ICYMI: How studying bees helped fix internet traffic
Today on In Case You Missed It: The latest Golden Goose award goes to scientists who developed an algorithm to explain how worker bees collaborate to get honey to their hive. It turns out, that algorithm could be directly applied to solving peaks in demand in internet traffic, though it took ten years to be discovered. Meanwhile if you’re into UAVs or don’t like them, you should see the 500 aircraft array Intel put together, creating an aerial light display that could be controlled by two people (one was backup). The FAA had to grant a special dispensation for this bit of fun, so don’t expect to get your hands on it anytime soon.
You’ve gotta see the You’ve Got Mail video if you haven’t already, and if you just need a mental break, may we recommend this cat video. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
OnePlus 3T with Snapdragon 821 will be unveiled on Nov 15
Qualcomm confirmed yesterday that OnePlus’ upcoming phone will be powered by the Snapdragon 821, and now we have a launch date. OnePlus announced on Twitter that it will unveil the handset — likely called the OnePlus 3T — on November 15:
T-7: The @Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 (2.35GHz) is coming your way. Find out more on November 15. pic.twitter.com/fA8mUTYAjd
— OnePlus (@oneplus) November 8, 2016
The OnePlus 3T will run the Snapdragon 821 clocked at 2.35GHz. We’ll know more details early next week, but the latest rumors suggest OnePlus will retain the 5.5-inch FHD AMOLED panel, as well as 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage. It looks like we’ll be treated to a new 20MP camera (Sony IMX395) with an f/1.7 lens, and the phone is likely to run Nougat out of the box.
The Timex IQ+ Move is a basic fitness tracker in a sleek analogue watch body
American watchmaker Timex has launched the IQ+ Move fitness tracker, disguised as a regular watch. It can only carry out basic tracking functions, such as distance travelled, number of steps taken and calories burned, and can also track your sleep.
- Timex launches Metropolitan+ analogue smartwatch to track activity in style
Collected data is sent to your phone via Bluetooth where it can be stored and viewed in a companion app. The IQ+Move can be set to automatically sync data at up to four set times throughout the day. You can glance at the sub-dial to see some data, but for the most part you’ll want to refer to the application.
There are different versions for men and women, in 41mm and 37mm sizes respectively, and both of come with a real leather strap but it can be swapped out for a silicone one if you want to take it into water. The dial is waterproof to 50 metres but the leather strap isn’t.
The IQ+Move can’t notify you of incoming messages, calls of social media alerts and it doesn’t have any built-in training programmes. But it only costs $150 and runs on a regular watch battery so you don’t have to worry about recharging it every few days.
It’s currently only available in US, and should be on sale in the UK in February 2017.
All future Lenovo phones will be released under the Moto brand
Lenovo has announced that all of its future smartphones will be sold under the Moto brand name, as it looks to bring together its existing business with Motorola’s after acquiring the latter company in 2014.
- Lenovo P2 preview: Boasting a 5,100mAh battery in a 5.5-inch design
The company is also making some changes to its staffing structure, bringing in Gina Qiao the former SVP of human resources to takeover as SVP of Lenovo Mobile Business Group. Yang Yuanqing, Lenovo chairman and CEO says Gina has “the background and insight to form the ideal skillset to manage the mobile business”.
Combined sales of Moto and Lenovo-branded devices for Q2 2016 were $2 billion, down 12 percent year-on-year, although Yang said “Our mobile business has good quarter-to-quarter volume growth (20%) and margin improvements”, although he did admit the company’s smartphone sales showed “only modest growth”. Don’t forget Lenovo also makes PCs, which makes up 70 percent of the company’s total annual revenue.
- Motorola has a mid-range phone on the way, the Moto M
The new follows the release of the Moto M smartphone, which has only launched in China with no word on worldwide availability. Android Police has pointed out that by introducing a new Moto brand, the current naming structure of Z, X, G and E smartphones may be thrown out, making buying a Motorola phone in the future that bit more difficult.
The Morning After: Wednesday, November 9, 2016
It’s the middle of the week, and (aside from other news) scientists think they’ve found where consciousness resides in our brains, Amazon might start cleaning your house (for a fee), and Nintendo’s new 3DS will get a substantial price cut for this Black Friday. We also played as a badger in the most chill MMORPG ever.
Personality goes hereScientists think this is where your consciousness lives
Consciousness is traditionally defined by two criteria: arousal and awareness. Arousal has already been traced to the brainstem, the primitive part of our brains that handles our most basic functions, like breathing and regulating the sleep/wake cycle. Awareness, on the other hand, has been a bit trickier to pin down. Turns out, however, that awareness resides there too. No word on whether doctors will be able to extract it and inject it into us, ensuring that we live forever. (Too far?) In all seriousness, the research could open doors into treating people in comas.
Be the badgerMeadow is the chilled-out MMO game we all need right now
Take control of a heavily stylized woodland animal, and walk, run, jump, smell, speak and emote. That’s … it.
In synthReview: Roland’s System-8 keyboard is all the synths you want in one case
Roland’s System-8 is an incredible, feature-packed synth keyboard for $1,500 — and it should remind other keyboard makers that it’s not just professional-grade products that could use some good old-fashioned knobs to make their instruments easier to use. If you’re looking to step up your at-home productions or you’re willing to be extra careful while gigging, it’ll be a great addition to your synth arsenal.
Vacuum tubes are backScientists built a chip without semiconductors
Our cyberpunk dreams come true: Scientists have built the first semiconductor-free, laser-controlled device that uses free electrons, much like typical vacuum tubes. The tubes can dislodge free electrons to carry (or not) a current through space. The research could result in better solar panels and faster microelectronic devices that can carry more power. The team will investigate uses not just in electronics and photovoltaics but also environmental applications and, possibly, weaponry — the research was funded, after all, by DARPA.
Do you really need a pair of smart headphones?Review: Muzik One’s headphones let you share whatever you’re listening to. If you need that.
The One is a pair of “connected” headphones that lets you share whatever you’re listening to on the social media platform of your choice with just the tap of a button. Sharing music has never been so easy. It’s harder to say whether the ‘phones are worth $300.
Cheap handheld gamingNintendo will sell the new 3DS on Black Friday for $100
Nintendo is releasing special black-and-white Mushroom Kingdom editions of the New 3DS for $100 starting on Black Friday, November 25th. These lower-cost models should be available at many North American game retailers too. You won’t get any games out of the box — but we’ve got you covered. Try these games to start with.
But wait, there’s more…
- Tesla buys an engineering firm to meet Model 3 production goals
- Sennheiser’s HD 6XX headphones offer audiophile audio for $200
- Californian voters will decide whether to deputize the public to police porn
- Amazon might launch a Prime housekeeping service
Zero’s latest electric motorcycles boast 200+ mile range
With some of the world’s biggest bike makers now dedicating time to electric models, Zero Motorcycles knows it has its work cut out. The company has spent the last 10 years refining its gas-free lineup, gradually adding more power and (more importantly) increasing the range, giving riders the incentive they need to make the jump. For its 2017 roster, Zero has done the same again, updating its Zero S, Zero SR, Zero DS, Zero DSR, Zero FX and Zero FXS models, giving some the ability to go 200 miles on a single charge.
Zero boasts that the Zero S and Zero SR models are the world’s first production electric motorcycles to exceed that milestone, but says that owners will only get that kind of performance when riding in the city. The company’s option Power Tank accessory, which does the heavy lifting, also provides enough juice for over 100 miles on the highway. For those seeking instant torque, Zero has improved its Z-Force powertrain and included interior permanent magnet (IPM) motors, resulting in greater acceleration and 116-ft-lb of torque.
To ensure that riders worry more about riding than keeping their bike serviced, Zero is also debuting a new free mobile app that offers performance customization — including settings for maximum torque, top speed and regenerative braking. It also lets owners update their motorcycle’s firmware, saving a trip to the dealer. Oh, and each lithium-ion battery is backed by a five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.
Zero says the 2017 models are already making their way to dealers and will retail for between $8,495 and $15,995. US buyers will also receive a 10 percent federal tax credit on top of any state incentives. That extra range will cost, though, with the Power Tank setting customers back an extra $2,695.
Via: Electrek
Source: Zero Motorcycles
Viber Messaging App Now Lets Businesses and Brands Interact With Users
Popular messaging app Viber today launched a new commercial account format to enable businesses and brands to communicate with users (via TechCrunch).
Approximately 1,000 Public Accounts including the likes of the BBC and The Weather Channel were launched with the v6.5 update, allowing users to subscribe to them and share stories with users in their contacts list.
Public Accounts are also set to introduce chat bots to the messaging service, as Japanese-owned Viber rolls out its scalable API to companies which will include tools for bot developers.
Public Accounts come on the back of a feature Viber introduced in 2014 called Public Chats, which allow people to carry on a conversation with the general public. However, unlike the latter, users will be able to interact with the new commercial accounts without needing to add them as a contact.
Viber was bought in 2014 by Japanese internet company Rakuten, the owner of online retailer Play.com. The Cyprus-based messaging service has over 800 million users.
Tags: chat bots, Viber
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Seven ways to protect your gadgets from damage
Here are seven ways to protect your gadgets from damage:
1. A case in point
Remember the last time you were taking a photo with your phone? Was that the time when, just as you were marvelling at its pleasing smoothness you also realised it was darned slippery too, and it slid from your grasp? Well, maybe you caught it that time but, as you thought, “That was close!” you really ought to get a case for it.
There are plenty out there, such as those from companies like Tech21 and Peli which offer solid protection against shocks and drops. Even a simply decorative folio-style case is likely to reduce the chance of a screen-shatter.
It’s not just phones that are at risk, of course. Cameras, tablets, laptops and other portable gizmos will all thank you for providing them with a shell to hide behind.
And there’s another benefit to protective clothing for gadgets – it helps keep them looking as good as new, which could pay dividends if you want to sell it or trade it in for next year’s model. In the meantime, however, you can decorate the case with stickers and so on, so everybody knows that one’s YOUR iPhone.
2. Go rugged
Some gadgets come protected. Olympus Tough ruggedised compact cameras are shock, crush-, dust-, freeze- and waterproof so you can feel safer taking pictures however much of a butterfingers you are.
Some of the latest mobile phones are waterproof as well, including flagship models from Sony, Samsung and Apple. Mostly you’ll be glad of this when you’re gardening, say, and your handset falls into a grassy puddle, but the dreaded toilet-drop is always a possibility. With a waterproof model at least you can wash it afterwards to remove all, er, debris before using it again.
3. Protect the glass
On a phone, a screen protector can really make a difference if you’re accident-prone. And while the ultimate fear with a screen is it’ll crack in a hundred places, a protective layer will also reduce the possibility of a minor-but-still-bloody-annoying unsightly scratch.
This is also true of cameras, where a tiny scratch can ruin every photo you take. On a high-end snapper, especially, it’s worth investing in a polarising filter that you can permanently attach to the lens. They’re not particularly cheap… except when you compare it to the cost of replacing the lens.
There are screen protectors for laptops, too. They can help protect against getting bashed but additionally often offer privacy so nobody can read what you’re writing over your shoulder (always so irritating).
4. Travel carefully
If you’re taking your laptop, camera, tablet and phone away with you don’t just chuck them all into the same bag, especially with all those cables with sharp plugs as well. A case for each one (and a bag for cables) will prevent them from scratching each other as they go.
And if you’re flying, try to keep your valuable tech in your hand luggage so if your checked bag goes astray, you’re not left fretting they’ll never make their way back to you.
5. Don’t back-pocket it
A phone or iPod can fit in almost any pocket but the one behind you makes it an easier place to get nicked from, not to mention increasing the possibility of it falling out (we’re thinking toilets here, again, but any open-backed chair provides a possible hazard when you’re sitting down). Not to mention if you sit down hard on it, some back pockets are positioned where the gadget takes maximum impact from your Gluteus Maximus to break or at least bend it…
6. Temperature matters
It sounds obvious, this one, but leaving your smartphone in direct sunlight on that Mediterranean beach holiday isn’t a great idea. It ain’t gonna tan, you know. Quite apart from being at risk from sea water, sand that can scratch it and get into every crevice, and being a temptation to casual thieves, phones and other gadgets can overheat. Smart watches are also at risk from too much heat, even if they are swimproof.
At first you’ll probably get a warning on screen saying it’s too hot, then it’ll turn off. Excessive heat can damage battery performance, too.
Keep your gadgets out of direct sun, away from sand and water and at a manageable temperature. Besides, who wants to hold hot glass to their ear to make a call?
7. Always back up
Your phone has so much precious data, your camera’s memory card has all your most recent photos, your MP3 player has your favourite tracks. Make sure it’s all backed up, either to a hard drive at home or to the cloud, so that if the worst happens and your gadget is damaged beyond repair you don’t lose your valuable photos, music and other stuff. Of course, this applies in the case of your gadgets being stolen, too – a back-up is essential for peace of mind.
This content is brought to you in association with Gadget Cover (hyperlinked to site), Pocket-lint’s favoured UK partner. Visit Gadget-Cover.com and receive a quote for your mobile phone and gadget insurance in under 10 seconds.
Dell Stack would combine all Windows 10 computing experiences into one mobile device
A Venture Beat report from Evan Blass, the often reliable Twitter tipster, has laid out alleged plans for a Dell/Intel partnership to create a Windows 10 ecosystem of products.
- Windows 10 Mobile review: A new hope?
Blass says the two companies started working on the project, known internally as Dell Stack, in mid-2014 and it focuses on a 6.4-inch mini-tablet that would be used to power desktop, laptop and tablet computing experiences.
The aim of the alleged project would be to combine all your devices into one, to save you moving data from one device to the next, or having to upload it to the cloud to then download to another device. Everything would always be on the one Stack tablet which would be moved from screen to screen.
The Dell Stack would make full use of Windows 10’s Continuum feature, which lets a device running Windows 10 Mobile connect to a screen and deliver a simplified version of Windows 10. Windows 10 Mobile devices can’t support a full version of Windows 10 because of hardware limitations, but they can support Universal Windows Platform apps (UWP).
What makes the Stack different though is that it would be able to deliver a full Windows 10 desktop experience when docked because it would use an x86 CPU from Intel’s Kaby Lake Y-series of processors. It would come in different memory and storage configurations, having either 4GB or 8GB RAM and 128GB or 256GB solid state storage as well as a microSD slot for expansion. And everything would be housed in a body no thicker than 9mm.
- Microsoft Windows 10 Creators Update: What’s new?
The Venture Beat report also mentions a second generation that would have a 6-inch screen and full phone and messaging functions, essentially a Windows 10 smartphone.
Nobody knows whether the project will come to fruition though. The first products were due to be launched in Spring 2017, but there’s still been no official announcement from Dell.
It could be that Stack is a concept vision of Dell’s, but the actual products released, if any will be a more diluted vision taking inspiration from these plans. Images leaked a couple of days ago alleging to be a Windows Surface phone. It could now be that it’s the Dell Stack.
We’re keen to follow for any updates because if Stack does happen, it could be a seriously powerful computing experience.
Amazon UK now offering one-hour deliveries from local London shops
In a bid to boost its Prime Now offering in London, Amazon has teamed up with a pharmacist and a wine dealer to deliver more than 7,000 additional products in under an hour. The company announced today that customers in selected London postcodes can grab “luxury health, wellbeing and beauty products” from John Bell & Croyden — pharmacists to Her Majesty The Queen — and fine wines and spirits from Spirited Wines.
Amazon already offers a small selection of beauty products and alcoholic drinks but its new alliances will expand its product offering by around 47 percent. Prime Now customers can browse as they would normally or visit Amazon’s dedicated John Bell & Croyden or Spirited Wines stores, adding purchases to a separate shopping basket (with a £20 minimum spend). One-hour deliveries will cost £6.99 but a two-hour delivery slot won’t cost a penny.
This isn’t the first time Amazon has partnered with specialist retailers; the company announced a partnership with a wine dealer, a luxury food group and organic food chain in Paris last month. It shows that the e-commerce giant is keen to improve the quality of its products, even if it ever-so-slightly overlaps with its grocery delivery service.
Source: Amazon UK
AIVAnet 