Google’s new reRECAPTCHA automatically tells you’re not a bot

Over the years, Google has utilised a number of methods to distinguish between human and bots on the web. Its take on the CAPTCHA (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) test, known as reCAPTCHA, has required you to transcribe distorted words, confirm Street View addresses or simply just tick a box. Soon, you won’t need to do the hard work, because Google’s making the system invisible.

Using a combination of machine learning and advanced risk analysis, Google has updated its system to detect user habits without dedicated interaction. When you arrive on a web page, the controls should disappear and serve the relevant content. However, if you do trip Google’s risk analysis algorithms, you may need to quickly solve one of the search giant’s puzzles.

While the new system is invisible, it will still consider variables like your IP address and the movements of your mouse. Google says its technology will “actively consider a user’s engagement with the CAPTCHA — before, during, and after — to determine whether that user is a human.” That means no more transcription, which offered a human balance to Google’s optical character recognition, but you may now find what you were looking for a lot quicker.

Via: Ars Technica

Source: Google reCaptcha

Apple’s Swift Programming Language Surging in Popularity

The rapidly increasing take-up of Apple’s Swift programming language was confirmed again yesterday with the publication of a survey that ranks the popularity of programming languages.

In the latest TIOBE Index, Swift was ranked 10th, up four places from March 2016. As CultofMac notes, the nine programming languages ranked above it are at least two decades old, so breaking into the top 10 is a feat more impressive than it sounds. Swift was only introduced by Apple in 2014, replacing Objective-C as an easier-to-learn language.

Apple has promoted Swift as ideal for kids who are keen to code, with its gentle learning curve demonstrated in Swift Playgrounds, an app that teaches children how to use the language. Apple has been updating and refining Swift since its debut, and is set to unveil Swift 3.1 this spring.

The TIOBE Index is calculated using search engine data to approximate the popularity of programming languages within online coding communities. Earlier this year, a quarterly study revealed that Swift had become one of the most sought-after freelance developer skills among employers.

Tag: Swift
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LG starts promoting the G6 in Australia ahead of Mar. 28 launch

Australia will be the first market outside Korea to receive the LG G6.

LG announced last week that it would launch the LG G6 in Australia on March 28, and the manufacturer is now hyping up the handset ahead of its debut in the country. Telstra will be the exclusive carrier partner for the phone, but as of now there’s no mention of pricing.

With the LG G6, not all regions will get the same features. For instance, U.S. models feature wireless charging but come with 32GB internal storage, whereas units sold in Asia include a 32-bit Quad DAC and 64GB storage. With the Australian SKU not differing all that much from the Korean variant of the device — which is currently up for pre-order for the equivalent of $780 — it’s likely LG decided to move up the launch window of the phone in Australia.

We should know more about the G6’s pricing and availability in Australia — and other markets — in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

LG G6

• LG G6 review!
• LG G6 specs
• These LG G6 features are exclusive to some countries
• LG forums
• Latest LG G6 news

Unlocked Moto Z Play is now picking up the Nougat update

Android 7.0 Nougat is hitting unlocked units of the Moto Z Play.

The Nougat update started hitting the Verizon edition of the Moto Z Play earlier this week, and now the unlocked models are also receiving the update. The update switches the firmware version to NPN25.137-24-1, which is similar to that of Verizon’s NPN25.137-24-1-2.

Android 7.0 Nougat introduces a slew of new features, including multi-window multitasking, direct replies in the notification shade, a new Data Saver utility, customizable quick settings, and an improved Doze battery saver mode. If you’re using an unlocked Moto Z Play, head into your phone’s settings to see if an update is waiting for your phone.

Moto Z, Moto Z Force and Moto Z Play

• Moto Z + Z Force review!
• Moto Z Play review
• The Hasselblad True Zoom is a Mod to remember
• Moto Z specs
• Moto Mods custom backs
• The latest Moto Z news
• Discuss in our Moto Z forums

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Thanks Colby Birrell!

US Army looking to resupply troops via mortar bombardment

The US Army is working on a new means of rapidly resupplying its troops using hollowed out artillery shells. The system, while still in its concept phase, could eventually help deliver critical ammunition and medical equipment to its forces, even in the middle of a firefight.

The proposed system, dubbed the Ammunition Resupply Projectile (ARP), uses a standard mortar round that’s had its explosive payload removed. Instead, that cavity can be packed with up to 150 5.56-millimeter rounds, surveillance equipment — even submunitions to target enemy forces.

Once the round hits the apex of its flight, the outer shell will detach from the payload, which ejects towards its intended target. To keep the cargo from being smashed when the mortar hits the ground, the shells are equipped with a “a steerable decelerator system,” according to the Picatinny Arsenal. A GPS receiver and electronic navigation system help guide the rounds. The ARP system has a reported range of several kilometers yet is accurate to within 10 meters of its programmed target.

Via: Popular Mechanics

Source: US Army

Capy is making a game for Cartoon Network’s new show

If the words “multimedia tie-in” bring back memories of bad video game adaptations and lame comic books pushed by marketing groups to promote feature films, then clearly the 80s and 90s have scarred you too. Cartoon Network’s upcoming animated series OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes is getting its own game, which would seem gimmicky if not for the the studio they brought on to make the show’s companion: Capybara Games, creators of the acclaimed Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery and Super Time Force. The game, an “action brawler with RPG elements,” will come out this fall.

/// NEWS! Capy has teamed up with @cartoonnetwork to collaborate on OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes https://t.co/nO7mWt0JLp pic.twitter.com/s0z9fWRWcr

— CAPY (@CAPYGAMES) March 9, 2017

The new series by Ian-Jones Quartey, based on his animated shorts released last year, follows K.O. and his mallrat friends hanging around a hero-populated shopping center as they level up and fight bad guys. Clearly, this meta premise bodes well for Capybara Games, which loaded its previous titles with sly genre-aware comments and dialogue. The show is set to come out this summer with the game to follow on console and PC in Q3 2017 — but if you’re at PAX East this weekend, you can play a preview version starting on Friday, March 10th.

Via: The Hollywood Reporter

Source: Capybara Games

Logitech Z337 with Bluetooth review

Research Center:
Logitech Z337 with Bluetooth

With so many wireless speaker options out there, the lowly PC speaker seems like something of an anachronism. On the one hand, investing in a set of PC speakers, all the way up to full surround-sound 7.1 setups, still makes sense for gamers and maybe video buffs who use their PCs for watching movies and TV.

On the other hand, if you’re primarily worried about playing the usual PC sounds, along with a fair amount of music, then a portable Bluetooth speaker begins to make some sense. After all, you can still plug most wireless speakers into your PC via auxiliary audio cable, and then enjoy the flexibility of unplugging them and carrying them around to use with smartphones and the like.

The Z337 provides good sound for the price.

Logitech decided to split the difference with its Z337 speaker system. It’s a rather typical 2.1 PC setup that requires A/C power and plugs in via audio cables, but it also has a twist. It’s Bluetooth-enabled, and so it can also work with smartphones and the like along with a PC, for some added convenience.

The Z337 isn’t terribly expensive at $100, which is $20 more than the Logitech Z333 speakers that have the same components, but without Bluetooth connectivity. Are they worth the added expense?

Lots of features in a compact design

The Z337’s components come packed tightly in their box, covered in plastic and segregated in cardboard containers that eschew any foam or padding. Upon pulling them out, one is struck with their rather non-descript, roughened matte finish that seems like it’s trying to look futuristic and modern. Unfortunately, the design and materials scream “plastic” instead.

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

The satellites are rather typical boxy rectangles with see-through fabric-covered drivers placed prominently in the center of the cabinets. They’re angled just slightly upward to direct the sound toward the listener’s ears, which isn’t adjustable — so hopefully they’re set at a good angle for your environment.

More: Transform your desktop into a concert hall with these computer speakers

The subwoofer is a big box with a large driver in the middle and a port on the left side, and it serves as the central wiring cabinet for the entire system. The satellites plug into the back of the subwoofer via 70-inch color-coded proprietary cables, which complicates positioning. If you’re accustomed to placing a subwoofer under your desk (perhaps you don’t want to spend hours optimizing subwoofer placement with your PC speakers), then you might be hard-pressed to place your satellites on the top of your desk.

Located in the back of the subwoofer is also the 3.5mm output jack, and the included cable is rather short as well. Of course, the Z337 system is Bluetooth-enabled, so you’re not tied to cables. If your PC has a Bluetooth adapter, then you can bypass the cable concerns completely and connect that way. Or, you can use the Z337 wirelessly — or via the headphone jack — with your smartphone or tablet. There are a few combinations available to you.

Once you’ve paired a device via Bluetooth, then you can start and stop wired and wireless devices at will. In fact, you can play both sources at once — plugging in a wired connection does not disable the Bluetooth connection. Theoretically, you could play music from your smartphone while still hearing your PC’s system sounds.

The Z337’s setup is controlled by a wired remote that provides a volume dial, an on-off switch, and a button for Bluetooth pairing. Pairing via Bluetooth is a simple process of pushing the button until the light flashes blue and white, then initiating pairing on the desired device. The Z337 supports Bluetooth 4.1 with a rated 15-meter line-of-sight range.  A 3.5mm headphone jack is also provided in the remote, which is a nice convenience.

Decent sound, within limits

The Z337 has a single 8-watt driver in each satellite, and adds in a 24-watt subwoofer to provide a total of 40 watts of power. Peak power is rated at 80 watts. Accordingly, the speakers put out a fair amount of sound that should cover the typical desktop space well.

More: Rock out, dance, or just nod along with the best Bluetooth speakers

Logitech clearly put some emphasis on lows with the Z337, hence the “Bold Sound” moniker it appended to the system’s marketing materials. There’s a knob on the back of the subwoofer for controlling the bass, and that’s a good thing. You’ll likely want to adjust the bass based on the type of music, because things can get very booming very quickly. Hip hop and rap benefit, but generally it can be a bit much and lower mids can get completely lost in just about any other genre.

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Despite the sheer power provided by the subwoofer, highs still manage to be prominent. They can even be a bit shrill at times, with a brightness that pops on occasion and can become distracting. As with everything else about the Z337, it’s not that highs are poorly handled, exactly, it’s just that you won’t really find yourself marveling at their clarify.

More: IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors review

Midrange is where the Z337 falls apart a bit. If you turn bass way down, then you’ll be able to better pick out female vocals and the like, but it’s not hard for the lows and the highs to dominate and the midrange to get somewhat lost.

Setup is controlled by a wired remote.

We ran the Z337 through a range of musical genres to give them a bit of a workout. Overall, they were good enough for just about anything we threw at them, but we wouldn’t classify them as particularly nuanced or detailed. They also struggled with some difficult pieces. For example, the drum intro in Van Halen’s Hot for Teacher can be a challenge for any set of speakers, and here there was some distinct clipping throughout while the bass shuffle was muddied and lost a good bit of its impact.

These are PC speakers first and foremost, so they’re also going to be used by many people for the usual PC and gaming audio and for TV and movie streaming. They provide plenty of volume for the typical desktop space, and the strong bass means that action movies and games gain some impact. They could even be used to add some audio punch to the living room TV in a pinch — if your living room is small enough, of course.

Logitech Z337 with Bluetooth Compared To

Polk Hampden

JBL Pebbles

Harman Kardon Nova 2.0

Definitive Technology Incline

KEF X300A

Monster Clarity HD Model One

Pioneer S-DJ05

Hercules XPS 101

Logitech Z523

Edifier E3350 Multimedia Speaker

Audioengine A2

Yamaha NX-U10

Logitech mm28

Logitech Z3 2.1

JBL Invader 4.1

Our Take

Ultimately, we like the Z337 as full-time PC speakers and part-time Bluetooth speakers for smartphones. They provide good sound for their price point, but anyone expecting highly detailed and nuanced music will be disappointed.

What are the alternatives?

The DT Accessory Pack

AmazonBasics 3.5mm male to male stereo cable

$7

Plugable USB Bluetooth 4.0 low energy micro adapter

$14

iXCC RCA cable

$8

There are hundreds of alternative PC speakers in the same price range as the Logitech Z337. In fact, Logitech offers a few themselves, such as the Speaker System Z523 and the Z625 Speaker System with THX. Perhaps the best alternative is the Z333, which can be had for $80 if you’re willing to give up Bluetooth. One could argue that the Z333’s sound quality at $80 is a much better fit as a PC speaker, while anyone looking strictly to play music could go with a higher fidelity – and more expensive — set like the IK Multimedia iLoud Micro Monitors.

How long will they last?

These speakers are going to sit in one place and are reasonably well built, so there’s no reason to suspect that they’ll wear out very quickly. And with RCA, 3.5mm, and Bluetooth inputs, they cover just about every conceivable device that you’ll likely want to plug into them over the next few years.

Should you buy it?

If you really want Bluetooth connectivity in your PC speakers, then the Z337 is a good choice. If you’re just looking for a decent-sounding set of PC speakers, then go with Logitech’s own Z333 instead and save a few bucks.

Game of Thrones season 7 premiere: When, how, and where to watch it

Tired of being the only person who doesn’t know who Jon Snow is or what the heck “winter is coming” means?

No worries. Now’s the time to jump on the Game Of Thrones bandwagon. You have until this summer to catch up on the past six seasons, because HBO has just announced when season seven will premiere. The much-hyped return will surely be a hit, as fans have already been told they should only expect 13 total episodes left in the series, so everyone will be eagerly tuning to see what Jon Snow does as the new king of the North.

Oh, and they’ll get to Cersei, who’s now completely childless, sitting on the Iron Throne. But, for how long – especially with Daenerys finally going back to Westeros? Here’s everything you need to know about the premiere, including when, how, and where to watch it.

HBO

What is Game of Thrones?

In a nutshell: Author George RR Martin is writing a series of fantasy novels, entitled A Song of Ice and Fire, and the show Game of Thrones is an adaptation of the entire fantasy series. It premiered on HBO in the US in 2011. The story arc follows a bunch of families and people who are all either competing to sit on the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms or fight for independence from it.

The show has received critical acclaim and garnered 38 Primetime Emmy Awards and several other award nominations.

When does season 7 premiere?

We finally have a date for the seventh season of Game of Thrones. But it’s still a long way away yet. It will return on 16 July 2017.

Where and how can you watch it?

US

HBO will broadcast the season seven premiere at 9pm EST in the US. The live-stream will likely be available at the same time via HBO Go (which requires a cable subscription) and HBO Now (a cord-cutter service that costs a monthly premium).

UK

Sky Atlantic and the NOW TV online streaming service will simulcast the episode at 2am on 17 July, followed by a repeat of the show at 9pm.

Is there a season 7 premiere trailer?

Not yet. But HBO did release a teaser, which you can watch below.

John Carmack sues ZeniMax for unpaid acquisition money

Oculus CTO John Carmack has personally joined the litigation war between his company and ZeniMax. He has just filed a lawsuit against the media firm for refusing to pay the rest of what it owes him for id Software’s $150 million acquisition in 2009. Carmack co-founded id Software in 1991, and it’s best known for developing the Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake video game franchises. The CTO says ZeniMax still hasn’t paid the last $22.5 million of the price they agreed upon. It also sounds like the company has no intention of paying up.

In the copy of the court documents that UploadVR got its hands on, Carmack’s suit says ZeniMax has been refusing to pay due to the “claimed violations of Mr. Carmack’s Employment Agreement and ZeniMax’s alleged intellectual property rights.” If you’ll recall, it sued Oculus for $4 billion, accusing the exec of taking id Software technology with him to build the Rift headset. ZeniMax scored a partial victory after a jury awarded the media firm $500 million — a result Carmack publicly slammed — but it still wasn’t enough. It also asked the court to stop Oculus from selling Rift headsets.

In a statement sent to UploadVR, ZeniMax criticized Carmack who it says is “lacking in remorse” and seems to welcome the chance to face him in court:

We have reviewed John Carmack’s latest legal complaint which is completely without merit.

We note that this is Mr. Carmack’s second complaint against ZeniMax. In the recently completed trial of ZeniMax Media Inc. et al v Oculus VR et al, in which Mr. Carmack was a named Defendant, and in which ZeniMax was awarded $500 million in damages for misappropriation of its intellectual property, Carmack had counterclaimed, seeking damages for ZeniMax’s alleged violations of his employment agreement. The jury flatly rejected Mr. Carmack’s complaint, and found for ZeniMax. Mr. Carmack was personally found guilty by the jury of the theft of ZeniMax’s property, including thousands of confidential ZeniMax documents he secretly took when he quit his employment, and his theft of the entire source code to id’s latest game, RAGE, including the id tech 5 engine. In addition to those crimes, it was revealed by an independent court-appointed computer forensics expert, that upon receiving notice of the Oculus lawsuit, the files on Mr. Carmack’s Oculus computer were intentionally wiped–destroying the evidence, and that a sworn affidavit Carmack filed with the Court denying the wiping was false. The wiping occurred right after Mr. Carmack researched on Google how to wipe a hard drive. And there was much more.

Apparently lacking in remorse, and disregarding the evidence of his many faithless acts and violations of law, Mr. Carmack has decided to try again. We look forward to presenting our response to Mr. Carmack’s latest allegations in Court.

Source: UploadVR

Samsung-linked scandal takes down South Korea’s president

The same scandal behind the arrest and indictment of Samsung exec and heir Lee Jae-yong has resulted in the removal of South Korean president Park Geun-Hye. Parliament impeached Park on December 9th over charges including bribery and corruption for allegedly trying to squeeze money out of large companies in return for favors. Today’s unanimous court decision by eight judges ends a 92-day leadership crisis and triggers the process for a new election to take place within 60 days.

Developing…

Source: CNN, Yonhap News, Korea Times