Run the Jewels include AR extras with ‘RTJ3’ physical editions

Killer Mike and El-P may have dropped the digital version of their highly-anticipated Run the Jewels 3 on Christmas Eve, but the duo is releasing the physical versions of the album today in the US (globally next week). As part of this second wave release, Run the Jewels revealed an augmented reality project: “ARTJ.” In addition to the artwork for the vinyl and CD versions of RTJ3, all of the digital images, posters, stickers and shirts have been properly equipped for AR.

With the ARTJ iOS app, you can see content exclusive to all of that physical merch. The app includes visuals from a number of artists the hip hop duo has worked with in the past. Run the Jewels say that this is the “first phase” of ARTJ with more stuff coming later this year. This isn’t the first time RTJ has embraced more immersive visuals to complement their music. Following Run the Jewels 2, Killer Mike and El-P teamed with The New York Times to release a virtual reality version of their video for “Crown.” They also released a special edition Google Cardboard headset on Record Store Day last April to complement the “VRTJ” footage.

As was the case with the first two installments, Run the Jewels 3 was released digitally for free, but physical copies and other merchandise are available for purchase. The addition of AR content gives fans a bit of added value on top of the items they buy. At a time when streaming continues to dominate both digital and physical music sales, extras like this could persuade fans to open their wallets.

Via: Pitchfork

Source: ARTJ (App Store)

Super Bomberman R preview: A sparkling retro gem for the Nintendo Switch

As classic multiplayer games go, few can match the might of Bomberman. Way back when it was the ultimate way to get your mates around and strategically blast them into oblivion. In, you know, a fun and friendly kind of way.

The premise of any Bomberman deathmatch game is simple: you dash around a grid, placing bombs in a rapid-strategy style to take-out your competitors. Play against any number of human and computer-controlled opponents – between two and eight in the case of Bomberman R – and level-up your abilities by exposing and collecting items from the surrounding bricks which you blast away.

It’s fast, its frenetic, and it’s great fun. Or, at least, that was the case until Bomberman ditched its three-quarter-down viewpoint back in PlayStation One era and went all 3D. It upset the game’s very logic and, in our view, never worked.

Super Bomberman R doesn’t muck about with any of that though: it’s back to its retro 2D-ish glory, albeit with souped-up graphics that make it look every bit the modern title.

The game, from the multi-player we played at the Nintendo Switch unveil in London, is certainly guilty of repackaging a lot from the earlier games – but that’s exactly what any old skool Bomberman fan will be looking for. It had us laughing, playing along with other first-time players and having a great time.

This time around we feel the computer’s artificial intelligence is a step beyond the way it used to be. The first deathmatch game saw the computer taking out both (admittedly rusty) human players by its kicking of bombs and being very deft in play. We soon improved though, those 90s-inspired fingers coming back to form.

• Nintendo Switch preview: Return of the king?

One other thing that feels different is the addition of height. It is a 3D game, after all, so bombs and gullys can sit at different heights from one another – in previous games it was a very one-layer gaming arena. That ought to add further complexity to proceedings.

Along with the multiplayer option there will be a campaign story mode in the game. It’ll follow the usual cycle of scrollable levels with varying degrees of difficulty across a variety of worldly settings, cumulating in various boss matches. We look forward to seeing what’s on offer this time around – but it wasn’t a playable part of the demo we sampled.

The more we think about it, the more that Bomberman R, for us, comes across as one of the true gems of the otherwise lackadaisical Nintendo Switch line-up. Of everything on offer, this is the one we want to buy (well, ok, so second to Zelda, but it’s still a buy-on-sight title).

• All the Nintendo Switch games: Launch titles and every game for 2017 revealed

Super Bomberman R will be out this March for Nintendo Switch (it’s not confirmed as a day one title, but we can hope). Price is yet to be confirmed.

Researchers warn peace sign photos could expose fingerprints

As if the constant data breaches that threaten to expose the one password you use for absolutely everything weren’t enough, apparently you now need to start worrying about posting that cute selfie. The peace sign is many people’s go-to picture pose, and it’s particularly popular in East Asia, but according to researchers it’s also the perfect way to expose your fingerprints online. In a study conducted at Japan’s National Institute of Informatics (NII), investigators found that, if the focus and lighting was right, they could recreate fingerprints from images shot up to 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) from the subject.

Fingerprint authentication is now the norm on smartphones and common enough on some other devices like laptops. What’s more, phone cameras are consistently improving and there are more ways than ever to share your snaps online. It would seem, then, that the number of images from which fingerprints can be extracted can only grow. Still, there’s probably little cause for concern. Not only would a wrongdoer have to go through the process of building an accurate fingerprint from pictures; they would subsequently need to make a passable mold of said fingerprint and, finally, gain physical access to your smartphone to make use of the thing. In short, it’s complicated.

The sheer amount of effort required to just get into someone’s phone is likely why we’ll never see this successfully executed outside of a Mission Impossible flick. The Japanese researchers’ claims aren’t exactly groundbreaking, either. Back in 2014, a German hacker claimed to have cloned a politician’s thumbprint using close-ups taken at a press conference with a standard digital camera and off-the-shelf software. The following year, he also demonstrated an iris spoof using only a high-res image and a laser printer.

If all this is pushing your paranoia buttons but you don’t want to live in a world where you can’t throw up the Vs on Instagram, there’s good news. The NII researchers have developed a transparent film of titanium oxide that will obscure fingerprints in photos but won’t stop you interacting with your devices. The bad news is consumers are looking at around a two-year wait before this becomes widely available, at which point technology would’ve undoubtedly moved on to the point where this elaborate fix is already unnecessary.

Via: The Japan Times

Source: Sankei Shimbun (Japanese), Japan National Institute of Informatics

Emissions cheating scandal expands to France’s Renault

The “Dieselgate” pollution scan that started with Volkswagen has expanded in Europe as French authorities are now investigating automaker Renault SA. Three judges will probe possible “cheating on pollution control checks … with the consequence of making the [vehicles] dangerous to the health of people and animals,” Le Figaro reports. That follows a preliminary investigation which concluded that some Renault models were emitting up to ten times the legal amounts of nitrogen oxide (NO2).

Renault said it has “noted” the probe, but repeated statements that it has complied with emission rules and that’s its vehicles are not equipped with defeat software. In August 2016, the company asserted that the problem could have been caused by a “calibration error” on an anti-pollution part, and not by a defeat device.

France’s environmental minister, Ségolène Royal, set up a commission in to look into the real-world emissions of 52 cars from domestic automakers like Peugeot, Citroen, and Renault, along with others including Ford, Mercedes, Toyota and, of course, Volkswagen. Most of the vehicles exceeded controlled tests by up to five times compared to the pollution gauged on the road, while three-quarters of cars had 20 to 50 percent higher emissions than stated on certification forms. French rules allow for a tolerance factor of 2.1 times declared emissions, but that’s set to drop to 1.5 by 2023.

French authorities asked all the automakers to explain the results, but didn’t say why they decided to investigate Renault. Just yesterday, the EPA in the US accused Fiat Chrysler (FCA) of using defeat devices to cheat emissions tests like Volkswagen did — a scandal that has cost VW over $20 billion and counting. However, FCA is hoping that it can convince the incoming Trump administration that excess emissions were not caused by defeat devices and avoid similar penalties.

Source: Le Figaro

The best home 3D printer for beginners (so far)

By Signe Brewster

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, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

Though 3D printers have until recently been too expensive and complex for curious beginners, it’s possible to find a relatively inexpensive and approachable model to use at home. We spent 20 hours researching and testing three of the best beginner-focused 3D printers we could find and think the Tiertime Up Mini 2 is the best choice for most people just starting out with 3D printing. It has the best combination of reliability, features, and style. It was the easiest to set up and produced the highest number of great-quality prints of all the printers we tested.

Who should get this

If you have been thinking about buying your very first 3D printer but don’t have much experience with the technology, both our top pick and budget pick are good options for you. Each printer currently retails for $600 or below and is designed to be friendly to beginners. There is minimal assembly required, and software and setup are relatively accessible.

But be warned that no 3D printer is unbreakable. A day will come when you’ll need to replace a part or get your hands dirty in some other way. You might want to avoid 3D printing altogether if you have a tough time with minor fixes to appliances.

Prospective buyers should also be aware that the 3D printing industry is constantly in a state of upheaval. It’s not out of the question that you might someday find yourself without much support from a company. It’s also possible that a new breakthrough will suddenly leave you with outdated technology.

How we picked and tested

Video: Signe Brewster

We turned to user reviews on sites like Amazon, plus guides from 3DForged, All3DP, and Make to develop a short list of the best inexpensive 3D printers, in addition to consulting experts. We looked for an ability to reliably print good-looking parts straight out of the box with as little maintenance required as possible.

We looked for machines that were under $600 and still had as many premium features as possible: heated beds and large print volumes were both bonuses. Nonproprietary filament was another important factor. For more on how we picked, see our full guide.

We decided to test three models that offer a mix of desirable features, relatively high-quality parts, and positive reviews online and among the experts we spoke to. During testing, we made note of ease of assembly, including the initial software installation and navigation process.

Then we got to printing. Each printer was required to produce two models picked to demonstrate a range of each printer’s basic capabilities before moving on to printing other models. Each printer got eight attempts to produce as many acceptable models as possible. We also noted how many times we had to repair the printers, how often they needed their print beds leveled, and what it was like to remove completed models from the print bed.

Our pick

Photo: Signe Brewster

The Tiertime Up Mini 2 was the clear pick due to its winning combination of reliability, features, and style. It was the easiest to set up and produced the highest number of great-quality prints out of all the printers we tested. One after another, the prints came off of it looking perfectly smooth, with only faintly visible lines between the layers. Unlike the others we tested, there was never an obvious error.

The Mini 2 has the most features out of the group we tested. It has a heated bed and enclosed printing space, which helps keep temperatures even while printing. The printer has a touchscreen and can print over Wi-Fi or USB; both of are almost unheard of in a printer under $600. The Maker Select v2 (more on that below) relies on the open-source Cura software, a plus for users already familiar with the interface or who want finer control over the machines, but the Mini 2 came with proprietary software that is much simpler to use. The Mini 2’s print bed also slid out of the machine for easy model removal.

Prints from the Mini 2. Photo: Signe Brewster

Although the Mini 2 has a relatively enclosed design that might intimidate beginners looking to make a quick fix, the design also indicates Tiertime doesn’t expect many breakdowns. Plus, the warranty is good for 12 months.

A budget-conscious choice

Photo: Signe Brewster

The Monoprice Maker Select v2 was the surprise runner-up to the Mini 2. For an unusually low price, you get a heated print bed and a respectable 7.9 by 7.9 by-7.1-inch print volume—the largest of the group. We also liked that you could load models onto the printer via a microSD card and start prints on the printer itself, negating the need for a computer between prints. However, its onboard control menu is difficult to navigate and likely confusing for beginners.

The Maker Select v2 is based on one of the original 3D printer designs. It’s clunky and the most difficult of the group to assemble, but by not breaking the mold, it can rely on the years of thought that have gone into refining this style of printer. It failed zero times during our eight test prints—the best out of the group. The models produced by the Monoprice did come out with a few visible lines here and there where the layers of plastic separated. So though the results weren’t quite as nice as those that came off the Mini 2, the Select v2 proved itself to be a reliable workhorse.

This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from The Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

App.net dies on March 14th, 2017

Remember App.net, the (initially) paid-for Twitter clone that promised a platform dedicated to its users, rather than advertisers? The service launched in a blaze of glory, earning well in excess of its $500,000 crowdfunding target. Five years later, however, and co-founders Dalton Caldwell and Bryan Berg have conceded that their dream has died.

The site was conceived as “What Twitter could have been,” harking back to that company’s evolution into an ad-supported social network. Caldwell lamented the decision, saying that Twitter’s platform and API would have made an excellent system for connecting various products in real time. He felt that such a crucial piece of technology was “too important to its users to be ad-supported” and should not treat developers as shabbily as Twitter had.

The result was App.net, a site that kinda/sorta resembled Twitter, at least on paper, albeit with a barrier to entry: an annual fee. The initial $50 figure would eventually shrink, from $36 down to nothing, but from the get-go, many believed that paying such a high price for what was, essentially, Twitter wasn’t going to be a winner. Combined with the effort it would take to wrench people away from a platform they love (or at least, love to hate) and things weren’t looking good.

By 2014, after the first round of paid subscription renewals, Caldwell revealed that the company had earned just enough money to pay for hosting and servers. But that cash pile wasn’t big enough to employ developers to continue improving the site or anyone else for that matter. So, that summer, the platform essentially went into stasis, continuing to function but with only its founders operating it as if it were a hobby.

But by then, the company had struggled to grow itself to the point where paid users could invite their friends along for free. In addition, App.net had tried to push away from the idea that it was a paid-for Twitter clone, offering cloud storage to its limited user base. As Marco Arment explained, “What developers need is for App.net to add tons of users to the service,” the one thing it struggled to do.

“Ultimately, we failed to overcome the chicken-and-egg issue between application developers and user adoption,” explained Caldwell in his signoff. He added that “Our initial developer adoption exceeded expectations,” but that initial rush didn’t “translate into a big enough pool of customers for those developers.”

Since then, little has happened beyond the company’s time, user base and money gradually sliding down towards zero. As such, the service will be shutting down on March 14th, 2017, with all signups and subscription renewals suspended from today. If you want to preserve your data, you’ve got until the March deadline to clear out your stuff and pour one out for the little Twitter clone that, uh, couldn’t.

Source: App.net

Korg’s iOS music production app is coming to Mac

Korg Gadget, an all-in-one iOS production studio, was first introduced in 2014 and now the the mobile suite is heading to the desktop. The company announced that Gadget will soon make the leap to Mac, but it hasn’t revealed exactly when that will happen just yet. What we do know is that Korg promises seamless integration between the mobile and desktop versions. This means that you’ll be able to start a project during your commute and pick it back up when you get to your studio back home and vice versa.

Gadget provides access to a collection of instruments that range from synths and drum machines to effects and more. Think of it like GarageBand and you will have an idea of what’s going on here. All of the instruments and tools, what Korg calls “gadgets,” from the iOS version will be available on Mac. What’s more, the desktop software will include two new gadgets that enable full recording abilities as well as a new 16-pad drum machine.

This new Mac version of Gadget also includes the “Gadget Plug-in Collection” that plays nice with AU, VST, AAX and NKS. The app works with Allihoopa, Ableton Link and Bluetooth MIDI, too. Korg isn’t discussing price either, but we should know more about how much the software will cost and exactly when you will be able to use it when NAMM kicks off next week.

Via: FACT

Source: Korg

Playing all the games at Nintendo’s Switch event

We’ve touched the hardware and were left with some good impressions. But that’s only half of the equation: what about the games? Nintendo is offering several upgraded (and some brand new) titles for the Switch. While some depend on the new controller interfaces (Arms) and sharing aspects of the new console (1, 2 Switch), others, in classic Nintendo style, tap in our nostalgia (Sonic Mania, Ultimate Street Fighter 2). And there was another try to play Zelda. Here’s every title that we could get our hands on at the Switch event.

Splatoon 2

It’s Splatoon, innit? It felt just as good as the original Wii U game, with smooth frame rates and Nintendo’s cutesy idealized urban environments. Barely anyone’s played the original, so the lack of progress here isn’t likely to faze either ardent fans or newcomers. We all just want more Splatoon

Incidentally, this was one of two games I played wholly on the Switch, rather than on a TV, and I loved it. I can definitely see myself using this as a handheld way more often than a home console.

Aaron Souppouris

Arms

I’ll be taking a more in-depth look at this game later, but initial impressions are positive. Arms is Nintendo’s big new title for Switch: a gesture-powered one-on-one boxing match with comically extending arms, boomerangs and more. Like a few games I saw during the Wii U’s era (I’m looking at you, Star Fox…), it’s going to take some time to get completely used to the controls. It’s also instantly enjoyable — especially when you land your first twisting hook on your opponent from the other side of the arena. Boom.

Mat Smith

Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

With all the courses, all the characters (plus five new ones), the biggest takeaway of this Mario Kart remake was the sheer portability of 10-driver Mario Kart on the Switch. To start, the console is smaller and handier than the Wii U GamePad, making it far more comfortable to play. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe played smoothly in 720p on the console’s own screen, which was how I played it and the controls (a Joy-Con either side) worked better than on the Wii U GamePad, in my opinion. Even the screen does its job better than its predecessor. While the game will add all the DLC content that the original got, there was one notable change to the game mechanics themselves: you can carry two weapons at once. Sounds like it’s going to be messy.

M.S.

1-2-Switch!

Is it WarioWare, or is it Wii Sports Club? A little bit of both, but with a smarter controller. While none of the short, snackable mini-games used that crazy shape-detecting sensor that’s embedded into one of the Joy-Cons, several demos offered a great demonstration of the refined haptic feedback you’ll get from the Switch controllers. I fought a samurai, bested a rival cowboy at quick-draw, cracked a safe and copied a dance. The safe cracking mini-game, where I had to tilt the controller until I felt an uneven ‘tick’ from the controller in order to unlock a safe. It hints and the nuanced possibilities of Nintendo’s party game-in-the-making. That’s a good start, but I want to see how Nintendo packages them all together.

M.S.

Ultra Street Fighter II: The Final Challengers

As someone that’s not really got into the last few iterations of Street Fighter (but adored the Alpha series as a teen), I was pretty happy with my time with The Final Challengers. Mat and I were stuck with the “improved” graphics, rather than the old-school sprites, but the game felt smooth and responsive (I’m pretty certain it was running at 1080p/60, and it had better be.

The Pro Controller I played it with, though? Not a huge fan. At least for Street Fighter, I need a good d-pad, and a good d-pad this was not — it was just way too stiff. Maybe it’ll loosen up in time? For what it’s worth, the whole pad felt a little more… slapdash when compared to the precision of the rest of the console. The analog sticks and face buttons are fine (and, let’s be honest, not many people use the d-pad), at least.

A.S.

Snipperclips

So I don’t know if it was just 4AM (it was in London) and I missed it, but I don’t remember seeing Snipperclips during the event last night. That’s a shame, because this game is so much fun. It’s a two-player puzzle game where you need to work together to solve puzzles by… cutting each other. It sounds weird but it’s an absolute delight. I just about completed the demo in my allocated 10 minutes, and I loved every second of it. I loved Chariot, and there aren’t enough two-player puzzle games around. I can’t wait to play it with my kids.

A.S.

Fast RMX

With no (non plumber-themed) racers to be seen during today’s presentation, it fell to indie studio Shinen to save the day. Unsurprisingly, Fast RMX is another Wii U port, serving as an update to last year’s Fast Racing Neo. While many third party Switch ports have been pretty barebones, Fast RMX sounds generous, adding 30 new tracks and 10 new cups to the mix. The gameplay was left largely untouched, serving as an enjoyable F-Zero clone. While I was skeptical that it would feel alright on the controls, it looks to have survived the transition surprisingly well. While the new content is nice, it’s the bump in resolution that really made the demo shine. In full 1080p resolution and running at a flawless 60fps on the TV, this is what Fast always should have been.

Tom Regan

Super Bomberman R

If there’s any game that sums up classic Nintendo multiplayer, it’s Bomberman. The series’ core gameplay remains unchanged, but it’s the Switch’s portability that made it feel fresh. Putting the Switch in tabletop mode and simply handing a Joy-Con to the other player was grin-inducing experience. While I was skeptical about using a single Joy-Con, thanks to the game’s simplistic one-button controls it feels surprisingly natural. If Konami get the price right, Bomberman could be an essential purchase.

T.R.

We’ll be updating this report as we play our way through the event.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from Nintendo’s Switch event.

Apple vs. Samsung Lawsuit Over iPhone Design Officially Reopened

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Thursday reopened a longstanding patent lawsuit related to Samsung copying the design of the iPhone nearly six years ago, following an order of certiorari from the U.S. Supreme Court, according to court documents filed electronically this week.

The court will seek to determine the exact amount Samsung owes Apple for infringing upon the iPhone’s patented design, including its rectangular front face with rounded edges and grid of colorful icons on a black screen. The previous $399 million damages judgment was overturned by the Supreme Court last month.

Apple’s damages were calculated based on Samsung’s entire profit from the sale of its infringing Galaxy smartphones, but the Supreme Court ruled it did not have enough info to say whether the amount should be based on the total device, or rather individual components such as the front bezel or the screen.

It will now be up to the appeals court to decide. Apple last month said the lawsuit, ongoing since 2011, has always been about Samsung’s “blatant copying” of its ideas, adding that it remains optimistic that the U.S. Court of Appeals will “again send a powerful signal that stealing isn’t right.”

The question before the Supreme Court was how to calculate the amount Samsung should pay for their copying. Our case has always been about Samsung’s blatant copying of our ideas, and that was never in dispute. We will continue to protect the years of hard work that has made iPhone the world’s most innovative and beloved product. We remain optimistic that the lower courts will again send a powerful signal that stealing isn’t right.

Calvin Klein, Dieter Rams, Norman Foster, and over 100 other top designers filed an amicus brief in support of Apple, arguing the iPhone maker is entitled to all profits Samsung has earned from infringing designs. They cited a 1949 study showing more than 99% of Americans could identify a bottle of Coca-Cola by shape alone.

Tags: Samsung, lawsuit, patent
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Next iPhone Said to Have Even Better IP68-Rated Water Resistance

Apple’s next-generation iPhone will feature IP68-rated water resistance, which would be an improvement over the IP67-certified iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, according to The Korea Herald. Samsung’s Galaxy S7 is IP68 certified, and the Galaxy S8 is naturally rumored to be as well.

In the IP68 rating, the “6” means the next iPhone would remain effectively dustproof, with “no ingress of dust” and “complete protection against contact,” while the “8” means the device will be even more water resistant. The Galaxy S7 is able to withstand 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes.

For comparison, IP67-rated devices like the iPhone 7 offer the same protection against dust but only have water damage protection against immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter by definition. However, while keeping your device dry is best, tests have shown the iPhone 7 is typically more water resistant than advertised.

Apple describes the iPhone 7 as “splash and water resistant,” but its fine print warns that “splash, water, and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and resistance might decrease as a result of normal wear.” Despite having an IP67 rating, liquid damage is still not covered under Apple’s warranty.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8 (2017)
Tag: koreaherald.com
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