, the Air Force and the Australian government will be rebuilding the telescope in the western part of the country. The Pentagon chose to move it down under, because that’s the perfect location to observe one of the most barely observed areas in space. Once it’s up and working again, the military can use it to observe 10,000 objects at a time, even those as small as a softball. And once it starts working with Lockheed Martin’s Space Fence, the Air Force will have the capability to monitor 10 times the space junk it can currently observe.

Similar telescopes have much narrower fields of view and can’t track faint objects the way SST can. In fact, it’s so good at catching events that occur over a short period of time that it will continue providing NASA data on supernovae and dangerous near-Earth asteroids. DARPA says it’s all thanks to the SST’s innovative design, which it explains in detail in the video below.

Source: US Department of Defense