Microsoft reveals another Windows 10 major update will arrive late 2017

Microsoft has quietly confirmed it is working on another Windows 10 update, and it will arrive later this year, following the Creators Update. The company hinted last summer that it would release two major Windows 10 updates in 2017. We know that the first update is the Creators Update, which is currently being tested by Windows Insiders (aka beta testers), but we haven’t heard anything about the second one. Until now. During Microsoft’s Ignite conference in Australia, Microsoft provided a basic timeline for the second Windows 10 update.

• Microsoft Windows 10 Creators Update: What’s new?

Microsoft

OnMSFT spotted a presentation slide that seems to suggest the update will be made available later this year, and it has a “production” date of 2018 for enterprise customers, meaning that’s when you can expect businesses to start rolling out the update themselves. Microsoft has not yet announced any features, but keep in mind the Creators Update hasn’t even released yet. That’s due out in April.

The new People bar feature has been cut from the Creators Update, so it’ll probably be folded into the upcoming second update. The second update may also usher in a new “Project Neon” redesign. Expect to hear more about all this at Microsoft’s Build 2017 dev conference in May.

You can see the timeline slide in the 23-minute mark, when Microsoft discusses the “two [releases] that we intend in shipping in 2017.” 

Watson can diagnose heart disease by looking at medical images

IBM’s Watson technology has helped doctors before, but usually by poring through databases before offering its advice. Now, it’s ready to look at the patients themselves — or rather, their body scans. It’s following up on past promises by launching Watson Clinical Imaging Review, its first picture-based cognitive computing solution. The AI platform can sift through ultrasounds, x-rays and other medical data to both fill out health records and identify patients who might need critical care.

The imaging tech will first be used to diagnose patients with aortic stenosis, where the heart’s aortic valve narrows and constricts blood flow. Watson will combine heart imagery with medical records to spot patients who might need follow-up treatments. The approach will eventually expand to cover heart attacks, heart muscle disease, deep vein thrombosis and valve disorders.

IBM won’t make the solution widely available to health care facilities until later in the year, but it’s hoping that the impact will be worth the wait. In a chat with Mashable, the company’s Anne Le Grand says that Watson promises to improve both the quality and consistency of diagnoses. Both patients and doctors won’t have to worry so much about issues going unaddressed until they become urgent.

Via: Mashable

Source: IBM

Windows 10’s Mail and Calendar app finally gets a Focused Inbox

Taking a cue from Outlook on iOS and Android, the Windows 10 Mail & Calendar app is getting a few new features that might actually make desktop email manageable again. The latest version now includes an intelligent Focused Inbox, plus a new mentions system to help users find what’s really important in those long email chains.

Like the mobile versions of Outlook, the Mail & Calendar app learns which emails you’re likely to either read or reply to and filters the important ones into the Focused Inbox. Everything else gets filed away in the the easy-to-neglect “Other” tab. The filters can also be tweaked by manually flagging a message for one inbox or the other.

As for the mention system, users can now tag each other in an email by typing the @ symbol to bring up a list of contacts, similar to how the web version of Outlook currently works. Selecting a contact adds that person to the chain and will highlight their name in the body text so they can see exactly where in the chain they’ve been mentioned. Users can also filter their emails to search for ones where they’ve specifically been tagged.

On the calendar side, the app is also getting intelligent travel reservations and packaged delivery reminders based on your emails, as well as some new color categories and the ability to subscribe to popular calendars like holidays and sports schedules.

Microsoft says the new features are currently rolling out to Mail & Calendar users with Office 365 and Outlook accounts over the next few weeks, and that they’ll be bringing the same features to third-party email accounts in the near future.

Source: Windows Blog

Caltrain asks White House to reverse high-speed rail funding cut

After Republicans successfully lobbied US Transportation secretary Elaine Chao to halt approval of a $650 million dollar grant for an electrification project that would have laid the groundwork for a high-speed rail network, Caltrain is asking the public for its support in getting that decision reversed.

Specifically, Caltrain launched a White House petition on Monday, requesting that the President allow the project, which would generate an estimated 9,600 jobs, to continue as planned. The electrification project is currently on pause after the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) decided that it needs “additional time to complete review of this significant commitment of federal resources.” Unfortunately, Caltrain has already signed binding agreements to begin work in earnest on the project by the start of March and the penalties associated with missing that deadline are severe enough to derail the entire project.

Please sign the White House petition urging the President to save Electrification & 9,600 jobs. #StandWithCaltrain https://t.co/QthSSNZQoT pic.twitter.com/Zpg72Co4q1

— Caltrain (@Caltrain) February 20, 2017

The petition has so far generated just under 3,500 signatures — it requires 100,000 by March 20th to make it to the president’s desk. Though there’s no guarantee that he’ll do anything with it when it does.

Via: CurbedSF

Source: WeThePeople.gov

ColorWare is Now Selling Apple’s AirPods in 58 Colors if You’re Willing to Pay $289

ColorWare, a company that custom paints Apple products, today announced that it is now accepting orders for Apple’s AirPods, which can be purchased from the site in range of different colors.

For $289, a $130 premium over the $159 price of the AirPods, ColorWare will paint them in one of 58 different shades, from solids to metallics in every color of the rainbow. A deep glossy black is also an option, giving customers who have been wanting a “Jet Black” set of AirPods a way to get it.

Each AirPod can be painted in a different shade, and for an extra $30, ColorWare will also paint the AirPod Charging Case. Along with a custom color, users can also choose a matte or gloss finish, for a set of AirPods that are totally unique.

To paint various products, ColorWare fully disassembles them and carefully custom paints each individual component. On its Twitter account, ColorWare says developing a process for the AirPods was “FAR from easy.”

It was FAR from easy, but we made it happen! AirPods now come in your choice of 58 colors: https://t.co/9ukve4qGKe #WeDidIt pic.twitter.com/suvrPPoazy

— ColorWare (@ColorWare) February 22, 2017

The total price for a fully customized set of AirPods plus case is $319, which is about double the price of a plain white set of AirPods purchased from Apple. In addition to shelling out quite a bit of money for a custom set, those who order AirPods from ColorWare will also need to wait for approximately six weeks for their order to arrive. ColorWare often lets customers send in their own devices to be painted, but this isn’t currently an option with the AirPods.

Because $319 is a lot of money to shell out for an accessory, ColorWare does offer paint samples so users can test colors out before placing an order. Each set of three paint samples costs $15.

All ColorWare work is guaranteed for 12 months, and 24 months with the purchase of an additional warranty. Returns are available for the first 30 days but are subject to a 25 percent restocking fee.

ColorWare paints a range of devices, from iMacs and MacBooks to Apple accessories like the Magic Keyboard and the Magic Mouse 2. The company also paints other accessories, like game consoles and headphones (including Beats), plus it offers a range of skins for products like the MacBook and iPhone.

Tags: AirPods, ColorWare
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Latest Chrome Canary Build Includes Support for MacBook Pro Touch Bar

The newest build (58.0.3020.0) of Chrome Canary, Google’s experimental browser, includes support for the Touch Bar built into the 2016 MacBook Pro, indicating Touch Bar support will soon be added to the Chrome browser.

On the Touch Bar, the current Chrome Canary build offers a search/URL bar, forward and back buttons, a refresh/stop option, a button for opening a new tab, and a button for adding a new bookmark.

It’s much a simpler implementation than Touch Bar support in Safari, which includes preview tabs for quickly switching between windows. There are also no controls available for video or music playback in the browser.

Features are tested in Canary before being added release builds of the Google Chrome browser, so Touch Bar support is expected in Chrome 58, set to be released during the week of April 25th.

Those who want to give Touch Bar support a try ahead of the release of Chrome 58 can download Chrome Canary from Google.

Tags: Google, Chrome
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The Russian government has its own ‘fake news’ watchdog site

In Russia’s heavily state-controlled media landscape, the government wants to make it clear when Western news outlets publish work it disagrees with. As Newsweek reports today, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has launched a “fake news” tracking page, which emblazons a comically large, red “FAKE” stamp on articles it deems untrue.

So far, the site has only attacked outlets in the US and the UK like the New York Times, Bloomberg, the Telegraph, NBC News and the Santa Monica Observer. As the ministry’s spokeswoman Maria Zakharova explained to the government’s own state-run RIA Novosti news agency, the site is intended to prevent the sharing of articles it believes are inaccurate.

“Here we will make an example of such propaganda dumped by various media outlets, providing links to their sources, and so on,” Zakharova said. The site does not, however, explain why Russia’s foreign ministry believes the articles are incorrect, it only provides the cryptic message “This material contains data, not corresponding to the truth” and a link to the original article. As Newsweek notes, in the Bloomberg article that currently appears on the site, the author quoted a Kremlin spokesperson denying allegations that the country was involved in hacking a French politician. So, it’s unclear whether labeling the article “FAKE” is Russia’s way of doubling down on their denial of the hacking, or disputing the article in its entirety. According to a recent poll conducted by the Russian government, the country’s citizens are growing increasingly skeptical of objectivity and a quarter of the country feels that no source of information — either on TV or online — is trustworthy.

Via: Newsweek

Source: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Sony’s ‘world’s fastest’ SD card writes data at 299 MB/s

Sony’s upcoming SF-G series of SD cards will be available this spring, the company announced today. When that time comes, Sony said they “will be the world’s fastest SD cards.” Boasting a maximum write speed of 299 MB/s, that claim is right on point.

The cards (available in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB sizes) also have a slightly higher top read speed of 300 MB/s. Speed is a priority, so the cards also support the UHS-II interface, which adds a second row of connecting pins to the card for increased transfer rates on compatible hardware. More than any card before it, the SF-G series will be able to handle quick-shooting cameras smoothly, as well as capturing 4K video and other technically demanding uses.

To fully take advantage of the tremendous speed, Sony also revealed it will offer a specialized card reader so users can quickly transfer files to and from their computers. The SF-G series will take good care of your files, too. In addition to being compatible with Sony’s file rescue software, these SD’s are also waterproof, temperature resistant, shockproof and X-Ray proof.

For comparison, B&H Photo Video says that two of the fastest SD card lines out there today, SanDisk’s Extreme PRO UHS-II series and Lexar’s Professional 2000x UHS-II series, can achieve read speeds of 300 MB/s and write speeds of 260 MB/s. For the more casual user, Amazon’s best-selling card, the 32GB SanDisk Ultra Class 10 SDHC UHS-I, tops out at 80 MB/s for read and write speeds.

Sony has yet to announce the pricing for these cards, but the 32GB version of the aforementioned SanDisk card sells for about $60. The SF-G cards are technically superior, though, so expect them to retail for a bit more than that.

Source: Sony

SkyRunner flying car soars just about as high in the sky as its sticker price

Why it matters to you

The SkyRunner can make you feel like James Bond – and who doesn’t want that?

SkyRunner, the company responsible for giving a dune buggy the power of flight, is back with a new model, which retails for $119,000. The goal is to provide off-road capability with the thrill of extended flight — and even the Federal Aviation Administration has signed off on the vehicle this time around.

A hybrid composite chassis, including carbon fiber body panels, uses a Polaris ProStar 1000 engine for the ground game and a Rotax 914 UL light-sport aircraft engine for sky sport. The new SkyRunner can reach air speeds of up to 40 mph for a distance of 120 nautical miles. When the driver is ready to land, the wing stows in a bag behind the rear passenger.

“We set out to build the ultimate adventure vehicle but have since discovered it fills tremendous gaps as a tool,” said SkyRunner CEO Stewart Hamel.  “Designed initially as a toy, the market has translated SkyRunner into a low-cost, high-utility multimodal tool for ranchers, law enforcement, border security, and even Department of Defense agencies. With operating costs of approximately $50 an hour, SkyRunner will take you places no pickup truck or UTV can go and at a fraction of the cost of a helicopter.”

More: Polaris Ride Command Technology

The vehicle relies on Maxxis Bighorn tires and FOX Piggyback shocks to handle just about any surface, but with just 450 feet of runway, the SkyRunner can be sent soaring into the air. All this excitement does come at a high price, though – more even than the earlier version. SkyRunner retails for $139,000 and can be purchased direct from the factory.

The dream of having a car capable of comfortable day-to-day driving and winged sky soaring has been part of the American psyche for generations.

Until recently, this ambitious goal has been out of reach. Now, though, the wealthiest among us will be able to achieve this lofty goal, as SkyRunner is unveiling its flying car, capable of all-terrain driving and actual flight.

SkyRunner designed the car to appeal to rescue teams and recreational enthusiasts alike with its reflex paraglide wing technology that allows it to transform from car to aircraft in three minutes.

Stewart Hamel, SkyRunner CEO, says, “Open fields, grass strips and secluded beaches will be the runways of choice.” Don’t get too excited, though, backyard flyboys; SkyRunner owners who wish to take flight will need to first procure a flying license that requires 12 hours of flight with a Certified Flight Instructor.

Once in the air, the SkyRunner will top out at 55 mph. On the ground, however, it’ll be able to go 0-60 in 4.3 seconds and onto 115 mph thanks to its 125 horsepower 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine sourced from Ford.

SkyRunner debuted the all-terrain flyer at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. No other dune buggy — for this $119,000 price or otherwise — will get airborne for more than a few seconds. Considering its capability, then, the SkyRunner is a steal.

Updated on 2-22-2017 by Miles Branman: Added information about Skyrunner’s new all-terrain buggy/flying car.

Intel’s new modem can deliver gigabit download speeds

Why it matters to you

Intel’s new modem can handle gigabit speeds — fast enough to download an HD movie in mere seconds.

It’s a battle of the wireless modems. Not to be outdone by Qualcomm’s speedy new X16, Intel on February 22 announced the XMM 7650 modem, a new chip that promises to deliver gigabit download speeds for tablets, smartphones, laptops, and other mobile devices.

The device is what’s known as a category 16/13 modem, meaning it can offer download speeds of up to 1Gbps and upload speeds of 225Mbps. It supports network technologies like carrier aggregation, which cuts down on congestion by leveraging multiple LTE frequencies, and 4X4 MIMO configurations, which use multiple antennas to boost download speeds. And it’s compatible with multiple cellular technologies, including LTE, GSM, and CDMA.

More: Apple vs. Qualcomm: Everything you need to know

It’s not quite able to match the peak speeds of Qualcomm’s wireless chip, which can reach peaks of up to 1.2Gbps. But it’s fast enough to download an HD movie in about 8 seconds, or 10GB of music in a minute and a half.

The absence of networks able to take advantage of the modem’s gigabit capabilities makes the launch seem a tad premature. Australia carrier Telstra upgraded its 4G LTE network to gigabit capacity last year, but it’s the world’s first — and only — to do so. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, AT&T said it expected to achieve widespread 4G LTE speeds of 1Gbps thanks to “optimizations” and “thousands” of new antennas.

Verizon began testing 1Gbps connectivity in select cities earlier this year. Sprint said that it would deliver 1Gbps speeds in 2017. T-Mobile, meanwhile, claims that it’s the only network in the U.S. to have measured 1Gbps on its existing network.

More: Qualcomm faces a potential $900 million fine in South Korea over unfair market practices

AT&T announced the deployment of gigabit technologies last year,

The XMM 7560 modem, which is the first to be manufactured on 14nm process, is expected to supply cellular connectivity to Apple’s upcoming iPhone 7S, 7S Plus, and iPhone 8. Apple sourced Intel modems in iPhone 7 models sold on AT&T and T-Mobile, but was forced to tap Qualcomm’s solution for the Verizon and Sprint models because of the incompatibility of Intel’s last-generation modems with CDMA networks.

Intel’s got an upward climb if it hopes to make a dent. This past year, Qualcomm held a 52-percent share of the mobile processor market and produced 65 percent of all LTE chips.

But Intel does has some leverage. Apple filed suit against Qualcomm last month, claiming $1 billion in damages over patent royalties. And lawsuits filed over the past year by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission allege that Qualcomm has abused its virtual monopoly in the smartphone market to charge its manufacturing partners excessively fees.

Given this background, it’s no surprise that Apple’s looking for an alternative.