Google may sell off its satellite imaging division

Wall Street has been pushing Google to behave more like a regular company, hacking and slashing at its longer-term projects and R&D divisions. Now, Alphabet CFO Ruth Porat has her sword pointed at the search engine’s satellite imaging unit, Terra Bella. According to both the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, Google will sell the division to a competitor, Planet, and buy mapping data from other companies in future.

Terra Bella began life as Skybox Imaging, which Google bought for $500 million way back in 2014. The division has developed and launched seven satellites that take high-resolution snaps of our planet. Not only is the imagery used to update and improve Google Maps, but the data is also sold to third parties.

It’s believed that Planet doesn’t have the cash to buy Terra Bella from Google for anywhere near the asking price. As such, the would-be suitor will hand Alphabet equity in its business in exchange for the satellite division.

What we don’t know, and probably won’t for some time, is what this means for Skybox for Good. That was Google’s ambitious plan to hand high-resolution mapping data to non-profits to help them track their work. Let’s hope that nonprofits clearing minefields and preventing deforestation don’t lose out to what could be some short-sighted cost-cutting.

Source: WSJ, Bloomberg

‘Ghost in the Shell’ anime will return to US & UK theaters

Before the live-action version of Ghost in the Shell hits theaters in March, the original animated movie will return for a limited theater run. In the UK, that means a one-night-only appearance January 25th, while in the US Funimation is backing a two-night stand where the movie will play subtitled one night and then with English-dubbed audio the next, on February 7th & 8th. Afterwards, Lionsgate is re-releasing the movie on Blu-ray and Digital HD March 7th in a Deluxe Collector’s Edition with Steelbook packaging and Mondo artwork.

Whether you need a refresher before checking out Scarlett Johanssen’s take on the cybernetic Major and her high-tech world, or plan on skipping the remake entirely, it should be a worthwhile night out. Of course, if you’ve just never seen it at all, then we can only recommend you fix that oversight, immediately.

The websites have more information about participating theaters and ticket information, but there’s also a treat for homebodies. The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex series will return to Cartoon Network’s Toonami lineup, starting Saturday, February 4th at 3AM. And you don’t even have to get off of the couch.

Via: CNET

Source: UK, US, Toonami (Facebook), Funimation Blog

Norway is killing FM radio and folks aren’t happy

Norway has started switching off FM transmitters today, becoming the first nation in the world to dump the 80-year-old standard. The changeover to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) will give citizens more stations, better coverage, program time-shifting and more, the government says. However, the majority are against the changeover, according to a recent poll. “We are simply not ready for this yet,” MP Ib Thompson told Reuters.

There are millions of radios in houses, summer homes and boats that will no longer work, and only a quarter of the nation’s cars have DAB radio. Though much of Europe changed smoothly from analog to digital TV, most folks were able to get adapter boxes for under 25 euros ($30) or so. The same can’t be said for FM — it reportedly costs between 1,000 and 2,000 kroner ($120 – $230) for a DAB car radio adapter. “It’s completely stupid, I don’t need any more channels than I’ve already got,” 72-year-old Eivind Sethov told the AFP in Oslo.

Norway has been prepping the switch for years, though, with DAB running alongside FM since 1995. (The US uses HD radio, which transmits both analogue and digital FM bands simultaneously.) Right now, there are 22 national digital stations, but only five can be packed into the analog FM bands. Switching to digital will also increase coverage and reduce transmission costs, as it is difficult and expensive to get FM signals into Norway’s fjords and mountainous regions.

A radio transmitter in Isfjord, Norway (Getty Images)

Nationally owned chain NRK will be the first to turn off its FM transmitters, with private stations following later in the year. Broadcasting chief Thor Gjermund Eriksen told Aftenposten that he’s confident, but anticipates some early turmoil. “We expect a big rush,” he said. With the gradual transition, though, Eriksen hopes that people will take action once they notice what’s happening. “We believe that many people will be in touch when they discover that they have lost some of their NRK channels.”

Other Euro countries will follow suit, depending on how it goes in Norway. Switzerland and Denmark have made a strong push for digital radio, and Britain says it may turn off FM once half of listeners are using digital formats. The UK recently launched “multiplex” digital stations, despite reported reception issues and other problems. While France and other nations aren’t convinced, successful digital switchovers in neighboring countries might tip the scales there, too.

One area that hasn’t been discussed much is the learning curve. First developed in the 1930s, FM radio is one of the last 20th century technologies to cede to the digital age. By switching to DAB, Norway is cutting off a large group of people, especially the elderly, from one of the few kinds of tech they know how to use. While the nation is one of the more technologically advanced in the world, the switchover may be the most difficult for those folks.

Source: Aftenposten (translated), Norwegian Minister of Culture

The best ‘Battlefield’ is finally playable on Xbox One

The pinnacle of the Battlefield series is at long last backward compatible on Xbox One. Of course, I’m talking about Battlefield Bad Company 2, which came out way back in 2010. There have been four games in the franchise since (Battlefield 3, 4, Hardline and last year’s Battlefield 1), but the developers at DICE still haven’t gone back to the Bad Company well.

As a refresher, the Bad Company sub-series started out as a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 game, and put a big emphasis on the single-player campaign. It was a stark departure for the previously multiplayer-only (and mostly PC-based) franchise, and also served as the starting point for the Frostbite game engine that powers almost everything publisher Electronic Arts makes these days.

The campaigns followed a ragtag group of disgraced soldiers and took a tone more along the lines of Tropic Thunder than Black Hawk Down. The writing was hilarious, often taking direct jabs at how over-serious Call of Duty and other military games had become — something that even followed through to the game’s marketing materials. What’s most impressive, though, is that neither the multiplayer or campaign portions felt tacked on to service the other; each felt complete on their own.

For Bad Company 2, DICE ramped up the humor and, on the tech side, the scale and destruction. Especially in terms of multiplayer. After any given match, structures would be demolished and the map (Arica Harbor, whatup?) looked wildly different as buildings were torn asunder. The chaos of squad-based combat left its scars on the, well, battlefield in a way that was fun and believable. Speaking of maps, to keep things fresh EA regularly gave out free map packs for a year after the game came out. Would that happen today? Hahahahahaha.

And while Battlefield 1 definitely scratches my longstanding itch, I’m more excited to jump into a chopper in BC 2’s Vietnam maps with Creedence Clearwater Revival playing in the background than I am to man a mounted gun on a zeppelin over France again.

Way back when, Joystiq awarded the online offering four out of five stars, with Alexander Sliwinski saying that finding fault with the adversarial suite was “really difficult.” So if the game is so great, how come it hasn’t gotten the sequel it deserves? Well, back in 2014, then-CEO Karl Magnus Troedsson explained to Eurogamer that his studio didn’t know what made the game so beloved to fans. Hence its long-standing hesitation.

“It’s scary to go back and try to remake an old fan favorite when no-one can really put their finger on what it is people love,” he said.

The good news is that with it being backwards compatible now, maybe you could find a few ways to articulate what’s special about the game for EA. Battlefield 3 is on offer too, but if you didn’t play it back in 2011, you aren’t missing much six years later.

Also, Dragon Age Origins, Battlefield: Bad Co. 2 & Battlefield 3 are coming to Xbox One Backward Compatibility today https://t.co/qPMRNrLoTQ pic.twitter.com/IOoqzK7My3

— / Larry Hryb / (@majornelson) January 10, 2017

Via: Eurogamer

Source: Major Nelson

You can get the Honor 6X for just $199 today, but you’ll have to act fast

Honor 6X’s first flash sale kicks off later today in the U.S.

Honor unveiled the budget Honor 6X last week, and the handset will be available for sale in the U.S. starting January 15 for $249 unlocked. Ahead of its debut, Honor is running a flash sale on its website that kicks off at 12 p.m. CST, in which it is offering the Honor 6X for $199, a $50 discount.

To be eligible, you’ll have to register on Honor’s website ahead of the sale, following which you will receive a coupon code in your email. Once the flash sale kicks off, you’ll be able to use the coupon to claim a $50 discount on the Honor 6X. Honor says that stock is “incredibly limited,” so if you’re interested, you’ll have to purchase the phone as soon as the sale kicks off.

The Honor 6X features a 5.5-inch Full HD display, octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 655 SoC, 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, microSD slot, dual camera setup at the back with a 12MP primary shooter along with a 2MP sensor for depth-sensing information, 8MP front camera, and a 3340mAh battery.

On the software front, the phone runs Huawei’s EMUI 4.1, which is based on Android 6.0 Marshmallow. An update to Nougat with EMUI 5.0 is planned for sometime during the second quarter. To know more about the device, be sure to take a look at our hands-on post.

See at Honor

Lenovo P2 makes its debut in India with huge 5100mAh battery

Snapdragon 625, 5100mAh battery, and fast charging for ₹16,999.

Lenovo’s latest phone in India is the budget-centric P2. The phone will be going up for sale later today in Champagne Gold and Graphite Grey color options, and will be exclusive to Flipkart. The highlight of the P2 is the 5100mAh battery, which Lenovo says will last up to three days on a full charge. The company is also touting its new fast charging solution, which provides up to 10 hours of “normal usage” with a 15-minute charge.

The Lenovo P2 features a 5.5-inch Full HD display, and is powered by an octa-core 14nm Snapdragon 625 SoC clocked at 2.0GHz. You also get 32GB of storage (and a microSD card slot), and the phone will be offered with either 3GB or 4GB of RAM. Other specs include 13MP camera at the back, 5MP front shooter, Wi-Fi ac, LTE with VoLTE, FM radio, NFC, and Bluetooth 4.1. On the software side of things, the phone runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow.

The variant with 3GB of RAM will retail for ₹16,999, and the model with 4GB of RAM will be available for ₹17,999. Given the minor difference between the two variants, you’re better off opting for the version with more memory. And if you have a credit card from SBI, you’ll get 10% off. Who’s interested?

See at Flipkart

How to fix ‘You have downloads on too many devices’ error on Netflix

Getting a “You have downloads on too many devices” error on the Netflix Android app? Here’s how to fix it.

When Netflix introduced the ability to download content offline, people were thrilled — and rightfully so! Now it’s possible to take Orange is the new Black on the subway, or Jessica Jones on a plane. It means being able to store as much content as your device can handle and watching it whenever or wherever you want, internet connection be damned!

But there are some limitations. If you find yourself with an error message telling you that you have exceeded your device limit, there’s an easy fix: delete the content from a device you’re no longer using.

How to delete downloaded content from Netflix for Android

Open the Netflix app.
Tap on the menu button (three lines) on the left side of the screen.
Tap on My Download.

Tap on the title(s) you want to delete.

Tap on the blue “phone” icon next to the title description.
In the overflow menu, select Delete Download.
Repeat for all content on the device, or use the edit button to delete all the episodes of a show.
Make sure your phone is connected to the internet so Netflix acknowledges files have been deleted.

Why is this error happening?

The “You have downloads on too many devices” error comes from a limitation on how many devices per account can download offline content. The breakdown is as follows:

• SD plan: 1 device
• HD plan: 2 devices
• 4K plan: 4 devices

Most people subscribe to the HD plan, which allows for offline downloads on two devices, say a phone and a tablet. You’ll get the above error if you attempt to download content onto a third device.

What happens if I reset or lose my phone without deleting content?

It’s possible to forget to manually delete offline Netflix content before resetting a phone, or before it is tragically lost. In that case, Netflix will continue acknowledging that device for 30 days, after which time it will reset the count. There’s nothing you can do — though you may want to talk to Netflix’s support if the issue is urgent — but wait it out.

How to download offline content on Netflix

What is HDR?

Your phone takes HDR pictures and your TV shows HDR video. Here’s what that means.

HDR is a term that gets tossed around a lot, and it seems like it never really gets explained. It stands for High Dynamic Range, but it means different things depending on what exactly is being discussed. Let’s break it down into simple terms so we all can understand what it means — and why it matters.

You’ll see HDR being used as a descriptor in a lot of different products — cameras, televisions, microphones, and even industrial and medical equipment. In the generic sense, HDR means a thing has a wider range of acceptable input or output when compared to standard equipment. What we’re going to focus on is HDR as it applies to camera and displays.

HDR Cameras and Photos

We all have used a crummy smartphone camera and tried to take a picture without enough light. It ends up being a dark, yellow mess that’s not a great way to capture the moment on any level. We’ve seen the same when we use the flash on a smartphone camera to try and fix it, then everything turns a weird ethereal bluish-white. This is because of the dynamic range of the camera.

The range of light that the camera hardware can focus on and capture is fixed. HDR fixes that.

A camera can only process a certain amount of light that’s brighter than a threshold, and a certain amount that’s darker. You can move the threshold, but you can’t expand it to see more of one side without losing some of the other. If parts of the image are brighter than the allowable range, they are washed out and white. If parts are darker, they are black. If you make an adjustment to see more of the brighter light, more things turn black. If you do the opposite to see more dark things, more things wash out. The range of light that the camera hardware can focus on and capture is fixed.

More: When to use HDR for photos on your Android

HDR settings aim to fix this and give you a picture that has more bright things correctly exposed and more dark things correctly exposed at the same time. This is done by taking more than one picture when you press the button. Photos are taken (usually three or five, which is called bracketing) in quick succession and each has the exposure set to a different level.

An HDR photo of an HDR TV playing HDR content — streams have been crossed.

The software that turns the image data into a picture analyzes each and stitches a single photo together with the bits and pieces that are exposed properly. The picture that’s set to see more dark areas has those spots combined with the normally-exposed picture, and the same is done for the brightly lit areas. The software picks the image with the best detail when it sees a trouble spot and tries to make a photo that looks good.

The Best Android Camera

It mostly works. Even on an automatic setting where the image is analyzed and HDR is applied if needed, most of the time HDR can help turn an average photo into a better photo. It’s not magic — it can’t fix a bad photo and it doesn’t help when you’re taking one that has great lighting throughout. It depends on the people making your camera being able to program it to do a good job guessing what’s right or looks good. Some are better than others, but it’s always a lot better than any HDR post-processing filter.

HDR Displays

HDR photos have nothing to do with HDR display technology. Both are used when the product can do its thing with a wider range — in this case, the thing is to show you a picture.

HDR photos have nothing to do with HDR display technology.

HDR displays do three things to make the image they show look better than a normal display. They have a better contrast ratio that lets them produce brighter whites and darker blacks at the same time, with both ends being sharp and well defined. They have a higher degree of color accuracy so the colors look closer to what your eye sees if you were looking at things in real life (or a producer’s vision of real life). And they have a Wide Color Gamut (WCG) so more colors can be displayed on the screen itself. A TV that doesn’t have a WCG display won’t reproduce the actual color of a stop sign. You’ll notice this the next time you see it. WCG lets it create that particular red and a lot more colors.

These three things are combined into one selling point called HDR. You might see other extras like 3D color management or a special rendering engine, but HDR itself needs those essentials to be reproduced. It really does look better if you see it beside a display of the same content on a standard range screen.

The best HDR TV to buy for your new Chromecast Ultra

The content matters, too. A TV can’t create all these new colors and put them where it thinks they should be. HDR content is required, and if you’re watching standard videos no monkeying around with the image to try and upscale it to HDR is happening. This is possible, and upscaling to HDR algorithms are used to do things like detect blemishes on manufactured parts or bruises and soft spots on fruits and veggies. But not on your TV or monitor. HDR content carries metadata along with the signal that tells the display exactly how to display the content. The display itself just creates the right color for each pixel according to the metadata and the picture we see is brighter and more lifelike.

The important part is to make sure everything is HDR-capable. For example, you need a Chromecast Ultra, a 4K HDR TV, a 4K HDR source and enough bandwidth to stream the video and associated metadata to get a good 4K HDR picture from Netflix. If one piece of the chain is broken, you get a standard HD picture instead.

There’s a lot more to know about HDR, like how HDR media is created or how a camera processor knows what looks good when faced with three photos to choose from. But these basics are all you need to know the next time someone starts talking about HDR so you can follow along.

LG G6 will launch before the Galaxy S8 to capitalise on Samsung’s downfall

A report straight from Korea is suggesting LG will release its 2017 flagship device, highly likely to be the G6, before Samsung releases the Galaxy S8. It will be the first time LG has released its flagship before its South Korean rival.

• LG G6: What’s the story so far?

The Electronics Times goes on to say the G6 will be unveiled at MWC 2017 and will launch in South Korea on 10 March, although it doesn’t say when we can expect to see the new phone around the rest of the world.

It’s thought that LG wants to capitalise on Samsung’s failings with the Galaxy Note 7 and get its phone out early to try and entice customers. It’s a tactic that Samsung has often used in previous years, but in 2017 the company is believed to be delaying the launch of the Galaxy S8 until at least April to make sure it’s in full working order and completely safe.

LG is hoping to further capitalise on an early launch by releasing a phone it believes consumers will actually want. The LG G5 introduced a new modular design for the company, but it wasn’t particularly well received. The G6 will lose the modularity and instead offer a new Quad HD+ screen, unibody design and will be waterproof for the first time.

• Mobile World Congress 2017: Smartphones, smartphones, smartphones to expect

Mobile World Congress is still more than a month away, so there’s of course plenty of time for these rumours to change, but we’re starting to get a clearer idea of what to expect from LG’s next flagship.

Can I watch the HTC ‘For U’ launch event online?

HTC lining up a big launch event for 12 January. Using the “U” moniker, the company has been promising that this is all about you and rumours are suggesting that it’s going to be the launch venue for a number of new devices, and perhaps some personalisation too.

The event is virtual – there’s no physical event – and HTC is promising a live stream. It’s due to kick off at 8am GMT on 12 January 2017 for those of you in the UK, but here’s how it breaks down internationally:

• Seattle: 00:00 PST
• New York: 03:00 EST
• London: 08:00 GMT
• Berlin: 09:00 CET
• Dubai: 12:00 GST
• New Delhi: 13:30 IST
• Taipei: 16:00 CST
• Tokyo: 17:00 JST

HTC has hosted the following teaser for the event and we’re expecting this to become the live stream once the event starts.

The first device due for launch is the HTC U Ultra. This is thought to be a 6-inch device with flagship specs, looking to pick-up some of glory in the wake of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7’s demise.

• HTC U Ultra: Release date, rumours, specs on HTC Ocean Note

The second device is thought to be called the HTC U Play. This is rumoured to be a smaller device at 5.2-inches, more of a mid-range proposition. We don’t know much about this device, but we’ve raked through the internet to pull together whatever details we can.

• HTC U Play: Release date, rumours and specs for HTC Alpine

The great thing about this event is we really don’t know much about HTC’s plans for 2017. Although there’s a lot of noise circulating and a lot of codenames being thrown around, there’s very little certain information. Will this all be related to the HTC Ocean concept that was shown off? Will we see a new flagship? All will be revealed on 12 January.