UK bookstore tweets entire ‘Harry Potter’ novel at Piers Morgan
J.K. Rowling is famously outspoken on Twitter, a lesson Piers Morgan is now learning the hard way. On a recent episode of HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, Morgan spoke in favor of President Donald Trump’s travel ban, according to The Huffington Post. That prompted this tweet from the Harry Potter author, who took pleasure in the TV personality “being told to fuck off” by Maher:
Yes, watching Piers Morgan being told to fuck off on live TV is *exactly* as satisfying as I’d always imagined. https://t.co/4FII8sYmIt
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) February 11, 2017
Morgan decided to clap back, tweeting that he’s not a fan of the writer’s boy wizard:
This is why I’ve never read a single word of Harry Potter. https://t.co/XUJBMs4KKm
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 11, 2017
As their back-and-forth continued, Simon Key, the co-owner of Big Green Bookshop in North London, England, decided he’d show solidarity with Rowling by tweeting the entirety of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone at Morgan, line by line. On February 11th, he posted the first of a planned 32,567 tweets, and as of this afternoon, he’s tweeted the entire first chapter of the book.
.@piersmorgan Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say
that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.— Big Green Bookshop (@Biggreenbooks) February 11, 2017
.@piersmorgan Well Piers, that’s chapter one. Pretty fucking ace, innit?
— Big Green Bookshop (@Biggreenbooks) February 13, 2017
“He clearly needs a bit of a break from all the abuse, so as he mentioned that he hasn’t read any J.K. Rowling, rather than having to tear himself away from Twitter to read it, I’d tweet him,” Key told Sky News. “Obviously I’m sending it in bite-size chunks, which hopefully he’ll be able to cope with, rather than giving him the daunting process of reading a whole book.”
Morgan has seen at least one of Key’s 275 tweets, responding to the 248th with some critical feedback on Rowling’s writing:
Jeez. Not exactly Dickens or Shakespeare is it? https://t.co/m2nkTs2WdK
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) February 13, 2017
Source: The Huffington Post, Sky News
Uber puts mapping cars on five continents
Uber just showed how committed it is to mapping the planet. The ridesharing outfit has started rolling out map cars in Singapore, putting the vehicles on five major continents (sorry, Antarctica, you’ll have to wait). As in other cases, the cartographic cars are really driver rides with mapping tech on top to collect data based on real trips. Privacy shouldn’t be an issue, Uber says — they won’t keep imagery from the end points of your trip, and what data they do collect won’t be made public.
The company is still a long way off from having comprehensive mapping data of its own. Outside of North America, it only has mapping hardware in one country per continent. All the same, it’s an important step. As much as Uber depends on Google for its regular mapping, it has a strong incentive to collect as much of its own data as possible. At a minimum, this means maps that reflect the harder-to-pinpoint aspects of routes, such as the exact side of a building for a drop-off. And Uber isn’t shy about how much this will help its self-driving car plans — especially in Singapore, which has embraced autonomous tech relatively quickly. What Uber invests now could pay tremendous dividends when robotic ridesharing is commonplace.
Via: The Verge
Source: Uber Newsroom
Senators ask for info on Trump’s smartphone use
When he isn’t addressing matters of national security amongst diners at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Donald Trump is reportedly using an unsecured Android phone for official communications. That’s of great concern for more than a few reasons and two prominent Democrat lawmakers want the Department of Defense to address why it’s happening.
I look forward to hearing from @DeptofDefense about the protective measures being taken for President Trump’s use of a personal smartphone pic.twitter.com/47cZeSn1bw
— Senator Tom Carper (@SenatorCarper) February 13, 2017
Citing a plethora of news reports and a memo from the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (PDF), Senators Tom Carper and Claire McCaskill wrote a letter to Secretary of Defense James Mattis asking for four things. First, confirmation on if Trump received a “secured, encrypted” smartphone for personal use on or before inauguration, and, if not, what kind of phone the President has been using since taking office.
Next Carper and McCaskill want to know what kind of policies and protections the DISA (Defense Information Systems Agency) has in place for the personal phone’s use.
Further on that note, the senators want to know if the DISA, Secret Service an National Security Agency were consulted and coordinated with regarding the president’s use of a personal cellphone.
And given Trump and his team’s propensity for denying things the president has said and tweeted in the past (and then deleted, sometimes years later), Carper and McCaskill want to know if the DISA had any meetings with the National Archives and Records Administration to ensure that “all security measures allow for the preservation of any presidential records” created through Trump’s use of his personal phone.
Considering how much of a security nightmare using a phone with outdated firmware can be for average Janes and Joes, the fact that the president may be using a Samsung Galaxy S3 is deeply troubling. But hey, it’s not like he (or his staff) is using a private email server, so the GOP probably won’t mind. Oh, wait.
Via: The Hill
Source: Senator Tom Carper
WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM review: The portable, go-anywhere speaker with an FM tuner
When it comes to reviewing Bluetooth speakers we find that there are often a few distinguishing characteristics to set them apart from one another. There’s no such thing as the perfect device; however, there may be something that’s perfect for you.
It goes without saying, but we all have different needs. Moreover, we all have different budgets to work with, too. Sometimes we end up at the crossroads of right product and right price. Sometimes we end up with a product that ticks off the right boxes and doesn’t break the bank in the process. The latest speaker we’ve reviewed, the Hercules WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM, hopes to fit that bill.
Overview
Priced roughly $80, the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM is a portable speaker that’s designed to go just about anywhere you would. This means pretty much any weather condition and terrain. It’s IP67-certified meaning it can handle immersion in water for up to 30 minutes and can also withstand dust, sand, and snow. Taking things a little further, it also has reinforced rubber end-pieces so it handles bumps, too.
Design
In terms of size and design, the speaker is almost the exact dimensions of a 16-ounce can of soda or energy drink. It features a triangular profile that delivers sound out of one of the sides. Underneath you’ll find a threaded screw thread (1/4-inch) for bike mounts, tripods, suction cup mounts, and more.
There are only a few visible buttons to mess with on the speaker: volume up, volume down, and power. But, just above the power button on the end is a spot labeled FM. Press here and you’ll find it does have a little tactile feedback. As you might have guessed, this is your button to toggle the FM tuner.
Staying on this end of the speaker we also find a rubber protective housing to hide the charging port (microUSB) and 3.5mm auxiliary input. Flipping the speaker on its head, the other end is void of any functionality or features.
Setup
Pairing the speaker was really easy in that you simply long press the power button. A normal power on plays a chime while the long press adds in a second one to indicate that it’s seeking a connection. There’s also a blue indicator light just above the power button that flashes when looking for a device.
The volume buttons can also double for track advance and previous track. Switched on to FM mode and they can be used to seek the next available station. These options are done via long pressing on the + and – symbols.
Although it’s not very big, the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM delivers a nice, even sound that fills smaller and medium-sized rooms. Put this on a bike mount and face the speaker toward you and there’s way more than enough power to enjoy music on a ride. Or, use the included wrist strap to hang it from a backpack or canopy on your weekend getaway.
The FM tuner is a nice touch and not one we find in many Bluetooth speakers. The first time you turn that on, it will seek out channels on its own. Additionally, the FM tuner can be used all by itself. So, feel free to leave the phone in the house and take the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM outside. Or, keep your handset in the bag while at the beach. The radio will work by itself and the speaker doesn’t mind the sand.
Volume and Sound
I found that I’d get the volume to about halfway up before I would get anxious. Any louder and I feared the other office tenants might complain. If I’m riding a bike, I don’t suspect I would get near that level in a public setting. Doing so would make me feel like an idiot as my music would announce my arrival far ahead of my physical one. It’s much louder than you might expect.
As you know, volume doesn’t necessarily equate to sound quality. I’d like to say that the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM delivers a robust listening experience at all levels, but that’s simply not true. I found that, on average, I could get the volume to around 60-70 percent before it would distort. Given the size, this is better than I anticipated.
Keeping this in mind, you won’t turn to this one to provide a soundtrack to a full-on family reunion at the park. A family picnic, though? Sure! Set it on the hood of your car and it can pump out the tunes while you practice your jump shot in the driveway.
Features
- Bluetooth 3.0 A2DP wireless technology
- Total output power: 10 W peak power
- Single-unit 2.0 speaker + passive decompression driver
- Frequency response: 130 Hz – 20,000 Hz
- Built-in rechargeable 3.7 V 1500 mAh Li-ion (lithium-ion) battery
- Battery life: 10 hours
- 3.5 mm mini-jack auxiliary line input
Mobile App
Although you don’t need it, I definitely recommend installing the app. Not only does it give you better control over the radio stations, but it also lets users configure various equalizer settings. Switching from EDM to more traditional rock? Dial things up and down to get a better experience.
The app also lets you remotely power on and set the speaker to standby, create alarms, and set up sleep timers. You’ll also find at-a-glance indication of battery life so you know ahead of time if you should charge up before leaving the house.
Battery
Battery life is rated at 10 hours for normal music listening; we found that to be rather accurate, if not low. Volume levels always play a factor, of course, but can’t imagine having to charge this one up all that often. If you’re listening to the FM tuner on its own, the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM promises up to 18 hours. Charging takes anywhere from a few minutes up to about four hours.
Conclusion
I am always reluctant to name something the best you can buy, particularly because of price. A soft rule in life tells us that if you throw more money at something, you can get more out of the end result. Speakers are entirely different topics, though — especially portable, Bluetooth device.
With that in mind, I feel very confident in recommending the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM at its price. You can very easily spend more money and still come away with fewer features.
The sound is not as robust at high levels as I might like, but it’s not all that often that I need it that loud. I’ve already got speakers for those scenarios and I don’t need to replace them yet. But, I am always on the lookout for something portable that offers a nice range of features. This is one that can go into a backpack or carry-on without eating up precious space. The next time I pack for a long weekend or trip to the beach, the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM is probably the first one I will grab.
Where to Buy
You learn more about the WAE Outdoor 04Plus FM at the Hercules website. From there you can also find various retailers based on your country and whether you’re looking for retail or online outlets. The US site doesn’t list a price, but the UK variant does: £69.99. Head to Amazon and you’ll see it selling for $79.99 as of today.
Snake oil, or black magic? Windows’ new game mode is a bit of both
The upcoming Creators Update for Windows 10 promises a host of new features, not least of which is the highly-anticipated “Game Mode,” which wants to push your PC to its limits and deliver unparalleled gaming performance.
According to Microsoft, Game Mode optimizes CPU resources when you enable it in the Windows Game Bar, making it a little different from standard optimization tools like the Nvidia Experience. That sounds impressive, but will it have an actual impact on gameplay?
What is Game Mode?
Microsoft claims that Game Mode works in a fundamentally different way than other optimization tools. For instance, tools like the Nvidia GeForce Experience can optimize your games by custom-tailoring your in-game graphics settings based on your system’s hardware and capabilities. It can detect your GPU, and turn individual detail settings up or down based on how well that GPU handles certain settings — like depth-of-field effects, texture filtering, and shadows.
Microsoft hopes to improve your core gameplay experience on PC by optimizing your hardware.
Windows 10’s Game Mode doesn’t touch in-game graphics settings. Instead, when a Game Mode-enabled game is launched, it kicks into high gear and starts re-allocating your PC’s CPU and GPU resources. For instance, when a full-screen game is running, your PC doesn’t really need to spend valuable clock cycles on your Twitter client, or Microsoft Word.
Game Mode attempts to juice your FPS by keeping your PC’s attention focused on whichever game is running at the time. It’s a good idea, and since Microsoft has built the feature into Windows 10 itself, it should have an easier time juggling those precious CPU and GPU resources than a third-party application might.
More: Microsoft kicks off second Windows 10 Creators Update Bug Bash
That’s a crucial point. We’ve seen a lot of so-called game optimization tools in the past, and the clear majority are snake oil.
Does it work?
That’s the real question, isn’t it? Before now, we’ve only had Microsoft’s word to go on. Game Mode remained locked deep in some lab on Microsoft’s Redmond campus, straining against the bars, eager to get its paws on your games. Luckily for us, Microsoft included a preview version of Game Mode in the most recent Windows Insider build for users on the Fast Ring.
Yep, that means you can go get it right now. But before you do, let’s see if it actually accomplishes what it claims to do. To gauge Game Mode’s capabilities, we tested it on two very different systems — the Dell Inspiron 7559, and the Asus ROG Strix GL553VD.
The Dell Inspiron 7559 is a budget gaming notebook built on last year’s hardware, while the Strix GL553VD is a mid-range gaming notebook that just hit the market. Both systems are decent performers on their own, but neither one is a top-of-the-line blazingly-fast monster of a gaming PC, and that’s important.
We want to see if Game Mode can help you get more out of an older, or maybe lower-end system. If you already have a gaming PC that eats lesser rigs for breakfast, it’s doubtful you’d even notice any improvements Game Mode might provide — a few extra frames per second matter a lot more when you’re barely managing 60 FPS, but not so much when you’re pushing 200.
Three games, two systems
To get a good handle on Game Mode, we ran our test systems through a couple simple benchmarks. First up, we used Deus Ex: Mankind Divided on high-detail settings. Next, we ran through a couple test-matches of Overwatch on high-detail settings. And finally, we raced through a few rounds of Forza Horizon 3.
In order to gauge Game Mode’s capabilities, we tested it on two very different systems.
These three games are important because of the way they interact with Windows 10. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided doesn’t actually support the Windows Game bar, and Microsoft has stated previously that games without Game Bar support might not turn on Game Mode by default, even if you set that option in your Windows Settings.
Overwatch does support the Game Bar, and it’s an online game, so a little extra CPU priority could potentially go a long way toward smoothing out overall performance. Forza Horizon 3 also supports the Game Bar, but it goes a step further. It’s a game available on the Windows Store, so it’s built on the Universal Windows Platform — which Microsoft claims will enhance its Game Mode gains.
The results are in
After wrangling with Windows Insider builds and the eccentricities they often introduce to even the most beloved and familiar PC, running through the tests was easy. Enabling Game Mode is quick, painless, and doesn’t require any digging through system menus.
Initially, Game Mode didn’t make games feel any smoother or faster, but the numbers tell a slightly different story.
As you can see above, there is some minor variations, particularly in Overwatch. On high-detail settings, the minimum framerate went up by about 20 percent. That sounds a lot bigger than it is, so it’s important to point out that the maximum frame rate didn’t budge, or went up by less than one or two percent. It’s not a huge gain, and you probably won’t even notice it, but it is present and that’s important.
Rather than pushing your highest frame rate even higher, Game Mode’s enhanced resource allocation seems to bring up the bottom end of the spectrum — it smooths out your gameplay when things are getting rough for your PC.
Useful, but not a game-changer
So why is it important if it doesn’t do all that much? Because it means Game Mode can smooth out your performance, making your games play a little better than they would without it. Microsoft might not be able to say that Game Mode will be like pumping your PC full of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone, but it can claim — truthfully — that your games will run better with Game Mode enabled.
Enhanced resource allocation was never going to make your GTX 965M run like a GTX 1080. But according to our tests, this early preview version of Game Mode could help smooth out bumps in your gameplay that might occasionally disrupt the experience.
We hope it will improve before it comes out in the release version of the Creators Update, but even if it doesn’t, it offers just enough of an edge to be worth the extra few seconds it will take to enable.
Lenovo is refreshing its Flex 4 2-in-1s with more storage, 7th-gen Intel CPUs
Why it matters to you
The leak shows that Lenovo is getting ready to refresh its Flex 4 2-in-1 device with a thinner frame and more storage configurations.
After launching the Lenovo Flex 4 here in the United States last year, the company is gearing up to refresh the convertible notebook in the near future. Lenovo briefly displayed the unannounced product on its website over the weekend, listing it as the Lenovo Yoga 520 given that the older model is sold as the Yoga 510 outside the United States.
The upcoming convertible will be based on seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” Intel processors up to a Core i7 model. It will also sport an optional fingerprint reader, a flexible 360-degree hinge, a battery promising up to 10 hours of use on a single charge, and support for the Lenovo Active Pen. The 2-in-1 device will be sold in 14-inch and 15.6-inch form factors.
Here are the specs for the leaked 14-inch model:
Operating system:
Windows 10 Home
Screen size:
14 inches
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
Screen type:
IPS
Processor:
Up to seventh-generation Intel Core i7
Graphics:
Integrated
Memory:
Up to 16GB DDR4
Storage:
Up to 512GB PCI Express SSD
Up to 1TB SATA HDD
Up to 128GB PCI Express SSD / 1TB SATA HDD combo
Connectivity:
Wireless AC
Bluetooth
Camera:
720p with dual-array microphones
Audio:
Dolby Home Theater
Harman Audio
Battery:
Up to 10 hours
Ports:
2x USB 3.0 (one charges)
1x USB Type-C
1x SD card reader
1x HDMI
1x Gigabit Ethernet
1x headphone/microphone combo jack
Size:
12.9 x 9.0 x 0.8 inches
Weight:
3.9 pounds
Colors:
Onyx Black
Mineral Grey
Metallic Gold
According to Lenovo, the refreshed 2-in-1 device sports smaller bezels on each side of the screen, reduced from 12.3mm to 7.6mm for a better viewing experience. The refresh is slightly smaller, too, despite keeping the same screen size, down from the older model’s dimensions of 13.24 x 9.13 x 0.82 inches.
On the processor front, Lenovo doesn’t list specific chips, but does indicate on the product page that it will likely ship with configurations based on the Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. The older model supported processors up to a seventh-generation Core i5 chip, and up to an Intel Pentium 4405U chip. Lenovo may have done away with the AMD Radeon R5 M430 graphics option, too.
More: Lenovo Yoga 720 with GTX 1050 graphics rumored to arrive at MWC 2017
One noticeable change is the storage configurations. The older model provides storage options of up to 1TB on a hard drive or up to 256GB on an SSD. The new 14-inch model, as the specs show above, doubles the SSD capacity limit while throwing in a storage configuration pairing a 1TB hard drive with an SSD of up to 128GB in storage capacity.
Right now, pricing and availability is unknown, but Lenovo will likely reveal the new 2-in-1 during the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain, starting February 27. However, as a comparison, Lenovo sells seven different set configurations of the current 14-inch Lenovo Flex 4 ranging from $370 to $950 (web prices). We presume the new units may be sold as the Lenovo Flex 5 here in the U.S.
Formula E’s next-generation cars get their first concept shots
The all-electric Formula E race series is set to make some high-profile moves this season. With a big race in Brooklyn and at least one major entrant ditching the fossil-fueled Le Mans races, electric racing is gaining more and more credibility as the sport progresses. To keep the vehicles at the center of it all progressing as well, Spark Racing Technologies has unveiled its plans for next season’s official Formula E cars.
The SRT05e is designed to get twice the range of its predecessor, the first-generation Spark Renault SRT01, which has been in use for the series’ first four seasons. As the Verge notes, drivers currently have to switch vehicles mid-race in order to have enough charge to make it over the finish line, but bigger batteries currently in development are expected to make that headache a thing of the past. According to Spark, the SRT05e compensates for a heavier battery by dropping some weight from the chassis and getting more efficient with the aerodynamics and the drivetrain.
Motorsport also reports that individual teams were shown “even more radical” versions of the concept, so the final look may get a few more tweaks before hitting the track. Still, we can expect to see the vehicles sporting logos from BMW, Faraday Future, Mercedes-Benz and others when they roll out in the 2018-2019 season.
Source: Spark Racing Technology
Lenovo is refreshing its Flex 4 2-in-1s with more storage, 7th-gen Intel CPUs
Why it matters to you
The leak shows that Lenovo is getting ready to refresh its Flex 4 2-in-1 device with a thinner frame and more storage configurations.
After launching the Lenovo Flex 4 here in the United States last year, the company is gearing up to refresh the convertible notebook in the near future. Lenovo briefly displayed the unannounced product on its website over the weekend, listing it as the Lenovo Yoga 520 given that the older model is sold as the Yoga 510 outside the United States.
The upcoming convertible will be based on seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” Intel processors up to a Core i7 model. It will also sport an optional fingerprint reader, a flexible 360-degree hinge, a battery promising up to 10 hours of use on a single charge, and support for the Lenovo Active Pen. The 2-in-1 device will be sold in 14-inch and 15.6-inch form factors.
Here are the specs for the leaked 14-inch model:
Operating system:
Windows 10 Home
Screen size:
14 inches
Screen resolution:
1,920 x 1,080
Screen type:
IPS
Processor:
Up to seventh-generation Intel Core i7
Graphics:
Integrated
Memory:
Up to 16GB DDR4
Storage:
Up to 512GB PCI Express SSD
Up to 1TB SATA HDD
Up to 128GB PCI Express SSD / 1TB SATA HDD combo
Connectivity:
Wireless AC
Bluetooth
Camera:
720p with dual-array microphones
Audio:
Dolby Home Theater
Harman Audio
Battery:
Up to 10 hours
Ports:
2x USB 3.0 (one charges)
1x USB Type-C
1x SD card reader
1x HDMI
1x Gigabit Ethernet
1x headphone/microphone combo jack
Size:
12.9 x 9.0 x 0.8 inches
Weight:
3.9 pounds
Colors:
Onyx Black
Mineral Grey
Metallic Gold
According to Lenovo, the refreshed 2-in-1 device sports smaller bezels on each side of the screen, reduced from 12.3mm to 7.6mm for a better viewing experience. The refresh is slightly smaller, too, despite keeping the same screen size, down from the older model’s dimensions of 13.24 x 9.13 x 0.82 inches.
On the processor front, Lenovo doesn’t list specific chips, but does indicate on the product page that it will likely ship with configurations based on the Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. The older model supported processors up to a seventh-generation Core i5 chip, and up to an Intel Pentium 4405U chip. Lenovo may have done away with the AMD Radeon R5 M430 graphics option, too.
More: Lenovo Yoga 720 with GTX 1050 graphics rumored to arrive at MWC 2017
One noticeable change is the storage configurations. The older model provides storage options of up to 1TB on a hard drive or up to 256GB on an SSD. The new 14-inch model, as the specs show above, doubles the SSD capacity limit while throwing in a storage configuration pairing a 1TB hard drive with an SSD of up to 128GB in storage capacity.
Right now, pricing and availability is unknown, but Lenovo will likely reveal the new 2-in-1 during the Mobile World Congress show in Barcelona, Spain, starting February 27. However, as a comparison, Lenovo sells seven different set configurations of the current 14-inch Lenovo Flex 4 ranging from $370 to $950 (web prices). We presume the new units may be sold as the Lenovo Flex 5 here in the U.S.
Here are the most (and least) attractive ways to dance, according to science
Why it matters to you
Psychologists in the U.K. have published their second paper on which dance moves are alluring to potential partners. Start taking notes!
It’s the thing anyone who has ever stood awkwardly to the side of a wedding dance floor, pretending to be fascinated by the cheese platter, has feared: scientists are on their way to coming up with objective measures for the attractiveness of our dance moves.
In a new paper, published in the journal Scientific Reports, psychologists at Northumbria University in the U.K. reveal the most alluring dance moves for females. The work builds on a previous study, in which they did the same thing for males.
For the latest paper, 39 female college students danced to a pop song, while kitted out with motion capture sensors. Their moves were then scanned into a computer, mapped onto a featureless avatar (so as to remove details which could affect the study’s outcome) and ranked by participants — with the findings then turned over to a biomechanists and statisticians to analyze.
In the previous male-centric study, high quality male dance was found to be signified by larger and more variable movements of the upper body, which the researchers concluded was an indicator of male strength. “One of the things we drew from that paper was that when males dance they’re not necessarily signalling to females, so much as they are signalling their dominance, strength and masculinity to other males,” study co-author Dr. Nick Neave told Digital Trends. “That’s something that makes sense if you look at behavior in the animal kingdom.”
In the new female-centric study, on the other hand, good quality dancing was principally associated with hip swing, as well as asymmetric thigh movement and moderately asymmetrical arm movement.
“If you’re dancing and your arms are both doing exactly the same thing, that looks quite strange and robotic,” Neave continued. “The same is true if they’re completely divergent and you’re swinging them around wildly. There’s an optimal level in the difference of movement between the two arms and two legs. That seems to indicate high quality female dance.”
Here, for your interest, is a highly-rated female dance performance:
And here’s a less appreciated one:
But while Neave and his colleagues continue to speculate about what all of this means from a genetic point of view, he noted that the work does have some practical applications. One possible use-case (as unlikely as it may sound) is using this typed of research, in conjunction with other data sets, to help predict certain physical traits.
Neave said that the team has been working on cross-referencing footage of males walking with information about their aggression, frustration tolerance and testosterone levels to see if a neural network could potentially pick out troublemakers based on the way — to quote Saturday Night Fever — they use their walk. “We think there could be a 70 percent chance of being able to do this,” he noted, saying that security CCTV cameras could be given this information.
So does this mean future revellers could one day be pulled off the dance floor because their moves are correlated with those of previously rowdy individuals?
“I think there’s a more serious side to it,” Neave said. “The dancing research is fun and lighthearted. What it’s done is to give us the methodology that we can now take forward to apply to more serious research.”
Personally, we’d just be happy with a wearable device which alerts us when we’re embarrassing ourselves on the dance floor! There’s got to be a Kickstarter project in there somewhere…
Apple’s latest partnership supports the iPhone 8 wireless charging rumor
Why it matters to you
Your next iPhone is increasingly looking like it will support wireless charging.
Wireless charging has long been billed as one of the hot new features coming to the iPhone 8 and those rumors gained a little more credibility on Monday as Apple was spotted on the Wireless Power Consortium’s list of members. A representative from the Cupertino, California, company told Business Insider it joined last week.
A number of hardware providers have been linked to Apple’s implementation of the long-awaited feature in the iPhone 8, but in recent weeks the conversation has shifted from whether the company will introduce wireless charging to how. The vast majority of devices on the market that support it — including Apple’s own smartwatch — utilize direct, inductive charging, based on the Qi open standard. The Wireless Power Consortium supports and manages Qi technology, so Monday’s news would support the claim that similar functionality will debut in new iPhones this fall.
More: Apple iPhone 8 rumors and news
However, a link between Apple, its supplier Dialog Semiconductor, and Dialog’s investment in Energous, a company that specializes in an experimental form of long-range wireless charging via radio waves, indicates a more innovative approach. Energous’ WattUp radio frequency technology can reportedly charge devices as far as 15 feet away from a transmitter, even when the device being charged is in motion. But it is possible Apple has fallen back on the more reliable and tested Qi-based system because the long-range tech is not ready for primetime yet.
Qi wireless charging is already available in the iPhone’s biggest competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S7 series, and the Apple Watch utilizes a tweaked version of the standard that is not interoperable with other Qi-compatible devices. Apple responded to Business Insider’s report on the Wireless Power Consortium news with a statement, saying that the company’s membership falls in line with its leadership and contributions to other standards development organizations.
“Apple is joining the Wireless Power Consortium to be able to participate and contribute ideas to the open, collaborative development of future wireless charging standards,” the statement reads. “We look forward to working together with the WPC and its members.”
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