ASUS’ future Chromebook is a premium alternative to the Flip
ASUS’ Chrome OS efforts are currently headlined by the cheap-and-cheerful Chromebook Flip, which mainly stands out for combination of a 2-in-1 design with a bargain basement price. However, the PC maker is about to shake things up in a big way. In the culmination of a series of leaks, Newegg has listed a $499 C302CA laptop that appears to be an upscale sibling to (but not replacement for) the Flip. It touts a larger 12.5-inch, 1080p screen, and it’s running Intel’s Core m3 processor instead of the budget Rockchip part you saw in the Flip last year. Combine that with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage and it’s clear that this is a premium Google-powered system — not at the level of the Chromebook Pixel or HP Chromebook 13, but much nicer than the Celeron-based portables that dominate the Chrome OS world.
Accordingly, the C302CA carries a more refined version of the Flip’s all-metal design that includes two USB-C ports and a microSD card reader. It’s much heavier than the Flip at just under 2.7 pounds, but you might not mind as much given the larger display and 0.5-inch thickness.
Newegg shows the system in stock as we write this, so you might get to buy one before it’s even announced. You might want to hold off until CES in early January, though. There’s a real chance that ASUS will formally unveil the C302CA at the trade show, and it’s likely to confirm specs as well as the possibility of different configurations. You’ll have a better idea of what you’re buying.
Via: ChromeUnboxed, 9to5Google
Source: Newegg
Rumor Says Apple Will Introduce New 5-Inch ‘iPhone 7s’ With Dual Vertical Cameras
Apple may introduce a new 5-inch iPhone model that sports a unique vertical dual-camera system that sits alongside the existing 4.7- and 5.5-inch models, according to Japanese blog Mac Okatara. The 5-inch model would act as the medium size in the 2017 lineup.
The report, which comes from a Taiwanese supplier, says that the new models, dubbed the iPhone 7s, would be an updated version of the iPhone 7. The new 5-inch model, however, would rearrange the iPhone 7 Plus’ dual camera into a vertical alignment rather than a horizontal one.
Earlier this month, Mac Okatara reported that the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus would retain the aluminum design of the iPhone 7. However, the report said the new phones would come in an all-new red color. Multiple reports have stated that there will be three new iPhone models in 2017, including updated 4.7- and 5.5-inch models with LCD screens and a premium model with an OLED display and glass casing.
The new report corroborates an earlier Nikkei report that said a new 5-inch iPhone would arrive in 2017. However, Nikkei reports that the three iPhone models in 2017 will have new glass-backed designs. In November, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said it’s likely the 2017 iPhones will switch to new glass casings to support wireless charging.
While Mac Okatara was the first to report that Apple would replace the headphone jack in the iPhone 7 and debut a new gloss black color, its track record is not perfect. In November, it reported the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus would get a new “Jet White” color that has not yet materialized.
Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tag: macotakara.jp
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Backpage execs hit with new pimping and money laundering charges
California Attorney General Kamala Harris has renewed the case against the co-founders of online classifieds site Backpage.com. Earlier this month, a judge in Sacramento County threw out pimping and sex trafficking charges against three of the site’s executives, citing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects online service providers from illegal activity committed by users of their site. On Friday, however, Harris announced her office is pursuing 13 new charges of pimping and conspiracy to commit pimping as well as 26 counts of money laundering against the site’s execs.
Harris’ office now claims to have new evidence that co-founders Carl Ferrer, Michael Lacey, and James Larkin created a network of “multiple corporate entities” to circumvent financial institutions that were wary of Backpage.com’s “overtly sexual material.” Harris’ office also claims the three executives built other websites to help drive “prostitution-related revenue” on Backpage itself.
“By creating an online brothel — a hotbed of illicit and exploitative activity — Carl Ferrer, Michael Lacey, and James Larkin preyed on vulnerable victims, including children, and profited from their exploitation,” Harris said in a statement.
As Santa Clara University School of Law professor Eric Goldman told the San Jose Mercury News, the money laundering charges could threaten the entire tech sector because “virtually every online service gets money from illegal activity.” Google, for example, paid out a $500 million settlement in 2011 after the Department of Justice accused the company of accepting ads for illegal and counterfeit drugs. While that case didn’t involve money laundering charges specifically, it is a good example of how shady ad practices aren’t far from actual illegal activity.
On the other hand, the new money laundering charges may not hold any water. In 2013, Attorney General Harris and 47 other state attorneys general acknowledged that the Communications Decency Act left them powerless to prosecute companies like Backpage.com. And, according to Goldman, it is odd that the new charges were only laid out after the years-long case concluded earlier this month. “[Harris] cannot avoid First Amendment protections, federal law or her obligations to follow the law,” the defendants’ lawyer Jim Grant told the AP, “although her new complaint is a transparent effort to do exactly that.”
Ferrer, Lacey, and Larkin are due back in Sacramento County Superior Court on January 11th, while Attorney General Harris will resign her post to take her new position as US Senator for California later that month.
Source: Associated Press, San Jose Mercury News
LG made a floating speaker that looks plainer than others
They may seem futuristic, but levitating Bluetooth speakers have been around for years, and look as outlandish as they sound. But LG is the first major electronics brand to throw a product in the ring, and is doing so with its classy-looking, albeit blandly named, “Levitating Portable Speaker,” which the company says it will be unveiling at CES in January.
The plain, white somewhat egg-shaped speaker unit hovers over its round base, which LG calls the Levitation Station. The latter houses electromagnets that create the floating effect, and a subwoofer for deep bass. In addition to looking cool, the speaker also promises 360-degree sound and 10-hour battery life. It’s rated IPX7 for water resistance so you can listen to it outdoors, even if the heavens rain on your parade. When it runs out of juice, the floating unit automatically descends to the base station to recharge.
Although LG’s Levitating Portable Speaker is not the first to market, its battery life and nondescript looks set it apart from its rivals. LG has not yet shared pricing information, but most other such devices cost in the range of $150 to $200, so the new speaker should cost about the higher end of that. We’ll likely find out more next month when LG shows off what this gadget can do.
Source: LG
Wileyfox commits to bringing Nougat to its entire portfolio of phones
Wileyfox will deliver platform and security updates to its entire portfolio.
Cyanogen’s announcement that it was shutting down its services and OS caught everyone by surprise, particularly those that partnered with the company to offer Cyanogen OS on their phones. British startup Wileyfox has five phones that run the now-defunct OS — Swift 2, Swift 2 Plus, Spark, Spark+, and Spark X — and the company has announced that it will bring the Nougat update to all of its handsets.
From the Reddit thread:
We are not commenting on behalf of Cyanogen. Our OS Strategy and Software plan moving forward will be complete soon. We have agreed a smooth transition where we will continue deliver constant and consistent software and OS updates. Our plan is to bring our entire Wileyfox portfolio onto Android N, the latest version of Google Android’s OS, in a timely manner – while still continuing to protect the range with Google software security updates.
We will share our full and final plan in due time. Our statement for now is we are confident Wileyfox’s software will continue to evolve and stay pure to Android, enhanced to maximise our consumers’ user experience.
Wileyfox is just one of several companies that launched phones powered by Cyanogen OS. The other notable vendor is Lenovo, which teamed up with Cyanogen for the ZUK Z1. India’s Yu Televentures also has several devices running Cyanogen OS, and it is likely these manufacturers will also reveal their transition plans shortly.
We’ll let you know once Wileyfox shares additional details regarding software updates.
Tesla’s next-generation Superchargers should be much faster
Tesla’s Superchargers are certainly faster than most public EV stations, but they’re still far slower than you might hope for. When it can take about 40 minutes to get an 80 percent charge, you can’t exactly grab and go like you would at a gas pump. Relief is in sight, however: Elon Musk has teased third-generation Superchargers that could supply much, much more power than the maximum 150kW per car you see today. Even the 350kW floated as a guess by Electrek’s Fred Lambert is like a “children’s toy,” according to Musk.
Musk isn’t diving into specifics, to no one’s surprise, so it’s not clear just how quickly the new system would charge, when it arrives or whether it will be compatible with existing Tesla cars. As our Autoblog compatriots point out, though, Geneva is planning to deploy buses that use 600kW “flash-charging” to keep running without significantly interrupting their schedules. Even a longer recharge at the end of the line should take 4-5 minutes. If Tesla can approach that level of power delivery, it could speed up charging to the point where you can visit a Supercharger when you’re pressed for time (say, on the way to work).
Any dramatic improvement would go a long way toward making EVs more acceptable to a public used to refilling their cars almost on impulse, instead of planning their trips around it. However, it could also make financial sense for Musk and company. The shorter your charging stop, the sooner you free up a given space for the next driver. Whatever Tesla spends to upgrade stations could be offset by taking more customers (many of whom will be paying) and reducing the need for additional stations to keep up with demand. Also, Musk notes that both these “V3” stations and Powerwall 2 will be key to a wide rollout of solar-powered Superchargers that are kinder to both Tesla’s energy costs and the environment.
@FredericLambert There are some installed already, but full rollout really needs Supercharger V3 and Powerpack V2, plus SolarCity. Pieces now in place.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 24, 2016
@FredericLambert A mere 350 kW … what are you referring to, a children’s toy?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 24, 2016
Via: Autoblog
Source: Elon Musk (Twitter 1), (2)
B&H Photo Offering 15-Inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro With $200 Discount and Copy of Parallels 12
Just after the Christmas shopping period, B&H Photo is offering impressive deals on the new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. B&H is offering $200 off with a free copy of Parallels 12, which is worth $79.95.
2.6 GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar – $2,199, down from $2,399 ($200 off)
2.7 GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar – $2,599, down from $2,799 ($200 off)
B&H is also offering non-Touch Bar 13-inch MacBook Pros for $100 to $150 off. Those who purchase those models will also receive a free copy of Parallels 12.
MacRumors is an affiliate partner with B&H Photo Video and may sometimes get paid if you click one of the above links and purchase a product or service.
Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Dark matter scientist Vera Rubin dies at 88
It’s a sad time for the astrophysics world. Vera Rubin, who was instrumental to confirming the existence of dark matter, has died of dementia at the age of 88. While the concept of dark matter had been proposed by Fritz Zwicky back in 1933, it was Rubin and her colleague Kent Ford who provided firm evidence in the 1960s and 1970s. They noticed that the stars at the outside of spiral galaxies spin just as quickly as those on the outside — according to the understanding of gravity at the time, these enormous star formations should tear themselves apart. The only viable explanation was an invisible mass, roughly 10 times larger than what we can see, that was holding everything together.
While we still don’t know what dark matter is, the work of Rubin and Ford has held up to this day. Current scientific modelling has determined that over 90 percent of the universe is made of dark matter, which helps explain things like the rate of cosmic expansion.
Rubin in particular was both a poster child and advocate for women in science. She was the only female astronomy major to graduate from Vassar College in 1948, and was the first woman to conduct observations at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory. Rubin was the first woman to win the Royal Astronomical Society’s Gold Medal in well over a century. She also encouraged girls to study science, and for institutions to either lift bans on women (Princeton’s astronomy program didn’t allow women until 1975) or include them more often in decision-making. The scientist was one of the few women elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
In addition to these legacies, Rubin leaves behind a family steeped in science. All four of her children landed careers in research, and her late daughter Judith Young helped discover the proportional distribution of light and gas in galaxies. Science was clearly a cornerstone of her life, and you’ll likely see the results of that commitment for decades to come.
Don’t shoot for the stars, we already know what’s there. Shoot for the space in between because that’s where the real mystery lies.
— Vera Rubin (@rubin_vera) February 4, 2016
Via: NPR
Source: Carnegie Institution
Samsung’s Gear VR browser gets improved WebVR content support
One of the best reasons to (still) consider a Galaxy S7 smartphone is the Gear VR headset support, and with Google’s Daydream a looming rival, Samsung wants to keep things that way. As such, Samsung recently updated its Internet for Gear VR browser used inside the virtual reality headset. The biggest change is support for WebVR 1.0, the first iteration of the experimental VR internet browser standard developed by Google and Mozilla. The feature makes it easier to view 3D images and streaming VR content on the device.
The company says with the 4.20 update (actually released last month), the browser now “allows users to surf the web and enjoy videos and photos on a large, virtual screen, just as if [they] were at the theater,” according to the blog post. It also supports 180 degree streaming video on the web, making it easier to view 3D VR videos from YouTube, for instance.
You can also set a 360 degree background image from one supplied by a cloud graphics company called OTOY. That, along with the “Skybox” feature (which lets websites set their own 360 background images), adds a stronger VR element to web browsing.
Samsung integrated its file browser in the Gear VR, making it easier to find and open movies and other content, aided by voice control and the on-screen keyboard, which now supports 11 languages. Intriguingly, Samsung also introduced Bluetooth capability to the browser, including support for the Gear S3 smartwatch. It didn’t specify what you could do with it, but hopefully it’ll give you a bit more control over content or games than just using the touchpad, on-screen keyboard or optional gamepad.
Source: Samsung
Fake news starts an Israel-Pakistan Twitter dispute
There’s no question that fake online news can have dire consequences, but it’s now clear that this is true even on an international scale. After a false story claimed that Israel was threatening to nuke Pakistan if it sent troops into Syria, Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja M. Asif warned Israel that his country could retaliate with nuclear weapons if necessary. He later backtracked by saying that Pakistan was peaceful and had nukes solely as a “deterrence to protect our freedom,” but only after Israel’s Ministry of Defense noted that the offending statement (attributed to former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon) didn’t exist.
Much of the onus for the gaffe is on Asif. You’d think that a major political figure would be extra-skeptical of news sources, and would think twice before sending tweets hinting at the use of weapons that could kill millions of people. However, this illustrates the importance of fighting fake news, whether it’s by downplaying its presence, blocking it or starving it of ad money. Just because you’re in a position of power doesn’t mean you can’t be tricked by a plausible-looking fantasy piece — reducing or fact-checking fake news can prevent these political incidents from happening in the future.
@KhawajaMAsif The statement attributed to fmr Def Min Yaalon re Pakistan was never said
— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) December 24, 2016
Via: Boston Globe, CNN
Source: Israel MOD (Twitter), Khawaja M. Asif (Twitter), AWDNews (fake)
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