Baidu’s Deep Voice can quickly synthesize realistic human speech

Baidu has been quietly working on other projects besides self-driving cars at its AI center in Silicon Valley, and now it has revealed one of them to MIT’s Technology Review. Apparently, the Chinese tech titan has created a text-to-speech system called Deep Voice that’s faster and more efficient than Google’s WaveNet. The company says Deep Voice can be trained to speak in just a few hours with little to no human interaction. And since Baidu can control how it speaks to convey different emotions, it can (quickly) synthesize speech that sounds pretty natural and realistic.

Google’s WaveNet can also synthesize realistic human speech, but it’s quite computationally demanding and hard to use for real-world applications at this point. Baidu says it solved WaveNet’s problem by using deep-learning techniques to convert text to phenomes, the smallest unit of speech. It then turns those phonemes into sounds using its speech synthesis network. The system converts the word “hello,” for instance, into “(silence HH), (HH, EH), (EH, L), (L, OW), (OW, silence)” before the speech network pronounces it.

Both steps rely on deep learning and don’t need human input. However, the system doesn’t control which phonemes or syllables are stressed and how long they’re pronounced. That’s where Baidu steps in — it switches them around to change the emotions it wants to convey.

While the company says Deep Voice has solved WaveNet’s problem, it still requires a ton of computing power. A computer has to generate words to say in 20 microseconds to mimic human-like interaction. Baidu’s researchers explain:

“To perform inference at real-time, we must take great care to never recompute any results, store the entire model in the processor cache (as opposed to main memory), and optimally utilize the available computational units.”

Still, the researchers believe real-time speech synthesis is possible. They’ve already created quickly generated samples and collected feedback through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. They asked a large number of people through the service to rate the quality of their samples, and the results indicate that they’re of excellent quality.

Source: MIT Technology Review

FBI Director Comey: ‘no such thing as absolute privacy’

If you’re wondering how the director of the FBI can justify advising that you tape over your webcam while also asking for backdoor access to iPhones, check out his keynote speech at the 2017 Boston Conference on Cyber Security. As James Comey sees it, Americans should not expect “absolute privacy” because a court can (under some circumstances) compel people to give testimony from their memory of private conversations and it should be able to order up digital evidence the same way.

During his speech, which you can watch below, Comey did not comment on Donald Trump’s wiretapping claims or the recent WikiLeaks CIA post.

He went on to say that the FBI was unable to access data on 1,200 of the 2,800 devices it tried to access between October and December. Somehow, Comey also claimed “We all value privacy. We all value security. We should never have to sacrifice one for the other.” As we all reckon with the truth that our phone is now the biggest privacy threat, law enforcement is similarly trying to figure things out. Right now, that seems to mean talking out of both sides of its mouth when it comes to security and encryption.

Source: CNN, Reuters, The Independent

Airbus just pulled the wraps off its ‘flying car’ concept, and it looks amazing

Why it matters to you

Airbus’s work shows it’s serious about its urban mobility plan, one that it says could get off the ground within seven years.

If you rolled your eyes and uttered a cynical “yeah, right” last year when you read about Airbus’s plan for a futuristic flying car, then guess what showed up at the Geneva Motor Show this week.

The aerospace giant unveiled a wickedly cool design for its ambitious “Pop.Up” transportation system, an autonomous concept comprising three separate modules.

Developed in partnership with design and engineering firm Italdesign, the modules include a pod for two passengers, a set of wheels to which the pod connects, and — here’s the really awesome part — a giant autonomous quadcopter that carries the pod between different sets of wheels.

Lifted into the air by a giant drone

It works like this: Say you’re at home and you need to head across town for an appointment. First, you summon a vehicle via the system’s app. Within minutes, the self-driving vehicle arrives  at your door. You climb inside and it takes you toward the city. But instead of heading into busy traffic, the pod parks up before being lifted into the air by a giant drone that carries you over the city to another set of wheels located on quieter roads. After setting you safely down, the pod drives you off to your final destination while the drone whizzes off to assist another user. What do you mean, “yeah, right”?

As you can tell, you wouldn’t own any of the modules. Instead, this is more like a futuristic ride-hailing service where multiple vehicles are shared across a city by numerous users. Hang on a minute, isn’t Uber also looking at the same kind of idea?

Airbus says the technology would also incorporate an AI platform to determine the best travel routes according to user habits and current traffic data.

“The urban sky is under-utilized”

In a video announcing the zero-emission system, Mathias Thomson, general manager of Airbus Urban Air Mobility, says Pop.Up “allows passengers a seamless and faster way of getting from A to B using the city sky … it’s a partnership between the airspace and the automotive sector, two powerful sectors that come together to develop new technology, new concepts for the future of smart cities.”

Thomson continues: “Right now, the urban sky is under-utilized and that’s exactly the proposition — the grid-like layout of road doesn’t actually do it for us. We think that by combining air and ground we’ll get a much better use of the space that we have in our cities.”

More: Bold idea gets off the ground — first flying car available for pre-order

The vehicle in Geneva sure looks impressive and though Airbus isn’t quite ready to hit the “on” switch on any of the electric motors that power the technology, it says it aims to fully demonstrate the kit by the end of this year.

And Airbus CEO Tom Enders is backing this astonishing project all the way, telling an audience at a conference in 2016: “One hundred years ago, urban transport went underground, now we have the technological wherewithal to go above ground. We are in an experimentation phase, we take this development very seriously. With flying, you don’t need to pour billions into concrete bridges and roads.”

Airbus says that while for now the project is a concept, it wants to have a ready-for-service design in place within 7 to 10 years. Of course, if it does manage to reach its goal in such a short space of time, there’ll be the small matter of aviation regulators to deal with. But the fact that Airbus is pushing ahead with the idea shows it’s serious about developing solutions for pressing problems, hopefully changing our minds from “yeah right” to “holy crap they’ve gone and done it.”

Google can use machine learning to identify objects in videos

You’ve been able to use a reverse Google search to hunt down similar photos on the internet for years thanks to image recognition and processing tools, but only for static pictures. Today, at Google Cloud Next ’17, the search giant unveiled a new API that uses machine learning to search within videos for nouns and verbs occurring therein. Finally, you’d be able to hunt down that one movie about the guy who does the thing.

The Cloud Video Intelligence API is now in a private beta, meaning companies will get their hands on it long before you can use it to hunt down esoterica on YouTube. At this point, it is an enterprise solution, a deep-learning tool built on frameworks like TensorFlow that companies can use to parse through their stored videos and extract metadata. If you wanted to hunt through your vast media collection to hunt down “tiger,” for example, you’d get a result like this:

The API searches for “entities” like nouns found in videos and indicates when that object appears. It can even detect when scenes change. Companies have must store their media on Google Cloud Storage to run the annotating software, but getting onboard with their cloud suite would be a decent idea, given that Apple, Evernote and Spotify started using the search giant’s Cloud platform this year. Don’t expect the intricate search functions to find their way into YouTube just yet, but as with most of Google’s tinkering with parsing data, it will probably find its way into your life soon.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Google Cloud Platform Blog

Solar-powered UK schools face an 800 percent tax increase

Solar technology could face a huge hurdle in the United Kingdom. Schools and certain businesses with solar panels installed may see a 800 percent raise in taxes when a law goes into effect this April, according to The Independent. It’s a harsh blow to the industry when you consider some 12,000 employees from the sector were laid off last year, and installation slowed by 85 percent according to the publication. It’s something the Guardian says was caused by the end of subsidies for solar farms and and incentives for homeowners to add solar to their houses.

What’s more, only public schools with the photovoltaic panels in England and Wales will have to pay the tax increase, while private schools are exempt. Schools in Scotland are left out as well.

Another Guardian article says that a school with “a typical” 10kW solar gathering system would pay around £800 per year ($973.29). It also reports that 821 schools outfitted with solar panels will have to pay an additional £800,000 ($973,916). “After assuming similar installation rates across the 174 authorities in England and Wales, that climbs to a total of about £1.8 million ($2,189,907).”

“This is slightly less than helpful for the British solar industry,” the Solar Trade Association’s Leonie Greene told The Independent. “It’s absurd. Energy tax policy is going in the opposite direction to how we know energy needs to change and how it’s changing. What he is doing is advantaging old technology and disadvantaging new ones. It’s nonsensical.”

Sounds familiar, no?

As a form of protest, kids from north London’s Eleanor Palmer school in Camden collected some 200,000 signatures to “urgently rethink” the tax hikes as part of a Greenpeace campaign. They’ll be delivered to England’s Treasury Department on Thursday.

Surprising close to no one, the UK government defended the moves, saying that the taxes could lead to improvements for the schools in other ways without expanding on how.

Source: The Independent, The Guardian (1), (2)

Cord cutting 101: How to quit cable for online streaming video

Once called an “experiment” by prognosticating pundits in the past, live streaming TV has captured the attention of a wide audience, with Dish Network’s Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, and AT&T’s recently introduced DirecTV Now all in play. Channels and hit series that were once strictly bound by the confines of a cable subscription can now be accessed for a small monthly fee with no contract, no equipment rentals, and no crappy customer service to deal with. There’s never been a better time to kick cable to the curb.

Not everyone is cut out to be a “cord cutter,” though. Ditching cable or satellite service and the bill that goes with it sounds great in theory, but it’s not something you want to rush into without doing a little research and preparation first. As with most things, there’s a right way to go about cord cutting, and then there’s the way that sends you back to your cable company begging for forgiveness. We tend to prefer the right way … the awesome way.

Below is our quick compendium on how to make a smooth transition from a bloated cable package to a custom-curated entertainment utopia.

First things first: How’s your internet?

The thing about internet-delivered TV is that you need a broadband connection that’s copacetic with the streaming lifestyle. This may seem like a foregone conclusion, but we want to make it clear that if you’re going to bet your precious entertainment future on your network, you best have a solid hookup. Netflix and other similar streaming video services suggest downstream speeds of 5Mbps, but that’s simply not going to hack it for most folks, especially those with families that might want to stream more than one show or movie at a time.

When new cord cutters are confronted with buffering, they are understandably frustrated.

Consider that 5Mbps may get you one HD video stream, but you may experience loading and buffering delays if your network is getting choked up with any other traffic. Cable TV doesn’t interrupt your show to buffer, so when new cord-cutters are confronted with delays, they are understandably frustrated. Avoid the buffer and upgrade your broadband speed if you can, otherwise it’s time to reconsider ditching cable.

We also recommend testing your internet speed at peak streaming hours (between 6 – 10 p.m. weekdays) to determine if your neighborhood struggles under the strain of heavy traffic. For instance, if you routinely get around 10Mbps downloads during the day, but that figure takes a dive to about 3Mbps around dinner time, you’ll want to call your internet provider to see if anything can be done. Fortunately, this is an increasingly rare problem, but better to check ahead.

Of course, if you’re looking to get into the streaming big leagues to access the growing array of 4K Ultra HD streaming content available, you’ll want to kick up your broadband speed a few more notches. For streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon you’ll likely want to have at least 25Mbps on hand (which is what Netflix explicitly recommends). If you’re only going to be downloading 4K content from sites like FandangoNow or Ultraflix, 10Mbps will probably suffice. In any event, fast and reliable internet is an integral key to a positive streaming experience.

The U.S. Senate wants to limit the FCC’s ability to regulate ISP data policies

Why it matters to you

Your internet service provider gathers a lot of information. Part of the Senate wants to limit the FCC’s ability to determine how that data is used.

In October, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to impose new rules that require internet service providers (ISPs) to gain user consent before sharing certain data with third parties. The rules were set to go into effect at the beginning of March when FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called on the commission to delay some of the rules.

Now, Congress is stepping in to address the rules’ status, with Senate Republicans introducing legislation that would do away with the rules altogether. The Senate’s measure would utilize its authority under the Congressional Review Act and would stop the FCC from implementing similar rules going forward, Ars Technica reports.

More: Broadband providers now need consent to share your data, thanks to the FCC

The resolution’s sponsor, Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), said the purpose of the legislation is to “protect consumers from overreaching Internet regulation” and that it “empowers consumers to make informed choices on if and how their data can be shared.”

Furthermore, Flake said the FCC’s rules amount to “midnight regulation” that does not protect consumer privacy. Characterizing the measure’s overall impact, he said, “restrictions have the potential to negatively impact consumers and the future of Internet innovation.”

The FCC rules were to take place at different times. Data security protections intended to cause ISPs to protect their customer’s data were set to begin on March 2. Data breach notification requirements were to begin on June 2. And the requirement for ISPs to gain opt-in consent to share Web browsing history, app usage history, Social Security numbers, and other private information with third parties was to going into effect on December 4.

Senate Democrats oppose the resolution, with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) saying, “If this [resolution] is passed, neither the FCC nor the FTC will have clear authority when it comes to how internet service providers protect consumers’ data privacy and security. Regardless of politics, allowing ISPs to operate in a rule-free zone without any government oversight is reckless.”

ISP such as Comcast and Verizon will likely support the proposition, given their position that the FCC rules apply restrictions on them that do not apply to other internet companies that also collect data, such as Google and Netflix. We will have to wait to see if the resolution becomes law to know exactly how our private data will be utilized by ISPs.

Uber promises it won’t ‘Greyball’ law enforcement anymore

Nearly a week after a New York Times report exposed Uber’s use of an internal tool to target and mislead local authorities the company says it’s “expressly prohibiting its use to target action by local regulators going forward.” According to Uber’s post, the “Greyball” tool is not just for targeting officials and has been used for other purposes like testing new features or marketing promotions.

It also says that enforcing this new prohibition will take some time, so local regulators trying to keep an eye on Uber in their town should still be wary. In fact, the company says it has “started a review” of the ways the tech has been used, so it’s hard to say if these changes will be enough. At a time when Uber’s reputation is taking hit after hit, a little transparency and honesty might go a long way.

Source: Uber Newsroom

Android O: What’s the story so far?

Android Nougat released last August, so you know what that means? Android O is around the corner.

Google updates its mobile operating system every year, and although we’re still a long ways away from the next version rolling out to our devices, there are a few leaks beginning to pop up about it. Plus, we can look at past patterns to determine things like what it might be called. Here’s everything you need to know about Android O, including all the current rumours, its expected release date, possible features, and more.

• Android for beginners: Tips and tricks for your new smartphone

What is Android O?

Android O is the next major update to the Android. It follows the release of Android Nougat from last summer. Android O will also likely be labelled Android 8.0. After all, Android Marshmallow got the numerical designation Android 6.0, and Android Nougat got Android 7.0-7.1. However, older versions of Android, such as Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, and KitKat, were all labelled 4.x updates.

What will Android O be called?

Google usually names its major Android OS updates after desserts – and in alphabetical order. So far, the company has released Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo, Gingerbread, Honeycomb, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean, KitKat, Lollipop, Marshmallow, and Nougat. It’s safe to say that Google will release Android O in 2017 with a sweet treat-themed name that begins with the letter O.

@dcseifert ???? pic.twitter.com/u8nMzjTIO1

— Hiroshi Lockheimer (@lockheimer) February 20, 2017

Google’s Hiroshi Lockheimer tends to tease Android update names on Twitter, and most recently, he’s been suggesting Android Oreo is the likely candidate for Android O. He may be kidding, though, considering he also tweeted an image of Pocky with the caption #2018.

What will Android O feature?

So far, little is known about Android O. That said, according to Venture Beat, Google has been developing new “assistive features” for Android, and they might make it to the final version of Android O.

Copy Less

The first feature is called Copy Less, and it’s designed to “cut down on the annoyance of copying text from one app and pasting it in another”. It works like this: imagine you and a friend are having a conversation in a chat app and you open Yelp to find a restaurant. When you go back to your conversation and type “it’s at,” the address of the restaurant will appear. You can then add it to the text box.

The feature may end up in Google’s standard-issue Gboard virtual keyboard app or the Android OS itself. Google is also working on ways to enhance certain types of text in messaging apps. So, if someone sends you a message containing an address, Copy Less will allow Android (or maybe Android’s stock Message app) to recognise the text is an address, and tapping on it will open it up Google Maps.

Gesture triggers

Google has reportedly found a way to let people use finger gestures to trigger actions in Android. For instance, when you draw the letter C onscreen, Android will show a short list of recent contacts. Gesture triggers could get delayed or might not ever ship, VentureBeat said.

When will Google announce Android O?

Google usually uses Google I/O to tease improvements to Android. Last year, it talked about the split-screen mode, ability to reply to texts from notifications, and an update to the Doze battery saver. It also teased Android N. Google will more than likely mention the next version of Android at this year’s show. So, expect to hear something about Android O/8.0 at Google I/O 2017 in May.

When is Android O coming to my phone?

Google surprised everyone in 2016 by announcing a Developer Preview of Android Nougat in advance of Google I/O 2016. It didn’t roll out the final release to consumers until August 2016. Google always announces a new Android OS with new hardware, but that was no longer the case last year, as Android Nougat didn’t land for new hardware until Google released its own Pixel flagships in late 2016.

We expect to see the Android O Developer Preview announced ahead of Google I/O, which kicks off on 17 May, and the final release should be available around August or September – prior to any new hardware releases from Google. Google phones and tablets are always the first to get new operating system updates, and security updates are provided for three years following the device’s release.

In other words, Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P will be supported by Google until September 2017. That means they will get both Android Nougat and next year’s Android O. The Nexus 9 and Nexus 6 will also be supported until October 2016. They’ll update to Android Nougat but not Android O. If you have a recent flagship phone or tablet, you’ll likely see the update rolled out within the first few months of 2018.

In its marketing of the Moto G4 Plus, Motorola teased that it will receive both Android Nougat and Android O.

Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Google and Android hubs for the latest news.

Electric jet ski promises eco-friendly watersports

For all of the choices you now have when it comes to electric cars, you’re not so fortunate if you’re looking for a personal watercraft. There have been attempts, but you’re usually looking at a big hydrofoil rather than something as nimble and portable as a jet ski. Free Form Factory might just have what you want, though: it’s taking pre-orders for the Gratis X1, which it claims is the first all-electric stand-up personal watercraft. The motor promises a quieter ride and lower running costs, like you’d expect with a land-based EV, but it also opens the door to riding on waterways that don’t allow gas-powered machines. If your favorite river wasn’t an option before, it might be now.

The X1 will only run for 45 minutes on a charge when it arrives in the fall, but you can get a battery pack to extend that to an hour. Also, it’ll charge from a propane generator in addition to standard 110V outlets — if you’re spending all day at the beach, you won’t have to go hunting for a plug. If there’s any obstacle, it’s the $17,990 starting price. That’s more expensive than Sea-Doo’s premium models as of this writing, so you’ll likely need to ride frequently for the lower running costs to offset the high initial price. Think of this like you would early electric cars: you’re buying more out of kindness to the Earth than to your bank account.

Source: Free Form Factory