A visual history of gadgets that have burst into flames

Samsung had a rough 2016. Last year, the company had to recall its Galaxy Note 7 after units were catching fire, followed by millions of washing machines that were exploding in people’s homes. But Samsung isn’t the only company that’s struggled recently with faulty batteries. We’ve seen similar issues with hoverboards, a Tesla Model S and the latest electric skateboard from Boosted. Let’s take a look at other products that have had trouble in the flammability department. And let’s hope those non-exploding lithium Ion batteries get here soon.

Amazon Unveils Curated TV Subscriptions Strategy with ‘Anime Strike’ Prime Channel

Amazon launched Anime Strike this week, the company’s first self-branded content to appear under its Channels subscriptions program for Prime members.

Anime Strike offers U.S. Prime members access to over 1,000 anime TV shows and movies for an extra $4.99 per month on top of the $99 Prime subscription. Amazon says the channel will serve up seinen classics as well as weekly anime exclusives from Japan. A seven-day free trial lets Prime members check out the channel, which features “The Great Passage”, “Scum’s Wish, and “Blue Exorcist: Kyoto Saga”, as well as anime classics like “Paprika” and “Tokyo Godfathers”.

Amazon’s existing add-on video subscription services include channels such as HBO, Comedy Central’s Stand-Up Plus, and Cinemax, but Anime Strike is the company’s first own-branded, curated offering. Speaking to Variety, Amazon said it plans to launch additional branded subscription VOD channels in the coming months.

The move indicates intensifying competition among streaming services, with a wider range of exclusive content becoming increasingly necessary if companies are to fend off rival offerings. Back in November, sources claimed Apple was considering a price drop for Apple Music in time for the holiday period, with Amazon cited as the “biggest motivation” for the discussions over monthly pricing. However, the service’s $9.99 price tag remains in place, and with reports this week that Apple is planning to create its own original TV shows for Apple Music, more content rather than lower cost appears to be the overriding strategy.

Amazon already serves up original TV content to Prime members through Instant Video, while the company’s Amazon Music Unlimited service costs $7.99 per month (or $9.99 per month for non-Prime members). According to The Wall Street Journal, Amazon has held talks with a number of sports leagues including the NFL and NBA about obtaining live game rights, with a view to either including a sports package as part of its Prime membership or offering it as a paid add-on.

In July of last year, Amazon U.S. was estimated to have 63 million Prime members – more than half the online retailer’s customer base.

Tag: Amazon Prime
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3D zebrafish can replace real animals in the lab

A few years ago, zebrafish became the new lab rat because of their genetic similarity to humans. So, when a team of researchers from the NYU Tandon School of Engineering decided to develop a virtual alternative for lab animals, they chose the tropical freshwater minnows. The team used real-life data to develop a platform that simulates zebrafish swimming in three dimensions, which is accurate enough to replace the animals in experiments.

The platform started as a 2D model back in 2015. Its current iteration, however, is much more sophisticated and features speed modulation, wall interaction and the burst-and-coast swimming style of zebrafish. To prove that it works, they had the platform process data detailing the speed of zebrafish swimming in different tank sizes. They found that the size of tank affects the speed of the fish within minutes, when it would have taken much longer and thousands of real animals to come to the same conclusion.

The researchers know their creation “can’t entirely replace animal testing,” but they believe it can help decrease the number of animals used in the lab. They think it’s ideal for the pre-clinical stages of research, especially for neurobehavioral studies critical to understanding the brain. They’re tweaking it further to include other factors, though, including social interaction and response to both live and engineered stimuli.

Source: New York University

France isn’t ready to ban cyclists from cheating with motors

The pro cycling world may be cracking down on the use of hidden motors to cheat in races, but it doesn’t look like governments are ready to make it a criminal offense. The French government has shot down a proposed law that would have made this “technological doping” illegal, adding legal penalties to the punishments from racing leagues themselves. It’s not that the politicians endorse cheating, of course. Rather, it’s that they feel the proposal was premature and potentially too harsh given existing measures.

The would-be law promised both a fine of €3,750 (about $3,991) and up to a year in prison for individual offenders. Larger outfits involved in making or acquiring hidden motors would have faced a €150,000 fine (currently $159,653) and as many as 7 years of prison time.

The concept still has legs. A compromise will have the government study the viability of criminalizing motor-based cheating, and give more authority to France’s anti-doping agency. There could very well be legal repercussions to getting an unfair technical advantage. Observers have complained about Tour de France organizers hindering French police investigations, suggesting that the leagues aren’t always the best judges of their own actions. It’s just that officials would rather understand the potential consequences of an anti-motor law before welcoming it with open arms.

Via: CyclingTips

Source: Next Inpact (translated)

Dancing Line Review

If you’ve ever played a music/rhythm game before, you know the premise is usually simple; listen to the music to react appropriately and progress through the game. In Dancing Line, from Cheetah Mobile, you guide a line through a constantly changing world by tapping to the beat of the music. The game starts out easy, but by the time you progress to the second level, you’ll find the challenge ramps up dramatically.

Tap on the screen anywhere to change the trajectory of the forever-moving line

The overall look of Dancing Line is simplistic and clean. The world animates before you as you guide your line through the level. Your path becomes more clear as the world changes before you. Blocks will build up or slam down, paths will narrow or be revealed in a smooth animated way and weather effects will obstruct your view dynamically as you tap to the music. Cheetah Games has done a great job in building a clean and sharp, polygonal world for you to explore.

Being that Dancing Line is a musical game it’s important that the tunes are well composed and fitting. Thankfully both of these requirements are met in a satisfying fashion. The music is catchy with orchestral instruments layered in harmony to convey a feeling that pairs well with the visuals. It’s not music you’ll be humming years down the road, but it’s done well and fits perfectly within the aesthetic.

Dancing Line’s overall look is simplistic and beautiful at the same time

Dancing Line is a game focused on skill–and you’ll need plenty of skill to complete later levels. Fortunately, if you get stuck on one level, you can skip around to test your tapping skills on any one of the four main levels. From the level selection screen you can see how your furthest progression, but there are no checkpoints, so you always start from the very beginning. There are five levels to play through in total, although the final one is pay-to-play, and there’s also a promise of more levels to come soon. This is a fair amount as the difficulty and length of each level provides for a healthy amount of challenge.

If you fail a level (by running off of the course or into a barrier), you will have to use one of your cubes to try again. Your cubes are limited but there is an option to attain more cubes for more playtime. You can purchase 50 cubes for $.99 or get an infinite amount for 24 hours for $1.99; or just wait for your energy to recharge over time to play more in the future. Dancing Line is also ad-supported but offers the option to remove ads for a one-time payment of $4.99.

Dancing Line supports achievements and Google Play Game services to retain your completion level as your move between devices. Within the settings menu, you can toggle graphical quality in order to play on less powerful hardware, or turn off sound completely for a real challenge.

Cheetah Games has put together a respectable, albeit short, piece of gaming software that fans of the music genre can instantly enjoy. The challenge level is high and sometimes frustrating, but the overall experience is fun and engaging.

Next ‘Titanfall 2’ update mostly ignores the robots

You’d think that any big Titanfall 2 update would revolve around the game’s namesake robots, but no — Respawn wants on-foot action to be the focus next time around. It’s preparing a free upgrade whose centerpiece is Live Fire, a six-on-six pilot-only mode. You have just one minute to either eliminate the entire enemy team or hold a neutral flag when time is up. The mode is important enough that there are even two new maps created just for the purpose.

The release will also include a new Coliseum map (again, a pilot-only mode), a new execution and fresh commander intros. All told, Respawn appears to be acknowledging the contingent of players that’s almost annoyed by Titanfall 2’s robot-centric gameplay — you’ll have considerably more variety if you prefer parkour-heavy infantry combat.

There’s one main improvement that everyone can appreciate. You’ll have the option to create your own multiplayer ‘mixtapes’ that include just the modes you want to play. If you only see yourself ever playing Amped Hardpoint and Bounty Hunt, you can include both in the rotation without having to switch from one to the other.

Source: Titanfall

Sharp Karakuri Fridge/Freezer (SJ-WX830F-BK) Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

Lookin’ sharp, Karakuri fridge.

Sharp

People often ask me if it’s boring writing about refrigerators. I think it’s a silly question. After all, pretty much everybody has a fridge and uses it every day — how many other product categories on CNET can claim that? I get to write about tech that’s relevant for everybody.

But, I will confess that I do get bored with seeing the same old features and the same old designs trotted out with fresh coats of polish year after year. I like seeing new features, new designs — the stuff that I didn’t know I wanted in my own kitchen instead of the stuff I already know I don’t.

That’s why the new Sharp Karakuri fridge/freezer caught my eye. It’s a European fridge that doesn’t look anything like most of the fridges I write about, thanks to a nifty, asymmetrical design and a hidden water dispenser that spins into view whenever it senses you reaching for it.

Sharp claims that the revolving water dispenser design was inspired by the “Karakuri” doors ninjas allegedly used to conceal themselves, according to this very academic source.

Historical accuracy aside, it’s patently pretty cool as far as refrigerator PR pitches go. And it’s not just a gimmick — hiding the water dispenser makes for a clean, seamless design, and one that protects it from dust and allergens.

On top of that, the Karakuri fridge offers the ability to customize the size of your ice cubes, and promises to make that ice up to 45 minutes faster than the competition. There’s also an “Express Cooling” mode that claims it can chill a drink down from room temperature in 30 minutes or less.

The refrigerator’s water dispenser spins out of sight when you aren’t using it.

Sharp

Size-wise, the refrigerator’s 758 liters (roughly 27 cubic feet) offers plenty of storage space even when compared with American fridges, which tend to be a lot bigger than European models.

Sharp tells us that the Karakuri fridge will make its debut in the final months of 2017 at an asking price somewhere around €3,700 — or about £3,230, AU$5,250, or just a little under $4,000 in the US, converted roughly. All in all, it’s a fridge that looks and sounds like something I’d want to consider for my own kitchen — a shame, given that it’ll only be sold across the pond.

Pay attention, US manufacturers

The Karakuri fridge is a stark difference from the “me-too-ism” that runs rampant in American appliance design. Samsung has a smart fridge with a big ol’ touchscreen on it? Oh great, now LG has one, too. People seem to like door-in-a-door fridges? Oh great, now Whirlpool and GE are jumping in with copycat models of their own. See-through doors were all the rage at CES? Oh great, now Frigidaire has a see-through fridge, too.

At times, US manufacturers seem to spend more creative capital on coming up with unique-sounding names for copycat features than they do on the actual features themselves. Just consider Whirlpool’s “Infinity Shelves” (sliding shelves) or Samsung’s “CoolSelect Pantry” (drawer). At least GE was honest enough to call its clone of the LG Door-in-Door fridge the GE Door-in-Door fridge (though, given that LG has “Door-in-Door” trademarked, I have to believe the moniker won’t stick).

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Feast your eyes on the fridges of CES 2017

And sure, it’s hard to fault major manufacturers for playing it safe. After all, no one wants to miss out on the next big market mover, that new feature or style that makes everything else look obsolete and compels people to upgrade. It happened with French door refrigerators nearly 20 years ago, and with most of those models starting to get pretty long in the tooth, a lot of experts think the time is ripe for it to happen again.

Still, it won’t happen without innovation, or without risk. It’s why I tend to give manufacturers a little bit of leeway when they go out on a limb and try something different — that’s the only way we’ll ever find the appliances we didn’t know we wanted. So, to that end, good on Sharp for making a weird-looking fridge with unique features.

Now bring it to the US, damn it.

Sharp QW-D41F452B Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET

After showing off a dishwasher that opened its door automatically at IFA last year, Sharp’s kicking off 2017 with a couple new dishwasher features. On display at the LivingKitchen trade show in Cologne, Sharp’s new high-end model runs quickly and lets you point certain water jets where you need the extra cleaning power.

Sharp describes this dishwasher’s finish as “sultry.”

Sharp

The Sharp QW-D41F452B sports a black glass finish that Sharp calls “sultry” and holds up to 15 place settings of dishes. If you only load four place settings, Sharp’s speed cycle is an impressive 18 minutes. The QW-D41F452B also has spray arms on the left and right of the bottom bin, to help douse your dishes more thoroughly.

Cutting edge dishwashers

• Electrolux’s Comfortlift
• LG’s Quad Wash
• Samsung’s WaterWall

The aimable water jets are called “Aquaglide.” Essentially, you can funnel water into deep bottles or glasses on the top rack, or turn the jets downward and add extra coverage to the bottom rack. Aiming jets into bottles isn’t anything new. GE Appliances has specific bottle jets on a number of its dishwashers, but you can’t aim those bottle jets down if you don’t need them.

I’ll hope to see these aimable water jets in the US at some point, as well as Sharp’s automatically opening dishwasher door. For now, though, the QW-D41F452B is slated only for Europe. The price will be especially reasonable for a high-end model: €650. That converts to around $700, £570 and AU$920.

Nintendo Switch ditches StreetPass and Miiverse

You’ll have to say goodbye to your StreetPass collection if you decide to completely abandon the 3DS in favor of Nintendo’s hybrid console. David Young, assistant manager of PR at Nintendo of America, told VentureBeat that the Switch won’t have access to the StreetPass feature and the gaming giant’s social network Miiverse. He said that it “plays into the idea of the Switch as a home console.” It’s likely to establish the Switch as a gaming device for your home — a replacement for the Wii U — even though you can take it out of its dock for on-the-go gaming. That’s in line with the company’s earlier revelation that it’s still considering a separate successor to the 3DS. If the absence of both StreetPass and Miiverse doesn’t bother you, the Switch is arriving on March 3rd and will set you back $300.

Source: VentureBeat

Amazon asks the FCC for permission to run secret wireless tests

Amazon has a mysterious experimental project that it wants to start testing, based on the application it sent to the FCC that Business Insider found. The e-commerce giant has requested for permission to test a wireless communication technology for five months in preparation for research scheduled next year. It kept the application pretty vague, only mentioning that it involves “prototype equipment and associated software designed to support innovative communications capabilities and functionalities.”

Since Amazon listed Neil Woodward as a contact for the filing, the technology could have something to do with Prime Air. Woodward was a NASA astronaut who’s now the company’s program manager for its delivery drone’s flight tests and safety efforts. BI suggests the possibility that the technology is a wireless means to control Amazon’s drones, though it could also be for any of the company’s mobile devices. Whatever it is, the company plans to conduct initial tests indoors near its facilities in Seattle. After that, we might finally be able to get a glimpse of those mysterious prototype equipment when the company begins its outdoor test run near its facilities in Kennewick, Washington.

Source: Business Insider, FCC