The ‘Basslet’ puts a haptic subwoofer on your wrist

Bass, it’s the (musical) final frontier. By that, I mean it’s the part of music that needs to be done right. Too much and songs sound like a mess. Too little, and there’s no guts. Enter Basslet, from Lofelt. In a nutshell, Basslet looks like a watch, but it actually houses a transponder that converts the low-frequencies of your music into vibrations that “feel” like bass. It doesn’t vibrate like a phone though, it matches the music, so if bass rises from low- to high pitch, you feel that sweep. It’s a very unusual idea to grasp, but once you try it, you instantly get it. It’s a little bonkers, but it’s also a lot of fun.

The co-founders of Lofelt have form, both worked at two of the leading music software companies (Ableton and Native Instruments). They know bass, and its importance in music (or at least, certain styles). This also isn’t the first product to bring tactile bass out of the headphones and onto your skin. SubPac has been doing this for a while with it’s backpack and chair-friendly products. Tactile bass also has uses outside of music listening of course. Gaming and VR are obvious examples, as is home theatre, and DJing. Anywhere you might want to add a little oomph to sound, without annoying your neighbors.

The Basslet itself looks like a minimalist Swedish-design watch. It’s a blank, matte black square about a quarter-inch tall, with a simple rubber strap. There are two buttons on the side that act as “volume” controls, though it’s really more “intensity” as there’s no actual sound being produced, just the sensation of sound (think like when your ribs vibrate inside a loud club or car).

Basslet is wireless, to a point. You don’t plug your headphones into it, instead there is a companion dongle for that. The wearable then communicates with the dongle providing the “bass” in real, or very very near real time. I occasionally sensed some latency. Not huge amounts, and it’s hard to tell given the mix of senses in play, but when there’s a lot going on in the song it can feel a little like a mush of vibrations, possible as much the fault of the audio as anything else.

Technically speaking, Basslet translates anything from about 10Hz – 250Hz into something you can feel. I love bass-heavy music, so this is a product that sings to me (I also love the SubPac, too). I imagine if your musical tastes are a little more… relaxed in the bass department, the idea of jacking up what is there might not make as much sense. The battery life is estimated to be between six and 12 hours, depending on how much you jack it up (for me, that’s all the way, all the time).

To enjoy the bass sensations, you need to wear Basslet pretty tight. The problem is the rubber strap it comes with isn’t the easiest to pull taught and clasp one handed. I soon got the technique down, but some of my colleagues fumbled around for a few minutes trying to get it tight enough to work properly. The good news is, you can replace the strap with any conventional watch strap, meaning you can mix up the style, too.

At $199, this is perhaps a hard sell to those bass-heads who are happy with headphones of about the same cost. But, if you’re someone who loves music for the “feels” and want to enhance it in a way that headphones could never, ever do, this is something you’re going to love. With over $600,000 raised via the Kickstarter project, there’s plenty of people in that category. I’m certainly one of them. I already feel a little deflated every time I take it off. So I’m basically (bass-ically?) never going to.

DARPA tests buoy network for fallback military comms at sea

It doesn’t matter how many war machines you have under your command if you can’t relay orders to their operators. Maintaining communications is just as important as firepower, and DARPA wants the armed forces to have as many contingencies as possible when networks go down or are actively jammed. Setting up a fallback network is even trickier on the open ocean, but the agency’s Tactical Undersea Network Architecture (TUNA) program is well on its way to a solution. That solution being a collection of “node” buoys, deployed from ships or planes, that are tethered together by fiber optic cables to create a radio frequency data network.

The fiber cables connecting the buoys may be thin, but are being developed to survive 30 days in challenging underwater environments, which should cover the time it takes to restore normal comms. Powering the network presents another problem, though the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Lab have created a concept buoy that draws energy from the constant ebb and flow of the ocean. The TUNA program has been in DARPA’s pipeline for the past few years, and with the first phase now complete, the next step is to build a fully working system and test it at sea.

DARPA’s seafaring solution compliments another ongoing program called Dynamic Network Adaptation for Mission Optimization (DyNAMO). Its goal is to develop a system that allows all different types of equipment found in different types of aircraft to talk to each other, creating something of a peer-to-peer communications network in the sky.

Source: DARPA

Obama’s social archive is available for your perusal

Twitter and Facebook first appeared to the masses around 2006, and two years later, Barack Obama became president. As such, he was the first @POTUS to use social media, to the tune of more than 100 social media profiles and over 250,000 posts. To record all that for posterity, the White House collaborated with ArchiveSocial on the White House Social Media Archive. It’s a searchable database of everything Obama and his administration posted on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Instagram and Pinterest over two terms and eight years.

It’s hard to believe now, but Obama’s @POTUS handle (and @FLOTUS and @VP) was only created recently in May, 2015. Prior to that, Obama had his own @BarackObama account run by staff, with his own personal tweets signed “-bo.” The @POTUS account will pass over to Donald Trump after his inauguration on January 20th, while Obama’s presidential accounts will live on as @POTUS44, @FLOTUS44, etc. Trump, of course, is also prolific on social media, particularly Twitter.

You can now search the administration’s social media output, though the results are a little scattershot at the moment. The White House points out that there are other ways of tracking Obama’s social media impact, though.

For instance, Digital art organization Rhizome is publishing a series of essays explaining internet culture associated with the Obama administration, including the “Thanks Obama” meme, Michelle Obama’s Turnip Vine and more. MIT Media Lab developed an interactive tool showing how White House tweet topics changed during the administration. In addition, GIPHY will launch a page that lets the public view all GIFs the White House Shared (above), the Feel Train Twitter bot @Relive44 will republish White House tweets over the next eight years, and Internet Archive is making White House data available on its archive.

Finally, as of yesterday, The White House will let you download its Twitter, Facebook and Vine archives yourself, along with tweets published by President Obama and the First Lady. All told, the administration left social media in pretty good shape for the next president — lets hope Trump keeps it that way.

Source: White House (1), (2)

In 2017 drones are getting faster, more fun and easy to fix

Drones aren’t new to CES, but it’s only the last year or two that they got their own dedicated area in the convention hall. But, drones are meant to fly free, and not behind netting, so some bright spark invented the Drone Rodeo: an annual off-site event where the latest and greatest in UAVs could do their thing as nature intended. The event is back this year, and once again, it was a pretty good snapshot of what’s going to be hot in the drone world in 2017.

The star of this year’s show was undoubtedly UVify. I already got to meet with their team ahead of time, to cover their no-compromises (yet accessible) racing drone called Draco. But there’s only so much you can do in the parking lot of the Las Vegas Convention Center. A dedicated aerodrome for drones (which is where the rodeo was held) is an entirely different matter.

I already talked about how the Draco was an exciting idea. A racing drone that can open the sport to a whole new audience is going to see many more pilots picking up the sticks. At the rodeo, I had the pleasure of “riding” along with UVify’s pro pilot, and it’s an incredible experience. By “riding” I really mean, I was wearing a pair of video goggles with a live feed from the drone’s camera in real time. Imagine backflips, barrel-rolls and nose-dives, all at breakneck speed, it’s like being on an invisible rollercoaster, except you’re just… stood there.

My flight was also notable for the company, as it was the first time Unify demoed its flagship Draco HD to any media. Unlike most racers, the Draco HD transmits digital video on 720p, not the usual lower-resolution analog stream. The result, unsurprisingly is a much crisper, larger feed beamed right into your eyes (via the excellent Avegant Glyph).

For budding drone pilots, and old timers alike, this should be exciting, as one of the most fun parts about flying, whether racing or otherwise, is enjoying the sensation of flying like a bird that these video feeds provide. Better quality feeds might require a bit more technology on the drone itself, but that’s only going to become easier and more common if companies like UVify lead the way.

Further highlighting the importance of FPV (as it’s called) was Epson. The company has been looking for a use for its Movio AR glasses since it launched them a couple of years ago. The company’s latest model — the BT-300 — is finding it spiritual home with FPV drone flying. So much so, Epson has worked with DJI on a drone-specific version, imaginatively titled the “Drone Edition.” By working directly with DJI, Epson’s goggles are a little more tailored to flying than the standard model. The BT-300 glasses are actually see through (rather than a heads-up display), but they use an augmented reality overlay to place a small, transparent live-feed from the drone’s camera in your view.

The benefit of the AR approach is that you can keep an eye on the drone itself, while lining up the perfect shot for the camera. It’s a neat trick. The drone edition also has tinted lenses to help with visibility outside in the sun. I’ll be honest, I tried them, and I didn’t immediately get on with it. I’ve flown using more typical video goggles, with a bright clear feed from the drone. I’ve also flown just line-of-sight. The BT-300 Drone Edition offers up neither the best of both, with the tint making it harder to spot the drone.

That said, the core idea is clever, and a good use of Epson’s existing technology. I was also given a demo of another mode, that instead of showing the camera feed from the drone, placed green markers showing where a drone with a pre-programmed flight would go. This seemed a much more immediately accessible use of the goggles to me, and I’m sure they’re working on more applications.

Outside of goggles and racing, 3D printing store Sculpteo was showing off its drone-specific marketplace. It’s designed for clumsy pilots (like me) that occasionally bring their craft down to the ground with a bump, or break parts other ways. The idea being, instead of buying an official part from a manufacturer, which could take a few days to get to you, you could print off a few temporary spares in advance, so you don’t need to stop flying should you break a (drone) leg.

The take away from the day was clear. Racing is crossing over, FPV is a key technology to both engage new pilots and assist the established ones, and services like Sculpteo’s should help all of us stay up in the air. At least a little bit longer.

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

Tinder VR is part social commentary, part huge disappointment

Can you bring the matchmaking magic of Tinder to virtual reality? No. CES brings tech’s biggest players into Las Vegas and even if there’s nothing to launch, it’s the place to strike deals and network. Naturally, that meant the swipe-matching app Tinder was in attendance. Its unassuming stall looked like dream sequence from Twin Peaks. It’s uniformly red, with white plinths to show off its PR pitch: a Tinder VR headset. While it may be a headset,there’s no screen, no motion tracking; just no technology. The company says (just like its app) the idea is about connecting strangers. But literally this time.

Initially, the goggles feel like any other typical Oculus or Galaxy Gear-style VR headset. Elasticated straps connect each stranger to a plastic chamber… and that then connects to your partner’s pair of eye holes. That’s it. You then stare into a strangers’ eyes, trying not to freak out.

It’s a short sensation (I only lasted a few seconds), but nothing about it is virtual reality. The stall paired together absolute strangers in an effort to make sparks fly. While I doubt any of the pairs were rushing off to immediately get married (or hook up), Tinder’s spokespeople said it had initiated conversations between people. Virtual reality is still a very isolating technology, but Tinder tried (in its way) to make it at least a little bit more personal.

The company was also very much aware that this was a bit of a frivolous PR grab rather than the future of app-based dating. And a bit of silly is fine. This is CES.

Conan O’Brien’s ‘Clueless Gamer’ skit gets a full TV show

Conan O’Brien’s Clueless Gamer segment, where the talk show host struggles through (and pokes fun at) the latest video games, has become increasingly popular — so much so that some studios pay for their games blasted in these skits (yep, they’re advertisements). And TBS is keen to capitalize on that success. Hollywood Reporter understands that the network is developing a stand-alone Clueless Gamer TV series that will go into production in February. Most of the details have yet to be hashed out, but Conan would only executive produce the show, not host it.

That’s potentially worrisome. After all, the existing bit works in no small part thanks to Conan’s distinct brand of acerbic humor, not just because there’s an inept gamer playing alongside celebrity pals. Will a full-length show fly if its redheaded creator is only lurking behind the scenes? We could see it happening, but its success may hinge on finding a truly special host who can recreate that comedic spark.

Via: Glixel

Source: Hollywood Reporter

UK digital video revenues beat out physical discs in 2016

It was only a matter of time before the convenience of video streaming services and digital download stores took its toll on sales of DVDs and Blu-rays. And according to a new report from the UK’s Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), the scales tipped in 2016, with revenues from digital video exceeding that of physical discs for the first time.

Based on data from The Official Charts Company, total sales of DVDs and Blu-rays declined by 17 percent year on year, dropping from over £1 billion in 2015 to £894 million last year. Digital revenues, on the other hand, grew by over £250 million to a total of over £1.3 billion in 2016, according to estimates from market research firm IHS.

It’s not hard to understand why people are spending more money on streaming services and digital downloads than ever before. Companies like Netflix and Amazon are investing heavily in big-budget original content, much of which is favourably reviewed and prime for binging. The past few years have also seen the advent of several new, specialist on-demand services like DisneyLife, and Hayu for reality TV addicts.

In addition, digital buy and rent services like the Sky Store, TalkTalk TV Store and Wuaki.tv mean you no longer have to leave the house and snag a physical disc to watch the latest releases in your living room. Taking all of this into consideration, it’s no shock that revenues have now surpassed those of physical media.

The ERA report also documents the continued, explosive growth of music streaming services. The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) said earlier this week that the number of audio streams served in 2016 hit 45 billion, a 68 percent increase on the previous year. Putting this into cold, hard cash, the ERA confirmed a nigh-parallel 65 percent increase in the revenues of these services last year. Both reports detail similar declines in the number of music downloads and CD sales year on year, with vinyl the physical format darling after record sales went up by more than 50 percent in 2016.

Via: Digital TV Europe

Source: Entertainment Retailers Association

Facebook hires ex-NBC anchor to head news partnerships team

Facebook has hired former CNN and NBC anchor Campbell Brown to head its news partnerships department to help it deal with a spate of recent problems around its news feed. In the newly-created position, Brown will “help news organizations and journalists work more closely and more effectively with Facebook,” she wrote on her Facebook page. The social network no doubt helps she can help deal with fake news, strained relations with media companies and other issues.

CEO Mark Zuckerberg famously said earlier this year that “we are a tech company, not a media company.” However, in a Facebook Live chat with COO Sheryl Sandberg, he softened that stance, acknowledging that “Facebook is a new kind of platform … it’s not a traditional media company. You know, we build technology and we feel responsible for how it’s used.”

Nevertheless, many media companies including the New York Times and Vox started creating strategies around Facebook Live and other features on the site to promote stories and even earn revenue. However, last summer Zuckerberg & Co. tweaked the algorithms to show your friends’ posts ahead of everything else, to the consternation of some news outlets.

I will be working directly with our partners to help them understand how Facebook can expand the reach of their journalism.

The massive reach of the site means it has an outsize impact on current events, and many pundits said a spate of fake Facebook news helped sway the presidential election in Donald Trumps’ favor. Zuckerberg denied those claims at first, but has since tacitly acknowledged that it’s a problem by asking users to help fight it. It has also started using third-party fact checkers to curb the problem.

Brown — who is married to a prominent Republican policy advisor — was brought on with all that in the background, and acknowledges that Facebook has played a “major part” in the “massive transformation” of the news business. Nevertheless, she won’t be acting as a sort of editor-in-chief for the site as some media heads want, Facebook executives told the New York Times.

Instead, she was hired for her savvy in the news industry as co-anchor of NBC’s Weekend Today, lead CNN anchor and White House correspondent. “I will be working directly with our partners to help them understand how Facebook can expand the reach of their journalism,” she said. “That also means making sure there is ongoing feedback from publishers as Facebook develops new products and tools for news organizations.”

Source: Facebook

Apple Celebrates Chinese New Year With Exclusive Wallpapers Created on iPad, iMac, and MacBook Pro

In celebration of the 2017 Chinese New Year, designated Year of the Rooster, Apple has launched a new section on its website in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore highlighting five young Chinese artists that have created contemporary versions of traditional “Nianhua” folk art. The first day of the Chinese New Year is January 28, 2017.

The artists include Victo Ngai, Eszter Chen, Zhou Fan, Ye Hongxing, and Jiang Shan. Apple has given some background information on each piece of art created for the Chinese New Year celebrations, which were all created using a range of its products, including the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and iMac.

Software programs used to make the art include Procreate for iPad, and Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator for Mac. On its website, Apple has wallpaper download links for each piece of art, as well as the date and location where each artist’s work will be showcased at an Apple retail store in China.

Earlier this week, accessory maker Mophie also announced a product of its own that has a theme surrounding the Year of the Rooster. Available on Apple.com, users can purchase a version of Mophie’s Powerstation Plus XL mobile battery with all-new artwork designed by Chinese street artist Hua Tunan. The XL universal battery offers 12,000 mAh of charge to both iOS and micro USB devices.

Apple has offered exclusive wallpapers to users in the past, last March encouraging fans to use its Renew program with a set of pro-environment backgrounds. For the Chinese New Year images, users can choose to download each piece of art in sizes for the Mac, iPhone, and iPad.

Earlier this week, Apple announced a Chinese New Year sale where users had the chance to get a free pair of red Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones when they purchased a select Mac or iPhone. The sale is now over, but began at 8:00 AM local time on January 6 in China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan. The company also launched a New Year’s gift guide with products themed around the celebrations.

Tag: Chinese New Year
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Apple Said to Shift to Lower Power IGZO Displays for MacBook Pro Later This Year

Apple will shift to indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) material for MacBook Pro displays as soon as later this year, according to IHS. The research firm told DigiTimes that Apple may continue to procure MacBook Pro displays based on current amorphous silicon (a-Si) material until the end of the first quarter.

The report claims Samsung and Sharp will begin supplying IGZO panels to Apple as soon as mid-2017. Sharp began mass production of IGZO displays in 2012, but evidence points towards Apple only using the material in iPads so far. A rumor claiming the first IGZO MacBooks would launch by 2014 proved to be inaccurate.

IGZO is a semiconducting material that has forty times more electron mobility than the standard a-Si used as the active layer of an LCD screen, allowing for less power consumption, improved touch sensitivity, and increased pixel density, which could pave the way for higher resolution displays.

DisplayMate president Raymond Soneira told us IGZO can also result in “significantly higher brightness,” but the material costs “considerably more” to manufacture. Production and yield issues have slowed the adoption of IGZO, but the material is now showing up in more products such as LG’s new OLED TVs.

“Sometimes IGZO is simply referred to as Metal Oxide,” he added. “The higher the PPI and the wider the Color Gamut (like DCI-P3 for the new MacBook Pro) the greater the benefits of IGZO over a-Si, particularly for LCDs.”

The glass edge and backplane circuitry of IGZO displays can also be made smaller, possibly leading to a thinner MacBook Pro. However, such a design change is less likely this year given Apple just redesigned the notebook in 2016 for the first time in four years. Apple’s interest likely lies in the power savings.

The original iPad Air’s overall size and battery were reduced by around 25% compared to the previous model, and analysis suggested the tablet’s new IGZO display made that possible. However, a smaller MacBook Pro battery would likely be perceived negatively following battery life complaints on 2016 models.

Given the timeline, Apple’s switch to IGZO displays may be planned for the next-generation MacBook Pro. KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said new MacBook Pro models will launch in the second half of 2017, possibly with 32GB of RAM and slightly faster Kaby Lake processors unveiled this week.

IHS estimates Apple will order 9.7 million MacBook Pro display panels in 2017, an increase from 8.8 million units in 2016.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tags: IGZO, IHS
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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