NASA’s Cassini spacecraft sent photos of Saturn’s north pole
As Cassini winds down its 20-year mission to Saturn, the spacecraft will maneuver into a series of weeklong orbits, allowing it to get a closer look at the planet’s famous rings as it flies by. Although there are still a few days before Cassini grazes Saturn’s rings, its cameras have already sent back some initial shots of some interesting features near the planet’s northern hemisphere.
The images below, for example, show the same view of a hexagonal-shaped jetstream over the planet’s north pole, as seen from about 400,000 miles above the planet and through four different spectral filters sensitive to wavelengths of light ranging from violet to infrared. (The curved lines you see beyond the edge of the planet are the rings, of course.) Although the images Cassini sends back are relatively small — just 256 by 256 pixels square in their original format — NASA calculated that each pixel represents about 95 miles of space and each side of the jetstream is about as wide as Earth itself.
Cassini will pass by the outer edges of the planet’s rings on December 11 and it should start sending back images of the rings themselves a few days later. After that, Cassini will continue circling Saturn until April 22, when it will get a closer look at the moon Titan and another orbital adjustment in the process. That final orbit will swing the spacecraft back between the planet and its rings 22 more times before it finally takes a dive into the atmosphere and loses signal around September 15, 2017.
Bluetooth 5 With 4x Longer Range and 2x Faster Speed is Officially Approved
The Bluetooth Special Interest Group today announced that the Bluetooth 5 standard has been officially adopted, which means manufacturers are now able to build it into their devices.
The next-generation Bluetooth standard offers longer range, faster speed, a larger broadcast message capacity, and better interoperability with other wireless technologies.
Compared to existing Bluetooth 4.2 protocol, Bluetooth 5 offers four times the range, two times the speed, and eight times the broadcast message capacity, bringing whole home coverage and more reliable connections between connected devices.
“This means whole-home and building coverage, as well as new use cases for outdoor, industrial, and commercial applications will be a reality. With the launch of Bluetooth 5, we continue to evolve to meet the needs of IoT developers and consumers while staying true to what Bluetooth is at its core: the global wireless standard for simple, secure, connectivity.”
With the debut of Bluetooth 5, SIG’s Bluetooth naming convention will drop all references to version and point number going forward, simplifying marketing.
Devices that adopt Bluetooth 5 will be available within two to six months, meaning the next-generation products Apple plans to debut in 2017, including the iPhone 8, may offer Bluetooth 5 support.
Tags: Bluetooth, Bluetooth 5
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These were the top-trending YouTube videos in 2016
Now that 2016 is coming to an end, Google has released its annual list of the top-trending YouTube videos for the year.
Google defined “top-trending” based on stats like time spent watching, sharing, commenting, liking, and so on. Collectively, these 10 videos have 550 million views and were watched for over 25 million hours, Google said. The list includes Adele’s funny carpool karaoke bit, that weird apple-pen video, John Oliver’s takedown of Donald Trump, the actor Channing Tatum getting a Magic Mike-style dance from his wife, and more.
- YouTube HDR video: Everything you need to know about the latest feature
Check them out below.
Top-trending YouTube videos for 2016
1. Adele Carpool Karaoke
2. Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen/PIKO-TARO
3. What’s inside a Rattlesnake Rattle?
4. Nike Football Presents: The Switch ft. Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, Anthony Martial
5. Grace VanderWaal: 12-Year-Old Ukulele Player Gets Golden Buzzer
6. Water Bottle Flip Edition | Dude Perfect
7. Channing Tatum & Beyonce’s “Run The World (Girls)” vs. Jenna Dewan-Tatum’s “Pony”
8. Donald Trump: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
9. THE $21,000 FIRST CLASS AIRPLANE SEAT
10. Brothers Convince Little Sister of Zombie Apocalypse
If you’re interested, you can also check out Google’s blog to see the top-trending YouTube adverts of 2016.
BBC iPlayer gets Ultra HD, Planet Earth II trial in 4K HLG
The BBC is streaming a clip in Ultra HD and HDR on BBC iPlayer, allowing you to watch a small section of Planet Earth II in the highest quality ever.
The four-minute clip is a test. It’ll only be available on a “small selection of the latest TVs”, enabling the BBC to examine the impact of broadcasting in this higher quality, something that’s so far been the preserve of streaming services like Netflix and Amazon, or via Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.
The BBC is considering this broadcast a “public Ultra HD and HLG test”. Hybrid Log-Gamma, which is a form of HDR, was developed by BBC R&D and Japanese broadcaster NHK, and it has seen some testing previously, but this is the first time that it will be publicly available to watch.
BBC
“The experiment is an early but important step toward streaming high-quality Ultra HD programmes on BBC iPlayer in the future,” explained the BBC. “Central to the trial is the inclusion of HLG, which the BBC sees as an integral part of future Ultra HD programming. Where Ultra HD improves image quality … HLG takes this one step further by providing better quality pixels.”
While Ultra HD, or 4K, is a familiar technology, HLG might not be; HLG has been designed as an alternative to existing high dynamic range systems, aiming to increase the contrast and colours shown on TV. In the case of the Planet Earth II trial, HLG means that “a shade of red never before seen on a TV” can be shown.
- What is Hybrid Log Gamma and why should you care?
The advantage that HLG offers is that it’s not dependent on having the latest equipment at all points. It’s back compatible, meaning that it works with existing hardware, reducing the costs and demands on the creator and the viewer. The four-minute-long Planet Earth II clip will be available in Ultra HD and HLG on BBC iPlayer until early 2017. The BBC has not yet confirmed which TVs will be supported.
We suspect the list will include LG OLED TVs, which were used in a trial earlier in the year. We’ll update if we hear more.
Planet Earth II will blow your socks off in HD. We can’t wait to see the impact of UHD and HLG.
John Deere just made its first fully-electric tractor, see it here
John Deere, the American manufacturer that makes all things tractor-related, is going green – and we’re not talking about a new paint job.
Although the company is known for its yellow-and-green diesel machines that are anything but eco-friendly, John Deere France has just published a video to show off a new project going by the name of Sustainable Energy Supply for Agricultural Machinery (SESAM). The project is the first fully-electric John Deere tractor, and it will be officially unveiled at the Paris International Agribusiness Show in early 2017.
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Little is known about the agricultural vehicle, though Jalopnik said it has a huge 150kWh battery pack, which is bigger than any battery pack you’d find in an electric car today. It will apparently have a range of about 34 miles, but it takes about three hours to charge. The tractor supposedly has 404 horsepower and is meant to showcase John Deere’s vision for farms “of the future”.
So, will the French farmers of tomorrow be driving electric tractors around their fields? Who knows. But it’s exciting to see the agricultural branch of the automotive industry beginning to take the first steps toward ditching diesel.
Apple says these were the best apps and games in 2016
It’s that time of year again for the “best of” and “top ten” annual lists.
Google just named the top-trending YouTube videos in 2016, and now Apple has announced its favourite apps, games, music, movies, and more. The company’s top pick for apps is Prisma, which we reviewed this past summer and absolutely loved, while Supercell’s Clash Royale took the best game spot. Amazingly, Pokemon Go didn’t make the cut, though it was noted as a “breakout hit”.
- Yippee! New Pokemon coming to Pokemon Go on 12 December
Check out all the apps and games below.
Apple: Best apps in 2016
Prisma – AI-powered filters for photos
MSQRD – Live filters similar to the lenses in Snapchat
Quartz – Threaded news app
Vogue – It’s Vogue, the magazine
Meditation Studio – A guided meditation guided app
Detour – GPS-based walking tours with audio
Credit Karma – An app that delivers free credit scores
Glasses by Warby Parker – An app that lets you order glasses
Hyper – See a new social video every hour
Tinycards – A Flashcard app
Apple: Best games in 2016
Clash Royale – A Medieval-based card game
Reigns – Rule your kingdoma and try to survive
Plants vs. Zombies – It’s plants vs zombies
twofold Inc. – A bright and fun puzzle game
Riptide GP – A 3D rocket racing game
FIFA Mobile Soccer – It’s FIFA’s app
Rodeo Stampede – A runner game with animals
“klocki” – A geometric puzzler
Steppy Pants – It’s like the newage Flappy Bird
The Trail – This is a game about hiking
Apple also selected best movies, books, songs, albums, and more. Go to Apple’s site to see the winners of each category.
Microsoft sets a date for Build 2017 developer conference
Microsoft has announced when you can expect its next-annual Build.
Build 2017 will take place in downtown Seattle, Washington. It’s scheduled to start 10 May 2017 and will end 12 May 2017. In past years, Microsoft held Build in San Francisco, California. The company said hosting the two-day event in Seattle this year gives it a “great opportunity to connect even more engineering teams and leaders directly with developers building on the Microsoft platform”.
Microsoft uses Build to bring developers into the mix by showing off its future software plans. For instance, we may see the next version of Windows, which follows the release of the Creators Update in early 2017, unveiled at the conference: “We’ll make sure the schedule is filled with solid content, and will strive to deliver some fun surprises along the way,” teased Microsoft.
Keep in mind Microsoft hasn’t yet confirmed what it will showcase, nor has it announced registration details. If you’re interested in attending, you can sign up to the mailing list for more information. When tickets do go on sale, likely in 2017, they will probably sell out fast.
ICYMI: Amazon wants to revolutionize grocery shopping
Today on In Case You Missed It: Amazon created a smart store in Seattle which is currently open to just employees but next year will open to all. It lets people saunter in, grab whatever they need, then leave without formally checking out. The trick is in using the Amazon Go app and all the sensors within the store, which track which items are placed in a basket and charges shoppers accordingly.
Meanwhile, Georgia Tech created a ‘TuneTable,’ an interactive table with moving coaster-sized tiles people use to both program and then play music. If you’re interested, the Guinness Book of World Records video for candles is here, and the behind-the-scenes video from Rogue One is here. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
Sony revives its $50 PS4 price drop for two weeks
Disheartened that you missed out on a price-cut PlayStation 4 around Black Friday? You’re about to get a second chance. In a near-repeat of what happened last year, Sony is resurrecting its $50 discount on the Uncharted 4 slim PS4 bundle between December 11th and December 24th. Yes, you’ll still get the console for $250 in the US if you’re a last-minute shopper. And Canadians get an extra break — while the PS4 costs $330 in local currency, they have until December 29th to go shopping. You’re stuck if you’d rather buy a PS4 Pro, but this remains a solid deal if you’re not interested in 4K and just want to see what all the fuss is about.
Via: Polygon
Source: PlayStation Blog
Biggest names in VR band together to create industry standards
The world’s most popular virtual reality headset makers have assembled. Google, Oculus, Sony, HTC, Samsung and Acer have come together to create a non-profit organization called the Global Virtual Reality Association (or the far snappier GVRA, for short). The association’s goal is to “promote responsible development and adoption of VR globally,” according to its website, and members will do so by researching, developing and sharing what it believes to be industry best practices.
GVRA also intends to serve as a resource for policymakers, consumers and industries interested in the medium. In a statement on the organization’s website, Google’s director of immersive design Jon Wiley said,”The GVRA is a necessary first step toward ensuring great VR experiences for everyone.” Execs from the other founding companies made similar statements, echoing the same sentiment. Although Microsoft’s HoloLens is technically an AR device, it’s a bit surprising to not see the Windows maker in this list.
Citing VR’s potential to improve “sectors ranging from education to healthcare,” as well as the resulting contributions to the global economy, GVRA also states that its founding members will work to maximize the platform’s potential and to “ensure those gains are shared as broadly around the world as possible.” Considering the clout some of these companies already have in tech, it sounds like this will be the virtual reality authority in the future.
It’s a little concerning that the only affiliates of the organization so far appear to be hardware makers. Hopefully, the GVRA will soon gain some members from different parts of the industry, including representatives who are more invested in the impact of VR on our health.
Source: Global Virtual Reality Association
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