Pocket-sized gluten sensor aims to make life easier for celiac disease sufferers
Why it matters to you
With its one-time use capsules and quick results, Nima makes life for the gluten-free that much easier.
The gluten-free sensation is a trendy diet phase for some people, but is a serious health matter for others. For anyone with gluten on the brain, it can be tough to tell when the threatening compound is present in trace amounts that are small, but still threatening. Say hello to Nima, a handheld gluten detection device created by 6SensorLabs to save individuals with celiac disease from dangerous meals and awkward dinner parties.
For those who take gluten allergies seriously, it’s risky to assume that food prepared by anyone else is truly safe to eat. Trace amounts of gluten can still pose a threat to people with celiac disease or severe gluten allergies, so Nima is designed to remove the guesswork by testing liquids, solids, or any other edible material for gluten.
After placing a small food sample into the pre-prepared capsule, screwing on the lid grinds the sample for a better testing surface. Nima then conducts an antibody-based test that mimics scientific lab testing. It works by exposing the ground food sample to a chemical mixture contained in each disposable capsule. As the mixture saturates a test strip within the Nima device, sensors detect whether or not any gluten is present.
Related: Scientists have developed a pill that could allow celiacs to eat gluten
A simple smiley face or a frown appears on the Nima display to indicate the test’s results. In under two minutes, the device can detect up to 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. In more common food quantities, that works out to the same as 20 milligrams of gluten per 1 kilogram of food. Nima’s single use testing capsules are also disposable, so the Nima device itself is always ready for a new sample without having to clean or refill any components. In just three minutes, you’ll know if your food is safe to eat.
Nima’s mobile app also stores your test results and keeps track of foods you find frequently, in addition to its community platform that lets you communicate with other gluten-concerned users. Nima is also developing a database of gluten-free results that could integrate with restaurant discovery apps like Yelp.
After making waves at last year’s CES, Nima is now available for purchase. For $270, you can get the Nima Starter Kit, which comes with one Nima sensor, three one-time-use test capsules, one micro-USB battery re-charging cable, and a carrying pouch.
Article originally published in January 2016. Updated on 01-26-2017 by Lulu Chang: Added news of Nima’s availability.
For a limited time, enjoy 10 percent off when buying two Kindle Fire tablets
For a limited time, Amazon is offering a 10-percent discount when you purchase two of the firm’s popular and highly-rated Kindle Fire tablets. The deal is available for the standard version with a 7-inch display as well as the upgraded HD model with an 8-inch touchscreen, and the offer applies when you purchase two Fire tablets of the same model.
The Kindle Fire 7 features a bright IPS display and a 1.3GHz quad-core processor. This model comes standard with either 8GB or 16GB of internal memory, and storage space can be expanded by up to 200GB via an internal MicroSD card slot. The internal battery provides enough power for up to seven hours of continuous use before needing a recharge.
More: Expand your Wi-Fi reach with this TP-Link Range Extender ($47 off)
The Fire HD 8 offers an upgrade over the standard model with an 8-inch high-definition touchscreen and a larger battery which can hold a single charge for up to 12 hours. Under the hood, it utilizes the same 1.3GHz quad-core processor as the Fire 7 but adds 50 percent more RAM for a nice speed boost. The standard 16 or 32GB of internal storage can be expanded to 200GB as with the Fire 7.
Both Kindle Fire tablets are available in four body colors and feature Amazon’s cloud-based Alexa service. Easy voice commands allow Alexa to access your media libraries, perform internet searches, send messages, and more. Also included is Amazon Underground, which makes thousands of completely free apps and games available to you. Enjoy access to millions of shows, e-books, paid apps and games, movies, and music albums as well.
After the 10-percent discount, two 8GB Fire 7 tablets come in at just $90 while two 16GB Fire HD 8 tablets can be had for $162. We don’t know how long the offer is going to last, but this is a solid deal if you’re looking for a pair of Amazon’s feature-laden and well-reviewed Kindle Fire tablets.
Buy it now from Amazon:
$90 for Fire 7 $162 for Fire HD 8
‘Zelda: Breath of the Wild’ will not have Switch’s ‘HD rumble’ feature
Why it matters to you
The new Zelda won’t showcase all of the Nintendo Switch’s new capabilities, despite being a launch title.
The next game in the Legend of Zelda franchise, Breath of the Wild, will not utilize the Switch’s “HD rumble” feature, despite being a launch game for Nintendo’s next-generation console. Purportedly this is because Nintendo wants parity between that version and the one that will release on its current-gen system, the Wii U.
One of the unique features in Nintendo’s upcoming Switch console is the inclusion of what it calls ‘HD rumble.’ Acting more like an advanced form of haptic feedback, it allows for much finer motor responses within the Joy-Con controllers than does the traditional rumble pack found in other console gamepads.
It’s used extensively in Nintendo’s 1-2 Switch games, for everything from simulating the feeling of balls rolling around inside the controller, to finding the unique combination to a safe.
But it won’t be used in Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
This came to light during an interview with Zelda series producer Eiji Aonuma, who said in a chat with French publication, GameBlog (via NintendoLife), that Nintendo wanted to have the same experience on both the Switch and Wii U.
“The problem is that the purpose of the Switch version was to provide exactly the same experience as on Wii U, and vice versa,” he said. “If we had started to adapt the game to the Switch’s features, it would not have been the same game.”
More: Nintendo’s Switch is one console you can take everywhere — here’s what you need to know
While this does make sense, it’s also possible that the feature wasn’t developed because Breath of the Wild was initially designed to be a Wii U title. While we don’t know exactly when Nintendo made the decision to port it over to Switch and make it a launch title, it may have been that having seen several delays before, Nintendo didn’t want to add more features which could have further pushed back the game’s release.
It’s also possible that Nintendo doesn’t want to produce only novelty uses for its HD rumble system. One of the long-running issues with the Wii U was that its second-screen feature was barely utilized, and when it was, it tended to add little to gameplay.
For more on the Nintendo Switch and why not all of us are sold on it, check out our expanded coverage.
Charge your phone or give your car a boost with Suaoki jump-starter, now $90
Having your phone die on you is annoying enough, but discovering that your car has a dead battery can be a major problem. You’re most likely to find out your car is dead when you need to go somewhere and jumping a dead battery usually requires another vehicle. The process can be a hassle even in the best circumstances and a car battery dying in the middle of nowhere is a quick way to find yourself stranded. With the Suaoki car jump-starter and portable charger, however, you’ll have all the power you need when you need it.
The Suaoki car jump-starter removes the need for another vehicle when you have to give your dead battery a boost. The device’s high-capacity 20,000mAh power supply can jump 12V batteries for any car with up to a 5.0-liter gas or 3.0-liter diesel engine. The included compact clamps work much like traditional jumping cables, but feature smart safety technology that protects against short-circuits and irregularities in voltage, current, and temperature that can potentially present a hazard when charging.
More: Enjoy power in the palm of your hand with the Tiergrade universal power bank, now 60 percent off
With two USB ports, the jump-starter can easily handle your smaller energy needs as well. Phones, tablets, and other devices that power up via USB can take advantage of the battery’s large capacity for multiple charges. An LCD readout on the side of the unit displays power levels, and a built-in LED light can serve as an emergency strobe or flashlight in a pinch.
The Suaoki car jump-starter is now available on Amazon for $90, giving you a 55 percent discount off of the usual price for a considerable savings of $110. At 9.4 inches long, 6.2 inches wide, and 4.5 inches thick, this handy and versatile jump-starter and charger can fit easily under a car seat or in a glove box for some extra peace of mind when you’re on the road.
$90 on Amazon
Tough as scales: Researchers create protective material inspired by fish skin
Why it matters to you
Accidentally stabbing your hand might not result in injury if you’re wearing gloves made from this protective material.
In a bid to build flexible and durable protective gear, researchers from McGill University turned to nature for inspiration and frequented a fish market to find test subjects.
Scientists often adopt structures found in nature for new functions. Artificial neural networks — an approach that has enabled great advances in AI — is modeled off of the human brain and nervous system. Harvard roboticists, for example, have built tiny drones that can perch like insects in order to conserve energy. Work smarter, not harder is a tenet of bio-inspired design.
“The fish scales we see on fish nowadays are the result of millions of years of trial and error through natural evolution,” Francois Barthelat, lead researcher at McGill’s Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Bioinspiration, told Digital Trends. “After all that time of fine tuning, we should expect that scales must be very good at what they are made for, in this case resisting bites from predators.”
But not all scales evolve equally. After carrying dozens of striped bass back to the lab, sliding their scales under a microscope, and fracturing them to study their physical properties, Barthelat and his team realized they were probing the wrong species. So, they released the bass and caught a hardy alligator gar.
More: Engineers create bio-inspired, silk-based materials with programmable traits
“The alligator gar is a particularly good model because its scales are very bony and extremely hard, much harder than the scales on your regular fish market fish,” Barthelat said. “Alligator gars are so well ‘armored’ that they are virtually impossible to cut, even with a hacksaw.”
The studies affirmed Barthelat’s assumption about the strength of scales — in fact, it showed scales to be the toughest collagen-based material known — but it also revealed the often counter-intuitive aspects of natural design, such as that smaller scales are less penetrable than larger ones.
Aided by a computer model, Barthelat and his team used their newfound knowledge about the optimal size, shape, and arrangement of scales to develop highly protective, ceramic-covered gloves. Future applications may help protect areas like the neck, knees, and elbows.
“Our bio-inspired scale design excels in applications where a balance between flexibility and protection is required,” Barthelat said. “We are now focusing on personal protection in hazardous industrial environments, and we have also started to explore applications in sports equipment.”
A paper detailing the research was published in the journal Bioinspiration & Biomimetics,
Creative unveils improved Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition gaming headset
Why it matters to you
The Sound BlasterX was already one of Creative’s best gaming headsets, but if you’re looking for even better performance, this one might be worth purchasing.
As the top of the Sound BlasterX line, the H7 is already a feature-packed gaming headset, especially for those who are looking to keep the price under $200. Now Creative has made that headset even better, unveiling the new Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition.
You will notice that this edition is new before you even put the headset on, as the look has been overhauled. The ear cup plates are now brushed metal, with the company logo emblazoned in a bold red color, and the rest of the headset using a gun-metal finish. Both the cable and the fabric inside of the ear cups are red, adding a sharp contrast.
More: The Sound BlasterX H5s are an affordable option for uncomfortable gamers
The H7 Tournament Edition features upgraded 50mm FullSpectrum drivers that Creative says are tuned for better clarity and sensitivity, making hearing your opponents movement easier than ever. The detachable microphone has also been redesigned for better voice pickup and noise cancellation, meaning your teammates will be able to hear you clearly, even in loud, busy surroundings.
The headset offers two sound modes: USB and analog. In USB mode, the headset uses X-Plus sound signature, which features specially tuned sound profiles for a variety of popular games, including Overwatch, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Dota 2. These settings can be saved right to the headset, meaning you will be able to carry the settings with you to any computer.
USB mode also allows you to use the BlasterX Acoustic Engine software on your PC to customize your audio settings, tweaking the 7.1-channel sound for optimal immersion. Analog mode, on the other hand, is meant more for listening to music. Creative says that when used in analog mode, the headset offers a more dynamic sound signature, playing your favorite songs with a more natural, balanced sound.
More: Creative iRoar review
The Sound BlasterX H7 Tournament Edition will be available in February via the Creative website. The company has only listed the price for Europe so far, at 160 euros, though if the Sound BlasterX H5 Tournament Edition — already available — is anything to go by, the list price for the H7 Tournament Edition in the U.S. will likely be around $160.
Biometric research suggests monitoring your mental well-being for authentication
Why it matters to you
Researchers are racing to find new, secure ways of authenticating people. Now they’re analyzing our emotional and mental well-being.
Researchers have proposed a new method of biometric authentication that analyzes a person’s brainwaves to determine their emotional and mental well-being before granting access to equipment or an application.
Violeta Tulceanu at the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Romania described in her paper, “Brainwave authentication using emotional patterns“ how she and her researchers are studying the neurological events around different emotions and if this indicator of a sound mind could be applied to authentication.
In their tests, the researchers stimulated a person’s brain using different sounds. The electrical patterns that emerge would, in theory, give some kind of indication of the person’s state of mind. The initial scans of the brain are referred to as an emotional “fingerprint.” This data is then stored and compared against the person’s electrical patterns in the future to find any possible changes before allowing access to a system or program. The researchers hope the data can be used to predict future behavior patterns as well.
More: Biometric authentication may soon be only a heartbeat away
Understanding the brain in this way, according to Tulceanu, would help determine a person’s motivation. Some of the practical uses include physical security systems to stop someone entering a building or analyzing a person’s state of mind before granting them access to financial or health data. In one extreme example, the method could be used to inhibit someone of ill mind that usually has access to weaponry or military equipment or to make sure that person was acting on their own accord.
The research is still at an early stage, so don’t expect to see anyone getting their brain scanned before using an ATM anytime soon.
It is another novel approach to biometric authentication, though. As the old methods of passwords and PINs becoming increasingly insecure and unreliable, we’ve seen more and more use cases of fingerprint or iris identifiers. But we’ve also seen researchers toy around with different ideas that are a little outside the box, including a method that identifies someone’s hair protein.
Analyzing emotions as an authentication process is a relatively newer idea. Another researcher, Abdul Serwadda, at Texas Tech University is also examining the efficacy of brainwaves for ongoing authentication. His method involves continually monitoring a user while they are using a system to ensure no one else has taken over after the login process.
Sony could unveil five new phones, some packing Snapdragon 835, at MWC 2017
Why it matters to you
If you’re a Sony fan or just looking for a new phone, Sony’s new options could be serious contenders — especially ones that may feature Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 835 processor.
Mobile World Congress could be a pretty big event for Sony. According to a new report from Japan, the company is set to launch a hefty five new phones during MWC 2017, with that handful of models spanning all price brackets and power brackets.
The report, from Sumaho Info, doesn’t mention specific names for the phones, but it does highlight some specs. And some of those specs are very interesting — one of the phones features the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, directly contradicting reports that we wouldn’t see any Snapdragon 835 phones at the show. Still, it’s possible that the new phone will be announced but not shipped out to customers for a few months.
More: Apple vs Qualcomm: Everything you need to know
On top of the new Snapdragon 835, the flagship device will also feature a 3,840 x 2,160 display, either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, and a Sony IMX 400 camera sensor. That screen resolution and processor will make the phone perfect for virtual reality, and while there’s no official confirmation that it will be “Daydream ready,” or able to work with Google’s Daydream VR standard, we’re betting that it will be.
Another phone will feature the Snapdragon 835 or 653, along with a 2,560 x 1,440 display, 4GB of RAM, and the same camera sensor — making it a likely candidate for those wanting a near-flagship phone at a decent price.
Next up is a phone code-named Keyaki, which has a full HD 1,920 x 1,080 display, coupled with a MediaTek Helio P20 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage. The rear-facing camera will be 23MP while the front-facing camera will sit at 16MP. Another device, code-named Hinoki, will have the same MediaTek processor, but the display resolution will be downgraded to 1,280 x 720. It will feature 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. The phone will have a 16MP rear-facing camera and an 8MP front-facing camera.
It’s expected that the phones will be launched at MWC, but the report also notes that they could be launched throughout the year instead. Only time will tell.
BenQ introduces another monitor aimed at creative professionals
The cavalcade of new displays continues, with just about every manufacturer adding to their stables of monitors that offer a wide range of capabilities. BenQ is one of them, with yet another new display aimed at engineers and designers.
The BenQ PD2710QC is the latest in the company’s PD line, which indicates that it should provide features and functionality aimed at those who need precision and solid color support. Clearly, that’s where BenQ has focused with the 27-inch IPS LED display, which covers 100 percent of the sRGB color gamut and offers Technicolor certification to accommodate Hollywood and other constituencies in the media and entertainment industries.
More: BenQ outs two new Designer displays ideal for graphic artists, CAD operators
“Designed for designers, PD2710QC is engineered to make professional inspiration come alive,” said Conway Lee, BenQ’s president, in describing the monitor. “Innovations such as USB-C technology, Technicolor performance, and pioneering eye-care are crafted into its beautifully simple form to inspire creativity and productivity.”
The PD2710QC runs at 2K (2,560 x 1,440) resolution, optimized for engineering, graphic arts, and photography. Custom modes are available that further tweak the display with CAD/CAM, Animation, and Darkroom settings to ensure an optimal experience for the workflows of creative and engineering professionals. In addition, BenQ helps those professionals work long while avoiding eye strain with the use of flicker-free technology and a low blue-light mode that can help to avoid fatigue.
Connectivity options include the increasingly common USB Type-C connection, with a built-in dock that can transfer power, data, internet connectivity, audio, and video through a single cable. The USB hub provides an unspecified number of audio, video, network, and USB ports. HDMI and DisplayPort connections are also supported.
All of this is wrapped into a thin-bezel design with a space gray metal architecture, VESA wall mounting support, and integrated speakers. BenQ hasn’t yet provided pricing or availability for the PD2710QC.
The latest version of Google Chrome now disables Flash content for all users
Why it matters to you
Google’s updated Chrome browser with HTML5 by default support means pages should load faster with Flash-based objects initially blocked.
The latest version of Google’s Chrome browser is out and it arrives with the company’s move to disable Adobe Flash Player by default when visiting web pages. Google warned about this feature last August, stating that using HTML5 by default not only creates a safer web browsing experience but is more power efficient too. The Flash-blocking feature recently appeared in the beta version of Chrome 56 and is now available to the masses in this new stable version.
“Today, more than 90 percent of Flash on the web loads behind the scenes to support things like page analytics. This kind of Flash slows you down,” Google said last August. “HTML5 is much lighter and faster, and publishers are switching over to speed up page loading and save you more battery life.”
More: New functionality could soon lead to Google’s Chrome OS in tablet form
Google began addressing Flash-based content in September with the release of Chrome 42. The update locked down some Flash content, requiring Chrome users to click on the Flash object to activate. The move to disable Flash content altogether actually arrived in the final version of Chrome 55 released in December but the feature was only available to one percent of its users.
According to Google, the new HTML5 by default feature will disable all Flash content on a website unless the visitor specifies otherwise, meaning Chrome users can allow the browser to play Flash on sites they trust and visit frequently. Otherwise, Flash content will require the user’s permission to play on sites they are visiting for the first time.
“Flash prompting will only be enabled for sites whose Site Engagement Index (SEI) is below a certain threshold,” Google states. “For Chrome 55, starting in January 2017 prompts will only appear for sites where the user’s SEI is less than one. That threshold will increase to 100 through October 2017, when all Flash sites will require an initial prompt.”
In other words, by October, all websites will require Chrome users to initially give permission to run Flash-based content on their pages. Google previously said that just by pushing Flash-based content into click-to-play mode, Chrome users saw “an immediate positive impact” due to faster page loads and reduced power consumption.
In addition to the new HTML5 by default feature, Chrome 56 also signals the arrival of Bluetooth support for web-based apps. This is made possible by the new Web Bluetooth API that uses the GATT protocol to enable web apps to communicate with Bluetooth low-energy devices like LED displays, toys, light bulbs, and more. Adding Bluetooth support means developers can insert just “a few lines of JavaScript” to their web-based apps.
Chrome 56 also now fully supports WebGL 2.0. This is a means for rendering web-based 3D graphics within the browser window using graphics processors located inside PCs and mobile devices instead of their central processor. It’s similar to how DirectX works in desktop gaming in that developers can use the graphics chip to handle most of the work, only WebGL does this within the browser environment. Ultimately, Chrome users will see richer 3D games and other content with WebGL 2.0 than the previous version.
To manually update Chrome, click on the three-dot button to the right of the address bar, and then select “Help > About Google Chrome.” Otherwise, Google Chrome can be downloaded here.
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