2017 January | AIVAnet

Jan

No Concessions For Apple in India As State Mobile Manufacturing Policy Up For Review

The Indian government has decided not to offer special concessions to Apple as part of negotiations as the company looks to build its first manufacturing plants in the country.

According a report in the India Economic Times, New Delhi will instead review its entire policy on mobile manufacturing as part of a wider effort to promote its ‘Make in India’ initiative. This could meet some of the demands that Apple has made as well as benefit other phone makers, said officials.

India needs to support an iconic brand like Apple for the success of the Make in India campaign, officials said. “Our import duty is high,” one of them said. “As long as they are getting into exports, our objective should be to give them lowest duty so as to ensure that their product is competitive. Hence we may even relook at the policy as a whole.” Another official said no decision had been taken but that concessions cannot be given to just one company. “Normally, similar dispensation has to be given to others similarly placed,” he said.

The issue will be looked at in detail at a high-level meeting between Apple executives and state officials set to take place next week. According to Wednesday’s report, representatives from revenue, industry, and IT government departments will consider Apple’s requests, which include a 15-year customs duty holiday on the import of iPhone kits, new and used capital equipment, and consumables.

Last year, Apple requested permission to set up its own retail outlets in India without being subject to the state’s compulsory 30 percent local sourcing rule, claiming it was bringing cutting edge technology to the country. The ministry of finance denied the request as it did not consider Apple’s products to fall into the cutting edge category.

According to officials, India’s rationale for looking anew at its own trade policy is that it must follow the same set of principles prevalent elsewhere which have helped businesses become global manufacturers. India is already home to a crowded mobile phones market, with Chinese firms Huawei and Xiaomi among some 42 competing handset makers. Apart from Apple, no other company has approached the government for any incentives, people with knowledge of the matter said.

Tag: India
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Jan

Google could bring its budget Android One phones to the U.S. later this year

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Low-cost phones with software updates directly from Google.

Google launched the Android One platform in India in 2014, tying up with third-party vendors to offer $100 phones with clean Android and the promise of quick updates. According to The Information, Google is looking to bring Android One phones to the U.S. “before the middle of the year.” The phones will be priced between $200 to $300, and will receive software updates and security patches directly from Google for “two years from sale date.”

The report also mentions that Google is planning a major ad campaign for the Android One platform, which will likely be similar to what we’ve seen the company do for the Pixel. There’s no mention of a manufacturer yet, but it looks like Google is picking LG for the first device.

Google largely failed to make a dent with Android One in India as the first wave of phones were not as powerful as their competitors, and there wasn’t a lot in the way of a marketing push from the company. However, Google has learned from its mistakes, and the company has since allowed more leeway to its partners over the specs and design. The $200 to $300 price range also allows Google’s partners more choice when it comes to choosing the internal hardware.

Android One is the ideal platform to showcase Google’s vision for the budget segment.

With the Nexus brand going away and the Pixel positioned at the high-end segment, Android One could be the ideal platform to fill the void in the budget category in the U.S. A decent sub-$300 device with software updates directly from Google will be a potent combination, and right now, there aren’t many devices outside of the Moto G family that offer a clean Android experience and great hardware in that price segment.

Google will also be looking to the Android One platform as a way to raise brand awareness around Android itself. The company will also likely use the platform to push its own services, including the Google Assistant. Currently, Assistant is limited to the Pixels, but it is entirely possible to see it make its way to Android One handsets in the future. On that note, it looks like Huawei’s decision to use Amazon Alexa in its U.S.-bound Mate 9 caused consternation between the Chinese manufacturer and Google.

Jan

Emotional sci-fi game ‘Alone with You’ hits Steam next month

Alone with You tells a surprising story about relationships, love and friendship — surprising because it stars just one living human as he attempts to escape an abandoned planet that’s scheduled for implosion. His only companion is the space colony’s artificial intelligence system and holographs of dead colonists. Through interaction with the AI system and nightly conversations with digital ghosts, the survivor discovers details about the people who used to inhabit the planet and how their lives collided.

And now, it’s all coming to Steam.

Alone with You is scheduled to land on Steam on February 9th for $10, but during launch week it’ll be sold at a 15 percent discount. The game debuted on the PlayStation 4 and Vita this past August.

Alone with You is the follow-up to Benjamin Rivers’ hit horror game, Home, which earned critical and public acclaim when it came out in 2012. Home helped establish Rivers as a successful independent developer with an eye for creating complex, player-driven narratives. While he was still working on Alone with You in 2015, Rivers talked with Engadget about the importance of tapping into players’ emotions in video games.

“Storytelling is the most satisfying reward in games,” Rivers said. “Feeling the gears in your brain turn as you begin to understand a mystery, learning to empathize with, or perhaps even to change a character’s behavior — those are the feedback loops that make my brain buzz the way someone might enjoy progressing up a level system. My other personal goal is to prove that narrative-driven games don’t have to be boring or non-interactive or clumsy autobiographies.”

Jan

Hackers break into Samsung Smartcam again

Samsung’s SmartCam has fit into users’ DIY surveillance setups for years thanks to its smartphone control and local (non-cloud) storage. But at last August’s DEFCON 22 security conference, members of the hacking blog Exploiteers listed exploits for the networked camera that allowed remote camera execution and let them change the administrator’s password. Rather than fix it, Samsung ripped out the accessible web interface and forced users to run their SmartCams through the device giant’s SmartCloud website. So, like good little hackers, Exploiteers broke into the camera again with a different exploit.

Samsung had patched the original vulnerabilities but left one set of scripts untouched: The php files which provide firmware updates via the camera’s “iWatch” webcam monitoring service. Those scripts have a command injection bug allowing a user without admin privileges to allow root remote command execution. Exploiteers helpfully provided a technical writeup explaining how to do it, fix the vulnerability and even re-enable the web interface.

Source: Exploiteers

Jan

Griffin Connected Coffee Maker Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

The Griffin Connected Coffee Maker.

Griffin

Enter the $100 Griffin Connected Coffee Maker, another product that combines smart home technology with a humble kitchen appliance. While not quite as radical perhaps as the company’s upcoming $100 Connected Toaster, this automatic coffee pot boasts many of the same magical abilities.

On the surface, the Connected Coffee Maker looks like your average programmable java brewer manufacturers have sold for decades. The Griffin is more rounded, with pleasingly curved edges instead of the sharp lines and boxy corners evident on typical counter appliances.

A main section up top houses a filter funnel and ground coffee within. Below that sits a large glass carafe that’s big enough to collect a full 12 cups (5 ounces per cup most likely) of coffee. In the back of the appliance and contained within its plastic chassis is the water reservoir. I’m not a fan of this type of tank setup since it tends to use a small lid and mouth. In my experience, the tiny opening makes for a tricky target to hit while pouring water into the reservoir.

What really sets the Connected Coffee Maker apart, though, are its smart capabilities, which are still relatively uncommon. Griffin claims you’ll be able to control the coffee maker through a mobile app on your phone or tablet. According to the company, this will allow you to tweak brewing parameters such as coffee strength to your liking. You should also have the option to save your preferences for later.

Ultimately, sophisticated smarts do not a quality coffee pot make. If the machine can’t brew drinkable java, it will suffer the same fate as the Mr. Coffee Smart Optimal Brew, a coffee machine that could only muster weak and flavorless cups of drip. Hopefully the $100 Griffin Connected Coffee Maker will demonstrate brewing performance as good as the similarly priced Braun BrewSense KF7150.

The Griffin Connected Coffee Maker at CES 2017.

Chris Monroe/CNET

To get your hands on an appliance that brews delicious coffee plus has high-tech smart abilities, you’ll have to spend a lot more money. Right now the best option that meets these criteria is the $329 Behmor Connected Coffee Brewer. That machine makes excellent coffee and is certified by the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) as a “Golden Cup” brewer.

The coffee maker at a glance

Internal Bluetooth for wireless control
Will link to companion app to schedule brewing and save your preferences
Price: $100
Availability: Q2 2017

Jan

Snowden never filed paperwork requesting a pardon

If you thought Obama might give Edward Snowden a similar reprieve to Chelsea Manning this week, think again. While the formed NSA-contractor turned whistleblower has explained why the president should grant him clemency, he hasn’t done anything beyond that. “Mr. Snowden has not filed paperwork to seek clemency from this administration,” the White House told CNN today.

Further on that, Snowden has still not faced trial or been formally charged with any crimes — unlike General James Cartwright of Stuxnet infamy. “I can’t pardon somebody who hasn’t gone before a court and presented themselves,” Obama said in November. Having a trial isn’t a necessity for a pardon, mind you, but based on the President’s comments at the time it doesn’t sound like he was interested in broaching the situation that way.

“At the point at which Mr. Snowden wants to present himself before the legal authorities and make his arguments or have his lawyers make his arguments,” he said, “then I think those issues will come into play.”

As of publication time, the ACLU-led petition to grant Snowden full immunity was still roughly 500 signatures short of the 60,000 target — up from 57,000 signatures in September.

It’s worth noting that Snowden himself implored President Obama that if he only granted one act of clemency upon exiting 1600 Pennsylvania Ave to free Chelsea Manning. The president commuted Manning’s sentence today and she will go free May 17th this year instead of 2045.

Mr. President, if you grant only one act of clemency as you exit the White House, please: free Chelsea Manning. You alone can save her life.

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 11, 2017

Source: CNN

Jan

What’s on TV: ‘Hunted,’ ‘Teachers,’ ‘Voltron’

This week the NFL rolls out its conference championship games, but if you’re not a sports fan there’s still plenty to look forward to. On Sunday night, CBS kicks off its The Running Man-ish (book, not movie) reality TV show Hunted, while Netflix is ready to release the second season of Voltron: Legendary Defender. Teachers is also returning on TV Land, Baskets is back on FX and The Flame in the Flood has launched on PS4. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

Blu-ray & Games & Streaming

The Girl on the Train (4K)
Ouija: Origin of Evil
Keeping Up with the Joneses
Death Race 2050
Ali (Commemorative edition)
Battleship (4K)
Resident Evil: Afterlife (4K)
Fences
The Whole Truth
RWBY: Grimm Eclipse (PS4, Xbox One)
2064: Read Only Memories (PS4, PC)
Outbreak (PC)
The Flame in the Flood (PS4)

Tuesday

Neal Brennan: 3 Mics, Netflix, 3AM
NCIS, CBS, 8PM
New Girl, Fox, 8PM
The Wall, NBC, 8PM
WWE Smackdown, USA, 8PM
American Housewife, ABC, 8:30PM
The Mick, Fox, 8:30PM
Teen Wolf, MTV, 9PM
Inside the NFL, Showtime 9PM
This is Us, NBC, 9PM
Fresh Off the Boat, ABC, 9PM
Bull, CBS, 9PM
No Tomorrow (season finale), CW, 9PM
Bones, Fox, 9PM
The Real O’neals, ABC, 9:30PM
Teachers (season premiere), TV Land, 10PM
Shooter (season finale), USA, 10PM
Chicago Fire, NBC, 10PM
Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., ABC, 10PM
Taboo, FX, 10PM
Killing Fields Discovery, 10PM
Sweet/Vicious, MTV, 10PM
Noisey, Viceland, 10PM
Throwing Shade (series premiere), TV Land, 10:30PM
Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Wednesday

Fresh Off the Boat, ABC, 8PM
Blindspot, NBC, 8PM
Lethal Weapon, Fox, 8PM
Unsung: Fat Joe, TV One, 8PM
Lucha Underground, El Rey, 8PM
Speechless, ABC, 8:30PM
People’s Choice Awards 2017, CBS, 9PM
Are You the One?, MTV, 9PM
Law & Order: SVU, NBC, 9PM
Modern Family, ABC, 9PM
Frequency, CW, 9PM
Nova, PBS, 9PM
Star, Fox, 9PM
NFL Turning Point, NBC Sports Network, 9PM
Workaholics, Comedy Central, 10PM
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, FXX, 10PM
Match Game, ABC, 10PM
Blood & Fury: America’s Civil War (season finale), American History Channel, 10PM
Incorporated, Syfy, 10PM
Code Black, CBS, 10PM
Bong Appetit, Viceland, 10PM
Man Seeking Woman, FXX, 10:30PM
Jeff & Some Aliens, Comedy Central, 10:30PM
Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Thursday

The Grand Tour, Amazon Prime, 7PM
Through the Fire: The Legacy of Barack Obama, BET, 7PM
The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 8PM
The Good Place (season finale), NBC, 8PM
The Great Indoors, CBS, 8:30PM
Chicago Med, NBC, 9PM
Alone, History, 9PM
Mom, CBS, 9PM
My Kitchen Rules, Fox, 9PM
Life in Pieces, CBS, 9:30PM
Lip Sync Battle, Spike TV, 9:30 & 10PM
Baskets (season premiere), FX, 10PM
Colony, USA, 10PM
The Blacklist, NBC, 10PM
Portlandia, IFC, 10PM
F*ck That’s Delicious, Viceland, 10PM
Pure Genius, CBS, 10PM
Nightwatch, A&E, 10PM
Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Friday

Frontier (S1), Netflix, 3AM
Take the 10, Netflix, 3AM
Voltron: Legendary Defender (S2), Netflix, 3AM
The Vampire Diaries, CW, 8PM
Grimm, NBC, 8PM
Last Man Standing, ABC, 8PM
Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Donald Trump, CBS, 8PM
Rosewood, Fox, 8PM
Dr. Ken, ABC, 8:30PM
20/20: The Inauguration of Donald J Trump, ABC, 9PM
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, CW, 9PM
Emerald City, NBC, 9PM
Hawaii Five-0, CBS, 9PM
Sleepy Hollow, Fox, 9PM
The Wheel, Discovery, 10PM
Blue Bloods, CBS, 10PM

Saturday

US Figure Skating Championships, NBC, 8PM
Beaches, Lifetime, 8PM
Cops, Spike TV, 8PM
Ransom, CBS, 8PM
Spurs/Cavaliers, ABC, 8:30PM
Saturday Night Live: Aziz Ansari / Big Sean, NBC, 11:30PM

Sunday

NFL NFC Championship Game, Fox, 3PM
NFL AFC Championship Game, CBS, 6:40PM
60 Minutes, CBS, 7PM
NCIS: LA, CBS, 8PM
The Simpsons, Fox, 8PM
The Librarians (season finale), TNT, 8PM
Mercy Street (season premiere), PBS, 8PM
Havana Moon, Starz, 9PM
Homeland, Showtime, 9PM
The Young Pope, HBO, 9PM
Victoria, PBS, 9PM
Hunted (series premiere), CBS, 10PM
Conviction, ABC, 10PM
The Affair, Showtime, 10PM

Jan

NASA’s Curiosity finds new water evidence in possible cracked mud

NASA’s four-year-old Curiosity rover spent 2016 discovering new clues to Mars’ history, including veins potentially from evaporated lakes and mineral deposits suggesting the planet once had oxygen. The craft spent the beginning of 2017 examining a newly-discovered natural formation: Rock cross-cut with ridges, which are probably mud cracks.

Assuming that interpretation holds up, it will be the first mud cracks (okay, “desiccation cracks”) confirmed by the rover. Regardless, the cracked surface formed 3 billion years ago and was buried by layers of sediment, which all became stratified rock, according to a NASA blog post. Wind erosion exposed the split pieces, which are located in an area known as “Old Soaker” on lower Mount Sharp. Other evidence in the site includes a layering pattern called cross-bedding, which could have formed where water flowed vigorously, as in near the shore of a lake. Then again, it could have been made from windblown sediment during a dry episode.

Mars once had lakes, or at least wetter conditions than it does today, based on the latest data from @MarsCuriosity: https://t.co/6hGhodCQwE pic.twitter.com/SLKmW0wgj8

— NASA (@NASA) January 17, 2017

Source: NASA blog

Jan

Here’s how to tell your fortune with autocorrect

The future is now where we don’t have to visit a seedy fortune teller to get the scoop. Maybe.

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One reason I love reading Leigh Alexander: She always manages to find a connection between the ethereal parts of our culture and technology at large.

In one of her latest pieces on Motherboard, Alexander draws relations between our smartphone keyboard’s predictive text feature and how that could be used to tell the future. The article, titled Who Needs a Tarot Reading When We Have Predictive Keyboards? (so true) is a larger look at what our phones know about us and how that keyboard data could be used to essentially predict the future. That’s kind of how Tarot works, too!

Your phone’s knowledge base about language is generally shaped in part by collective use and ongoing updates to a shared database, and partially by what it learns from you in particular. No two users will necessarily have the same experience of autocorrect or predictive text, which means the system is simultaneously personal and universal. That’s also one of the traits that makes tarot such a valuable tool to contemplate one’s goals and choices: the system is universal, where each card generally has a particular meaning, but that meaning depends entirely on the context in which the card appears, the interpretation of the person who reads it, and the personal prompt from the querent.

Fascinating, right? Alexander continues on to make the case for how auto-predict has ostensibly become “a new form of traditional folk divination,” as a source puts it in the article.

Before you dive through the piece, I thought it would be fun to share our own fortunes from GBoard, or whatever other keyboard app you’re currently using.

This year, I will be gone for a while and I will be in touch with me.

Alexander suggests typing out a phrase like “This year, I will,” or “My 2017 will be” and then tapping on the words that show up as it make sense for the sentence. Mine were a bit too personal to share, and almost a bit too revealing, but I’m not surprised considering what the keyboard app has witnessed me type. (I bare my heart through text messages to my closest friends — Gboard stores all that!) Here’s one I didn’t mind sharing, though:

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What’s your fortune? Share it in the comments!

Jan

When is Android Wear 2.0 coming to my smartwatch?

Google is getting ready to roll out Android Wear 2.0 to smartwatches.

Google has released three major updates to Android Wear in the past two years. In this next version, you can expect a Material Design-themed overhaul, standalone apps, as well as improvements to watch faces, messaging, and fitness, and more. But if you’re just interested in learning when exactly your existing wearable will get Android Wear 2.0, here’s everything you need to know.

Android Wear 2.0: Release date

Google announced last spring that its wearables OS would soon get a massive update, in the form of Android Wear 2.0. The company later ended up pushing back the release date to an unspecified time. Now, thanks to an email to developers as well as a confirmation from a usually reliable leaker, we know the software update should launch on 9 February and continue to roll out into March.

READ: Best smartwatches to look forward to in 2017

The product manager of Android Wear told The Verge in December that Google will launch its own pair of smartwatches in 2017. They will be flagship Android Wear 2.0 watches as well as the first devices to launch with the update. According to reports, Google’s watches – Watch Style and Watch Sport – will be made by LG and should begin selling the day after Android Wear 2.0 launches.

READ: Are these Google’s upcoming Android Wear watches?

Following the launch of the new devices, existing Android Wear watches will get the Android Wear 2.0 update. Unfortunately, not all existing Android Wear watches will be compatible, but Google said most of the recent models should update. Also, some features like Android Pay will require specific hardware, including NFC radios.