Samsung will reveal Galaxy Note 7 investigation findings on Jan 23

We will finally get a definitive statement from Samsung on the Note 7.

Samsung has announced that it will hold a press conference on January 23 in Seoul to reveal its findings after concluding an investigation into the Galaxy Note 7’s failure and recall. The findings will be a culmination of Samsung’s investigation over the past few months, as well as information from external organizations.

Not only will we learn what actually happened inside the Note 7 that caused the battery fires and failures, but Samsung will also explain what it plans to do to keep the same type of massive problem from happening ever again. The official statement from Samsung reads, in part:

Samsung Electronics, as well as independent expert organizations who conducted their own investigation into various aspects of the Galaxy Note7 incidents, will share their findings. Samsung will discuss the findings of the investigations and unveil new measures Samsung has implemented in response to the incidents.

The press conference will start at 10 a.m. KST in Seoul, which means it will actually be on January 22 in the U.S. — 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT. It will be livestreamed on Samsung’s website. The only question now is how forthcoming Samsung will be about the findings — the amount of detail we get about the issue will be critical to the messaging.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7

• Galaxy Note 7 fires, recall and cancellation: Everything you need to know
• Survey results: Samsung users stay loyal after Note 7 recall
• Samsung Galaxy Note 7 review
• The latest Galaxy Note 7 news
• Join the Note 7 discussion in the forums!

Today only, get £10 off Amazon orders over £50

It’s not Black Friday, it’s not Cyber Monday, it’s not even as if Christmas was that recent anymore yet still Amazon is having a sale of sorts.

For today only, Friday 20 January, the online retailer is offering £10 off orders placed for over £50.

So why is Amazon being so generous? Apparently this is a thank you to its customers after it won a survey conducted by The Institute for Customer Service.

So how do you claim this money off your next Amazon order? Simply make sure you have over £50 worth of goods in your basket when it comes to checkout. Then enter the redeem code “BIGTHANKS” and the saving will be applied to your order.

What’s the catch? The basket must be filled with physical goods sold through Amazon. So no digital items or gift cards, these won’t have the discount applied to them. Also anything sold by a third-party won’t have the money off. Fair enough really, other retailers can’t be expected to foot the bill for Amazon’s offer, right?

So if you’ve got something sat in your Amazon basket that’s been there for a while and you’ve just not had the excuse to go to the checkout, this might be the time to get ordering.

If you want some inspiration of what to buy to take advantage of Amazon’s generosity, we’ve put together a list of some perfect products.

• Amazon Echo
• Amazon Echo Dot with 3.5mm stereo cable
• Amazon Fire TV with 4K
• Amazon Fire tablet
• Amazon Kindle
• Lexar 32GB 300mb/s SD card 
• WD Elements 1TB external hard drive
• UE Boom 2 
• Garmin Vivosmart HR+
• Fitbit Charge 2
• Creative Sound Blaster Roar 2

This app just made homework obsolete

Kids these days got it so easy.

Don’t believe us? Check out Socratic. It lets you cheat on your homework. As in, it lets you take a pic of any problem, including math problems, whether it’s an equation or a written question, and it’ll not only show you the answers with relevant information, but it’ll also teach you the methodology or subject matter so that you’ll learn and be able to solve problems without Socratic in the future. 

Yeah, our minds exploded too.

At the very least, Socratic is able to serve up a simple web search if you happen to stump it. It’s obviously geared toward math, or at least students struggling in math. Sixteen-year-old us could’ve only dreamed of an invention like Socratic. We would’ve loved the ability to get home from school, whip out our homework, photograph it, read and study it while we write down answers, and be done.

• What is Meitu and why is everyone using it?

Honestly, this app makes all homework obsolete. Just have your kids use this in class every day or throughout their lives, and they’ll learn everything they need to know. Teachers always said we’d have to pay attention in class because someday – maybe when we’d be adults and remodeling houses – we’d have to actually solve problems, and we wouldn’t have calculators in our pockets to do it for us.

Well, they were right and wrong. Because, now, we have smartphones in our pockets (and they have apps like Socratic). 

Socratic is a free app on the Apple App Store. Here’s some test questions if you want to try it quick.

LinkedIn has an all-new look and made a video about it

People use LinkedIn, right?

The Microsoft-owned company must be exploring ways to spice things up, because it refreshed its entire professional networking site on Thursday. It has an all-new look that simplifies everything and appears to make it much easier to navigate.

But, before we go any further, let’s talk about user numbers. While LinkedIn has more than 450 million members, as of August 2016, what’s telling is how many of those are actively visiting the site each month: 25 per cent. The company obviously needs to do something about that, so it’s not surprising to see it roll out the biggest change to its interface in years. There are now just seven sections.

• What is Meitu and why is everyone using it?

Those include home, messaging, jobs, notifications, me, my network, and search. The main feed looks very Facebook-like, with curated trending stories and the ability to unfollow and hide posts. The search component has also been upgraded, LinkedIn said, making it easier for you to find jobs, people, companies, and other areas of the social network. But the most obvious change is messages.

It has a real-time messaging feature available at the bottom of every page. LinkedIn will even urge you to start a conversation with someone while you’re on the page. Visit LinkedIn now to see the changes in effect, or you can just watch the promo video below. LinkedIn made an entire trailer about its redesign, which The Wall Street Journal said was underway well before Microsoft bought it.

The Wirecutter’s best deals: Google’s Daydream View VR headset drops to $50

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E

Street price: $180; MSRP: $200; Deal price: $130

This is a big drop on the NV356E, bringing it within $5 of the best price we’ve seen yet. At $130, this deal is $50 below the price we usually see it at, and $70 below the $200 retail price which it often bounces back to.

The Shark Navigator Professional NV356E is the “pro” version of our top pick for the best vacuums. Liam McCabe wrote, “All of the Shark Navigator Lift-Away models in the NV350, NV360, or NV370 series are essentially the same vacuum, just with minor differences in their tool sets, colors, and button placements. We tend to recommend the NV352 because it’s typically the best value at our favorite retailers. But any of the other models are good choices, as well. The NV350 and NV351 are the same as the NV352, with different accessories. The NV355 and NV356 are the “pro” models, with slightly larger dust cups, and the NV370 is the “pro” model with the different handle and placement of the power button. Go wild, and pick whichever one you can get for the best deal with all the tools you need.”

Refurbished DJI Phantom 4

Street price: $1,000; MSRP: $1,300; Deal price: $735

This drone saw periodic drops throughout the holiday season for both new and refurb models but none as low as this. At $735 refurbished, it’s the lowest price we’ve seen to this point. Please note that Woot charges a 15 percent restocking fee for returned items that are undamaged and in good working order (if an item is returned due to arriving defective or damaged, no restocking fees are charged).

The DJI Phantom 4 is our upgrade pick in our best drones guide. Mike Perlman wrote, “If you need advanced photo and video capabilities, and you want to fly for a longer duration, and you really want to make sure you don’t crash your $1,400 flying machine into the side of a barn, the Phantom 4 is for you. The Phantom 4 has a forward-collision sensing system that will stop the drone in its tracks before it gets too friendly with a tree. It also benefits from a longer battery life and rugged, redesigned body, including a totally new recessed gimbal that should better protect the camera assembly. Propellers can now be changed in the blink of an eye with a new press-and-lock system, and in addition to 4K recording, the Phantom 4 offers 120 frames per second at 1080p. Its newly designed lens cuts distortion significantly (compared to the Phantom 3) and it offers new modes including ActiveTrack (which automatically follows a moving subject), TapFly (which flies wherever the pilot taps on the FPV screen), and Sport Mode (in which the Phantom 4 can reach 45 mph for racing). Battery life has also been increased to a stated 28 minutes (about 22 minutes in our real-world testing). The Phantom 4 is the ultimate pick for seasoned photographers and videographers.”

Google Daydream View VR headset

Street price: $80; MSRP: $80; Deal price: $50

This is the first big sale we’ve seen on the Daydream View and it’s a nice $30 drop below the street price. If you’re looking for a VR headset for your phone, this is our top pick and a great deal. It’s currently available in all colors – slate, crimson, and snow.

The Google Daydream View is our top pick for the best VR headset for your phone so far. Signe Brewster wrote, “The Daydream View headset is made from soft, lightweight materials that allow you to forget you have a phone hanging from your face. The included controller, which tracks the position and location of your hand, makes entry-level VR fun and approachable, and is something Gear VR can’t match. The Daydream View only works with the Google Pixel, Pixel XL, and three Moto Z phones right now, but more phones should have Daydream support next year. There also isn’t as much to do in Daydream View yet as there is in Gear VR, but that should change quickly as developers port apps from Gear.”

Samsung Gear VR (International version)

Street price: $70; MSRP: $100; Deal price: $53

It’s a good day for VR sales, with this Samsung deal bringing the Gear VR in line with the Daydream View. While they’ve been featured “for free” before, that was bundled with buying a new phone. This sale features is the best price we’ve seen on the Gear VR on its own before, and it’s overall a great deal. This is the International version, so the instructions and manual may come in a different language.

The Samsung Gear VR is our runner-up pick for the best VR headset for your phone so far. Signe Brewster wrote, “Although we prefer the Daydream View for its comfort and handheld controller, the Samsung Gear VR is great too, especially if you’re one of the many people with a compatible Samsung smartphone like the Galaxy S6, S7, or S7 edge. It has a wider field of view than Daydream, and Samsung’s phones have crisper displays, so Gear VR does too. It also has more games and is compatible with Bluetooth gaming controllers (like our favorite, the Sony DualShock 4 controller). Otherwise, you control it with a touchpad built into the right side of the headset.”

Deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.

Tesla’s Ludicrous Plus mode beats Faraday Future’s 0-60 time

Faraday Future claims its FF 91 SUV will be the fastest accelerating production vehicle to date with a 0-60 mph time of 2.39 seconds, but we’re going to need a more precise stopwatch if the showdown with Tesla is going to continue. In a real-world track test, the folks from Tesla Racing Channel were able to just barely edge out the FF 91’s time in a Model S P100D sedan with the latest Ludicrous Plus mode update unlocked. The Tesla’s new track time? A blistering 2.389 seconds — besting Faraday by just a thousandth of a second.

Although that’s a teensy margin, it’s worth noting that Faraday Future has been selectively choosing who takes the other lane in its hype videos and the FF 91 might have benefited from using a lighter setup that will gain some weight with the final production model. The Tesla, on the other hand, just got a speed boost by downloading an over-the-air update. Elon Musk also thinks Tesla can get that 0-60 time down even further to 2.34 seconds in a production model, while a race-ready version can reportedly hit 62 mph in just 2.1 seconds. Either way, it’s doubtful we’ll see a true head-to-head race for the title until Faraday Future finally starts production in 2018.

Via: CNET Roadshow

Source: Tesla Racing Channel/YouTube

Korg’s new ARP Odyssey is a full-size remake of an iconic synth

At NAMM two years ago, Korg first revealed its modern take on the classic ARP Odyssey synthesizer. Despite touting that model as a “faithful recreation” of the original, the reissue was a smaller version with 37 keys. During the music industry’s big trade show this year, Korg is showing off a full-size option: the ARP Odyssey FS. Available in each the original’s three color schemes, the new instrument offers a standard keyboard and more space on the slider panel to make sound adjustments.

The new analog duophonic synth is being assembled in New York under the supervision of ARP co-founder Daviv Friend. Korg says the “weight and essence” are exactly the same as the original ARP Odyssey and when coupled with the analog sounds, the FS model is “a true resurrection.” The company explains that what the new version offers is the audio quality, look, stability and size of the classic with the reliability of an instrument built today.

As you might expect, the ARP Odyssey FS is more expensive than it’s smaller sibling. While the 2015 release is $800, the larger version will set you back $1,600. Korg also says that production of the FS will be limited though it didn’t offer any exact quantities. Of course, if you’re not looking to empty your wallet on a new synth, there’s an iOS version of the Odyssey available for $20. That one is much more portable.

Source: Korg

Samsung will explain the Galaxy Note 7 explosions Sunday night

As Reuters had suggested, Samsung is close to holding a press conference where it will ” announce the cause of the Galaxy Note 7 incidents and quality enhancement plan.” The event is being held on Monday morning (local time) in Seoul, Korea, and will be livestreamed in English on Samsung.com. If you’d like to tune in, set your alarm for 8PM ET on January 22nd. It seems likely that the battery will take the blame, but everyone from customers to regulators are waiting to find out what Samsung has planned to make sure this never happens again.

Samsung:

Following several months of comprehensive investigations, Samsung executives will announce the cause of the Galaxy Note7 incidents and quality enhancement plan during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea, on Jan. 23, 2017 at 10 am KST / January 22 at 8 PM ET. Samsung Electronics, as well as independent expert organizations who conducted their own investigation into various aspects of the Galaxy Note7 incidents, will share their findings. Samsung will discuss the findings of the investigations and unveil new measures Samsung has implemented in response to the incidents. The press conference will be livestreamed in English at http://www.Samsung.com.

Soft robot wraps around your heart to help it beat

Researchers from Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital have developed a breakthrough “soft robot” device that might improve your odds of surviving a heart attack. Unlike mechanical devices inserted into heart valves, it’s wrapped externally around the heart, where it pumps and twists to assist cardiovascular function. “Most people with heart failure do still have some function left; one day the robotic sleeve may help their heart work well enough that their quality of life can be restored,” says co-author and cardiothoracic surgeon Frank Pigula.

The device was inspired by the heart itself and made possible by recent advancements in soft robots. Like other recent bots, the thin, adjustable silicon sleeve is powered pneumatically by actuators placed around it. Driven by an air pump, one set of actuators expands and contracts in a pumping motion, while another layer moves helically to twist it. The result is a motion that’s uncannily similar to a real heart (see the video, below).

Doctors proved the device worked by implanting it in pigs with heart capacity reduced to 45 percent by drugs. Once applied, it boosted cardiac output to 97 percent of healthy levels. At the same time, it has a big advantage over implanted ventricular assist devices (VADs). Unlike those, it doesn’t contact the blood, so patients wouldn’t need blood thinners to avoid clots.

“The cardiac field had turned away from idea of developing heart compression instead of blood-pumping VADs due to technological limitations, but now with advancements in soft robotics it’s time to turn back,” Pigula says. The device could help 140,000 patients who suffer from heart failure symptoms, even at rest, by keeping them alive until a donor heart becomes available, or helping doctors to rehab the heart.

Despite the successful tests on pigs, the devices are still in the early stages, and would need serious engineering and testing before they could be used on humans. However, the team believes this type of “mechanotherapy” holds plenty of therapeutic promise, and not just for the heart. “This work represents an exciting proof of concept result for this soft robot, demonstrating that it can safely interact with soft tissue and lead to improvements in cardiac function,” says Harvard SEAS Professor and co-author Conor Walsh.

Via: Harvard University

Source: Science Translational Medicine

Uber will pay $20 million for exaggerating drivers’ earnings

In yet another big settlement for the ride-hailing giant, Uber has agreed to pay a $20 million fee to resolve a case with the US Federal Trade Commission. According to the FTC’s complaint, Uber intentionally exaggerated drivers’ potential income and vehicle financing rates in order to attract new drivers to its platform.

The FTC claimed that Uber was advertising an annual median income of over $90,000 per year for uberX drivers in New York and more than $74,000 for uberX drivers in San Francisco. But, as the commission found out, less than 10 percent of all drivers in those cities actually make that much. The complaint also alleges that Uber was inflating the hourly earnings on job boards like Craigslist.

New drivers who financed a new car through Uber’s Vehicle Solutions Program found out the company’s claims were too good to be true as well. Although Uber told new drivers they would be able to lease a new car for around $119 per week, the actual lease rates never dipped below $200 from late 2013 to April 2015. And, despite it’s promise of delivering “the best financing options available,” it turns out that Uber’s rates were actually worse than consumers with similar credit scores could have gotten elsewhere. Adding insult to overpriced injury, Uber tacked on mileage limits to lease agreements that were advertised with unlimited mileage.

The terms of the settlement mean Uber is not actually admitting guilt here, but the FTC’s director of Consumer Protection has stated the funds will be going back to the affected drivers. Moving forward, Uber will want to double-check that it can deliver on its promises — as part of the judgment, Uber is banned from making “false, misleading, or unsubstantiated representations” about drivers’ potential pay and financing or leasing options.

Last year, Uber was ordered to pay $384,000 to users for its misleading tip policy and the company’s UberEats delivery business was likewise slapped with a lawsuit over missing tips. The company also paid $10 million to the District Attorneys of San Francisco and Los Angeles for making false statements about its background checks and another class action lawsuit from drivers in California and Massachusetts is still getting settled but will likely exceed $100 million.

Via: Wall Street Journal

Source: Federal Trade Commission