Secure wireless charging stops pads from frying your phone

It’s not just dodgy wired phone chargers that you have to worry about — a poorly-made wireless charging pad could easily toast your phone. But how do you prevent that from happening when there are no cables or ports involved? MIT has an idea. Its researchers have unveiled a security chip that would prevent a wireless charger from topping up your phone unless it authenticates through a cryptographic handshake. It revolves around a smaller, more efficient charging circuit where there’s a main coil (for the actual charging) and a secondary coil that can produce a strong magnetic field. If your phone and the charger don’t exchange the right public cryptographic keys, that secondary coil will “scramble” the primary coil by changing its frequency.

This would primarily be helpful for ensuring that you get a quality charger, but scientists also see it as helpful when you have more than one device charging at a time. Instead of letting the pad decide which gadget gets all the electricity based on distance, the chip could slow down charging so that there’s an even distribution of electricity. While this would naturally take longer, it beats having to plug in any secondary gear just to make sure it gets power.

The invention wouldn’t make everyone happy. It’s easy to see the chip being used as a licensing tool that forces charger makers to pay up if they want compatibility with a given phone. There’s also the question of legacy support: how do you implement this without turning legions of wireless charging accessories into paperweights? MIT’s work could go a long way toward discouraging cheaply made and knockoff chargers, but the days of ubiquitous hardware support might come to an end if the chip enters use without a broadly implemented standard in place.

Source: MIT News

Dwarf star’s atmosphere holds the ingredients for life

One of the biggest questions in the search for life in the universe is a simple one: how common are the ingredients needed to make life-giving planets? They might be more widespread than you think. Astronomers have discovered that a white dwarf star in the Boötes constellation, WD 1425+540, has an atmosphere chock full of the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen needed for life as we know it. The researchers believe that the star picked up these elements after ripping up a small rock-and-water planet when it veered too close. The finding suggests that rocky planets like Earth don’t need to be born with life-giving material — even a “dry” example orbiting close to its star might pick up those substances through one of these stellar impacts.

Importantly, that victim planet likely resembled one of the objects in the Kuiper belt, the cloud of water-rich comets and small planets at the outer edge of our own Solar System. That supports beliefs that there are Kuiper belt-like environments in other star systems, and that happy accidents like WD 1425+540’s might not be all that rare. While that’s far from a guarantee of life, it raises hope that humanity will find life elsewhere.

Via: EurekAlert

Source: UCLA

Tim Cook believes that augmented reality could be as big as the smartphone

Why it matters to you

Augmented reality has been around on the sidelines for awhile, but it could take a nudge from an industry heavyweight like Tim Cook to bring augmented reality to the main stage.

Apple knows a thing or two about not only setting, but also spotting trends. So when CEO Tim Cook sings augmented reality’s praises, it may mean it’s time for us to perk up and listen. In an interview with The Independent during his visit to the U.K. this week, the Apple executive likened the emerging technology to the very established and ubiquitous technology of the smartphone.

This certainly isn’t the first time Cook has highlighted the importance of AR in the future of the digital realm. In an interview with Good Morning America last September, Cook noted that he preferred augmented reality to virtual reality as it kept people grounded in the real world, instead of submersing them entirely in an alternate reality.

More: Upcoming Snapchat feature will add augmented reality animations to scenes

He expanded upon that viewpoint in his interview, noting, “I’m excited about Augmented Reality because unlike Virtual Reality which closes the world out, AR allows individuals to be present in the world but hopefully allows an improvement on what’s happening presently. Most people don’t want to lock themselves out from the world for a long period of time and today you can’t do that because you get sick from it.”

Augmented reality, Cook argues, allows users to integrate technology into an existing world, which has more resonance.

Calling the technology “a big idea like the smartphone,” Cook also spoke of the universal appeal of augmented reality. In the same way that the smartphone can be used by anyone and everyone, Cook believes that AR “could improve a lot of lives and be entertaining.”

And this isn’t just talk from Cook — indeed, Apple has demonstrated its commitment to the technology by hiring a number of experts in the field.

“I view AR like I view the silicon here in my iPhone, it’s not a product per se, it’s a core technology,” Cook concluded. “But there are things to discover before that technology is good enough for the mainstream. I do think there can be a lot of things that really help people out in daily life, real-life things, that’s why I get so excited about it.”

It’s finally back — Verizon re-offers its unlimited plan to eager customers

Why it matters to you

You win when mobile service providers compete, and your latest victory comes in the form of unlimited data from Verizon.

Peer pressure really works. Or at least, healthy competition among the leading phone service providers does. After enduring what seems like years of ridicule from T-Mobile and Sprint, Verizon is finally back in the game — the unlimited game, that is. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Verizon will be offering a new plan that gives customers unlimited data on smartphones and tablets.

Beginning Monday, Verizon customers who opt for an unlimited plan will also get HD video streaming, Mobile Hotspot, calling and texting to Mexico and Canada, and up to 500 MB/day of 4G LTE roaming in Mexico and Canada.

More:  Drop your phone? Verizon offers same-day, on-site screen repair in select cities

So what’s the fine print? You’ll be paying $80 a month for unlimited data, talk, and text on your smartphone with paper-free billing and AutoPay. If you’d like to add additional lines, you can add up to four more for $45 each. We should note, however, that while you’ll be getting unlimited data, it’s not all created equal. After you use 22 GB of data (which granted, is a lot), Verizon says that it “may prioritize usage behind other customers in the event of network congestion.” And although the company notes that it doesn’t expect that this will happen often, “network management is a crucial tool that benefits all Verizon customers,” and Unlimited customers can’t get that much special treatment.

“We’ve built our network so we can manage all the activity customers undertake. Everything we’ve done is to provide the best experience on the best network — and we’ve built it for the future, not just for today,” said Ronan Dunne, president of Verizon’s wireless division. “We also fundamentally want you to have more choice. We’re not limiting you to a single plan. If you don’t need unlimited data, we still have 5 GB, S, M, and L Verizon plans that are perfect for you.”

Xiaomi Mi 5s review: A great phone you can’t buy

The Xiaomi Mi 5s offers much-needed improvements from the Mi 5, making it a significantly better device.

Quick take:

Although a mid-cycle refresh in Xiaomi’s flagship series, the Mi 5s comes with an all-new metal chassis that looks upmarket. The phone has upgraded hardware in the form of a Snapdragon 821 SoC, the camera sensor has been overhauled, and Xiaomi is offering a global MIUI ROM with Play Store access. Then there’s the price, with the handset retailing for the equivalent of $300 in China.

The good

• Great display
• Excellent build quality
• Value for money

The bad

• Availability
• Camera lacks OIS
• No microSD slot

Finally finished

Xiaomi Mi 5s Full review

Xiaomi had a great 2016 when it comes to the budget segment, with its Redmi series setting new sales records over the course of the year. The same cannot be said of the company’s high-end phones, however. The Mi 5 fared relatively well when it debuted in April, but it was overshadowed by the likes of the OnePlus 3 and then the 3T. A similar situation played out in China, with Xiaomi conceding valuable market share to Vivo and OPPO, both of whom capitalized on the offline market to boost sales.

In a bid to regain its standing in its home market, the company has launched three flagship-tier phones: the Mi 5s, the Mi Note 2, and the bezel-less Mi Mix.

In a bid to regain its standing in its home market, the company has launched three flagship-tier phones: the Mi 5s, the Mi Note 2, and the bezel-less Mi Mix. The Mi Mix isn’t being sold in huge numbers, but Xiaomi is counting on the Mi 5s and the Mi Note 2 to drive sales until the Mi 6 makes its debut.

The Mi 5s is a China-only product, where it is available in two variants: the Mi 5s and the Mi 5s Plus. The latter has a larger screen and dual cameras at the back, while the former refines the design of the Mi 5. The phone itself offers very compelling hardware in the form of a Snapdragon 821, and the 5.15-inch display makes the Mi 5s easy to use one-handed.

The best part about the phone — as is the case with most Xiaomi handsets — is its price, with the Mi 5s retailing for under $300. That’s for the base model with 3GB of RAM and 64GB storage, but you still get a lot of value for your money. Although the phone isn’t offered outside of China, Xiaomi has rolled out a global MIUI ROM for the handset, offering Play Store and other Google services like Gmail, Chrome, YouTube, Maps and more out of the box.

All you need to know

Xiaomi Mi 5s Specs

Metal everywhere

Xiaomi Mi 5s Design and display

The design of the Mi 5s is similar to that of the Mi 5, with one key difference: Xiaomi switched out the glass back for a metal chassis. The glass back made the Mi 5 slippery to hold and use, but the brushed aluminum finish on the Mi 5s makes the phone that much more comfortable to grip, and it also gives the device an upmarket look. At a first glance, the Mi 5s certainly doesn’t look like a mid-ranger.

The back curves smoothly inward to meet the sides of the phone, allowing the phone to nestle comfortably in your palm. The design tweak I like the most is the addition of 2.5D curved glass at the front, which allows the panel to merge seamlessly with the metal frame. That wasn’t the case with the Mi 5, and it made using the phone uncomfortable as the panel dug into my palm often. Thankfully, that is no longer an issue with the Mi 5s. The metal frame also adds some much-needed weight to the Mi 5s, which now comes in at 145g, 16g more than the Mi 5.

Similar to the Mi 5, the navigation buttons on the Mi 5s are unmarked, allowing you to switch out the configuration of the buttons from the settings. The power and volume buttons are positioned on the right, and they offer a decent amount of feedback. There’s a 3.5mm jack up top, and a USB-C port for charging at the bottom, which is flanked by the speaker on the left and the microphone on the right. The relatively compact form factor of the phone makes it easy to use one-handed, but if you’re still having any difficulty, there’s a one-handed mode that shrinks the screen size down to 3.5 or 4.0 inches.

Subtle design tweaks from the Mi 5 make the Mi 5s a much better phone to use.

The Mi 5s features a 5.15-inch Full HD panel with a pixel density of 428ppi. Xiaomi’s penchant for offering great displays is intact, with the panel offering excellent color accuracy, brightness, and contrast levels. Viewing angles are great as well, and like the Mi 5, the Mi 5s sports one of the best LCD displays in this segment. If anything, the screen is brighter than the one on the Mi 5, and as such you won’t have any difficulty viewing the text under harsh sunlight. That said, the panel doesn’t feature Gorilla Glass or Asahi’s Dragontrail protection, so you’re going to need to pick up a screen protector if you’re interested in buying the Mi 5s.

Qualcomm Sense ID

The Mi 5s comes with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Sense ID, which uses ultrasound technology to take a 3D map of your fingerprints. Regular fingerprint scanners take 2D images and retain them for authentication, but Qualcomm’s implementation involves bouncing ultrasonic waves off a finger, resulting in a much more detailed representation of all the ridges, pores, and other unique characteristics of a fingerprint.

In addition to being more detailed, Sense ID also works when your fingers are moist or wet. As the sensor itself works off of ultrasound, it can be embedded underneath other surfaces, which in the case on the Mi 5s sees it located under the display’s glass panel. The only drawback is its reliability, as there were several times when the sensor refused to authenticate.

Excellent

Xiaomi Mi 5s Hardware

The Mi 5s comes with the latest Snapdragon 821 SoC, offering CPU cores that can go up to 2.15GHz and an Adreno 530 GPU. The base model — which I’m reviewing — comes with 3GB of RAM and 64GB storage. As you’d expect from a phone featuring the latest hardware, the Mi 5s blazes through everyday tasks without ever lagging or slowing down. Xiaomi went with the slower 2.15GHz CPU cores to eke out the most out of the 3200mAh battery, opting to use the 2.35GHz variant in the Mi 5s Plus.

One of the differentiating features on Xiaomi phones is the IR blaster. The manufacturer includes them in all of its handsets, from the entry-level Redmi 3S Prime to the $650 Mi Note 2, and for good reason. Xiaomi invested a lot of time in adding appliances from a whole host of vendors to the Mi Remote app, making it compatible with a wide variety of air conditioners, TVs, home audio products, and the like. That’s why it was surprising to see that the Mi 5s does not have an IR port — the sensor itself doesn’t cost a lot of money, and Xiaomi already put in the legwork of adding vendor support on the software side of things.

The Mi 5s runs without any hitches, as you’d imagine for a device powered by the Snapdragon 821.

Qualcomm is actively pushing its Aqstic audio codec, which makes its way onto the Mi 5s. The codec has a DAC that enables 192kHz/24-bit lossless audio playback. In a world where more and more manufacturers are eschewing the 3.5mm jack, it’s great to see Xiaomi offering a high-quality DAC on the Mi 5s. That said, it remains to be seen if this year’s Mi 6 will also offer similar audio capabilities via the 3.5mm port.

The Mi 5s also offers Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS, and USB OTG. Rounding out the hardware features, the phone comes with eight LTE bands in total: 1/3/5/7 in the FDD-LTE category, and 38/39/40/41 in TD-LTE. If you’re looking to import the Mi 5s, make sure your carrier uses one of the aforementioned LTE bands.

Not broken anymore

Xiaomi Mi 5s Software

The Mi 5s runs MIUI 8 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, and interestingly, the higher-storage models of the phone come with a 3D Touch-esque feature. Sadly, it isn’t available on the base model. MIUI 8 itself has matured well, and the features that made it stand out at launch are all present on the Mi 5s: Dual Apps, Second Space, scrolling screenshot, built-in video editor, Quick Ball, retooled notification shade, and an improved dialer. Xiaomi rolled out a global MIUI ROM for the Mi 5s last month, making it easier to access the Play Store and Google services.

As there isn’t a whole lot that’s different from the software side of things from the Mi 5, I’m not going to focus a lot of attention on MIUI 8. The OS feels much more stable now, and there aren’t as many glitches. That’s mostly due to Xiaomi’s constant bug fixes, with the manufacturer rolling out an update once every two weeks.

Where’s OIS?

Xiaomi Mi 5s Camera

The camera on the Mi 5s is missing a key feature that got a lot of attention on the Mi 5: 4-axis OIS. Xiaomi switched out the camera from a 16MP unit to a 12MP sensor (Sony IMX378) in the Mi 5s, and the resulting change has led to a sensor with larger pixel size.

Incidentally, the Mi 5s has the same camera sensor as the Pixel, but it doesn’t come with the post-processing optimizations. The increased pixels allows the camera to take excellent images in daylight conditions, but the lack of OIS hurts when shooting in low-light scenarios.

Photos taken in daylight highlight accurate colors and a lot of detail, and processing HDR doesn’t take as long as it used to. The camera app is loaded with features, offering several shooting modes and filters with live previews. The 4MP UltraPixel front camera takes great selfies. Same goes for video recording, with the phone now able to shoot 4K video.

YMMV

Xiaomi Mi 5s Battery life

The modest increase in battery capacity (200mAh) from the Mi 5 has led to a slight uptick in overall battery life on the Mi 5s. The phone lasts an entire day most of the time, but there were instance — particularly when using cellular data throughout the day — where the battery life wasn’t adequate.

Thankfully, the Mi 5s supports Quick Charge 3.0, allowing you to quickly top up in the midlde of the day.

Good enough

Xiaomi Mi 5s Bottom line

The Mi 5s has a lot of things in its favor: the design is far better than the metal and glass exterior of the Mi 5, and the added weight from the metal chassis gives the device much-needed heft. The screen is of a higher quality, and the camera has been significantly improved.

That said, there are a few glaring omissions — no Gorilla Glass protection on the screen, and lack of OIS on the camera. Considering the price of the Mi 5s, it’s easy to forgive the omissions, and when viewed overall, the phone offers incredible value for money.

Of course

Should you buy it? Yes

As the Mi 5s has been in the market for a few months now, it has picked up a price cut that brings the cost of the phone down to under $300. As you can’t buy it directly from Xiaomi, you’ll have to rely on resellers. GearBest is selling it for $289 after entering code Mi5GSB. If you’re in a market where LTE connectivity is available, the Mi 5s is a no-brainer for the cost.

See at GearBest

Apple Submits Third Model of Mystery ‘Wireless Device’ With Bluetooth and NFC to FCC

Apple recently submitted an unnamed “Wireless Device” to the FCC, a U.S. government agency that regulates communications, for the third time. The latest filing lists a model number of A1845, slotting in between A1844 in the first filing and A1846 in the second, but there are no new clues as to what the device could be.

Apple again requested permanent confidentiality for most of the documents in the filing, including photos, user manuals, and schematics, so the entry largely remains a mystery. Test reports completed by UL Verification Services reveal that, just like in the first two filings, the device has Bluetooth LE and NFC.

The model numbers A1844, A1845, and A1846 do not correspond to any existing Apple products. A regulatory label in the first filing showed the device has at least two slightly curved edges and two Torx screws, but Apple cropped the image in the second and third filings, likely to give fewer hints about its design.

When the original “Wireless Device” was uncovered, there was some speculation that it could perhaps be a new Apple TV, but the prominent and lengthy regulatory text etched directly on the device, including a wiring guide, would be uncharacteristic of Apple to include on the exterior of a consumer-facing product.

The more likely explanation is that the wireless device is for internal use. It is possible that the device in question is something that is used in retail Apple stores, such as a product display unit or iBeacon-based equipment used to communicate with customer iOS devices, which Apple has filed with the FCC in the past.

The FCC filing could remain a mystery until the device is released, and we may not ever know if it does end up being a product for internal use. But it’s fun to speculate, with predictions ranging from Apple’s rumored Siri-enabled speaker to a smart thermostat given the RS-485 control signals listed.

Tag: FCC
Discuss this article in our forums

NASA rocket will form artificial clouds in space

When you watch a rocket launch, it’s usually to enjoy the show put on by the rocket itself. With one of NASA’s next launches, however, you’ll likely be more interested in what’s left behind. When one of two Black Brant IX rockets blasts off for an aurora science mission between February 13th and March 3rd, it’ll form artificial clouds in space, around 60 to 100 miles above the Earth. The vehicle will deploy a small amount of trimethyl aluminum that should react with the atmosphere and produce white puffs that will help scientists track auroral winds.

Before you ask: NASA says the aluminum creates “absolutely no hazard” to people below. You see more aluminum in a fireworks show, it adds.

Just when the launch takes place will depend on both aurora activity and clear skies, so you may only get short notice. Also, there’s a good chance that you’ll need to stay up late to watch the livestream when the rocket will take off from Alaska’s Poker Flat Research Range between 11PM and 4AM Eastern once it gets the all-clear. If you feel that modern rocket launches are a bit stale, though, it might be worth a look.

Source: NASA

Chance the Rapper wins the first Grammy for a streaming-only album

This year is the first time streaming-only albums were eligible to win at the Grammys and Chance the Rapper took full advantage. The hip hop artist won for Best Rap Album Sunday night, notching the first win for a collection of songs that weren’t released as a physical album or sold digitally. Back in May, Coloring Book was the first streaming-only album to hit the Billboard 200 chart. Chance also took home Grammys for Best New Artist and Best Rap Performance for the song “No Problem.”

A Grammy win is the latest accolade for music streaming. Just over a year ago, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) announced that it would begin counting streaming towards an album’s gold and platinum certification. The industry’s governing body had already been considering an individual track’s streaming stats for the Digital Single Award.

The popularity of streaming services continues to grow, so record labels and the music industry as a whole are grappling with how to best embrace the most popular form of music consumption — at least in the US. Streaming surpassed downloads as the biggest money maker for the US music industry in 2015 after it beat out CD sales for the first time the year before. Of course, the two sides still have to work out a royalty system that’s mutually beneficial.

Target Says It’s Working on Getting Apple Pay Into its Stores

U.S. retail giant Target may be planning to accept Apple Pay in the future, according to a recent tweet spotted by 9to5Mac.

AskTarget, the retailer’s verified customer service account on Twitter, said Apple pay is “awesome” and that Target is “working on getting this technology into our stores.” It even quipped “we’ll catch up with the 21st century soon!”

@_MAlN – Apple pay is awesome! We’re working on getting this Technology into our stores. We’ll catch up with the 21st century soon!

— AskTarget (@AskTarget) February 12, 2017

While the tweet originates from an official Target account, it is possible that a customer service representative tweeted inaccurate information.

In May 2015, Target CEO Brian Cornell said the retailer would be “open-minded” about supporting additional payment systems like Apple Pay after implementing chip-and-PIN card support. Target began supporting chip-and-PIN cards in October 2015, but it has yet to support Apple Pay.

Last month, Target confirmed it plans to launch its own mobile payment service in its stores this year. An earlier report said the retailer was leaning towards using QR code technology for the wallet app, rather than NFC, enabling customers to purchase goods by scanning a code at checkout akin to Walmart Pay.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Tag: Target
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Releases Trailer for ‘Carpool Karaoke’ Series Coming Soon to Apple Music

During the 59th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Apple released the first trailer for its Carpool Karaoke series coming soon to Apple Music.

Carpool Karaoke: The Series, based on the popular segment from The Late Late Show with James Corden, will feature 16 celebrity pairings “riding along in a car together as they sing tunes from their personal playlists” and “surprise fans who don’t expect to see big stars belting out tunes one lane over.”

Apple said the series will feature James Corden, Will Smith, Billy Eichner, Metallica, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Ariana Grande, Seth MacFarlane, Chelsea Handler, Blake Shelton, Michael Strahan, John Cena, Shaquille O’Neal, and many more. The series is expected to have a different host every episode.

Apple purchased the rights to Carpool Karaoke, produced by James Corden, Ben Winston, and Eric Pankowski, in July 2016 in an effort to drive users towards Apple Music. The series will consist of 16 half-hour episodes, and Apple’s version will reportedly feature a format “that is more of an interview series.”

Tags: Apple Music, Carpool Karaoke
Discuss this article in our forums