NASA announces two new missions to study the early solar system

Right behind yesterday’s Explorer mission announcement, NASA has just announced two new Discovery missions to study the very early history of our solar system — the period about 10 million years after the hydrogen and helium in the sun burst into life. Known as Lucy and Psyche, the two missions will peer back in time by analyzing several metallic asteroids floating in the main asteroid belt and further out in Jupiter’s orbit.

Lucy is a robotic spacecraft that will continue the success of NASA’s New Horizons mission (currently on its way to photograph the Kuiper Belt) when it launches in October 2021. The Lucy spacecraft is expected to reach the main asteroid in 2025 and will spent the next few years studying six different Jupiter Trojan asteroids, which circle the sun in two different clusters that share Jupiter’s orbit. “Because the Trojans are remnants of the primordial material that formed the outer planets,” Lucy mission principal investigator Harold F. Levison explained, they hold vital clues to deciphering the history of the solar system.”

Lucy will be carrying updated versions of the RALPH and LORRI science instruments onboard New Horizons and will also be borrowing some team members from asteroid-bound OSIRIS-Rex mission that launched in late 2016.

A few years after Lucy, Psyche will begin its journey towards the giant metal asteroid known as 16 Psyche in 2023. Made up of iron and nickel, 16 Psyche circles the sun at about three times the distance of the Earth and is believed to be the frozen metal core of a Mars-sized planet that was exposed by some violent interplanetary events billions of years in the past. “16 Psyche is the only known object of its kind in the solar system,” Psyche’s principal investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton said, “and this is the only way humans will ever visit a core. We learn about inner space by visiting outer space.”

The Psyche spacecraft will arrive at the asteroid in 2030 after flying by Mars in 2025.

This e-paper backpack is the kind of crazy we deserve

Just to be clear, this is exactly what you think it is: a backpack with a hole cut in it, and an e-paper display wedged inside. And yes, that e-paper display has my face on it. Normally, this is the time where I’d start talking about hitting peak CES absurdity, but POP-I president Vikram Joshi has more in store than just these rough early models.

But first, the basics. At some point this year, you’ll be able to buy a backpack with a 4.7-inch or 10-inch e-paper screen for between $100 and $400. You can also have one of these bags in any material you want (as long as you want leather or canvas). Anyway, Joshi says the startup has been working on the concept for about a year, and has put plenty of work into developing these flexible displays. Those screens — which Joshi and team are sourcing from another vendor — will undergo more fine-tuning in hopes that apparel and accessory makers will stick them in their products. These aren’t the most elegant first attempts, but as far as he’s concerned, that’s the nature of the beast — in order to drive adoption, POP-I has to do some of the initial design and production to create some buzz.

Judging by some of the stories out there, I’d say they succeeded. It doesn’t hurt that the process of connecting to the screen from the phone and swapping patterns is pretty simple. When the corresponding app is installed, it forged a connection to the screen over Blueooth — from there, users can pick from some preloaded patterns or do what I did and snap a picture to load. After a few seconds, you’re good to go. The app’s interface is actually pretty reminiscent of Snapchat, since it launches straight into the camera and lets you add stickers and doodle on top of images. Joshi admits the team would eventually like to build out some kind of social platform on top of all that imaging, but there’s plenty of work to be done before they get to that point.

So yes, these bags are far, far, far from perfect. They’re just the tip of a very particular sartorial iceberg, though, and maybe this sort of flexible gear is just what our generation deserves.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

GoPro will outline the Karma drone’s future in February

GoPro has mostly been silent about its Karma drone’s return following a recall in November, but it’s finally ready to start talking… well, almost. The action camera maker has revealed that it will detail the Karma’s worldwide relaunch sometime in early February. GoPro isn’t saying much at this point, but it’s close to completing its investigation of the Karma’s power loss issues and expects the robotic flyer to hit shelves in 2017. Vague, we know.

While it’s good to see that GoPro is confident enough in the Karma to start providing a timetable, the news won’t be very comforting to prospective (and former) owners. It will have been roughly 3 months since the recall before GoPro even starts talking about the relaunch. Will buyers be enthusiastic after all that time, especially with both the recall and the competition lingering in the back of their minds? GoPro’s name is still synonymous with action video, but there’s a concern that it may have seriously hurt its chances at becoming an equally big name in the drone world.

Source: GoPro

Scientists trace a cosmic radio burst to its home galaxy

Fast radio bursts in space have confused the astronomy community for years. What causes them, and where do they come from? At last, researchers are getting some answers. For the first time, scientists have traced one of these bursts back to its home galaxy. They first used the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array radio telescope to pinpoint the object’s exact location, and then used the Gemini North telescope to create an image of that patch of sky. The most surprising part isn’t how they did it, though — it’s where the radio blasts are coming from.

The team narrowed down the source to FRB 121102, an object in a dwarf galaxy (it’s less than a hundredth the mass of the Milky Way) over 3 billion light years away. In theory, bursts are more likely to come from large galaxies, where the sheer number of stars increases the chances of neutron stars sending out beams of electromagnetic radiation. Clearly, that isn’t always the case. But what’s causing it?

The galaxy is relatively young and forming stars quickly, so it’s possible that the bursts are linked to young neutron stars. Alternately, the bursts could be the product of gamma ray bursts or hypernovae (very large supernovae) that tend to occur in dwarf galaxies. Whatever the cause, the successful discovery is important. If researchers can repeat their achievement, they’ll have a better chance of identifying the nature of these bursts. That, in turn, could explain more about the lifecycles of galaxies and the nature of the universe.

Via: Space.com

Source: McGill University

Willow’s smart breast pumps slide into moms’ bras

Smart breast pumps aren’t novel, but a new product relieves moms from the hassle of having to hold up a device or be chained to a power outlet while pumping. Willow’s smart breast pumps are two individual, motorized cups that mothers can slip into their nursing bras and go about other tasks instead of sitting down and waiting till they’re done. Here at CES 2017, I got a chance to check out the new device, which was easy to use. The pump’s motor felt gentle when I placed it on my chest over my clothes; for hygiene reasons, I did not try it on the way it’s intended to be used — inside a bra.

The pair of teardrop-shaped gadgets each have a motorized pump that’s surprisingly quiet, although to be fair, it’s not easy to hear the hum of a gentle motor in the midst of the cacophony of noises on a noisy show floor. Mothers are supposed to slip a Willow into the cups of their nursing bras, then press the play button on each to start pumping and the up or down arrow keys to adjust the intensity of the sucking. That design is what’s truly novel about the Willow – it frees up moms’ hands to type away at a keyboard or prepare a meal. Compared to other smart pumps, which either look confusing or downright horrifying, these look relatively inoffensive and much more modern.

As the milk starts filling up a replaceable attached bag through a one-way valve, the Willow measures how much liquid is collected and sends that info to a companion app (iOS for now, Android coming). This is important for parents or caregivers to tell how much milk they’re producing and how much supply they have to feed their children.

Each bag can contain up to four ounces of milk, and can be easily removed to store in a freezer. You can also cut the top off and pour the milk out into a feeding bottle. I was impressed with how easy it was to open up each pump to get the milk, and how intuitive the interface is. I was familiar enough to turn on, reset and get each bag of milk without any guidance from the rep in just two tries. That simplicity is a nice touch, considering a device meant to relieve stress from a daily routine should really not be frustrating to use.

At $429 for a pair, though, the Willow is not cheap, but the company says that that price is comparable to what you’d pay for a regular motorized breast pump anyway. Frazzled moms who are struggling to find time to pump their milk or want to keep track of their output may find the Willow a helpful purchase when it goes on sale in Spring.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.

CES 2017: Ford to Integrate Alexa Virtual Assistant into its Cars From Next Month

Ford has announced it is teaming up with Amazon to integrate Alexa virtual assistant into its cars, allowing vehicle owners to access shop, search, and control smart home features on the road.

The partnership means owners of Ford cars equipped with the SYNC 3 AppLink system will be able to access Amazon’s Alexa voice-activated virtual assistant from the driver’s seat, enabling them to check the weather, add items to shopping lists, play audiobooks, and control Alexa-compatible smart home devices, like lights and thermometers.

“Ford and Amazon are aligned around a vision that your voice should be the primary way to interface with your favorite devices and services,” said Don Butler, executive director, Ford Connected Vehicle and Services. “Customers will be able to start their vehicles from home, and manage smart home features while on the road – making life easier.”

Ford said that beginning next month, some owners of its vehicles will be able to use Alexa voice commands to access certain car functions and even check the range of their car. Specifically, owners of the Ford Focus Electric, Fusion Energy, and the C-MAX Energy will be able to use their Amazon Echo or Echo Dot smart speaker in the home to lock their car or start the engine remotely. Ford said it plans to offer the Alexa commands in more of its SYNC Connect cars at a later date.

The second phase of the rollout, expected this summer, allows Ford owners to tap into a broad set of Alexa skills using their voice while driving – helping them keep their eyes on the road and hands on the wheel.

“We’re excited to work with Ford to enhance the driver experience both inside and outside of the vehicle,” said Steve Rabuchin, vice president, Amazon Alexa. “We believe voice is the future, and this is particularly true in cars. The ability to use your voice to control your smart home, access entertainment, manage to-do lists and more makes for an extraordinary driving experience. We can’t wait for Ford customers to try this out.”

Amazon’s Alexa has been cropping up in a range of upcoming products at CES so far this year, appearing in third-party smart speakers, TVs, lamps, and even refrigerators.

Tags: Ford, Amazon Echo, CES 2017
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Huawei Mate 9 arriving in the U.S. Jan 6 for $599, will add Alexa support in a future update

Huawei’s massive and impressive Mate 9 will be coming to the U.S. this month.

Huawei’s indomitable quest for world domination continues this week as it has announced its latest oversized flagship, the Mate 9, would be coming to the U.S. on January 6 for a very agreeable $599 through various online retailers including Amazon and Newegg.

The phone, which has been available in parts of Europe and Asia since December, has been met with considerable praise, with our Alex Dobie saying, “In a world without the Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the Huawei Mate 9 is now the best big-screened Android phone you can buy.”

The fact that Huawei can put out phones of this quality underscores just how far it’s come in the past year. Most of that is thanks to the new EMUI 5, which provides a far superior user experience to anything we’ve seen in earlier Huawei phones. And because the UI is so much improved, the rest of the phone shines through.

One thing that wasn’t included in the previously-released versions of the Mate 9 was Amazon Alexa support, which will come in a forthcoming update to existing devices, and will be preloaded on new ones. Alexa will be included through an app, making it possible to communicate with the service the same way one would an Echo speaker or a smart refrigerator. Huawei isn’t saying in which countries the Alexa update will roll out, but given that Alexa is only officially available in a handful, the selection will likely be small.

Huawei Mate 9 specs

The Mate 9 will be available starting January 6 at Amazon, Newegg, Best Buy and B&H Photo in Space Gray and Moonlight Silver models.

At the Mate 9 announcement in Las Vegas, it was said that Leica, the famous camera company with which Huawei has an ongoing relationship to improve mobile photography, will open an “innovation center” at its German campus and, employing several Huawei engineers to improve the camera hardware and software experience in smartphones.

Huawei Mate 9

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LG G6 won’t have a modular design as focus shifts to ‘aesthetics and usability’

No one liked the LG G5’s modular design, so LG is ditching it.

LG’s audacious plan to offer a modular design with the LG G5 failed, and with the company’s profits taking a turn for the worse, it is going back to the basics. At CES, LG has announced that it will ditch the modular platform for its upcoming LG G6, instead focusing on “aesthetics and usability.”

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, LG’s Chief Technologist Skott Ahn said that the LG G6 will make its debut in the “very near future.” The executive also reaffirmed that LG will not be selling its mobile phone business, or spinning it off as a separate entity.

While LG’s idea of a modular phone was novel, its implementation was clunky. The company is now looking to overturn its fortunes with the LG G6, which is expected to make its debut at Mobile World Congress next month. The phone will be priced in the $500 to $600 range, and will be available initially in North America, Europe, South Korea, and online-only in China.

What do you guys think of LG’s decision to get rid of the modular design?

Xiaomi India’s revenues exceeded $1 billion in 2016

Xiaomi sold a lot of phones in India in 2016.

Xiaomi has announced that it crossed $1 billion in revenue in 2016 from its Indian unit. The last two quarters of 2016 were particularly fruitful for the company as it set new sales records in the market. The Redmi Note 3 was very well received in India, with Xiaomi selling over 2.3 million units in just six months. The entry-level Redmi 3S also made a strong start following its debut in the third quarter.

From Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain:

We are truly excited to announce that Xiaomi has achieved this historic feat of recording over US$1 billion in revenue achieved within two years of us launching our operation in India. 2016 was an incredible year for us and we were able to attain several milestones.

This achievement is a great motivation for us to deliver even more high-quality, disruptive products in the coming year. It speaks volumes about the love and trust Mi fans have for Xiaomi, and we are extremely thankful to everyone who were a part of our journey. We look forward to an even better 2017.

With competition in its home market intensifying, Xiaomi will be looking to India for future growth. The company has launched a few products in its Mi Ecosystem label in India, including the Mi Air Purifier 2, and will be looking to expand its smart home products in the country this year.

FLIR Duo is an GoPro-sized thermal camera for drones

FLIR is no stranger to thermal imagery. It’s cameras can be found on everything from industrial gear to the iPhone. The company has also been working with aerial tech for over 20 years, and more recently drones with the Zenmuse XT collaboration with DJI and the FLIR Vue. The FLIR Duo brings that same concept to smaller drones, i.e. the ones that you and I are more likely to own (like the 3DR Solo, or DJI Phantom 2).

Essentially, the Duo is a more affordable version of its existing aerial products ($999 compared to the Vue that starts at $1500). Image-wise, the Duo combines a 160×120 thermal image with a 2-megapixel standard camera, meaning you don’t have to choose between heat imagery or regular photography, as Duo can handle, and even combine, both.

It’s no surprise that the Duo looks a lot like a GoPro, aside from the dual-lens setup of course. This is, in no small part, to ensure easy compatibility with a number of existing craft. The small problem — for FLIR at least — is that all of DJI’s most popular drones come with cameras built-in already. And that’s a large slice of the consumer drone market. As FLIR has worked with DJI in the past it’s not unthinkable that this functionality could become Phantom-friendlier (Phantoms before the model 3 will work) but for now, it’s going to require a different quadcopter.

We also got to see the new FLIR One mobile-friendly camera. The One comes in Android and iPhone variants that slide into the bottom of your phone. The new One — the third iteration — comes in two versions. The more affordable of which is $199, a $50 saving on the previous model. It also comes with a height-adjustable connector, meaning you won’t need to take the case off your handset to use it. So, you’re looking to use a drone for aerial inspection, but also want a handheld version, FLIR should have your attention.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.