Rare red nova explosion could add a star to the sky in 2022
There is much still to learn about the universe, and red novas remain one of its mysteries. It’s thought these explosive events, named for their red glow, are the result of binary stars finally merging after eons of cosmic courting. That’s the prevailing theory, anyway, but the rare event has only been observed a handful of times. Our understanding of this stellar event, as well as the lifecycle of stars in general, could improve significantly if the prediction of Calvin College astronomer Larry Molnar proves true. He believes he’s spotted a duo of stars that are on the cusp of merging, becoming a red nova in 2022, “give or take a year.” It’s not just exciting for the research community, though, as the explosion should be so energetic that we’ll be able to see it in the night sky with the naked eye.
Molnar’s prediction comes after years of studying a star called KIC 9832227. His research has led him to conclude this is not only a binary star, but a “contact binary,” where the stars are close enough to share atmospheres. They are so close, in fact, that Molnar expects they are only a few years away from merging into a red nova. “It’s a one-in-a-million chance that you can predict an explosion,” says Molnar, and with this kind of advanced warning, astronomers have a unique opportunity to watch the event as it happens.
What’s more, we shouldn’t have to wait for a research paper or the documentary being made about Molnar’s work to come out to learn if the prediction was correct. Instead, all we’ll need to do is look up, specifically towards the Cygnus constellation. The amount of energy released by the red nova should add a new, noticeably bright star to the night sky, if only for a time.
Via: Business Insider
Source: Calvin College
Polaroid’s Pop is a friendly chunk of a camera
Polaroid’s just-announced Pop camera could be the most basic digital distillation of its iconic instant cameras we’ve seen thus far — but unfortunately, all the company had to show at CES was a non-working prototype. However, I was able to get a sense of just what we’ll be dealing with when the Pop ships near the end of the year. To sum up: it’s a big, chunky plastic camera that should be incredibly simple to use. There’s one button on the front, along with its 4-inch touchscreen, and that’s basically it. Camera lens is on the back, prints come out the top, and the bottom is a colorful plastic border with a wrist strap.
You can pull that colored area off to access the SD card slow, charging port and the place where you load up the paper. And that’s about all there is to it! I will say that it feels much bigger in the hand than I expected based on the press shots, and I do wonder if anyone would want to tote this thing around when our phones slip into our pockets so well.
Unfortunately, without turning on the screen we couldn’t tell just how good or bad the UI is, which is what’ll really make or break this thing. Until we can actually turn this thing on, it’s impossible to say whether it’ll be worth the $200 or so Polaroid is asking (the final retail price hasn’t been announced yet). For my money, I’ll just order prints online — but if you need to have immediate photographic evidence of your activities, the Pop may do just fine.
10 Years Ago Today: Steve Jobs Introduces the iPhone
Today marks the tenth anniversary of the day Steve Jobs introduced the original iPhone at Macworld in San Francisco. In what has become one of the most iconic moments in Apple’s storied history, Jobs teased the device as if it were three separate products: a widescreen iPod with touch controls, a revolutionary mobile phone, and a breakthrough internet communications device.
Apple began selling the iPhone six months later, and nearly a decade later, the company has now sold well over 1 billion of them to customers around the world. iPhone sales continued to rise on an annual basis until 2016, when the smartphone experienced its first-ever year-over-year sales decline amid a down year for Apple. Nevertheless, the iPhone remains Apple’s most successful product ever, accounting for 60% of the company’s overall revenue last quarter.
“iPhone is an essential part of our customers’ lives, and today more than ever it is redefining the way we communicate, entertain, work and live,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “iPhone set the standard for mobile computing in its first decade and we are just getting started. The best is yet to come.”
Apple upended the mobile phone industry that was then dominated by earlier entrants such as Nokia and BlackBerry, two companies that are effectively out of the market today. Jobs poked fun at “smartphones” of the era, quipping they were “not so smart” and “not so easy to use,” while criticizing outdated hardware features such as physical keyboards and styli. In turn, he introduced revolutionary new features such as Multi-Touch to big rounds of applause.
Since then, Apple has improved the iPhone each year by adding several new features:
• 2008: App Store and 3G network support
• 2009: Video recording and Personal Hotspot
• 2010: Retina display
• 2011: Siri and iCloud
• 2012: Taller 4-inch screen, Lightning connector, and LTE
• 2013: Touch ID
• 2014: Larger 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screens
• 2015: 3D Touch, Live Photos, and 4K video recording
• 2016: Waterproofing and dual-lens camera on iPhone 7 Plus
“It is amazing that from the very first iPhone through to today’s newest iPhone 7 Plus, it has remained the gold standard by which all other smartphones are judged. For many of us, iPhone has become the most essential device in our lives and we love it,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of marketing.
2017 is expected to be a big year for the iPhone, with rumors suggesting at least one new model will feature glass casing with a curved OLED display. The device may sport a nearly bezel-less edge-to-edge design with no physical Home button, but rather Touch ID embedded directly into the display as both patented by Apple and technologically possible. Other rumored features include wireless charging, facial or iris recognition, and a vertical dual-lens camera capable of 3D photography effects.
Tag: Steve Jobs
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Asus ZenFone AR preview: A solid introduction to mixed reality
The first phone to support both Google Tango and Google Daydream is here.
While at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Asus unveiled the ZenFone AR, which is technically the second Google Tango-enabled phone, but what makes it interesting is that it also comes with Daydream, meaning it can deliver not only augmented reality but also virtual reality experiences. And compared to the chunky Lebovo Phab 2 Pro, the first Tango handset, the 5.7-inch ZenFone AR seems much more more mobile.
The phone weighs 170g, which is 18g less than the iPhone 7 Plus, and it features a sleek, LG G4-like pleather back. The camera system, which ASUS has called the TriCam, is positioned at the top of the phone so that your fingers won’t get in the way of the motion-tracking sensor that has a fisheye lens. The phone’s main sensor is a 23-megapixel camera with a 0.03 second autofocus. There’s also a depth-sensing camera included.
With this trio, the phone can do augmented reality, shoot in RAW, and save up to 92-megapixel high-resolution photos by combining four 23-megapixel ones. It also offers 4K video recording and comes with four-axis OIS. We couldn’t fully test the phone’s camera abilities nor see if it can shoot in a variety of situations, as the show floor itself was well lit. We also couldn’t try out any AR, because the demo units ran an older version of Android that doesn’t support Tango. But it did have Daydream enabled inside, so of course we watched a few videos in virtual reality.
Pocket-lint
First Impressions
The phone has a Super AMOLED WQHD 2K display, which looked crisp and great, and thanks to the Snapdragon 821 processor and 8GB of RAM tucked underneath, the YouTube VR app we tested ran fast and smoothly. ZenFone AR also has a 3,300mAh battery — decent, considering AR and VR are known for being battery hogs. It also has up to 256GB of built-in storage, plus a MicroSD slot for adding up to 2TB more.
You also get USB-C charging, a standard headphone socket, a physical home button with an integrated fingerprint sensor. So, even without Tango and Daydream, the ZenFone AR is definitely a noteworthy flagship phone. It packs powerful tech, an excellent screen, and impressive cameras into a slim form factor – and we’re looking forward to really giving it a whirl when it releases in the second quarter of 2017.
Hubble spots kamikaze comets plunging into a nearby star
The Hubble telescope helped a team of astronomers discover evidence of comets taking a dive into a young star called HD 172555 that’s “only” 95-light years away from Earth. While they didn’t exactly see these “kamikaze comets,” Hubble detected some fast-moving silicon and carbon gases in the starlight close to the edge of the star’s debris disk. The most likely explanation for those gases is that they’re the result of comet-like objects shattering after crossing the star’s disk.
Kamikaze comets provide more insight into the formation of our own solar system, since the celestial bodies that crashed into our planet billions of years ago could have been responsible for bringing water to Earth. The 23-million-year-old star could be in the middle of forming planets, maybe even a rocky, habitable one like our own. Besides, it might already have a Jupiter-sized giant, since kamikaze comets could indicate the presence of strong gravitational pull caused by large planets.
Lead scientist Carol Grady from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland said:
“Seeing these sun-grazing comets in our solar system and in three extrasolar systems means that this activity may be common in young star systems. This activity at its peak represents a star’s active teenage years. Watching these events gives us insight into what probably went on in the early days of our solar system, when comets were pelting the inner solar system bodies, including Earth. In fact, these star-grazing comets may make life possible, because they carry water and other life-forming elements, such as carbon, to terrestrial planets.”
Thankfully, star HD 172555 is relatively close to our little spot in the universe, so we’ll be able to study it further.
Source: NASA Hubblesite
Color Glide Review
Puzzle games are aplenty on the Google Play store. It’s rare to find one that really pulls you in to the point where you want to play for more than 10 minutes at a time. Thankfully Color Glide, from Eternal Studio, is a game that is fun and addicting early on. The premise is simple, but the complexity quickly ramps up.
Think you have what it takes to solve puzzles like this?
As the player you must solve each puzzle by “gliding” colored squares into the appropriately colored goal. Simple physics allow each colored square to slide up, down, right or left. Later on, puzzles test your skills by creating walls that only certain colored blocks can pass through, or by forcing players to combine two colors to create a new color. It’s a rewarding experience when you use a little bit of wit to figure out the correct combination of moves.
Each level has a goal, or par, for the amount of moves to solve each puzzle. If the level is completed at or close to par, the player will receive a bronze, silver or gold trophy. This adds to the replay-ability as you can return to any level you’ve completed to best your previous score.
Before you know it, you’ll be combining colors to reach new goals
Music is minimal and soothing. This is not a fast paced, frantic puzzle game like Tetris–it’s more thoughtful and calculated, so the ominous, gentle music fits right in. The sound effects are sparse with chimes, dings and effectively what could be described as shattering glass. Overall, a nice complement to the overall aesthetic.
Color Glide does implement leader boards in a very minimal way. You can see scores from friends you have within the Google Play games network, but outside of that, the leader boards are quite limited. The game also has an option to pay to remove those pesky ads (which I did not do), to tweet out to your followers about the game, or to link to and like Eternal Studio on Facebook.
More levels can be purchased with gems at any time. Gem prices range from 100 for $.99 to 600 for $4.99, or can be supplemented by ads. Also, you have the option to play the Daily Level, which is a unique level that is updated each day. Color Glide offers 37 levels from the start, which should be a good amount of challenge for most players. After that, if you still enjoy the game and want more, feel free to spend your gems on more levels.
For fans of the puzzle genre, it’s hard not to recommend Color Glide. It’s simple enough for a child to understand, yet deep enough for the most intellectual player to exercise his or her mind a bit. Check it out in the Google Play store if you’re up for a fun and colorful challenge.
Fisher-Price Smart Cycle preview: An indoor exercise bike for kids
Fisher-Price made a high-tech exercise bike for kids who like to game.
During this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, Fisher-Price unveiled the Think and Learn Smart Cycle. It’s a miniature exercise bike with a tablet stand – and it’s meant for children ages three to six. (This an upgrade to the previous Smart Cycle, which requires a cable to hook up to the TV.) With “Smart Cycle”, kids can play apps while also getting in exercise – and they can do it all from the comfort of home.
- CES 2017: All the announcements that matter
We got a hands-on look at the new Smart Cycle, which is entirely wireless, at CES 2017, though it was far too small for us to actually try out. A bigger version was also on display at the show with an adult riding in order to properly demo how a child would use it. The idea is that kids basically pedal to play. The $150 bike comes with one free game, called Mission to Tech City, which you can download on a tablet.
The app features age-appropriate gameplay based on a curriculum of math, science, and social studies. Additional apps cost $5 each and include interactive experiences from Nickelodeon, such as a SpongeBob SquarePants app that aims to educate children about science and social studies. Parents can download the apps on Android or iOS and pair the bike to a tablet or a streaming TV device via Bluetooth.
First Impressions
During the demo, we saw how kids could pedal forward or backward and use the handle bar to steer. Also, the bike is adjustable, so it can grow alongside a child. If you’re looking to give your kid some guilt-free screen time, Fisher-Price thinks Smart Cycle is an ideal solution, though there will likely be plenty of parents out there who think kids should just put their tablets down and ride real bikes outside.
Still, Smart Cycle costs $149.99 and will be available from June 2017.
Amazon and online grocery services will soon accept food stamps
Thanks to a pilot program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, families who rely on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) to buy groceries will soon be able to use online services like Amazon and FreshDirect. When the two-year program goes live this summer, it has the potential to improve access to healthy food choices in communities that are often lacking in options.
“Online purchasing is a potential lifeline for SNAP participants living in urban neighborhoods and rural communities where access to healthy food choices can be limited,” USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement. “We’re looking forward to being able to bring the benefits of the online market to low-income Americans participating in SNAP.”
At launch, the pilot includes national retailers like Amazon, FreshDirect and Safeway, as well as regional chains like ShopRite, Hy-Vee, Hart’s Local Grocers and Dash’s Market. The program will be available to customers in both rural and urban areas in Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington, but not all items will covered by food stamps. According to the release, the USDA will also evaluating whether local or national services work better for SNAP families and testing various payment methods in the process.
For Amazon, at least, the program also offers a chance to bounce back from last year’s report that the company was underserving certain zip codes in six major US cities. While services like AmazonFresh aren’t exactly cheap at $14.99 per month (and SNAP users will still have to cover any service or delivery fees), getting back those hours at the grocery store could make all the difference to a busy low-income family.
Via: Mashable
Source: USDA
Samsung ArtPC All-in-One Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Mixed in with Samsung’s new Chromebooks and some computer displays at the electronics giant’s CES 2017 booth was what appeared to be, well, just another big display. It was actually a full Windows PC.
The Samsung ArtPC all-in-one looks like a display — a 24-inch full HD LED touchscreen it turns out — attached to the front of a soundbar. The screen height can be adjusted, though, and the bundled wireless keyboard has curved keycaps.
The components are fairly basic, so this is definitely not meant to compete with a Surface Studio, for example. It should have enough power for basic home office or school tasks, but with that screen it could easily be a nice media center, too. Plus, it has a built-in battery, which means you can easily move it around your home. Well, at least as easily as any other computer attached to a 24-inch display.
Samsung ArtPC all-in-one looks like a screen…
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Here’s what’s inside:
- 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-7400T processor
- Intel HD Graphics 630
- 8 or 16GB of memory
- 1TB 5,400 rpm hard drive
- Headphone/mic combo, HDMI in, HDMI out, one USB 3.0, one USB 2.0, SD card reader
Again, not a lot of power in here, but the HDMI input is handy, should you want to use this as a screen for an external device like a gaming system.
A Samsung representative said there are no current plans to actually sell the ArtPC all-in-one and no pricing was available.
AIVAnet 