What is Bluetooth 5 and what does it offer?

Bluetooth is found in all manner of devices as a means of communicating with each other. Think smartphone connecting to smartwatch, music player connecting to wireless headphones and even Internet of Things and smarthome devices.

• Internet of Things explained: What is it, and can it really change the world?

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has now adopted a new Bluetooth 5 format that will introduce a raft of improvements over the current 4-series standard. And because the Bluetooth SIG has set out the specification for Bluetooth 5, manufacturers can now implement it in their devices, the SIG says within the next 2 to 6 months, so we can expect it to feature in the new wave of 2017 smartphones.

But what improvements will Bluetooth 5 offer? Allow us to tell all.

What is Bluetooth 5?

Bluetooth 5 claims to have four times the range of the current standard, v4.2, so while at the moment you may put a pair of wireless headphones on at home and want to move around the house, or connect to some Bluetooth speakers, the signal will likely drop out if you move too far away. With Bluetooth 5 that should no longer be the case. 

The new standard will also transfer data at double the speed of v4.2, from 1Mbps to 2Mbps and the capacity of data broadcasts will increase 800 per cent. The Bluetooth SIG says the increase in data will allow for “improved and more context relevant solutions”.

But, there is a slight catch, in that you won’t be able to get increased range and increased speed at the same time. The Bluetooth SIG explains it as being like a lever, where you can choose one or the other, depending on the application. A firmware update for example will benefit from increased speed, whereas smart home devices will benefit from an increased range so they can talk to each other. 

How will Bluetooth 5 change the Internet of Things?

And the Internet of Things is a market that will heavily benefit from the new format. 

The increased range means Bluetooth 5 will be able to connect an entire home, flat or even small buildings. Mark Powell, executive director of the Bluetooth SIG said: “Bluetooth is revolutionising how people experience the IoT. Bluetooth 5 continues to drive this revolution by delivering reliable IoT connections and mobilising the adoption of beacons, which in turn will decrease connection barriers and enable a seamless IoT experience”.

When Powell refers to beacons, he is talking about indoor navigation in areas such as shopping centres. Some shopping centres already offer this service, but with Bluetooth 5, tracking your location inside will be more accurate than before. 

With the extra range on offer with Bluetooth 5, devices around the home will be able to talk to each other a lot more easily than before. Mark Powell sees this as a crucial time to introduce Bluetooth 5, as the technology is expected to be in one-third of all IoT devices by 2020. The Bluetooth SIG estimates there will be 13.9 billion wireless product shipments in the same time frame.

He even sees commercial, outdoor and industrial uses being ideal markets for the new protocol.

When will I be able to use Bluetooth 5?

With any luck, very soon. Device manufacturers are being encouraged to implement the new standard in their products already, so hopefully we will see it rolled out with the new wave of smartphones, possibly at Mobile World Congress as well as new smart home products.

You don’t need to worry about replacing your current Bluetooth devices though, as Bluetooth 5 is backwards compatible. The low-energy version of the format will work with any Bluetooth device running version 4.0 – 4.2 and that also has a low-energy option. However to take full advantage of the new services Bluetooth 5 provides, you will need to make sure your kit is up to date.

Toyota GT86 (2017) review: Coupe a load of that

It’s -15C. Yep, minus fifteen degrees centigrade. And we’re stood staring at the brand new Toyota GT86 – which positively radiates its warm blood red coat of paint against the snowy Finnish backdrop – wondering what on earth could possibly go wrong when drifting a rear-wheel drive car around an ice and snow track. Nothing, right? Right?

As it turns out, with a helping hand of expert supervision, this proposed mad spectacle turns into a theme park fun-ride and shows off just what a degree of control the GT86 offers in such unequivocally tricky conditions. A bit of snow might shut down the rail network, but it’s not going to shut us down.

The GT86 is far from the first rear-wheel car we’ve ever driven, of course, having sampled both the Mazda MX-5 and Fiat 124 Spider (which is built on the same chassis). These alternatives might seem like slightly alien competitors, given they’re soft-tops, but they’re similar-sized and similar-priced.

Point being there’s a lot of choice on the market – not to mention hot hatches and cars like the Audi TT vying for space – so can the Toyota GT86 facelift still cut it in 2017’s affordable sports car landscape?

Toyota GT86 2017 review: What’s new?

With red and black body work sat stark against white snow it’s immediately clear which facelift design features are apparent for the 2017 model: the front grille is larger and sportier; the rear houses a revised and more aerodynamic spoiler; new alloy wheels are a sizeable 17-inches; while all the headlamps now feature LED arrangements, including the indicators.

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The whole car is a snarling, sporty Japanese vision – and we’re glad it’s stuck to this design language and not delved headfirst into the more, let’s say, “unusual” experimental aesthetics of the Toyota Mirai or new Prius. Nope, the GT86 is sticking with its heritage and pushing things forward. It’s one good-looking beast.

Toyota GT86 2017 review: Standard or Pro trim?

Step inside – which we do as quickly as possible, given the outside temperature – and the GT86 is a lovely place to sit. Well, it is for two passengers as, despite its 2+2 arrangement, the rear seats are really just a place to chuck bags or tiny people.

There are two models, the standard and Pro trim, the latter adding black leather and Alcantara upholstery, buckskin-pattern dashboard and door trims, leather trim to the driver’s armrest, and heated front seats. That lot adds an extra £1,150 to the price.

Pocket-lint

Otherwise the GT86 and GT86 Pro are one and the same car: built around a four-cylinder 2-litre engine, delivering 197bhp at the peak 7,000rpm point. There’s no nonsense, no turbos, just good old fashioned fun. On ice, but of course.

However a four-cylinder isn’t the most exciting sounding thrum you’ll get from a sports car. It’s fairly static in its sound delivery, so don’t expect the ultimate aural pleasure.

Toyota GT86 2017 review: How does it drive?

Like a drifter’s dream. Anyone who ever talks about a Mazda MX-5 always goes on about “getting the back end out”. It’s just the same with the GT86 – it can slip and slide around like a front-wheel drive simply can’t – without it feeling as though imminent death is about to come knocking.

Pocket-lint

Not that we’re endorsing driving like an unmitigated maniac, of course. Herein lies the benefits of Toyota’s traction control. The GT86’s on-board computer works really hard to keep you safe, so you’ll frequently hear a shuddering-like sound as the car controls the wheels to stop you sliding out of control. There’s a track mode that allows some leeway, or switch everything off entirely at your peril – hugely fun peril if you’re on a private track and can afford a few snow bank plants or 360-degree spins.

Off the track and on the road that four-cylinder engine might not be the best sounding in the world, but it’s got ample pep, with a top speed of 140mph. Just go easy on the lower gears, as it’s all about swift quick changes for get greatest control. The six-speed manual box is a little sticky when trying to quick-shift between gears, but does the job. An auto model will also be available.

Pocket-lint

Even with the frost lashing away at the bodywork, the GT86 is a cosy, cosseting place to sit – and the heated seats of the Pro model certainly come in handy over our full day with the car. This is as low-slung as Toyota seats get; the way the 86’s headlamps can be seen peering over the bonnet like watchful eyes and the easy-to-view driver’s dials all feel perfectly placed, while the dinky steering wheel is race-car small.

Toyota GT86 2017 review: Bolted-on bolstered tech

The facelift GT86 also comes with a new multimedia setup, with a 6.1-inch touchscreen sat pride of place to the centre dash. It’s just about reachable for driver and passenger, even if it does demand the occasional lean forward to get at it. This is the hub for media and satnav.

Pocket-lint

Other controls are good ol’ switches, buttons and knobs: the air conditioning utilises most of the dash options, which are arranged like you might find in a fighter jet.

It’s not the most luxe looking tech suite compared to the trim of the interior – the screen looks like it’s been bolted on separately, rather than all considered as an integrated arrangement of tech. We like the trio of classic light-up dials beyond the driver’s wheel though and there’s a certain old skool charm about it all, just as we said of the Mazda MX-5.

First Impressions

In the world of the Mazda MX-5 the Toyota’s £26,410 might sound like a fair few grand more than its Japanese competitor, but by the time you’ve specced the Mazda up with all the necessaries (even basics like air con) it’ll be touching the £25,000 mark anyway. Besides, we prefer the Toyota’s refined looks and comfort.

The 2017 Toyota GT86 is a hugely enticing and affordable sports car prospect, if you’re comfortable with the 2+2 arrangement which, realistically, will only seat driver and passenger comfortably. If you’re looking to cart extra bodies around then something more practical and, daresay, more boring like a Golf GTi might fit the bill.

We might’ve driven the facelift GT86 in -15C temperatures, but even with its snarling looks it warmed our hearts. As rear-wheel drive sports cars go we might’ve just fallen in love.

The Morning After: Friday, January 27 2017

Welcome to Friday! In the last 24 hours you might have missed Pokemon cheaters getting punished, even more Facebook security if you need it, and for some reason, the first ever viable human-pig embryo.

Why do I have to put in $5 to spend $1?
PlayStation is still getting away with ‘minimum funding’ charges

After Microsoft and even Nintendo have done away with consumer-hostile payment strategies, PlayStation Network is clinging to its wallet. To buy even a relatively cheap piece of DLC or a discounted game, there’s still a minimum $5 charge to face, which grinds Sean Buckley’s gears.

That’s awkward.
Trump signs executive order stripping non-citizens of privacy rights

Since taking office, Donald Trump has kept the executive orders flowing, but at least one of them has a teeny-tiny issue. Titled “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States,” it excludes non-US citizens from the protections of the Privacy Act. That’s in opposition to a recently implemented US-EU Data Shield agreement that means European customer data remains under EU rules, even if it’s on a server in the US. Invalidating that with the Executive Order could open the US up to sanctions, or cause the Europeans to suspend the agreement entirely, placing US companies that serve foreign customers in a tricky position.

Developers, assemble!
Square Enix is making an ‘Avengers’ game for Marvel

The two companies have revealed a multi-game partnership that will kick off with The Avengers Project. A teaser trailer shows a pair of cracked glasses, Thor’s hammer and an Iron Man gauntlet lying in the dirt, discarded. A somber voiceover explains that “the world will always need heroes.” The gaming company’s western studios, Crystal Dynamics and Eidos Montreal, will work on the title, but no word yet on when we’ll eventually see it.

You’ll have to wait a bit.Samsung’s Galaxy S8 will likely appear on March 29th

Samsung won’t be attending the world’s biggest smartphone show with its Galaxy S8, but it’ll apparently have it ready for the following month. Reports suggest the big reveal will be on March 29. You can wait, right?

No more security codes
Now Facebook lets you use a physical key to log in

Setting up unique passwords for each account you have and using two-factor authentication is good, but managing the codes can be a pain. One way around that is by using a U2F (Universal 2nd Factor) compatible key that plugs into your USB port and logs into accounts with the press of a button. Google, Dropbox and others already support the encrypted keys, and now Facebook does too.

Cheaters never prosper
The Pokémon Company caught almost 6,000 ‘Sun’ and ‘Moon’ cheaters

Cheating in online games is pretty shitty, creating an uneven playing field against those who do play by the rules and those who do not. The Pokémon Company is putting its foot down, pointing out 5,954 folks that are using modified save files, according to a translated post from the Company. As a result, their entries into online tournaments, rating battles and game sync in the Global Link multiplayer portion have been “limited.”

Charter just acquired Time Warner Cable
Is Verizon going to try to buy a cable company?

A couple of weeks ago, the NY Post reported Verizon is eyeing an acquisition of Charter or Comcast, and now the Wall Street Journal reports Charter is the potential target. CNBC threw some water on the rumor by saying there are “no significant talks” under way, but the possibility of a megadeal combining all those wireless and cable customers is too big to ignore.

But wait, there’s more…

• D-Wave has its first customer for a $15 million quantum computer
• MIT finds actual wisdom in the wisdom of crowds
• Gmail will start blocking JavaScript attachments
• The cloud and Office keep Microsoft afloat during PC slump
• Genetically. Modified. Cyborg. Dragonflies.
• Researchers create first viable hybrid human-pig embryo

Classic puzzle adventure ‘Myst’ comes to Android

Myst needs little introduction. The puzzle adventure game was a smash hit when it originally released on the Macintosh in 1993. Now, it’s available on Android too. The latest port, developed by mobile studio Noodlecake, is called realMyst and features a bunch of improvements, including “dynamic environments,” a built in hint guide and “bookmarks” for saving and restoring your progress. You will, of course, have to put up with touchscreen controls, or hook up a Bluetooth gamepad for some analog stick action. Otherwise, it’s classic Myst, with the iconic island and devious puzzles faithfully restored. Can you remember all of the solutions?

Myst has been ported to a range of platforms over the years, including the original PlayStation, Sega Saturn and Nintendo DS. With good reason — up until 2002, it was the best-selling PC game of all time (The Sims, unsurprisingly, supplanted it.) While the game has been on iOS since 2009, this is the first time it’s been available to Android players. It costs $6.99, which might put off some, but at least there are no microtransactions. If nothing else, it should tide you over until Fire Emblem Heroes comes along.

Via: The Verge

Source: realMyst (Android)

Facebook will reward longer videos that people actually watch

Facebook has changed the way it chooses videos to surface on your News Feed, and this new method favors longer clips. The social network explains in its latest blog post that “percent completion” or the percentage of each video you watch helps its algorithm understand what kind of content you enjoy. “If you watch most or all of a video, that tells us that you found the video to be compelling — and we know that completing a longer video is a bigger commitment than completing a shorter one,” the post reads.

Recode says Facebook will continue counting views that last three seconds or less. But going forward, the social network will make percent completion a bigger factor in ranking videos. So, what does that mean for you? If you’re an ordinary user, you’ll likely start seeing more longer things to watch than before. If you have a Facebook Page, it’s worth noting that longer videos “may see a slight increase in distribution on Facebook,” while shorter ones “may see a slight dip.”

An earlier report about a new ad format now makes a lot more sense. According to Recode’s sources, Facebook is looking to start playing ads around 20 seconds into a video, which could compel publishers to create longer ones in a bid to make more money.

Via: Recode

Source: Facebook

‘Firefox Focus’ Private Browser Update Brings Multi-Language Support, Custom Search Engine Option

Mozilla has added more than 20 new languages to Firefox Focus, its privacy-centric browser that automatically blocks all trackers as users navigate around the web.

The latest update to the stripped-down web browser – which features an “Erase” button at the top of the app to erase all browsing history, searches, cookies, and passwords instantly – means users can now browse privately in 27 languages.

The additional support includes Arabic, Azerbaijani, Czech, Welsh, German, Spanish, French, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Slovak, Swedish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, among many other tongues.

One of the complaints about the previous version of Focus was that it forced users to use a default search engine. Mozilla says it’s listened to criticism and added a new option that allows users to select an alternative search service, which includes non-tracking engine DuckDuckGo.

When using Focus’s most stringent tracker blocking setting, occasionally some sites visited in the app may fail to display as intended, making viewing content difficult. To compensate for this, Mozilla has also added a new button that allows users to open the web page in Firefox or Safari instead.

The first incarnation of the Focus brand came in 2015 in the form of a content blocker for iOS 9. In November of last year, Mozilla launched Focus as a fully functioning privacy browser.

Firefox Focus is available to download from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Mozilla
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iPhone 7 Ousts Samsung Handset as ‘Device of Choice’ For U.K. Defense Officials

The U.K.’s Ministry of Defense has chosen Apple’s iPhone 7 over Samsung as the “device of choice” for its military personnel, according to a report by TechRepublic this week.

Telecoms company BT is said to be working with the country’s MoD to harden the security of the phone so that military officers can discuss and store sensitive information on the device. Steve Bunn, technical business manager for defense at BT, said the phone would eventually be capable of being switched between different modes depending on which security level was appropriate.

Photo: Harland Quarrington/MOD

“We’ve been working very closely with them to develop what we’ve commonly called a ‘dual-persona device’. Essentially this means you can have voice at official and at secret.”

BT is also working with the MoD to create “secure storage containers” on the device to hold sensitive data, revealed Bunn.

BT is said to have begun using a Samsung Note 4 to develop the bespoke military communications device, but testing quickly revealed that the security of the Android OS wasn’t sufficient and the project was transferred to Apple’s phone.

Despite Apple’s high-profile reputation for upholding iOS security standards, the MoD’s switch to iPhone bucks a trend in the defense industry, which tends to prefer phones running Android because of the ease with which the operating system can be altered.

As noted by TechRepublic, the GSMK CryptoPhone, which runs a heavily stripped-down version of Android, is currently in active use among military and security bodies around the world.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: security
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Huawei P10 vs Huawei P9: What’s the rumoured difference?

Huawei is fast becoming a big name in the smartphone world, producing well-built and well-specced devices for less than its competitors. The recent Mate 9 was a good device, meaning expectations are high for the company’s next P flagship.

Here is how the Huawei P10 currently compares to its predecessor – the P9 – based on the rumours.

Huawei P10 vs Huawei P9: Design

• P10 expected to offer more exciting design
• Front-mounted sensor rumoured for P10

The Huawei P10 is reported to follow a similar design to last year’s P9, but with a couple of refinements. Rumours suggest the P10 will be the “most expensive P device ever” and leaked images present a metal body with curved edges and a dual-rear camera.

Based on the most recent images, the P10 will have a front-mounted fingerprint sensor, like the Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design, rather than a rear-mounted sensor like the P9. Measurements have yet to be detailed in the leaks, but we suspect the P10 will be a similar size and weight to last year’s model.

The Huawei P9 features a solid metal body measuring 145 x 70.9 x 7mm with a weight of 144g. It has a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C and there is a dual-rear camera setup positioned within the antenna strip at the top of the device.

• Huawei Mate 9 Porsche Design preview

Huawei P10 vs Huawei P9: Display

• Larger, sharper display expected for P10
• Curved screen rumoured for P10

The Huawei P10 is rumoured to be coming with a 5.5-inch display and a Quad HD resolution, which would put its pixel density at 534ppi, making it sharper and crisper than its predecessor.

As we mentioned, some of the leaks show a curved body, which suggests the P10 will come with a curved display too, making for a more exciting design than the P9. That said, the curved screen and increase in display size could potentially be for a second variant of the P10, as the company did with its recent Mate 9 device.

The Huawei P9 has a 5.2-inch display with a 1920 x 1080 resolution for a pixel density of 423ppi. It is an IPS LCD screen which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and it is flat.

• Huawei Mate 9 review

Huawei P10 vs Huawei P9: Cameras

• Dual-rear cameras with Leica technology expected to remain for P10
• Potential for resolution increase of monochrome sensor on P10
• P10 could have same resolution front camera as P9

Based on the leaks the Huawei P10 will follow in the path of its predecessor and feature a Leica-branded dual-rear camera in a horizontal setup. The Mate 9 also has a dual-rear camera but it is positioned vertically rather than horizontally.

There haven’t been any leaks regarding the megapixels of the P10’s rear sensors but it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the same as the Mate 9, which would be a 12-megapixel RGB sensor coupled with a 20-megapixel monochrome sensor. The front-facing camera is said to be 8-megapixels.

As mentioned above, the Huawei P9 has a dual-rear camera with Leica branding, positioned horizontally. Both sensors have a 12-megapixel resolution and f/2.2 aperture but like the Mate 9, one is an RGB sensor, while the other is monochrome.

There is also an 8-megapixel front-facing camera on board, offering an aperture of f/2.4 and video recording capabilities up to 1080p.

• Huawei P9 Leica camera explored: Double the camera, double the fun?

Huawei P10 vs Huawei P9: Hardware

• Faster hardware expected for P10
• More RAM expected for P10

The Huawei P10 is rumoured to run on the 2.3GHz octa-core Kirin 960 processor, supported by 6GB of RAM and possibly 256GB of internal storage. None of the rumours have referenced the battery capacity but expect USB Type-C for charging.

The Huawei P9 features the Kirin 955 chipset under its hood, along with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, or 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, depending on the region. It offers microSD support up to 256GB through the second SIM slot and it has a 3000mAh battery, which is charged via USB Type-C.

Last year’s model featured support for 24-bit audio, so we’d expect the P10 to offer the same.

• Huawei P9 review

Huawei P10 vs Huawei P9: Software

• Android Nougat and EMUI 5.0 expected for both models
• Software experience should be similar
• P10 rumoured to be adding Amazon Alexa

The Huawei P10 will launch on Android Nougat with the EMUI skin over the top. It is likely to be EMUI 5.0, which is the same software build that can be found on the Mate 9, though we would expect a few extra features and refinements when the P10 launches.

The Huawei P9 launched on Android Marshmallow and EMUI 4.1, but as it is upgradable to Android Nougat, the software experience between these two devices is likely to be very similar once the updates all take place.

Huawei added Amazon’s Alexa to the Mate 9, so perhaps we will see the same for the P10, giving it something a little different.

• Android Nougat review

Huawei P10 vs Huawei P9: Conclusion

The Huawei P10 will no doubt deliver various improvements over its predecessor. Exactly what these will be is not yet known, but rumours suggest a better and more exciting design, faster performance, and a larger and shaper display could all be on their way.

We will update this feature as more rumours appear, as well as when the Huawei officially announces the P10 and its details.

• Huawei P10: What’s the story so far?

American Airlines is ditching seat-back displays in its new 737 jets

Why it matters to you

American’s move is a good reminder to pack your phone with downloaded content before you get on a plane in case the airline’s offered content disappoints.

When you book a flight on one of American Airlines’ new jets, the message is: Take your tablet.

The carrier revealed this week that it’s ditching seat-back screens on its new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft that go into service later this year.

American pinpoints the prevalence of smartphone and tablet ownership as one of the reasons behind the move. “More than 90 percent of our passengers already bring a device or screen with them when they fly,” the airline said in a widely distributed statement. “So it makes sense for American to focus on giving customers the best entertainment and fast connection options rather than installing seat-back monitors that will be obsolete within a few years.”

It added that it’s committed to offering passengers – at least, those with a phone, tablet, or laptop – free streaming of movies, music, and other content from its on-board library of material, with high-speed connections offered gate to gate.

If the airline’s own content fails to inspire, you’ll also have the option to hit the internet, though for that you’ll have to pay.

The carrier noted that it’s not doing away with seat-back screens entirely, as its newly built aircraft for international routes will continue to include the displays.

“We’ll keep seat-back monitors on Boeing 777s, 787s, Airbus A330s, and our A350s, which begin arriving next year,” the airline confirmed. “We’re also committed to seat-back screens on our three-class A321s.”

More: Researchers find a way to hack Panasonic’s in-flight entertainment systems

American’s decision to get rid of seat-back displays in some of its jets follows in the footsteps of a number of other airlines, with others likely to follow to some extent before long.

Doing away with the entertainment displays saves carriers plenty of cash. It’s not just the cost of the screen itself; the devices also add a significant amount of weight to an aircraft, causing it to burn more fuel, adding further to costs.