New BBC app highlights the best of David Attenborough
On Sir David Attenborough’s 90th birthday earlier this year, the BBC announced it was developing a mobile app to showcase the veteran presenter’s huge body of work. “Attenborough’s Story of Life” is finally available to download for iOS and Android today, and features more than 1,000 curated clips from the 40-plus BBC shows Attenborough has been involved in over the past 60 years. Best of all, it’s available worldwide for free, so while Brits are enjoying fresh weekly installments of 4K nature porn courtesy of Planet Earth II, the new app means everyone else can get their Attenborough fix too.
The app itself is pretty simple, beautiful and slick. You can check out various featured collections, including a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Planet Earth II, or browse the mammoth archive in its entirety. You can filter clips by species, behavior and habitat, build your own collections and share your favorite moments. As you may have guessed from the size of the library, all clips are streamed, so best to stick to WiFi if you don’t want to burn your data allowance hunting around for the app-exclusive easter egg clips staring Attenborough himself.
Source: BBC
ICYMI: Basketball is about to get even more stats-heavy
Today on In Case You Missed It: The National Basketball Association signed a seven-year agreement to use a computer-vision, artificial intelligence system that analyzes on-court action in ways average viewers couldn’t spot as they watch.
Meanwhile, you may have caught our story last week on the brain implant helping paralyzed monkeys walk; but the latest in brain implants is even more incredible. A “locked-in” ALS patient who is only able to control the movement of her eyes received a brain implant and can now use the power of thought to spell out words on a screen, communicating with her caretakers.
If you’re interested in backing the Kickstarter project for Food For All, you can find that here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Apple’s Photo Book of Apple Products Now Available for Up to $300
Apple’s new “Designed by Apple in California” photo book, chronicling 20 years of Apple design with 450 photos of its products and the processes used to make them, is now available for purchase on Apple’s website in a smaller 10.2×12.8 inches size for $199 and a larger 13×16.3 inches size for $299.
The 300-page hardback book, reflecting the time period between the original iMac and Apple Pencil, is estimated to ship in 1 business day in the United States. It is also available in the United Kingdom for £169/£249, with estimated delivery by Friday, and in Australia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The book is dedicated in the memory of late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The photos were taken by photographer Andrew Zuckerman.
A visual history spanning iMac to Apple Pencil, complete with descriptions of innovative materials and techniques, it captures every detail with honesty and intention. Printed on specially milled German paper with gilded matte silver edges, using eight color separations and low-ghost inks, this hardcover volume took more than eight years to create and has been crafted with as much care and attention as the products featured within. It is both a testament and a tribute to the meticulous design, engineering, and manufacturing methods that are singularly Apple.
The book is also now available at select Apple retail stores, such as Apple Regent Street in London, Apple Opera in Paris, and Apple Ginza in Tokyo. In the U.S., this includes various locations in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, San Francisco, and Palo Alto, and at Apple’s campus store at its Cupertino headquarters.
Tag: Designed by Apple in California
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You can now unlock your Hyundai and get it warmed up using Amazon Alexa
Hyundai has now made it possible for us to be even lazier as the car company has announced it has added a Blue Link skill for its connected car service to Amazon Alexa. What it means is that you can ask any Alexa-enabled device to start the engine of your Hyundai and get it warmed, ideal for the frosty mornings when you go to work.
- Hyundai Ioniq Electric review: Fully charged
Alexa can also be commanded to flash the lights and sound the horn and Hyundai says it will eventually be able to tell you where you car is located. The Blue Link app already lets Hyundai owners locate their car, call for roadside assistance and can help to recover the car if it’s stolen.
Alexa is compatible with all 2017 Hyundai models, the majority of 2016 models and a few 2015 models, it will only work with second generation Blue Link connected cars, which includes the electric Ioniq.
To be able to send commands to a Hyundai car, owners will need to enable the Blue Link skill in the Alexa app and then link their existing Blue Link account. And you don’t need to worry about your kids or anyone else controlling your car, as Alexa will ask for a security PIN number for each command.
- Hyundai now lets you voice control its cars remotely with Apple Watch
Barry Ratzlass, executive director or digital business planning and connected operations at Hyundai America said: “Our customers increasingly want more ways to interact with their vehicles, especially when they are hustling to get out the door”.
“Linking smart devices like the Amazon Echo and Apple Watch to vehicles via Blue Link continues to fill that desire. Allowing customers to send commands to their car is just the beginning”.
Nintendo Switch will get Mario game from day one, Skyrim and Splatoon too
As part of the Nintendo Switch Preview Trailer, released at the end of October, several games were shown as running on the new machine.
Now a report suggests that three of those games will definitely be part of the console’s launch. A new Mario game is inbound, plus Skyrim and Splatoon will get Switch versions for March.
Sadly, the report also states that the Switch version of Zelda: Breath of the Wild will be delayed. That particular game has had troubled development already, having originally been scheduled for release on the Wii U in 2015.
Let’s Play Video Games claims that two separate sources have ponied up information. The new Mario game will have a Mario 64 style 3D open world hub, from which different levels can be accessed. There will also be a co-op mode, it is said.
A press demo of the game will be available in January 2017, the sources claim.
- Nintendo Switch games: The games revealed so far and what we’d like to see
- Nintendo Switch: Is this the NX console we’d hoped for?
- Nintendo Switch: Release date, price, specs and everything you need to know
In addition, while Bethesda is quiet on the subject, the Skyrim port shown in the Switch teaser is heading for launch day. As is Splatoon, which will gain a new one versus one mode, with two players on separate Switches battling it out on dedicated maps. Single-player content is also tipped for the new release.
There is no doubt we’ll hear more about Switch launch titles in the coming weeks and months. After all, the console itself will be on sale from March and Nintendo plans to reveal more officially on 13 January next year.
The Morning After: Wednesday, November 16, 2016
A smart oven that does the thinking for you, a new product from Apple that costs $300 and doesn’t even have a touchscreen, and DJI’s duo of upgraded drones that are tailored for filmographers. We’re halfway through, folks, you’ve got this.
It comes in standard and Plus sizesApple wants to sell you a $300 design book
Apple has announced a new photo book that “chronicles 20 years of Apple design.” Yes, the clue is in the title. Dedicated to the memory of co-founder Steve Jobs, it features 450 photos of gadgets past and present, shot by famed photographer Andrew Zuckerman. Both a small (10.2 x 12.75 inches) and a larger (13 x 16.25 inches) volume will go on sale online and in select Apple stores starting today, for $199 and $299 respectively.
Store old photos with your smartphoneGoogle’s PhotoScan app digitizes your physical prints
Google says it wants the service to be a home for all of your photos, and today that mission expanded to encompass the old photos housed in shoeboxes and albums around the world. Its new app, PhotoScan, is part of that, and it’s just landed on both iOS and Android devices. If you want to try PhotoScan but are worried about your privacy, you don’t even need to upload your pictures to Google. (All those facial recognition skills will require Google’s online AI skills, however.)
Tastes like the futureJune the smart oven makes a mean steak
Smart cooking gadgets are relatively de rigueur these days: connected sous vide machines, smart kitchen scales and even a WiFi slow cooker have already made an appearance. The June smart oven, however, is a lot more than an oven with a connected app. It’s outfitted with a quad-core NVIDIA CPU and a slew of sensors, all for the purpose of taking the guesswork out of cooking. And after three years of development, June is ready to cook. The downside? She charges $1,495 for her services.
From the developer of “Thomas Was Alone” and “Volume”Mike Bithell’s “point-and-bounce” VR game has a strange inspiration
EarthShape launched last week on Google’s Daydream VR platform, and its indie developer explains where the unusual gameplay model came from: drawing lines in a car window’s condensation, attempting to “catch” raindrops as they rolled down. In the game, players draw lines on a grid to control a bouncing ball, thereby cultivating life across 25-plus alien planets. All this, of course, occurs as Sue Perkins of “The Great British Bake Off” narrates the action.
Not the Eero we wanted, but the one we deserved?Google WiFi routers are available for pre-order
The folks in Mountain View are giving WiFi routing another shot, with these units capable of creating a mesh network covering up to 4,500 square feet. The Google WiFi box is $129 for one, or $300 for a three-pack, and they should start shipping in December.
Pro dronesDJI’s newest drones are built for filmmakers
DJI’s new Phantom 4 Pro can capture 20-megapixel stills and 4K video at 60 frames per second, thanks to its new 1-inch CMOS, while its Inspire drone sequel is just downright speedy. The filmography drone can accelerate to 50MPH in a mere four seconds and hit a top speed of 67MPH. It’s still capable of moving that fast despite packing an on-board SSD instead of an SD card storage option. Coolest part: The new Inspire 2 now offers a dedicated first-person-view camera for the pilot. I’m flying!
Hacking is the new name of the game“Overwatch” hacker Sombra is now available to everyone
After her Blizzcon debut and a short test period, Sombra is ready for play on all platforms. The latest “Overwatch” character’s abilities include hacking, teleportation, invisibility and an EMP blast. It’s also added an Arcade that rotates maps and rules as well as a new Antarctica map, and Season 3 of Competitive Play is scheduled to begin November 30th.
But wait, there’s more…
- Snapchat’s secret IPO filing
- NVIDIA helped to build an AI for cancer research
- Governments routinely blocked messaging apps in 2016
- Engadget giveaway: Win an Overdrive smart racing set courtesy of Anki!
suitX’s modular exoskeleton can prevent work-related injuries
suitX, a robotics company out of University of California, Berkeley’s Human Engineering Lab, launched an exoskeleton that can help people walk again earlier this year. Now, the company has officially launched another product: one that can prevent people from needing that exoskeleton in the first place. suitX’s latest product is called MAX, or Modular Agile eXoskeleton, and it supports a person’s body parts prone to getting injured while doing heavy physical work.
The modular suit is composed of three modules: one supports the back, another supports the shoulders, while the third one supports the legs. Businesses can buy each one separately, and workers can wear just one or any combination of the three. The company envisions it preventing injuries in people working in construction, airports, assembly lines, shipbuilding, warehouses, delivery services and factories. Researchers from UC Berkeley conducted a study to find out how effective the back module actually is, for instance, and found that it reduced muscle activity in the lower back by 60 percent.
While businesses are obviously MAX’s main audience, you might find it interesting to know that the company says it’s quite affordable. According to suitX founder, Dr. Homayoon Kazerooni:
“We have created responsive and affordable technologies to augment workers’ strength while leaving the worker in control of the operation. MAX is designed to support workers during the repetitive tasks that most frequently cause injury. It’s not only lifting 75 pounds that can hurt your back; it is also lifting 20 pounds repeatedly throughout the day that will lead to injury.”
Source: suitX
The £399 OnePlus 3T hits the UK on November 28th
OnePlus’ motto is “never settle,” but it’s probably best not to remind OnePlus 3 owners of that right now. Less than six months has passed since the launch of that flagship, and yet the company has already announced a new model to replace it. The OnePlus 3T is basically an improved variant, with a Snapdragon 821 chip, bigger 3,400mAh battery and better 16-megapixel front-facing camera for high-quality livestreams. The primary shooter is now covered with sapphire glass to ward off scratches, too. The only other major change is the higher price, with the OnePlus 3T costing £399 for the 64GB model or £439 for the 128GB config when it launches in the UK on November 28th.
That’s direct from OnePlus, anyway, but in a continuation of the exclusive carrier partnership established all of two months ago, O2 will also be ranging the 3T on contracts starting at £31 per month with a £10 upfront payment for the 64GB version, or £33 per month and no upfront payment for the 128GB model — but bear in mind these cheapest options only come with a measly 500MB data cap. O2 is going to sell the OnePlus 3T outright, too, for £418 or £456 depending on how much internal storage you want. That’s a mark-up on OnePlus’ prices, but you still might want to take the hit for the sake of getting the device a few days early. You can only do that at O2’s Oxford Street store on the 24th November, though, at a special event starting at 3:02PM.
Otherwise, you can pre-order the OnePlus 3T on O2 from tomorrow, November 17th, in-store or online. There’s no way to pre-order the handset directly from OnePlus, but you can still settle for the retiring OnePlus 3 for £329 while stocks last.
Source: O2
Researchers find a new way to convert heat into electricity
When we think about ways to make existing power plants more efficient, we typically look at waste heat. It’s something almost everything generates — coal plants, automobiles and even your refrigerator loses a sizeable amount of energy to lost heat. Capturing and using this heat to generate electricity with can save money and reduce fossil fuel consumption, but capturing power from that heat has always been a challenge. Now, researchers have created a new material that could represent a major step forward in thermoelectric electricity production.
A team of researchers from the University of Houston, Cambridge, Morgan State University and other institutions have created a new thermoelectric material that offers almost more than twice as much power output than the average power conversion compound. The specifics are a little confusing, but it works like this: thermoelectric are measured by either their power efficiency or their power factor. Most materials are considered “good” if they have a power factor of about 40. The group’s new material — a compound made up of nibium, iron, antimony, niobium and titanium — boasts a power factor of 106.
This means the new material can output 22 watts per square centimeter, as oppose to the 5 to 6 watt output that’s typically produced from thermoelectric heat reclamation materials. Ironically, this doesn’t mean it’s more efficient, but it does mean that the new compound could be a better solution for large-scale heat waste sources like coal plants. That could both increase the profitability of a plant and help slow climate change by reducing emissions. Sounds good to us. Check out the group’s full paper at the source link below.
Via: Popular Mechanics
Source: PhysOrg, PNAS
Teardown of 13-inch MacBook Pro With Touch Bar Reveals ‘Cosmetic’ Speaker Grilles
iFixit has published a teardown of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and discovered a few interesting differences compared to Apple’s new lower tier MacBook Pro sans Touch Bar. Both 13-inch models have the exact same dimensions, but the Touch Bar machine weighs 20 grams less, which iFixit puts down to the laptop’s smaller battery.
As expected, Apple’s new MacBook Pro is not designed to be user-serviceable, earning an iFixit repairability rating of 1/10. In the course of disassembly, iFixit found that the internal layout of the components has been redesigned to make space for the new Touch Bar, which broke as it was removed from the chassis and was deemed difficult to replace. The flex cable connecting the Touch Bar to the mainboard also wraps underneath it, making removal even more difficult.
Orange boxes show where internal speakers are located.
iFixit also found that the new improved speakers are located in the lower portion of the case, while the external speaker grilles are positioned in the top half of the case and don’t even go clear through to the internals, making them extremely unlikely to provide any outlet for audio. Instead, sound is thought to be projected from air vents on the sides of the case – a design feature not seen on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with function keys.
iFixit also notes that fixing a faulty power switch likely involves replacing the entire logic board, because the button doubles up as a sapphire-topped Touch ID sensor which pairs with the Apple’s soldered down T1 chip. Elsewhere, ten accessible screws hold down the new larger trackpad, which is identical to the one found in the 13-inch MacBook Pro with function keys, suggesting a replacement part would be cross-compatible.
Unlike the removable storage drive in the lower tier 13-inch MacBook, the SSD is soldered onto the mainboard, along with the RAM modules and the processor, making upgrades after the fact an impossibility. The 5-cell 49.2Wh battery is also attached with adhesive, making it particularly hard to remove when it comes to replacing.
Check out the full teardown on iFixit’s website.
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Tag: iFixit
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