U.S. solar power industry added over 51,000 jobs last year, and it’s still growing

Why it matters to you

For at least the near term there will be more jobs in solar energy than coal.

If you needed proof that solar power is the future of US energy production, look no further than these new stats released from the National Solar Jobs Census 2016. The annual review shows that solar energy industry employment ranks higher in U.S. employment statistics than the coal, wind, and nuclear energy industries, according to Vox.

Solar industry jobs increased 25 percent in 2016, compared to the 2015 Solar Job Census. With more than 51,000 new jobs added since 2015, the total employment in solar energy was 260,077. Employment in the solar industry has almost tripled since the first census in 2010, increasing by at least 20 percent in each of the past four years. Employers polled in the census expect another 10 percent increase this year, for a total of 286,335 solar workers.

More: Elon Musk wants to turn your roof into a solar energy farm

The National Solar Jobs Census requires that workers are employed at least 50 percent of their time in the solar industry to be counted in the statistic. The group reports it has consistently found that about 90 percent of solar workers spend 100 percent of work time in solar-related employment.

As the solar energy industry grows, more states will figure significantly in solar jobs numbers. In 2016 California, Massachusetts, Texas, Nevada, and Florida had the highest numbers of solar energy workers.

Vox reports that solar energy accounts for only 1.3 percent of electricity in the U.S. today, but it’s increasing and in that growth, one of every 50 new jobs in the U.S. in 2016 was in the solar industry. The jobs’ growth is mostly in installation, with the largest portion, 41 percent, in residential markets, the most labor-intensive. The median wage for solar installers is $25.96 per hour.

Quoting the Solar Jobs Census, Vox reports, “Solar employs slightly more workers than natural gas, over twice as many as coal, over three times that of wind energy, and almost five times the number employed in nuclear energy. Only oil/petroleum has more employment (by 38 percent) than solar.”

Dual-camera smartphones may soon be a bit more affordable, thanks to a new chip

Why it matters to you

More features for less cash is something anyone can get on board with and a new mid-level processor may help make it happen.

Dual cameras may soon be more accessible with mid-priced smartphones. On Wednesday, semiconductor company MediaTek announced the Helio P25, a mobile camera processor handling the demands of two cameras while being better suited for devices with a bit less power.

The new chipset supports dual cameras but operates 25 percent more efficiently than the company’s other dual- camera chipsets. For consumers, that means the chip can go inside mid-level smartphones, instead of leaving the feature up to high-powered, high-priced devices.

More: Sony is working on a sensor with an integrated polarizing filter

“MediaTek Helio P25 paves the way for high-resolution and feature-rich smartphone cameras that enable amazing static shots and 4K2K videos,” Jeffrey Ju, Executive Vice President and Co-Chief Operating Officer at MediaTek, said in a statement. “Supporting two cameras up to 13MP each, the MediaTek Helio P25 redefines expectations for mobile photography and our multimedia features like MediaTek MiraVision technology, continuously enhance visual user experiences.”

The new chip can be paired with camera systems with up to 13 megapixels in each camera, or with a 24-megapixel single camera. Since the chip is optimized for dual cameras, it can process the data from both sensors for adding the computer-generated depth of field (or background blur) in real time. The chipset is also designed to improve auto exposure adjustment speeds by 30 to 55 percent, which means the camera will adjust to changes in lighting while recording a video a bit faster than with previous options.

While the chip is designed for mid-range smartphones, MediaTek says the Helio P25 delivers more power with less energy than competitors. Using eight cores, half of those clock in at 2.5 GHz, while the older version hit 2.3. The processor supports up to 6 GB of RAM, but only supports 1080p displays.

The Helio P25 is currently only a processor — but the company says the chip will be added to smartphones that are rolling out before the end of April, so those mid-priced dual-camera smartphones may not be far behind.

Desktop apps can be installed on Windows 10 Cloud with a little extra effort

Why it matters to you

Never fear: Windows 10 Cloud might not be as locked down as we thought, and you might be able to install your desktop applications after all.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 is a robust operating system that can do just about anything. Usually that’s a strength, but while Windows 10 competes well against Google’s Chrome OS platform on features and overall power, it’s at a disadvantage in terms of cost and manageability.

That’s why Microsoft is releasing the Windows 10 Cloud edition, which essentially enables locking down the OS to allow apps to be installed only from the Windows 10 Store. At least, that’s how it works in theory and with the current preview build, but there’s a way to bypass that limitation for the technically astute, as Windows Central reports.

More: An early build of Windows 10 Cloud has leaked, proving the new OS is no myth

By limiting Windows 10 Cloud to only Windows Store apps, Microsoft could accomplish a few things. First, it would make non-cloud editions of Windows 10 more valuable by allowing any Windows desktop app to be installed. Second, it would make the OS more secure, by limiting apps to only those that meet the Windows Store criteria. Microsoft’s Project Centennial lets developers publish their desktop applications in the Windows Store, meaning that Windows 10 Cloud isn’t limited to just Windows Universal Apps.

It appears that, at least at the moment, Windows 10 Cloud’s limit on installing desktop apps outside of the Windows Store isn’t set in stone. As Twitter user Longhorn has discovered, you can launch a desktop application from the PowerShell utility and bypass the Windows Store limitation.

Here is Chrome, and the Desktop App Converter(a Centennial app) running on Windows Cloud. pic.twitter.com/NPWkNVTeXo

— Longhorn (@never_released) February 8, 2017

Longhorn hasn’t outlined his methodology for bypassing the Windows 10 Cloud lockdown, and it’s entirely possible that Microsoft will remove the hack and keep things secured. At the same time, some evidence exists that Microsoft might allow the installation of non-Windows Store apps if a system setting is changed.

There’s still some time before Windows 10 Cloud hits the market, and so we don’t know exactly what it’s going to look like. In the meantime, there’s some hope that no matter what, Windows 10 Cloud isn’t quite as locked down as it appears to be.

Ad board: Comcast can no longer claim to have “fastest internet in America”

Why it matters to you

While companies have long relied on hyperbole to win business, Comcast is being told to halt its claim that it provides the fastest internet in America.

Questionable advertising is about to come with some consequences, especially in the world of internet speeds.

According to a recent ruling from the National Advertising Review Board, Comcast can no longer purport to deliver “the fastest internet in America” or the “fastest in-home Wi-Fi” because the company does not have sufficient evidence to substantiate these claims. The decision was handed down after Comcast competitor Verizon cried foul on these marketing tactics. And while Comcast has said that it will comply with the board’s decision, it insists that it has done nothing wrong by relying on crowdsourced speed test data from Ookla as evidence for its assertions.

More: Tethered drones could soon supply internet access to crowded stadiums

Although the board did not question the accuracy of Ookla data, it ultimately determined that it was “not a good fit for an overall claim that an ISP delivers ‘America’s fastest Internet.’” The board also pointed out that “Ookla’s data showed only that Xfinity consumers who took advantage of the free tests offered on the Speedtest.net website subscribed to tiers of service with higher download speeds than Verizon FiOS consumers who took advantage of the tests.”

In fact, the board pointed out that Comcast had sliced and diced the data to their benefit — upon closer inspection of Ookla’s findings, the top 10 percent of Verizon FiOS customers actually enjoyed higher upload speeds than the top 10 percent of Comcast customers. While Comcast is welcome to continue using Ookla studies in their ads, the board has asked that the company “avoids any statement or implication that the data demonstrates that Xfinity provides faster Internet speeds than competing ISPs.” It concluded that the “panel found that Comcast did not provide a reasonable basis for the messages reasonably conveyed by the challenged ‘fastest in-home Wi-Fi’ claims and recommended Comcast discontinue the claims.’”

It doesn’t look as though Comcast will put up too much of a fight, as the company said in a statement that “Comcast agrees to comply with NARB’s decision.” Furthermore, the internet provider added, “Comcast is gratified by NARB’s determination that Ookla’s crowdsourced data, which found that, based on 60 million speed test results, the top 10 percent of Comcast consumers had download speeds faster than the top 10 percent of Verizon FiOS consumers, can be used in Comcast’s advertising.”

Verizon’s new Watch24 is one of the first to run Android Wear 2.0

Why it matters to you

Verizon’s new Wear24 smartwatch is an affordable Android Wear 2.0 option for those unimpressed by the competition.

LG isn’t the only manufacturer with a brand-spanking new smartwatch. Verizon, not to be outdone by the LG Watch Sport and LG Watch Style, announced the Wear24 on Wednesday, a watch running Google’s Android Wear operating system.

The Wear24 was made in partnership with ODM Quanta, a Taiwanese company better known by the branded laptops, desktops, and media players it builds for commissioning companies like HP, Dell, and Lenovo. It’s a Verizon exclusive, unsurprisingly, and one of the first smartwatches to ship running version 2.0 of Google’s Android Wear operating system.

More: Will your watch get Android Wear 2.0? Read our guide to find out

The Wear24’s a compelling package, to be sure. Its “slim and modern” 13.5mm body is IP67-rated, meaning it can withstand up to 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes. And under the hood lies a beefy 450mAh battery compatible with off-the-shelf wireless chargers, a NFC chip that supports tap-to-pay mobile transactions, and a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with 290 pixels per inch. It boasts full compatibility with Verizon’s LTE network, too, meaning the Wear24 can make and receive phone calls and texts without the need for a smartphone.

Thanks to Android Wear 2.0, the Wear24 ships with loads of useful features. New watch faces boast “Complications,” miniature widgets for notifications and shortcuts for apps that put upcoming calendar appointments, fitness goal progress, and more at a glance. A new version of Google Fit, Google’s cross-platform fitness tracker, tracks your pace, distance, heart rate, and the calories you’ve burned during workouts. And new messaging features let you respond to texts and messages with a keyboard.

One of the bigger additions is the Google Assistant, cloud-powered AI software capable of performing actions like setting reminders, finding directions to a specified point of interest, telling you the weather, booking a restaurant, and more.

More: Android Wear is back in business with two new watches from LG

The Wear24 will launch online and in Verizon stores next month for $300 with a two-year contract, which lines up roughly with the carrier’s Watch Sport pricing ($330 on a two-year contract or $380 full retail).

It might seem odd that Verizon’s effectively competing against its partners with the Wear24, but it’s not the first time. In 2013, it launched the Ellipsis, an Android tablet designed to compete with affordable 7-inch tablets like the Kindle Fire HDX and Nexus 7. That lineup has since expanded to include an 8-inch Model, the Ellipsis 8, and the 10-inch Ellipsis 10.

Verizon notes that the Wear24 is compatible with its $10 Single Device Plan, which provisions 1GB, unlimited talk, and unlimited text for a connected device. Alternatively, existing subscribers can add the Wear24 to their plan for an extra $5 per month.

Samsung Galaxy X: Rumors and news leaks

Why it matters to you

Foldable devices are the next step in smartphone evolution, and it’s still unclear who’s going to dominate the market, but LG, Lenovo, and Samsung are at the forefront.

You might think the Samsung Edge display is cool, but something cooler is coming very soon. Samsung has been working on foldable displays for many years now, and the Korean giant might be ready to showcase its first foldable smartphone in 2017. Information about the phone, which has been dubbed the Galaxy X for now, has slowly been leaking out, and here’s everything we think we know about it so far.

An MWC preview?

Samsung may be bringing foldable smartphone prototypes to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, an annual trade show takes place at the end of February. Unfortunately, ETNews reports the prototypes will only be shown behind closed doors for “invited” guests.

The report says Samsung will show off prototypes to get a better understanding of the market response. The company will have prototypes that bend inward and outward, though ETNews claims the latter is more likely to be commercialized. ETNews suggests Samsung is looking to license this foldable technology to other manufacturers at the show.

More: Samsung’s junk batteries just caught fire, and nearly took a factory with them

Previous rumors suggested a commercial device may release in the third quarter of the year — or sometime July through September. According to a source that spoke to the Korea Herald, Samsung may roll out more than “100,000 units of fold-out devices” later on this year. The device can reportedly be used as a 7-inch tablet when unfolded, so it’s unclear if it’s meant to be a phone or a tablet (or both).

The company is still deliberating about the decision to unveil a foldable device this year, and it will wait until its “executive-level reshuffle” — the shuffle has been delayed to February or March. The source also said LG is expected to roll out 100,000 foldable devices in the fourth quarter of the year, and that LG has more advanced technology than Samsung. The competitor may be using the foldable technology for other companies such as Apple or Huawei.

Previous leaks from Twitter user and Samsung leakster @mmddj_china said the device will be available to purchase at some point in the third or fourth quarter of 2017.

Sources also told Bloomberg that we could see Samsung’s first foldable phone at Mobile World Congress in late February 2018, and it may be referring to the prototypes mentioned in the latest rumor. The company is considering building two new smartphone models — with one that folds like a wallet. One of the two devices will have a 5-inch screen when used as a cell phone but can be rolled out to show off an 8-inch display.

Before being known as the Galaxy X, Samsung’s folding phone had the codename Project Valley, which was featured in various reports. The company introduced the concept of a foldable display at CES 2013 and supposedly showed its first foldable phone prototype in a private meeting at CES 2014.

Design

We got our closest look to date of the highly anticipated foldable smartphone on November 9 from Sammobile. A patent application reveals a number of renders and illustrates the smartphone’s hinge from a number of angles. Check out the latest photos below.

Patents filed by Samsung have been the only real clues as to the Galaxy X’s eventual design we have so far. A previous patent from Samsung Display was registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office at the end of September 2016. The diagrams included are dated mid-June and show a clamshell-like device that resembles a makeup compact, folding out into a traditional rectangular smartphone shape.

More: Samsung wants to give you a smartphone you can fold in 2016

A camera lens is shown on the top of the closed clamshell, an area that becomes the rear of the unfolded phone. A selfie camera and speaker are shown in the inside top of the phone.

More interestingly, the bottom of the screen appears to have a curved edge, and it’s visible when the phone is closed. This may serve as an information and notification ticker, rather than fitting a secondary display on the back of the device. Samsung already utilizes its Edge screen on the Galaxy S7 Edge in a similar way.

Before this, a different patent filed by Samsung showed how a folded and unfolded Galaxy X might operate. For example, as Patently Mobile reports, a user could touch an icon on the edge area of the phone so that the app will be open once the device is unfolded. According to the patent, multiple user profiles will also be displayed on the edge area, allowing for multiple users to enter their password to access their information — all from the device’s edge. It’s important to note that this patent was filed in November, but was not made public until now.

Article originally published in October 2015. Andy Boxall, Kyle Wiggers, and Christian de Looper have also contributed. Updated on 02-08-2017 by Julian Chokkattu: Added rumors of the device to be present behind closed doors at MWC.

Google may soon delete millions of apps from the Play Store

Why it matters to you

The Google Play Store will soon be much easier to search through — and potentially much safer to use.

The Google Play Store could shortly be a whole lot smaller. Google has been sending notices out to developers around the world saying that it will soon “limit visibility” or even totally remove apps from the Play Store that violate Google’s User Data Policy.

So why are so many developers getting the notice? Well, most of them seem to have one issue in common: the lack of a privacy policy. According to Google’s User Data Policy, developers have to submit a valid privacy policy, especially when that app handles sensitive information. Those developers will now have to submit a valid privacy policy both on the Google Play Store listing and within the app.

More: Unsure if your Android phone is certified or not? Google Play Store will now tell you

“Google Play requires developers to provide a valid privacy policy when the app requests or handles sensitive user or device information,” says the notice, according to a report from VentureBeat. “Your app requests sensitive permissions (e.g. camera, microphone, accounts, contacts, or phone) or user data, but does not include a valid privacy policy.”

Even though the move may get rid of a ton of apps, it could wind up making the Play Store more useful. There are thousands upon thousands of so-called “zombie apps” that have been around for years without being updated, and many of those have been rendered useless by newer versions of Android. Not only that, but an overly crowded Play Store often makes it hard to find what you’re looking for.

It won’t just be zombie apps that get removed — some developers might not be motivated to include a privacy policy for badly performing apps, so many of those apps will likely disappear as well.

Still, it’ll be a while before anything changes on the Play Store — Google has given developers until March 15 to add the privacy policy, so it will be at least a month before we see a cleaner store.

Put some love on your wallpaper this Valentine’s Day! ❤️

Don’t let your home screen fall into a rut — switch out your wallpaper!

You don’t have to pull out a complex new theme like Deadpool to bring a breath of fresh air to your home screen. A new wallpaper can do wonders, just ask your iPhone-carrying friends. Launchers like Action Launcher can re-theme your entire launcher around a good wallpaper. In our effort to help brighten your device — and maybe your day — we’re compiling some wallpapers for you to try out.

If you’ve got a wallpaper you use everywhere, share it in the comments below! We’re always looking for something new. Now, hit the break and get your wallpaper picker ready.

Valentine’s Day is coming, and no one does Valentine’s Day quite like Disney. The Disney Style blog has conjured up not one but five lovely wallpapers ready to grace your phone. From Tangled’s Floating Lanterns to a love-struck Ariel, there’s a wallpaper here for every kind of romance. To make a simple theme with these wallpapers, pair it with Whicons, Golden Icons, or Retro Icons

Valentine’s Day Wallpapers from Disney Style

Howl and Sophie is a love story that resounds deeply with fans worldwide because it’s a story that has depth. Howl is brash, he is vain, and even for all his magical know-how and tactical experience, he is at heart an idiot. And just as Sophie peels back the layers on Howl’s life and begins to see and love him for what he truly is, Howl learns to see past the spell on Sophie and trust her and the feelings he has for her. Love is about acceptance, love is about trust, and love is about overcoming your own fear for them.

Howl and Sophie Wallpaper by Yuuza

The Princess Bride is a kissing story, and y’know, we don’t mind so much anymore. Buttercup and Wesley is also a love story that is as messed up as it is awesome and romantic, and Wesley’s three word confession/affirmation of love is endearing, adorable, and makes every girl yearn for a pirate to order around.

This wallpaper is simple, elegant, and at the same time whisks us back to our childhoods dreaming of a true love that just won’t quit. It’s inconceivable how versatile a wallpaper it is!

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

As you wish… by nuke-vizard

Roses are a symbol of love, of admiration, of affection, and while they may rise in popularity around Valentine’s Day, I am here to tell you that roses rock every day of the year. They are beautiful, they are fragrant, they are also a wonderful metaphor for love.

They take lots of time, love, and care to maintain. They’re prone to hurt you if you’re not careful (and even if you are, sometimes). They usually take forever to bloom into something beautiful, and then that beauty can fade so quickly. They’re susceptible to frost, heat waves, and all kinds of brights and beasties.

And they are so, so worth it.

Summer Rose by insomniac199

This may be one of the better pictures I’ve ever taken. Snapped alongside the rose path at Epcot, this yellow rose has the perfect kiss of sun on it. Yellow roses are a symbol of friendship, not romance, so this wallpaper can give your phone a festive air without being lovey-dovey. While this wallpaper is quite flexible when it comes to icon packs, Glim is what I’ve used with it.

Sunset Rose by Ara Wagoner

Pokemon Go Valentine’s Day event: Everything you need to know

Valentine’s Day is sweeter than ever with extended lures, extra candy, and more frequent catches!

Pokemon Go’s next event has just gone live, and this one is aiming to steal your heart. A special Valentine’s Day event runs from 11 a.m. PST February 8th thru 11 a.m. PST February 15th. There is going to be plenty going on for the next week, from extra candies to help evolve your Pokemon to lures that’ll last for hours. Don’t worry, though, we have all the details for you here.

Candies, candies everywhere

As you’re probably well aware, in order to evolve your Pokemon you need to collect enough candy. That’s where the first perk in this event shows up. Each time you catch, hatch, or evolve a Pokemon you’ll receive twice the normal amount of candy. That isn’t all either. Your buddy Pokemon will also find candy to help them evolve twice as fast!

Extended lures

Lures are also receiving a special perk. Instead of their usual 30-minute duration, each lure that you — or anyone else — set up will last for a full 6 hours. Yes, you read that right: 6 full hours for each lure. That’s a lot of time to catch yourself some new Pokemon, and of course, you’ll also get extra candy from those catches.

More frequent catches

At times it can be quite frustrating to try and find new Pokemon or to catch a specific Pokemon. If you’ve been hoping to come across some adorable pink Pokemon, but you’ve been having issues, then you are most definitely in luck. Chansey, Clefable, and a number of other pink Pokemon will be cropping up much more frequently. Additionally, Cleffa, Igglypuff, and Smoochum will be much more likely to hatch out of your eggs.

Pokémon Go

• Join our Pokémon Go forums!
• How to deal with GPS errors in-game
• Which team should you choose?
• How to play without killing your battery
• The Ultimate Pokémon Go Game Guide!
• Listen to the Pokémon Go podcast!

The 3GPP announces a new logo for 5G specified products and services

Are you ready for another G? The 3GPP certainly is.

The 3GPP — a group of worldwide organizations that specify network standards for data transmission — has settled on the new 5G logo.

Designed for use on Release stage 15 and onwards, they have applied for a trademark and will use the logo to recognize products that meet the new specs, or publications about the spec or those products. They also explain some reasoning behind the design itself.

The logo has a new wave pattern, but is a development of the existing LTE waves, using the green of the LTE-Advanced Pro version. The idea is to keep a familiar design aspect with the use of plain black text and textured waves, but to make the logo stronger and sharper – ready for use on the new radio and next generation core specifications for 5G.

They also have set some guidelines and rules about the use of the logo, and how to get permission to use it. Use of the logo is voluntary, and approval for its use comes from, and will be monitored by, the 3GPP organization partners. They also explain just what seeing the new logo on a product means.

The permission to use the 3GPP 5G logo does not involve or imply any certification by the partners in 3GPP or the 3GPP community that the products or services of manufacturers or service providers actually comply with the 3GPP specifications. It is intended simply and only to provide a basis of reference for users, network operators and other manufacturers and service providers.

We’ve already heard about Qualcomm’s new 5G products and an Australian network that can use them, as well as AT&T ‘s take on 5G and their roll out plans. Expect to see more companies using the logo and telling us about their 5G plans.

The best thing about having a standard is that there are so many to choose from.