Qarnot’s smart space heater has learned some new tricks
Anybody with a desktop tower (or a laptop running Chrome) knows how much waste heat processors can throw off during the course of their computing. Typically that heat is simply discarded, shunted from the processor’s surface through a complex series of tubes and sinks. But French startup Qarnot has better idea — use that energy to heat your home.
At CES in Las Vegas on Tuesday, the company showed off its latest iteration of the Q.Rad, a home heater that generates its warmth from the heat generated by an array of CPUs located within it. In fact, since 2014, more than 100 French households have been heated by Q.Rads, whose CPUs are remotely crunching data for a variety of companies. The houses stay warm – without the need for heating oil, natch — and the companies have access to a distributed network of processing power. It’s a win-win for consumers and businesses alike — not to mention the environment.
The new version shown off this year offers a host of new and connected features. Each Q.Rad now serves as a WiFi hotspot, monitors indoor air quality, wirelessly charges phones and even serves as an informal security system by notifying the owner when it senses movement in the room around it. The heater is also compliant with both the Nest and HomeKit ecosystems.
Best of all, the rent that companies pay to use the processors fully covers the system’s operating expenses so homeowners don’t pay a dime. They simply have to replace the units every 5 years or so when the processors go out of date. Currently the systems are only available for public and private institutions, rather than individual homeowners.
Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.
CES 2017: Withings Teams Up With L’Oreal for Smart Hairbrush
Withings, Kérastase, and L’Oréal have teamed up to create the world’s first Bluetooth-connected smart hairbrush that’s able to interface with your smartphone.
The “Kérastase Hair Coach Powered by Withings” combines sensors created by Withings with signal analysis algorithms designed by L’Oréal to determine the quality of the hair and “monitor the effects” of your haircare routine.
There’s a built-in microphone that listens to the sound of hair brushing to determine details about frizziness, dryness, split ends, and breakage, plus a feature that measures the force being applied to the hair and the scalp while you brush.
An accelerometer and a gyroscope analyze brushing patterns and count brush strokes, haptic feedback capabilities alert you if you’re brushing too hard, and conductivity sensors can tell if you’re brushing your hair wet or dry to provide accurate measurements.
The hairbrush connects to a mobile app that analyzes the data and the ambient weather to provide a hair quality score, data on brushing habits, and customized product recommendations for different hair types.
“Withings has a track record for empowering everyday objects such as bathroom scales and watches with sensors that provide people with insight into their behaviors, and we’re excited to now bring this expertise to the beauty industry,” said Cedric Hutchings, Vice President of Digital Health for Nokia. “Each time someone uses the smart brush they get rich data they never before had access to, which can improve their overall hair care experience.”
The hairbrush will be priced at under $200 and will be available at Kérastase hair salons, the Kérastase website, and the Withings website in the fall of 2017.
Tags: Withings, CES 2017
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New Android 7.1.1 builds bring Jan security patch to Pixel, Nexus devices
New month means new Android 7.1.1 builds for Nexus and Pixel devices!
Google has released new Android 7.1.1 builds for the two Pixel models and several Nexus devices, including the Nexus 6P, 5X, 9, Player and Pixel C.
The new builds bring the requisite bug fixes that we all know and love, along with nearly 50 security updates bundled in the January 2017 (happy new year!) security patch. Pixel owners should look for Build NMF26U or NMF26V depending on the variant (“V” is for Verizon), while Nexus and Pixel C users can look for N4F26J or N4F26I.
As always, the updates are available in factory images or OTA updates, the latter of which can be easily sideloaded using ADB.
The January 2017 Security Bulletin details a number of vulnerabilities that have been patched, both within Android itself and from third-party vendors like Qualcomm and NVIDIA.
How to download and install Nougat on your Pixel or Nexus right now
Google Pixel + Pixel XL
- Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
- Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
- Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
- Pixel + Pixel XL specs
- Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
- Join the discussion in the forums!
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OnePlus recruits tech fan Emily Ratajkowski to explain Dash Charge
How does Dash Charge actually work?
On the previous episode of OnePlus Marketing Extravagance, the high-profile smartphone maker unboxed its latest device, the OnePlus 3T, in a fighter jet.
Now, the company is back with a very informative explainer video for its Dash Charge fast charging technology starring actress and model, Emily Ratajkowski.
In just over two minutes, Ratajkowski succinctly explains the advantages of lower-voltage fast charging, which is achieved by using a more robust cable and a higher amperage. Other solutions, such as Qualcomm’s Quick Charge, vary the voltage depending on the phone’s temperature and battery percentage, which has its own advantages, but can also generate unwanted heat inside the phone.
Looking for a more in-depth look at how Dash Charge works in the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T? See below.
Dash Charge in the OnePlus 3 explained
OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T
- OnePlus 3 review: Finally, all grown up
- The OnePlus 3T is official
- OnePlus 3 specs
- OnePlus 3T vs. OnePlus 3: What’s the difference?
- Latest OnePlus 3 news
- Discuss OnePlus 3 in the forums
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Honor 6X preview: ‘Mate 9 Mini’ delivers dual cameras for just £250
Honor made a big song and dance about its 6X smartphone ‘launch’ at this year’s CES in Las Vegas. Which was a bit odd for a phone that’s been available in China since the later part of 2016. George Zhao, Honor CEO, took to the stage and spent far too long reassuring us that Honor is the number one selling online-only phone brand.
Peel back the hefty marketing speak and shovel-loads of reassurance about sales volumes, however, as it’s largely irrelevant. Let the Honor 6X speak for itself and, as we found upon slipping our gold finish (with white front) model out of its box, the quality is immediately tangible. For a £250 phone this is one well made and good-looking device.
It’s also got its share of gimmickry, though, in the form of dual cameras on the rear: a 12-megapixel main snapper, accompanied by a 2-megapixel companion which is designed for depth-mapping so you can apply a pseudo-bokeh effect for ultra-blurred backgrounds.
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This feature is the same as you’ll find in the Huawei P9 (minus the official Leica partnership and software), meaning a software-based f/0.95 can fake shots into looking all arty and pro. Often it doesn’t work well, though, which is the gripe we’ve had with all these kinds of systems – from HTC to Apple and everything in-between. Just go take a normal photo, no?
That point aside, we’re rather taken by the Honor 6X’s looks. It’s like a Huawei Mate 9 in mini form, with a 5.5-inch LCD screen (not the 5.9-inch scale of the Mate 9), which ought to give it wider appeal. The resolution is Full HD (1920 x 1080) which is ample at this price point and scale and there’s plenty of brightness available.
The finish is similar between Huawei and Honor too: both have protruding camera units and a well-positioned recessed fingerprint scanner beneath (which operates brilliantly). The difference in colour between the main back panel and top-and-bottom bands (for the antennas and, therefore, reception) isn’t particularly well matched, but that becomes an aesthetic feature all of its own. Those soft curved edges and chamfered finish not only looks good, it makes for a comfortable hold too.
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The £250 price tag is around £60 more than the previous 5X model, which is quite a jump, but there are some additional features. NFC has been added so fingerprint payment systems ought to now work. The mid-level octa-core Kirin 655 processor is also under the hood, paired with either 3GB or 4GB RAM for the European model. We believe the lower RAM capacity will come with the 32GB storage model, the larger with the 64GB model (the latter which we have).
Unlike the Huawei Mate 9, the Honor 6X doesn’t run Android Nougat and the company’s EMUI 5.0 re-skin. Instead, the 6X comes loaded with Android 6.0 and EMUI version 4.1. If you’re an Android die-hard its software tweaks and nuances might take some getting used to.
Battery life looks set to be decent, too, with a 3,340mAh battery keeping things ticking along. We’ve only been using our review device for all of 15-minutes, so whether that’ll mean a decent day-and-a-half of use we’ll find out as we review the phone over the coming weeks.
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The Honor 6X is available to buy from 4 January in the UK and will be available from Three later in the month. Whether you’re into the dual camera arrangement or not, at this price and with this level of build the 6X is a great mid-level entry to the phone market.
This selfie-drone recognizes, finds and auto-records its owner
Look how happy I am in that photo below. Or am I scared? It’s hard to tell. Selfie technology just took a new turn, and I’m evidently not quite sure what to make of it. The source of the photo is Zero Zero’s Hover Camera. It’s a foldable, lightweight, 4K camera drone that we’ve seen before. The new trick that helped take this picture is that I just threw the drone up in the air. It then turned around until it recognized me (passing two colleagues along the way) and I just waved at. Boom: awkward selfie.
Hover Camera could already recognize and follow a target. Just previously you had to use the companion app on your phone, and pick out the subject you wanted to follow on screen. With the new feature, you essentially “register” your face via the app once, and then you can forget about the phone. The next time you launch Hover Camera, it will fly in place, turning around until it spots you. Once it has you locked, it’ll follow you as before. To grab a selfie, just raise your hand until the front LED flashes, and gives you a three-count.
We’ve seen selfie drones before, and visual recognition is becoming a more popular way of tracking subjects than GPS. Using the camera to track isn’t always as dependable as GPS , but it does solve a few problems. Namely, no need for a separate GPS device (or phone), one less thing to charge, and your chosen target is easier to keep in the center of the shot (GPS doesn’t always exactly where you are, but obviously the camera does).
While Zero Zero’s working hard to improve the Hover Camera, and keep it ahead of similar products like Dobby (or Kimon), the pocket-friendly drone category still faces other limitations. In general, battery life is fairly short. Expect about 10 minutes of air time from Hover Camera. Though with a charge time of about 40 minutes, it won’t be long until you’re back in the air again.
Perhaps a more significant limitation is the camera itself. Most of the small drones I’ve tested have cameras comparable to those you’d find in a mid-range phone. Zero Zero’s 13-megapixel shooter isn’t too bad — images come out looking pretty nice — but it’s all still a long way from the pin-sharp, goodness you’d get out of a Phantom 4 Pro, or a GoPro.
There are also general challenges with cramming a lot of software smarts into a small form factor. In my brief demo at the convention center here in Las Vegas, the company representative had experienced a few minor limitations due to the beta version of the app.
Many of these should be sorted by the time the update rolls out in the next few weeks though. At the very least, it’s nice to see an existing product getting care and attention after its release. But at $599, the Hover Camera doesn’t come cheap, so let’s hope these new features keep on coming.
Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.
Synaptics combines face and fingerprint recognition on your phone
Fingerprint readers and facial recognition techniques are good for adding a base level of security to your phone without sacrificing convenience. However, they have their limits. It can be hard to switch between methods on a whim, and dedicated intruders can get through if they either make you unlock your phone or develop convincing fakes. Synaptics thinks it has a solution: It’s unveiling a “biometric fusion engine” that can combine results from face and fingerprint detection before letting you into a mobile device or PC. Ideally, this makes it easier to sign in even as it adds an extra layer of security.
On a basic level, this lets you choose whichever security method works best at a given moment. If it’s the heart of winter and you’d rather not freeze your fingers, you don’t have to think twice about using facial recognition instead. Things get clever when Synaptics uses both technologies at once, though. Your device could combine less-than-perfect results from the two sensors to make a decision, for instance. If you misplace your thumb but your eyes, you might be fine. And if you’re accessing particularly sensitive data like your bank account, the fusion engine could require both sign-in methods to prove that it’s really you.
It’s not certain when you’ll see the engine in shipping products. With that said, it’s likely to be just a matter of time. Synaptics has a strong foothold in both the mobile and PC worlds, and its tech might be a strong selling point at a time when old-fashioned passwords are seemingly on the way out.
Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.
Source: Synaptics
UVify’s Draco drone is a racing quad for everyone
You might be pretty handy with your DJI Phantom, but flying a racing drone is something else. Most “consumer” drones are programmed to make flying a cinch, but the trade-off is a lack of agility and speed. Racing drones right now is akin to making your own gaming PC: You need to get your hands dirty, know how everything works together and labor over it to get everything optimized. UVify wants to democratize the burgeoning sport of drone racing with Draco. A ready-to-go speedy drone that can hang with the pros.
To make a crude analogy, you typical racer is a bit like Android. You can tweak it to your preference, all the hardware it comes on is different, and you can mod it to your liking. UVify’s Draco, then, would be more like the iPhone. The company designed every component of it from the ground up and optimized them to work together. Oh, it also looks pretty smart (no wires or ugly exposed batteries).
As someone interested in drones, racing (and the more niche freestyle flying) has always appealed to me. But I’m not handy with a soldering iron, and learning all the nuances of making a good racer, and maintaining it are just enough of a barrier. Draco, on the other hand, instantly appeals. There are other ready-to-fly racers, but they usually still need some level of tinkering, or ability to repair them.
Draco can reach speeds of about 70MPH in race conditions, and in a straight line get apparently get up close to 100. All the other necessities to hang on the race track are there, too. That means full 40-channel FPV (First Person View), so you can race from the drone’s perspective, and configurable racing lights. There’s also GPS, which is less common on racing drones (as it’s not generally needed), but it allows the Draco to include some assisted flight modes to help you get started.
Should you ding your drone while flying, you still won’t need to solder anything, as most of the parts are easily replaceable. If you break an arm, or motor, you can simply clip a new one back in and you’re good to go. Draco itself will cost about $499 (without transmitter/controller), while new motor arms should be about $30. Not cheap, but not a huge sum either. The drone’s carbon-fiber frame means it’s built pretty solid anyway, so breakages shouldn’t be too common if you don’t fly like an idiot.
Draco won’t be available until around summer this year, but you can pre-order it now, with two models to choose from: the Draco and Draco HD, with the latter sporting a better camera and real-time HD video streaming.
Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.
Source: UVify
LeEco brings Android-powered smart bikes to the US
LeEco is determined to add a dash of technology to just about everything, and that now includes old-school pedal power. The fast-rising tech company has unveiled two bicycles for the US, the Smart Road Bike (above) and Smart Mountain Bike (below), whose centerpiece is a 4-inch touchscreen box that runs a customized take on Android. The front-end gives you turn-by-turn directions from Here, music playback (including streaming), ride data and even chats with nearby LeEco bike riders. They have their own GPS and sensors, and you can track your own fitness by pairing ANT+ heart rate and power monitors.
Which bike you pick simply comes down to a matter of your preferred terrain. Both have Toray T700 carbon fiber frames and handlebars, as well as 11-speed drivetrains. The Smart Road Bike is the lighter of the two at 18.5 pounds, and clearly meant for the street with extra lashings of carbon fiber in the fork, seat post and wheels. The Smart Mountain Bike is decidedly heavier at 26.9 pounds, but it boasts a SR Suntour XCR Air front fork and other components designed to survive rougher trips.
LeEco hasn’t revealed the price for either bike at this stage, but you should see both of them arrive sometime during the second quarter of 2017. It’s hard to say how well they’ll fare when many cyclists either have dedicated bike computers or just use their smartphones, but look at it this way: If you don’t like burning your phone’s battery during your two-wheeled adventures, this promises a more elegant solution.
Click here to catch up on the latest news from CES 2017.
Source: PR Newswire
Scientists confirm a ‘new’ human organ
For centuries, the mesentery (which links the intestine to the abdomen) has been treated as a group of distinct structures in your digestive system. It wasn’t anything special. However, the medical world now has to rethink that belief. Scientists recently determined that the mesentery is really one, cohesive entity — that’s right, they confirmed the existence of a ‘new’ organ. Researchers first discovered the continuous nature of the mesentery through microscopic examinations in 2012, but the past few years have shown that it has enough function to be considered an organ.
This doesn’t mean that the scientific community understands exactly what the mesentery does. With that in mind, the very act of classifying it as an organ should have a far-reaching impact. On a basic level, it’s shaking up education. The medical field had to update its definitive Gray’s Anatomy textbook to account for the new findings, and students are already learning about the mesentery as a matter of course.
More importantly, it’s opening up a line of inquiry that hadn’t been available before — it’s a “whole new area of science,” the discovery team’s J. Calvin Coffey says. If scientists can learn more about how the mesentery interacts with the digestive system, they could develop better treatments for diseases and identify conditions that are specific to this part of the body.
Via: Science Alert
Source: The Lancet, University of Limerick
