ICYMI: UPS delivery drones and fashion’s robo-photo booth

Today on In Case You Missed It: We explore UPS’ plans to deploy hordes of delivery drones and the robots are coming to replace fashion photographers — body shaming not included. And just in case you’ve been too busy to keep an eye on your RSS feed, it’s time for TL;DR, where we do the week’s reading for you.

As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.

Google helps put aging SHA-1 encryption out to pasture

The decades-old SHA-1 encryption used to protect websites is already dying, but a discovery from Google and security researcher CWI Amsterdam could be the killing blow. For the first time, they’ve found a way to generate a “collision” and create the same critical hash function multiple times. The discovery will make it 100,000 times easier for attackers to slip malicious files into websites or servers than by a brute force attack. That new should help end its use, increasing security around the internet.

Breaking SHA-1 has been a goal of security users for quite a while, so it’s quite a feather in Google’s cap to be first. (It’s possible, though, that the NSA, Russians or others have had one that they’ve kept under wraps.) The team said that the collision “is one of the largest computations ever completed,” so Google’s cloud infrastructure was an indispensable part of that.

There’s no great danger for users. Google Chrome, Microsoft’s Edge, Firefox and all other major browsers flag HTTPS sites that use SHA-1 as insecure with a big red warning — so very few use it for verifying digital content. The team won’t release the attack (Dad-jokingly called “SHAttered”) for 90 days, in order to give affected sites time to deal with it.

Also, even though Google has made it 100,000 times faster to crack an SHA-1 certificate, it would still require some serious computing horsepower to do so. Google says it requires 12 million GPUs a full year to brute force a certificate, while the SHA-1 “Shattered” attack takes just 110 GPUs. For now, however, you’d still need a supercomputer or server farm (or a bot farm) to crack one in a reasonable amount of time.

As a proof of concept, Google is hosting two PDFs with the different content but the same hash, and has supplied the public with a free detection app. It had a lot of motivation to be first with a collision. It led the movement to deprecate SHA-1 because it’s advertising business relies heavily on secure sites and ad platforms — making the discovery a giant “I told you so” of sorts.

Source: Google

The Engadget Podcast Ep 29: Re-Offender

Managing editor Dana Wollman and senior editor Nathan Ingraham join host Terrence O’Brien to talk about the biggest tech stories of the week. Of course, that means Uber and the growing controversy around its corporate culture — including allegations of rampant sexism. They’ll also address Samsung’s plans to sell refurbished Note 7s, Bill Gate’s endorsement of a robot tax and PewDiePie’s most recent controversy. Then it’s time to unwind a bit, and the group has some reading and listening suggestions. Plus, Dana wants your recipes.

Relevant links:

• Samsung will reportedly sell ‘refurbished’ Galaxy Note 7s
• Bill Gates wants a robot tax to compensate for job losses
• YouTube and PewDiePie aren’t breaking up anytime soon
• Uber has a sexism problem, and so does Silicon Valley
• Uber CEO reveals details on sexual harassment investigation
• Uber reportedly ignored repeated sexual harassment by manager
• Inside Uber’s Aggressive, Unrestrained Workplace Culture
• Reflecting On One Very, Very Strange Year At Uber

Engadget recommends:

• My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry
• Occult Architecture Vol. 1

You can check out every episode on The Engadget Podcast page in audio, video and text form for the hearing impaired.

Watch on YouTube

Watch on Facebook

Subscribe on Google Play Music

Subscribe on iTunes

Subscribe on Stitcher

Subscribe on Pocket Casts

‘Runner 2’ and other indie hits get rare physical releases

Indie games don’t often cross over into the physical world, so it’s pretty notable when two separate companies make boxed games at once. Choice Provisions is partnering with Limited Run Games on a physical version of the Runner2 sidescroller on PS4 and PS Vita with 3,500 copies of each for sale online starting March 17th. Limited Run will also sell 1,000 copies of a (separate) limited Runner2 edition at its PAX East booth on March 10-12.

Later on, Choice Provisions and Limited Run will sell boxed versions of The Bit.Trip, Tharsis and Drive! Drive! Drive! Each of the limited run copies has nice-looking original artwork, adding to the collector (and fun) appeal. Pre-orders aren’t allowed, and the company hasn’t listed any prices yet, but Runner2 costs $15 on Steam as a download, so we’d guess a physical, limited edition would be more.

Badland and Thomas Happ Games will also be releasing Metroidvania-inspired Axiom Verge as a “Multiverse Edition” physical release for PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Wii U. The game received numerous awards when it launched in 2015, and Happ said that “as a solo developer, it’s always been a dream of mine to see a game that I made end up on the store shelves.”

The special edition will include “a copy of the game, a deluxe booklet with developer commentary and art, a double-sided poster, and an exclusive making-of documentary on DVD,” the companies say. The DVD should be pretty interesting, as Happ developed the game all by himself over five years, including the programming, art, story and music.

The Multiverse edition will cost $30 (£25 in the UK) and arrive some time in the next quarter. There will also be a standard edition in a physical version with just the game for $19.99 and £14.99 in the UK.

Source: Totally Choice

You can now gamble while playing ‘Frogger’

Konami has launched a version of Frogger that’s suitable for gambling, which is now available to play in a casino. Frogger: Get Hoppin’ is a skill-based title that enables players to wager money in exchange for testing their reflexes in the game. It’s the first of its kind that’s been authorized by Nevada’s gambling commission in the hope of creating a new generation of gamblers.

Fruit machines aren’t the most exciting things, after all, since you’re basically pumping coins into a random number generator with pre-programmed odds. That’s not enough to draw millennial crowds, which is why the MGM Grand opened Level Up, a gamer-friendly lounge at its Vegas-based casino.

Late last year, Nevada’s gaming control board opened up its regulations to allow businesses to test new gambling methods. This procedure, titled the New Innovation Beta, has enabled companies like Konami to test out machines that blend skill and luck. The Frogger machine was showcased across the weekend of February 18th and is now available to play with a $2 minimum wager and the chance to win “true skill-based cash awards.”

Should Frogger: Get Hoppin’ become a success, expect plenty more gamer-friendly skill games to make their way into circulation. Although no matter how skillful a player you may be, it’s probably best to remember that the house will always win in the end.

Via: Las Vegas Now

Source: Konami, (2)

Play both ‘Banner Saga’ games for free via Twitch Prime

Now here’s an offer from Twitch and Banner Saga creator Stoic you can’t refuse. Twitch Prime members (that is, anyone on Amazon Prime) can download the original Banner Saga for free right now, and on March 2nd, also get Banner Saga 2 gratis. But wait, there’s more: For everyone who downloads and plays either game through the Twitch launcher, Amazon will donate a dollar to the Banner Saga 3 game currently in funding on Kickstarter.

Amazon and Twitch will kick in up to $200,000, and the game has already been bankrolled to the tune of $315,000, $115k over it’s original goal. And if you’re (rightfully) worried about any Kickstarter game, know that Banner Saga 2 actually came to PS4 ahead of schedule, so the development and porting teams know what they’re doing.

Amazon Prime has a lot of members, a lot of whom are probably on Twitch Prime. For those who aren’t, Twitch is clearly trying to pump up its numbers, and the free download offer is certainly a smart way of doing it (hey, it convinced me). Anyone taking advantage of the offer will get a free piece of unspecified Banner Saga 3 content, to boot. If you’re still on the fence, you can even sign up for a trial membership and get the free content anyway.

Apple Extended its MacBook Pro Anti-Reflective Coating Repair Program

If you purchased a 12-inch MacBook or MacBook Pro with Retina display and have experienced issues with the anti-reflective coating wearing off or delaminating, Apple will repair the notebook free of charge.

Apple will replace Retina displays on eligible models purchased as far back as June 2012 until October 16, 2017, or within three years of the original date of purchase, whichever is longer. The program was extended to provide affected customers with a longer window of time to get their notebook serviced.

The program has not been publicly announced, but Apple confirmed to MacRumors that repairs continue to be handled internally through AppleCare. Apple does not plan to announce the program publicly at this time, unlike its iPhone 6s battery replacement program and over a dozen others listed on its website.

We recommend affected customers schedule a Genius Bar appointment at an Apple Store or contact Apple support by phone, online chat, or email. Click on “get help” on this page, and then select Mac > Mac notebooks > Hardware Issues > Display Issue and support options should be presented to you.

Apple’s support website will ask for your Mac’s serial number, which can be found by clicking on the Apple logo in the top-left corner of the screen and clicking on About This Mac in the dropdown menu.

Affected customers can also visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider to determine if their notebook is eligible for coverage. If you have already incurred out-of-warranty costs related to this issue, you may be eligible for a refund, which can be initiated by contacting Apple support directly.

MacRumors revealed the repair program’s existence in October 2015 following over two years of online complaints from thousands of customers within our discussion forums, on the Apple Support Communities, and elsewhere.

A website called Staingate contains a gallery of MacBook Pro models with seemingly damaged anti-reflective coating, revealing that the blemishes can extend across the entire screen in extreme cases. Meanwhile, a Facebook group related to the issue has nearly 9,000 members and continues to see regular activity.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tags: repair program, anti-reflective coating
Buyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums

Powerbeats 3 Wireless review: Beats and bass

There’s a lot to consider when buying a pair of sports earphones. You can either opt for the “cheap as possible, don’t care if they break, buy new ones if they do,” approach, or spend a bit more money on something that will sound good, work well and is capable of outlasting even your most vigorous workouts. 

In the latter category, you want something that will stay in your ears, that’s waterproof, and with enough bass to drive you through your sessions. If that’s what you’re after, the Beats Powerbeats 3 Wireless might just be the right solution for your needs. 

Beats Powerbeats 3 Wireless review: Design

• Ear hooks for fit
• Black & red colour
• Carry case included
• Three ear tip sizes included
• Water/sweat/weather-proof

It must be said, the latest Powerbeats were clearly designed with function in mind, rather than looks. They’re not the most elegant of earphones we’ve ever seen. It’s an all-plastic affair, but well finished for the most part. 

The main housing which plays home to the batteries and components is a little blocky, although the corners and edges are well fitted and assembled. Likewise, the ear hooks won’t win any beauty contests, but they offer just the right amount of grip when hooked over the ears. They don’t feel too tight, and they hold well enough that the earphones never felt like they would fall out.

Pocket-lint

Because of their light build, they’re not a pair of earphones that become a burden during exercise. They don’t pull on your ears, or press so hard into the canals that they get uncomfortable. They’re enjoyable to wear, even for longer periods of time.

If the pre-fitted ear tips don’t feel comfortable or don’t fit well, there are three other sizes packaged with the earphones.

The adjustment built into the flat cable ensures that you can make the earphones fit snugly around the back of your head, meaning you don’t have loose cable jumping up and down, which can be annoying you while you pound the miles out of a treadmill. And as there’s no weighty neck-positioned cable, like with the Beats X, you can comfortably get away with wearing a collar too.

• Beats X review: Bass marks the spot

During our test workouts, if tightened to be really snug, the Powerbeats cable had an annoying habit of tugging on our ears if we moved our head a little up or down. Our advice in this case is to leave as much slack as you’re comfortable with, since the ear hooks do a good job of keeping the earphones in your ears, regardless of the exercise you’re doing. 

What’s more, the entire product is built to deal with the sweatiest workouts and roughest outdoor conditions. They’re water, sweat and weather-proof.

Pocket-lint

In terms of ports and buttons, things are kept minimal. There aren’t tonnes of tiny buttons everywhere on these in-ears, nor a touch-sensitive panel of any kind. There’s a single power/pairing button on the top edge of the left earbud and a micro USB port underneath. That’s it. 

As with most earphones, the Powerbeats 3 come with a carrying case, although not the usual canvas or cloth pouch. Instead, it’s a pill-shaped case made from a rubber of sorts, with a slot in the top.

Beats Powerbeats 3 Wireless review: Features and performance

• W1 chip for easy iPhone pairing
• 12-hour battery life per charge
• Inline remote and mic

Undoubtedly one of the biggest draws to the new wireless Beats earphones is Apple’s W1 chip inside. For Android users, that’s not an important a feature, but for Apple users, it’s a brilliant piece of proprietary technology that adds so much convenience when pairing. It’s one of the few real benefits we’ve seen since Apple bought Beats. 

The W1 chip is the wireless equivalent of being able to just slot a pair of Lighting-equipped earphones into the bottom of your iPhone. Switch on the headphones, then press “connect” on the pop-up window that appears on your iPhone screen. There’s no having to switch “pairing mode” on, going hunting through your Bluetooth menu, hoping your phone will actually find them.

Switch on. Connect. Done. It’s really that simple. 

Pocket-lint

Once connected you can control the volume simply by clicking on the inline remote control which – it has to be said – is delightfully clicky. The middle button doesn’t quite offer the same tactile response, but is easy to find blind thanks to being indented. This is used for playing or pausing tracks, and can be used to bring up Siri for voice control too.

Beats claims that the Powerbeats 3 can last up to 12-hours on a single charge. Our testing suggests that real-life use with an iPhone won’t be far off. The battery level was down by 24 per cent after around three hours of use. 

Beats Powerbeats 3 Wireless review: Sound 

• Bass-heavy sound profile

Sports earphones aren’t designed to offer studio quality, flat, audiophile grade sound. As such, it would be foolish to expect it from the Powerbeats. What you get instead is loud, immersive and bass-heavy audio with plenty of oomph to get you through a tough workout. 

Thanks to the powerful dual drivers, bass levels are impressive. Even songs with loud, chest bursting bass are captured well from the tiny earphone speakers. Low-end bass-heavy tracks are perfect for these sports headphones.

Pocket-lint

That does means while middle and treble levels are present and accounted for, they don’t ring with the clarity or brilliance you’d get from a high-end studio IEM.

For us the Powerbeats 3’s sound profile wasn’t exactly to our preferences for general listening: but the extra bass and the clear connection were brilliant during runs and workouts. 

Verdict

The Powerbeats 3 aren’t the best in-ears around from an audio perspective, but the fact they keep going and going, stay securely in your ears thanks to those ear hooks and pump the bass will be a huge draw to many. As will the W1 chip’s pairing sequence, for iPhone users at least.

Being sports headphones, it’s a good job these Beats are equipped with sweat- and weather-resistance, but it would be better still to see Beats make use of Apple’s experience and expertise in the fitness tracking field. With Apple Watch being one of the best smartwatches around for fitness fanatics, it’d be great to see a heart-rate monitor, or step-counting incorporated into these earphones. Although that might see a huge price bump.

Simply put, the Powerbeats 3 are some of more capable sport-centric earphones we’ve tested in 2017. Beats, bass, bold looks, a solid fit and the best connectivity going all add up to a powerful whole.

The Powerbeats 3 are available now for £151 from Amazon UK or $150 at Amazon US.

Alternatives to consider…

Pocket-lint

Bose Soundsport Pulse

They’re a similar concept, in that they’re wireless sports headphones connected by a short cable. While they’re the same price as the new Powerbeats, they do have a built-in heart rate monitor which is genuinely useful during workouts. They also opt for an in-ear fin rather than an over-ear hook for keeping them secure. What’s more, the sound profile is a little more balanced than Beats’. 

Read the full review: Bose Soundsport Pulse: Fine sounding sports earphones

Pocket-lint

Jabra Elite Sport

If you want a completely wire-free experience in a headphone that’s built for sporty types, the Elite Sport by Jabra offer a secure (if slightly uncomfortable) fit, great sound, a solid connection and no wires at all. They cost £50 more than the Beats, but that’s to be expected from a wire-free pair of earphones as good as these. 

Read the full review: Jabra Elite Sport: These are the AirPods you really want

Pocket-lint

JBL Reflect Aware

They cost the same as the Beats, and they’re not wireless, but they’re supremely comfortable to wear and offer a secure, snug fit. While wireless would be convenient, the lack of it does mean that you don’t ever need to worry about running out of battery, ever. It also means you get louder audio, and you get some nice cone-shaped tips that fit really nicely without feeling like an ear canal invasion. 

Read the full review: JBL Reflect Aware: Lightning earphones for sporty iPhone 7 users

Ruark Audio MR1 MK2 desktop speakers are redesigned for the digital age

The Ruark Audio MR1 desktop speakers are now four years old, so the company has decided it high time to give them an update. Much of the acoustic performance has been left the same, as Ruark believes they’re already nigh-on perfect.

The drivers for example are the same as before, but Ruark has made changes to the crossover to help give the MK2 version a bigger sound than before, and one that “belies its modest size”.

• Ruark Audio MR1 Bluetooth speakers review

The new model also comes with an added digital optical input so you can connect external devices such as a Chromecast Audio or even your TV to help improve the sound. The optical input is available alongside apt-X Bluetooth for CD-quality streaming from compatible devices and an analogue input for connecting legacy devices including turntables.

Ruark Audio has made some style changes, too. Gone are the removable grilles of the MK1 model and in their place are fixed versions covered in British fabric, chosen for its aesthetic and acoustic properties.

The intuitive controller on top of the right speaker now features three LEDs to clearly display system status and the input currently selected. A new Soft Grey colour option is also available alongside the traditional Rich Walnut.

• Best speakers 2017: Best wireless and Bluetooth speakers for your tunes

An optional BackPack II power pack is available to free the MR1 MK2 from the shackles of mains power and if the left stereo speaker is disconnected from the controlling right one, the latter can operate as a standalone unit. The Ruark Audio MR1 MK2 is available now for £330

Latest version of iOS solves iPhone 6’s shutdown issues

Some iPhone 6 and 6s devices have been randomly shutting down over the past several months. iOS 10.2.1 was designed to fix the issue, and Apple says it has successfully solved the problem for most people who’ve already installed it. Cupertino told TechCrunch that 10.2.1, which has already been downloaded by roughly half of all iOS users, has led to an 80 percent reduction of unexpected shutdowns in iPhone 6s and 70 percent reduction in iPhone 6. TC says the affected phones unexpectedly shut down due to sudden spikes of activity in older iOS versions that cause older batteries to malfunction.

A spokesperson told the publication:

“With iOS 10.2.1, Apple made improvements to reduce occurrences of unexpected shutdowns that a small number of users were experiencing with their iPhone. iOS 10.2.1 already has over 50% of active iOS devices upgraded and the diagnostic data we’ve received from upgraders shows that for this small percentage of users experiencing the issue, we’re seeing a more than 80% reduction in iPhone 6s and over 70% reduction on iPhone 6 of devices unexpectedly shutting down.”

Apple also told TechCrunch that it has given the older iPhones the ability to restart without needing to be plugged in. Before the fix came out, people had no choice but to plug in their phones whenever an unexpected shutdown happens. In addition, the tech titan will roll out another feature in the next few days. If the latest version of iOS deems your battery to be too old and worn down, you’ll see a notice in settings telling you that “your battery needs service.”

Apple didn’t give an advice on what to do if version 10.2.1 doesn’t fix the problem for you. But if you’ve been experiencing the same issue, try installing the platform update first before getting your battery replaced.

Source: TechCrunch