Win a littleBits Gadgets and Gizmos Kit

Pocket-lint has teamed up with littleBits to offer you the chance to win one of two Gadgets and Gizmo Kits, designed specifically to help children learn how to invent new things.

The Gadgets and Gizmos Kit can be used to create a bubble blower, remote control car and a new take on a classic pinball machine, along with nine other projects. Each one has its own detailed set of instructions to keep your young budding inventor engaged for hours.

To be in with a chance of winning one of two sets, simply answer the question below before midnight on the 17 February 2017 (GMT). We will announce the winner shortly after.

Good luck!

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Sony prices up its latest Extra Bass headphones and speakers

Back at CES, Sony announced a slew of new on-ear and in-ear headphones for its ‘Extra Bass’ range. The only problem? No pricing. Thankfully, Sony has now released this rather crucial information, so let’s get cracking with a quick spec sheet update. At the top of the pile is the $249.99 MDR-XB950N1, a pair of wireless headphones with noise cancelling capabilities. The cans connect over Bluetooth and support NFC for quick pairing. They also leverage the AptX and AAC codecs to stop your connection from dropping on the go. Sony says they’re good for 22 hours of continuous music playback, which should be enough for any brutal long-haul flight.

Next on the list is the MRT-XB950B1, a slightly cheaper model with a smaller battery (18 hours) and no noise cancelling. You’re saving $50 (so $199.99 instead), so you’ll need to weigh up whether the trade-offs are worth it. Both headphones come with a companion app which let you adjust the bass levels and imitate specific listening environments, such as a club, concert hall or music festival. If you want to save some cash and don’t mind a dangling cable, there’s the $59.99 MDR-XB550AP. Aimed at the lower end of the market, these on-ear headphones have an in-line remote and come in five different colors: black, red, blue, green and white.

For sporty types, Sony has the in-ear MDR-XB510AS headphones. They’re IPX5/7 waterproof and sweat resistant, meaning you can take them out for a rainy run no problem. Like the XB550AP, they’ll set you back $59.99, however they also come with a clip, arc supporter and cord adjuster. All the important bits to ensure they don’t get in your way during workouts.

Finally, there are the light-up wireless speakers. They come in three sizes: the $99.99 SRS-XB20, the $149.99 XB30 and $249.99 XB40. Obviously, the higher you go, the larger and more powerful the speaker becomes. They can all be chained together, however, so you might find a couple of XB20s are handier than a single XB40 tucked in the corner of your living room. All of them have some kind of integrated light, which can strobe and shine different colors in time with the song you’re playing. It’s a neat little party trick that can be managed using the SongPal app on your smartphone.

All of these devices have now been upgraded from a “Spring” to “March 2017” release date. A day would have been nice, but that tends to be Sony’s style — better bookmark the company’s online store if you’re interested.

Source: Sony

BeatsX Earphones Launch on Apple Store for $150

Apple today officially launched the much-anticipated BeatsX Earphones on its online store for $149.95, after initially delaying the earphones from Fall 2016 and into February 2017. With the delay of BeatsX, Apple focused on the December launch of the AirPods, which have subsequently become hard to come by for those interested in Apple’s own Bluetooth headphones.

Apple’s website states shipping times of 1 business day for the White and Black color options, and 7-10 business days for Blue and Gray. Some Amazon orders for BeatsX suggested the earphones might arrive in late January, but those dates were inaccurately estimated for customers.

BeatsX are different from the AirPods in a few small ways, including the fact that the earphones are tethered together by a flex-form cable instead of completely wireless like the AirPods. Thanks to the cable, however, BeatsX includes in-line remote control media playback, as well as more ease of mind for those afraid of losing the earphones thanks to the cable’s security when resting on the user’s neck. Further preventing loss is a magnet in each BeatsX earphone that clicks the earphones together when resting against the user’s chest.

The BeatsX Earphones also include a W1 chip for easy pairing with any iOS device, as well as a charging system that supports Lightning cables, continuing to deepen the ease-of-use of the Beats brand in Apple’s ecosystem. To provide as secure fit as possible, the earphones ship with four interchangeable eartip sizes, as well as removable secure-fit wingtips for when users plan on being highly active with BeatsX.

The new earphones provide up to eight hours of music playback with a full charge, and users can get a full two hours of battery life on five minutes of charge with its “Fast Fuel” charging feature. “Authentic, clear acoustics” provide high-quality sound playback on BeatsX, with optimized noise isolation to give users an “immersive listening experience.”

BeatsX were one of the W1-enabled earphones that Apple announced during its September 7 iPhone event, also including the AirPods, Powerbeats3, and Beats Solo3. The AirPods launched on December 13 and availability remains scarce, while the Beats Solo3 have been out since September, and the Powerbeats3 were available to order in October. Now, those interested can pick up BeatsX on Apple.com for $149.95 in both white and black.

Tag: BeatsX
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Secret agents may yet get their self-destructing phone

Why it matters to you

If you happen to hold highly sensitive data on your phone, this kind of self-destruct technology may be just the ticket.

Self-destructing gadgets needn’t be the preserve of secret agents in spy flicks and Galaxy Note 7 owners, at least, that’s the message from a team of researchers in Saudi Arabia.

In a serious effort to build something that could prove useful for governments or businesses handling highly sensitive information, researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have built a tiny prototype component that, when fixed inside a smartphone or similar gadget and activated, can destroy its vital innards in a matter of seconds.

The device comprises a polymer layer that rapidly expands to up to seven times its original size when heated to anything above 80 degrees C. The heat is generated by a number of electrodes that draw their power from the gadget’s battery. As the polymer layer expands, it crushes and destroys nearby parts, rendering them useless.

While it’s possible to wipe a phone remotely, physically mashing up its internals in the event of losing highly sensitive data may be a preferable course of action for those dealing with such content.

“The first customers would be the ones who need data protection: Intelligence communities, corporations, banks, hedge funds, social security administrations, collectors who handle massive data,” Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, an electrical engineer at KAUST, told Spectrum.

The team also tried out different methods to set off the mechanism remotely, as if in a real-life situation. One involved fitting a pressure sensor inside the gadget that caused it to self-destruct if someone forced the cover off, while another linked it to a smartphone app that required a password to activate the wrecking mechanism remotely. A third experiment used GPS technology to activate the self-destruct process if the gadget was moved beyond the boundary of a designated area.

More: Here’s how to “completely wipe” you Android device

There’s still much work to be done before government operatives and secret agents have any hope of using this particular bit of kit. For example, the team wants to refine its technology and enhance it so it can destroy additional important components inside the mobile device or computer in which its been installed.

At this early stage, the work appears to show real promise and is particularly notable for its low cost. The team says it may cost as little as $15 per device and could even be easily retrofitted to larger devices such as laptops.

There have been other attempts to create self-destructing components for mobile devices, including this exploding glass chip from DARPA, but, as far as we know, a cheap and effective design is yet to make it to market.

Secret agents may yet get their self-destructing phone

Why it matters to you

If you happen to hold highly sensitive data on your phone, this kind of self-destruct technology may be just the ticket.

Self-destructing gadgets needn’t be the preserve of secret agents in spy flicks and Galaxy Note 7 owners, at least, that’s the message from a team of researchers in Saudi Arabia.

In a serious effort to build something that could prove useful for governments or businesses handling highly sensitive information, researchers at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) have built a tiny prototype component that, when fixed inside a smartphone or similar gadget and activated, can destroy its vital innards in a matter of seconds.

The device comprises a polymer layer that rapidly expands to up to seven times its original size when heated to anything above 80 degrees C. The heat is generated by a number of electrodes that draw their power from the gadget’s battery. As the polymer layer expands, it crushes and destroys nearby parts, rendering them useless.

While it’s possible to wipe a phone remotely, physically mashing up its internals in the event of losing highly sensitive data may be a preferable course of action for those dealing with such content.

“The first customers would be the ones who need data protection: Intelligence communities, corporations, banks, hedge funds, social security administrations, collectors who handle massive data,” Muhammad Mustafa Hussain, an electrical engineer at KAUST, told Spectrum.

The team also tried out different methods to set off the mechanism remotely, as if in a real-life situation. One involved fitting a pressure sensor inside the gadget that caused it to self-destruct if someone forced the cover off, while another linked it to a smartphone app that required a password to activate the wrecking mechanism remotely. A third experiment used GPS technology to activate the self-destruct process if the gadget was moved beyond the boundary of a designated area.

More: Here’s how to “completely wipe” you Android device

There’s still much work to be done before government operatives and secret agents have any hope of using this particular bit of kit. For example, the team wants to refine its technology and enhance it so it can destroy additional important components inside the mobile device or computer in which its been installed.

At this early stage, the work appears to show real promise and is particularly notable for its low cost. The team says it may cost as little as $15 per device and could even be easily retrofitted to larger devices such as laptops.

There have been other attempts to create self-destructing components for mobile devices, including this exploding glass chip from DARPA, but, as far as we know, a cheap and effective design is yet to make it to market.

Hyperloop One co-founder has just launched a rival startup

Why it matters to you

If one of these companies can nail the technology, it’ll transform ground-based transportation and the entire travel industry.

There’s another hyperloop team in town, and it’s fair to say it knows a thing or two about the ultra-fast transportation technology.

How do we know that? Because it’s headed up by one Brogan BamBrogan, a key figure in the fledgling industry who departed Hyperloop One under a cloud last year.

BamBrogan co-founded Hyperloop One – or Hyperloop Technologies as it was called then – in 2014 and worked as its chief technology officer. But last year he sued the company, accusing it of an array of underhand activities. The two sides have since settled the dispute, allowing BamBrogan to focus on more pressing matters, namely developing a super-zippy transportation system just like the one he was working on before.

More: Everything you need to know about the hyperloop

The new outfit, launched on Thursday, is called Arrivo, and, in the company’s own words, aims to develop “technology based on the hyperloop architecture that will deliver a truly 21st century seamless experience for passengers and freight.”

That’s right, Arrivo is talking about a new kind of transportation system that could see people seated inside comfy capsules hurtling along vacuum tubes at speeds of up to 760 mph. That means a journey time of just 30 minutes between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Which beats crawling along in a car for six hours.

Speaking of Los Angeles, that’s where Arrivo’s base happens to be, and get this – it’s located less than a mile from Hyperloop One’s own headquarters. That means the two teams could probably give each other a friendly wave if they look out of the window. No, we don’t think that’s going to happen either.

Arrivo’s launch crew, which comprises a mix of engineers and executives, includes three of the guys who walked out of the Hyperloop One door alongside BamBrogan last summer, and three additional members, plus, of course, BamBrogan himself. It’s aiming for a team of 30 by June, expanding to at least 80 by the end of the year, according to a release sent to Digital Trends.

More: Pod racers – SpaceX’s hyperloop competition pits concepts head-to-head

The company is set to unveil details of its hyperloop project in the coming months, a presentation that’ll be of great interest to not only Hyperloop One, but also Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, which, as its name helpfully suggests, is also working on similar technology. Having a new team on the playing field should certainly push all three to the limit in their respective bids to build the first fully operational hyperloop system.

But the challenges remain huge on a multitude of levels, causing many observers to wonder if the proposed technology will ever fulfill the grand vision of its creators. With Arrivo’s arrival, there’s one more chance that it will.

Daydream VR is coming to a Chrome browser near you

Google has announced it has begun rolling out an update for its Chrome web browser on Daydream-ready Android smartphones, that will let you access WebVR-formatted web pages with a Daydream View VR headset.

• What is Google Daydream and what devices support it? Google’s Android VR platform explained

WebVR was developed by Google to be specifically used within a web browser for virtual reality experiences. When viewing a WebVR page, the web page and the smartphone’s sensors with in unison, with the page moving around and sound changing perspective depending on which way the headset is facing.

While the newly updated Chrome web browser currently only works with a Daydream View VR headset, Google has confirmed it will be bringing support to more headsets in the future, including Google Cardboard. If you don’t have a headset at all, you can still access the WebVR pages, on either mobile or desktop, and interact with them using your finger or mouse.

There’s already a bundle of specifically developed web-based virtual reality content, including Matterport VR, which lets you tour in excess of 300,000 celebrity homes, museums, canyons and iconic architecture, along wth WebVR Lab which lets you get creative, building various projects with the Daydream Controller. Full details of the experiences available can be found on Google’s blog.

• Google Daydream review: A pixel perfect VR experience?
• This is Huawei’s Daydream VR headset
• HTC Vive’s VR headset designer is now working on Google Daydream

The update for the Chrome browser should be available now, so be sure to check the Play Store in case your Daydream-ready phone is ready to download.

Miitomo makes it easy to share Miifotos with your friends

Do you want some sort of a Miifoto central where you and your friends can check out each other’s snapshots on Miitomo? Then you’ll want to download the social networking app’s latest update. It adds a feature called Miifoto Log, where you can post your Miifotos with commentary. The feature also comes with a timeline where you can see your friends’ posts, so you can comment on each other’s entries like on Facebook. In addition, you can now attach images to your Mii’s and Sidekick Mii’s answers as some sort of a visual aid to go with your Q&A replies.

Version 2.2 has a few non-image related updates, as well, including the capability to add bios to profiles and to use the wallpapers and flooring you receive as backgrounds in Miifotos. Finally, you can start attaching messages to friend requests if you want to make sure friends know it’s you and not some rando trying to add them on the app. To check out what else you’re downloading when you hit update, head over to iTunes or Google Play for the app’s complete change log.

Source: Miitomo

From DIY to AAA, 5 easy way to take your passport photos

Applying for your first passport, or renewing an old one? In addition to the documents you need to submit, you’ll also have to provide a photo. But not just any photo will do, as the U.S. Department of State has a list of requirements that must be met. Not meeting one could result in an unwanted — and unfortunate — delay.

More: 9 laptop bags for travelers who want to get through security in style

There are two ways to take a passport photo: do it yourself for free, or utilize a service for a fee, such as a nearby pharmacy’s photo center. Choosing one will depend on your timing and budget, as well as the amount of effort you want to put in. Regardless of which option you pick, you’ll be jetting off to somewhere far in no time.

Why do you need a passport?

Simply put, a passport allows you travel outside the country and re-enter upon your return. A passport serves as both a proof of identity and citizenship. Possessing a passport is required when you travel outside the United States or its territories.

A passport also works as the ultimate photo I.D. Should you misplace your driver’s license or you need a second proof of identification, a passport is universally accepted, whether you’re flying domestically or trying to get into a club.

YouTube Go is a data-friendly service that lets you save videos offline

YouTube Go is aimed at Indian customers on spotty connections.

Last year, Google announced that it would be introducing a barebones version of YouTube for Indian consumers primarily on 2G connections. Dubbed YouTube Go, the app is now available in beta from the Play Store for those located in India, offering a simplistic user interface and the ability to save videos offline.

YouTube Go offers previews, allowing you to see segments of a video before proceeding with playing or downloading that particular video. You can also choose the resolution of the video to download, with two options available: basic (240p) or standard (360p) quality. If you want to locally save 720p or Full HD videos, you’ll have to fall back to the full-fledged YouTube client. There’s also the option of saving videos either onto the primary internal storage or onto an SD card, and you can also share downloaded videos with your friends over Wi-Fi Direct. The social aspect of YouTube Go is interesting, and it’s easy to see that the app is targeted at a younger audience.

That said, one of the main drawbacks of the app is that it doesn’t show you the channels you’re subscribed to. All you get is a home page that shows videos trending locally. As I’m in Hyderabad, I get a lot of video suggestions in Telugu when I’m on LTE. As such, discoverability is a major problem. Playlists and comments are also missing from YouTube Go.

The app is available in eight local languages, making it easier for customers looking for regional content to start using the service. You sign up for YouTube Go using a phone number, and if Google finds an account associated with that number, it will ask you to sign in to YouTube Go with that email address. The interface is broken down into two tabs — Home and Saved — and you get a search box through which you can search for videos.

Overall, the app is significantly pared down when it comes to the features from the standard YouTube client, and the result is that it absolutely flies on my Pixel XL. It’s obviously not aimed at high-end devices, but it’s simplicity works in its favor considering a majority of devices sold in the country are under-powered and do not offer a lot of internal memory. For those devices, a lighter version of YouTube — the app’s download size is 8MB, and it takes up 33MB of space — makes a lot of sense. As we’ve seen recently, Facebook Lite has amassed over 200 million users, so there is a market for lightweight apps that load fast and don’t consume a lot of data, particularly in developing countries.

Google’s efforts in rolling out internet access to the “next billion” users in India have been fruitful thus far, with the free Wi-Fi initiative now available at over 100 train stations across the country. At an event last month, Sundar Pichai reiterated Google’s commitment to the Indian market, announcing new initiatives aimed at getting small businesses online. YouTube Go is a continuation of that vision. The app isn’t catered to everyone, but for those that are on a metered data plan or are in an area where cellular connectivity is spotty (read: most of India), YouTube Go is a decent alternative.