DJI study suggests little risk from raising drone weight limit 4-times higher

Why it matters to you

The FAA guidelines require drones over 250 grams to file a registration — but that number was pulled from data on airplanes and missiles, which is leading DJI to suggest the limits be reconsidered.

How big does an out-of-control drone have to be to cause damage? Bigger than you think, at least according to a new white paper from the Chinese drone manufacturer DJI. The paper, published today, suggests that the FAA’s 250-gram weight limit is too low — and that a limit four times that would be a better standard for classifying a drone as safe.

FAA regulations allow unmanned drones to be flown without registration if they weigh 250 grams, or about 0.55 pounds, or less. For commercial flight, pilots must go through a rigorous certification process to fly a drone above 250 grams.

More: What you need to know to safely (and legally) fly your drone

DJI’s research suggests that unmanned aircraft systems as large as 2.2 kg., or about 4.85 pounds,pose little risk. The company’s drone lineup contains a wide range of sizes, with the folding Mavic Pro weighing in at 743 grams or 1.64 pounds.

The current FAA regulations were set in conformity with Registration Task Force (RTF) research from 2015. “The RTF had only three days to decide how much a drone should weigh to require registration, and RTF members — including myself — unanimously set a 250-gram limit for registration purposes only, not for safety rulemaking,” said the paper’s co-author, Brendan Schulman, DJI vice president of policy and legal affairs. “Nevertheless, regulators around the world are using the FAA’s 250-gram limit as a safety standard for the lowest-risk drones, despite its flaws. We hope our white paper spurs more detailed evaluation for better and more accurate rulemaking.”

DJI’s research suggests that the data the RTF had to find on short notice is outdated and flawed, including a 50-year-old equation that suggests an object with 80 Joules of kinetic energy would have a 30-percent fatality rate if it came in contact with a person. At the time, DJI says, there wasn’t enough research to the contrary, so the committee unanimously approved the 250-gram limit.

However, DJI suggests that using the same equation as the kinetic energy of a missile or actual aircraft isn’t accurate for a plastic drone with no fuel source to spark an explosion. Instead, DJI factored in a more specific calculation for just how much kinetic energy transfer a drone would create on impact using variables on where the drone might hit, as well as drag and the energy transfer on impact.

DJI also factored in more variables, such as the pilot’s skill level, probability of technical failure, and not just the population density of the area, but the amount of unsheltered pedestrians at any given time.

Most drone bodies are made from plastic foam or carbon fiber and will break on impact, and without fuel, there wouldn’t be an explosion on impact, DJI says. Worst case scenario, DJI suggests, the drone is falling straight out of the sky or flying horizontally at maximum speed.

“In its haste, the RFT had to use shortcuts and assumptions that are not well-matched to the characteristics of a UAS,” the report reads. “By making this additional ‘reality check’ adjustment to the calculation, we can conclude that the RTF’s calculation of mass for its cutoff should have been over four times higher.”

DJI’s research suggests that a more accurate “lowest risk” drone category would be drones weighing 2.2 kg. or less, but that further analysis is needed. “Given the faulty assumptions that underlie the selection of 250 grams, regulators should be hesitant to adopt a 250-gram UAS category without conducting their own rigorous safety analysis based on the desired policy goals,” the white paper concludes. “Review of the RTF’s work shows that its selection of 250 grams is far too low, and far too conservative, to be used to create a lowest-risk UAS regulatory category. Based on a similar approach to risk estimation, with adjustments for real-world factors, we propose 2.2 kg as the upper threshold of a ‘lowest-risk’ UAS category.”

Now you can buy refurbished 2016 MacBook pros without Touch Bars

Why it matters to you

Getting a MacBook Pro is possible on a budget, but you may have to be quick if you want one of the latest ones.

Apple has introduced MacBook Pros without Touch Bars from its 2016 range to the refurbished store, meaning anyone who wants one of the latest generation of Apple’s laptops can get one without having to splash out as much. Sure it won’t be able to play Doom in quite the same way, but did you really need that function anyway?

One of the more standout additions to the 2016 MacBook Pro was the Touch Bar, though Apple did launch a version without it in October 2016. It’s that version of the Pro which is now available in the refurbished store, in somewhat limited varieties. There are a few different configurations of internal hardware, with discounts over new versions by several hundred dollars.

Since these are refurbished models, the stock Apple has available is dependent on people sending them back, so there’s never a guarantee of a specific model in there. At the time of writing though there are two options for second-hand buyers.

More: Apple reportedly requesting to sell refurbished iPhones in India — again

The first, is a 2GHz dual-core, Core i5 model, with retina display. It features 8GB of RAM and 512GB of PCIe-based solid state storage and makes use of Intel’s on-board Graphics 540 chip. It’s priced at $1,440.

Although there are a number of older MacBooks available, too, the only other 2016 model packs a 2.4GHz dual-core, Core i7 CPU and 16GB of LPDDR3 memory, so it is a little more powerful, which is why its price tag is higher too: $1,870. As MacRumor’s listings show though, what’s available changes all of the time, so keep your eyes peeled if you’re looking for a specific deal.

Apple offers free shipping and free returns on all refurbished purchases.

Now sure which refurbished products you should consider? We have a handy guide that will help you know what’s safe and what’s not safe to buy used.

Best app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers make paid apps free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money, and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

More: 200 Awesome iPhone Apps | The best Android apps for almost any occasion

Giffiti

Giffiti lets you add animated GIF stickers on your photos. Share your Giffitis through SMS, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, email, and more.

Available on:

iOS

Simpler Pro

Simpler Pro is a completely redesigned contacts app that makes your address book light, smart, and user friendly.

Available on:

iOS

Quick Fit

7 minutes is all it takes to get in shape with this scientifically proven, full-body workout.

Available on:

iOS

noScroll

Maintain your privacy while showing friends and family photos on your phone. Simply select the photos you want to show, and those will be the only ones they can swipe between.

Available on:

iOS

PhotoGram

PhotoGram makes it easy to repost your favorite photos and videos on Instagram while giving credit to the original Instagramer. All it takes is three simple steps.

Available on:

iOS

QUIKchat

Enjoy fast and fun mobile conversations with your friends. Add a caption, snap a photo or a video, and send it to a friend.

Available on:

iOS

8 annoying iPad Pro problems, and what to do about them

The iPad Pro’s 12.9-inch display, split-screen support, and 10-hour battery life are tempting millions into buying Apple’s biggest tablet ever. It’s an attractive device for productivity and creativity, but it’s not flawless. If you’ve recently splurged on one, then you have every right to expect it to work perfectly. Unfortunately, for some people it has been behaving unprofessionally. These are the most common iPad Pro problems currently being reported online, with advice on how you should work around them, or, if possible, fix them.

More: 7 must-have iPad Pro accessories for your new tablet

Problem: Can’t connect to Wi-Fi

A few people are having trouble getting the iPad Pro to connect to a Wi-Fi network, while others are experiencing poor internet connectivity and interference. This is a very common issue for all sorts of devices, and it’s usually fairly easy to fix. Here’s what to try:

Potential solutions:

• Turn your router and your iPad Pro off and on again. Hold down the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons together for around 10 seconds and you should see the Apple logo as the device reboots. It’s also worth restarting the router if you can.
• Try resetting all your network settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. You’ll have to input your passwords again.
• If your router has MAC filtering turned on, then you may need to turn it off. It is possible to add your iPad’s MAC address, but due to Apple’s MAC randomization, there’s a good chance it’s going to change and refuse to connect the next time you try. The simplest solution is just to turn MAC filtering off altogether.
• It’s possible that your DNS settings are the problem. You can change them in Settings > Wi-Fi by tapping the “i” icon next to your network and scrolling down to DNS. Tap on the numbers and change them to “8.8.8.8” or “8.8.8.4” if you want to use Google’s servers, or you could use OpenDNS, which is “208.67.222.222” or “208.67.222.220”.
• If you’re using a VPN service, make sure you have the latest updates.
• Make sure that your router firmware is fully updated. You may need to check with your ISP or the router manufacturer.
• If you believe you’re experiencing interference, considering moving your router to a new location. A wall (or several walls) would be causing interference between your iPad and the router.

Issue: Screen freezing during use

Some people have found that the iPad Pro keeps freezing while in use, with people stating it can freeze during startup or when using apps. The screen will freeze and can remain unresponsive for a number of seconds. It may resume as normal, or stay frozen indefinitely.

Workaround:

• Hold down the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons together for at least 10 seconds, or until you see the Apple logo. Your iPad Pro should work again now, but the problem might crop up again.

Potential fixes:

• You can try resetting all of the device’s settings by going to Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings.
• You should try restoring your iPad Pro to factory settings via iTunes. Back up any precious files first, then plug your iPad Pro into your computer using the cable that came with it. Launch iTunes and choose your iPad Pro, then click on Summary and Restore. Click Restore again to confirm. Keep in mind that restoring from a backup may reintroduce the problem, though, you could try testing for a while without restoring a backup to see if the issue is resolved.
• If the problem persists, even after a restore with a fresh set up and without restoring a backup, then it’s time to contact Apple or take your iPad Pro into the nearest Apple Store and ask about a replacement.

Problem: Battery life is poor

There is a whopping 10,307 mAh battery in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and a 7,306 mAh battery in the smaller 9.7-inch iPad Pro. Both should keep you going for ten hours at a time, but not everyone is finding the battery life to be as advertised, with some noticing a drain while the device is plugged in and charging. If you find that the battery is draining much faster than expected, especially if it’s draining quickly while in standby, you may have a problem.

Workarounds:

• With a 12.9-inch screen to power, brightness will have a big impact on the iPad Pro’s battery. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and turn the brightness down. Set a comfortable level and then enable Auto-Brightness to cater for different background lighting situations.
• If you have a lot of apps refreshing content in the background it can really drain your battery. Apple forums user sfaikes pointed to the Microsoft OneNote app as the cause for their own battery drain issues. Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and toggle off any apps you don’t need updating themselves. They’ll still refresh when you open them.
• You’ll find some more relevant suggestions in our iPhone battery tips roundup.

Potential solutions:

• It’s always worth trying a simple restart. Hold down the Sleep/Wake button and swipe slide to power off, then turn it on again. You could also hold down the Sleep/Wake and Home buttons together, until you see the Apple logo, to force a reboot.
• If the drain only occurs when it’s charged, consider leaving the iPad Pro to charge completely before using it again. Heavy use of the iPad while it’s charging could be using more power than it can replenish.
• Go to Settings > Battery and look under Battery Usage. If there’s a problem app, make sure that it’s fully updated. If that doesn’t help, you may want to try uninstalling it and see if you can find a replacement.
• A factory reset could solve your problem. Back up everything on your iPad and go to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings to try it. Try testing the battery life before you restore a backup.
• If battery life is still bad after a factory reset, then it’s time to contact Apple.

Bug: Smart Keyboard not working

Quite a few reports have popped up about the Smart Keyboard failing to work properly after waking up from sleep. For some, shortcuts like Command and Tab, which would usually cycle through apps, no longer work. On further examination it seems this problem can occur on any hardware keyboard connected to the iPad Pro.

Workarounds:

• If you detach and then reattach the keyboard, it may start working again, but the problem can come back.
• Restarting the iPad Pro will also bring back functionality temporarily.

Potential solutions:

• Check the port that connects the smart keyboard to the iPad Pro for debris or damage. Clean out any debris, or seek repairs if the port appears damaged.
• iOS 10.2.1 contains contains a number of bug fixes. One fix may alleviate the smart keyboard issue.

Problem: Unable to view and play videos

There are multiple threads on the Apple Discussion forums containing people who are having trouble watching videos from various places on their iPad Pro. Some are unable to watch their own personal movies, while others can’t watch videos from streaming services like YouTube.

Potential solutions:

• Restart the iPad by pressing and holding the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons until the Apple logo appears.
• iOS 10.2 has been said to be the culprit behind this problem, if you haven’t update to iOS 10.2.1, which includes various bug fixes, do so.
• Apple Discussion forums user Savage1969 has a potential fix that involves pretending to buy something from iTunes to get your video library to appear:
  • Open the TV app, then tap Store.
  • Scroll to the bottom of the page and tap Free Episodes. Pick anything you wish by tapping Get, but you don’t have to actually download it.
  • Go back to the TV app, and tap Library in the bottom row.
  • Tap Library, located in the top left corner of the screen, then tap Home Videos.
• Perform a factory reset and restore the iPad from a backup or as a new device.

Problem: Apple Pencil battery widget disappears

Several iPad Pro owners have noticed the disappearance of the battery widget that lets them know their Apple Pencil has been connected, and informs them of the device’s remaining battery life. This is especially annoying for those that don’t want their pencil to stop working during use because they were unaware of its battery level.

Potential solutions:

• Restart the iPad Pro.
• Go to Settings > Bluetooth and make sure Bluetooth is on. Make sure the Apple Pencil appears on this screen as well.
• User VermillionPixel provided the following steps that other users found to be helpful:
  • Unpair the Apple Pencil from the iPad Pro by going to Settings > Bluetooth > My Devices > the blue “i” icon > Forget this Device, then restart the iPad.
  • When the iPad Pro is on again, connect the pencil to the iPad using the Lightning connector. Accept the pairing request, then disconnect the pencil. The battery widget should appear again.

Problem: iPad Pro won’t charge

A small handful of owners are unable to charge their iPad Pros. When plugged in, the device may display the message “Not Charging,” or charging may be much slower than usual.

Potential solutions:

• Restart the iPad Pro and attempting charging again. Also try a force restart by holding down the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons until the Apple logo appears.
• If you’re not using the supplied Apple charger and cable, switch back to that or another Apple certified charger.
• Clean the charge port of dirt, dust and other debris.
•  Your iPad Pro, or the device’s charging port, may be damaged. Reach out to Apple Support to get a new device or to have your device repaired.

Problem: No app or system sounds

Some owners are missing the sounds that typically play when using the iPad Pro, such as the app sounds and general system sounds like Keyboard and Lock clicks.

Potential solutions:

• Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the Control Center. If the bell symbol/Mute is on/white, tap it to turn it off.
• If your Keyboard and Lock sounds are missing, go to Settings > Sounds, then scroll to the bottom and tap the toggles next to Keyboard Clicks and Lock Sounds. On this same page, adjust the Ringers and Alerts slider at the top of the page.

Chemists develop cheaper snake antivenom, may work for spiders and scorpions too

Why it matters to you

Cheaper antivenoms could save tens of thousands of lives per year.

Although snakebites only account for about five deaths per year the United States, their global impact is much more severe. About 421,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year and some 20,000 of those bitten die, according to conservative estimates made in a 2008 study published in the journal PLOS Medicine. The reason deaths are so low in the U.S. is largely due to adequate access to antivenom, which is not as available in poor, developing regions.

But new research from a team of chemists at the University of California, Irvine suggests antivenom can be fabricated more easily and cheaply than it is in conventional methods, potentially saving tens of thousands of lives each year. The team has published a paper detailing the study in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

More: Brown recluse spider’s exceptionally strong silk inspires new generation of tough materials

“Our antidote is prepared in the chemistry laboratory,” Ken Shea, senior author of the study, told Digital Trends. “It is not biological.”

Traditionally, antidotes are produced by injecting venom into large mammals, such as horses, and letting the animal build up antibodies to fight off the toxins. After a few weeks, the animal’s blood is collected, isolated, and purified before being shipped off to regions that can afford it.

“It is a lengthy and expensive process and it is species specific,” Shea explained. “Our materials have the potential to function across multiple species of snakes and can be produced without biological contamination.”

Together with doctoral student and lead author Jeffrey O’Brien, Shea created a polymer nanogel material that can bind to certain protein toxins that exist in such snakes as cobras and pit vipers. By binding to these proteins, the nanogel keeps them from rupturing red blood cells. The treatment costs “pennies on the dollar,” compared to existing treatments, according to Shea.

The chemists have also begun testing similar antidotes against spider and scorpion venom, which they said has returned promising results. They’re now looking to conduct clinical trials.

New experiment suggests potatoes can grow in harsh Mars-like conditions

Why it matters to you

The project demonstrates that specially bred potatoes may be able to withstand conditions on Mars, or changing conditions on our planet.

Just a few things kept Mark Watney alive in The Martian — resourcefulness, wit, and a handful of spuds. Without all three, he probably wouldn’t have survived.

Now, preliminary results from research at the International Potato Center (CIP) suggests that, if an astronaut does find herself stranded on Mars, she’d at least be able to propagate potatoes in Mars-like conditions.

Dubbed Potatoes on Mars, this phase of the initiative has been a yearlong project conducted by CIP, NASA, and the University of Engineering and Technology (UTEC) in Lima, Peru, where scientists have tried to determine the extreme conditions in which tubers can grow.

More: NASA wants to 3D print habitats with metal extracted from Martian soil

Planting the specially bred tuber in Martian-like soil in a hermetically sealed “CubeSat,” the researchers subjected the crop to conditions similar to those found on the Red Planet, including air pressure and oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. However, the plant wasn’t otherwise forced to suffer — water and fertilized Earth soil provided additional nutrients and structure. Throughout the process, sensors monitored the conditions and cameras live-streamed the growth for impatient botanists.

Eventually, the potato sprouted. The scientists concluded that Mars missions will want to prepare soil with plenty of nutrients and a loose structure to enable the sufficient flow of air and water.

To be sure, as The Martian author, Andy Weir, pointed out to Engadget, scientists already knew potatoes could grow in Mars-like conditions — this experiment just pushed the limits a bit further.

The research shows promise for future astronauts and for people here on Earth, where there is concern that climate change may be threatening smallholder farmers with food scarcity.

“It was a pleasant surprise to see that potatoes we’ve bred to tolerate abiotic stress were able to produce tubers in this soil,” CIP potato breeder Walter Amoros said in a press release. “The results indicate that our efforts to breed varieties with high potential for strengthening food security in areas that are affected, or will be affected by climate change, are working,” he added.

Google says Android exploits mentioned in the CIA leak have been patched

Why it matters to you

Most of the Android vulnerabilities and exploits mentioned in leaked CIA files have been patched, Google confirmed. That’s good news for Android users.

If you have an Android phone and this week’s revelations about the CIA’s hacking capabilities have you worried, you needn’t be. On Thursday, Google told members of the press that many of the exploits and vulnerabilities mentioned in the report have been patched in subsequent versions of Android.

“As we’ve reviewed the documents, we’re confident that security updates and protections in both Chrome and Android already shield users from many of these alleged vulnerabilities,” Heather Adkins, Google’s director of information security and privacy, told ZDNet. “Our analysis is ongoing and we will implement any further necessary protections. We’ve always made security a top priority and we continue to invest in our defenses.”

More: Apple has patched critical iPhone exploits mentioned in the Wikileaks CIA dump

Earlier this week, Wikileaks orchestrated a dump of more than 8,000 classified CIA files pertaining to agency’s cyber warfare efforts. Among the many documents were spreadsheets of stockpiled exploits for Microsoft’s Windows operating system, Apple’s MacOS, iOS, and Android. Vulnerabilities that weren’t purchased from contractors, discovered internally, or available publicly appear to have been circulated by GCHQ, the U.K.’s electronics surveillance agency, and the U.S. National Security Administration

Roughly 24 Android vulnerabilities referenced in the leak, along with specific phones like Google Nexus and Samsung models like the Galaxy S5 and the Note 3. Forbes points out that there are at least 10 remote code execution bugs, critical weaknesses that allow a hacker to run malicious code over the internet. EggsMayhem, an attack developed by the NSA and GCHQ, targets the Chrome browser. An exploit called Sulfur forces Android to leak critical operating system information. And RoidRage malware allows remote control over Android devices.

But the situation is less dire than headlines suggest. Michael Shaulov, head of mobile security at Check Point, told Forbes that there didn’t seem to be evidence of exploits affecting versions after Android 4.4 or the latest version of Android, Android 7 Nougat.

More: You can hack almost any iPhone with just $100 worth of electronics

Separately, an analysis by Android development forum XDA Developers found that many of the security holes mentioned in the report relate to older Android hardware and software that is no longer being sold or supported. It noted that at least three of the vulnerabilities referenced in the leaks affect Android 4.3 and below, which is present on only 13.3 percent of Android devices.

Android exploits aren’t the only tools at the CIA’s disposal, of course. The agency has reportedly broken the security of popular chat apps like WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Weibo, and others by intercepting messages and photos before they could be encrypted. And the scope of the hack extends far beyond smartphones. The documents made reference to smart TVs and connected cars, many of which remain unpatched.

Apparently, however, Apple devices aren’t at risk. This week, Apple told members of the press that the latest version of iOS contained fixes for the vulnerabilities mentioned in the leak.

How to book an Uber using Google Maps

You can now book an Uber without ever leaving Google Maps.

Previous versions of Google Maps showed tariff estimates and wait times for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft, but an update rolled out earlier this year made it easier to book a ride without ever leaving Google Maps.

With the new ride services feature, you’ll see a price breakdown between various tiers, as well as a visual representation of drivers in your area. As long as you’re signed into your Uber account on your phone, you should be able to see your payment options from within Google Maps, as well as all available promotions and offers in your locale for the ride-sharing service.

How to book an Uber using Google Maps

Open Google Maps from your app drawer or home screen.
Enter your destination in the Search here textbox.

Tap the car icon to see your route.

Select the icon of the stick figure holding a briefcase to see options for Uber.
Tap on your desired tier to see wait times and fare estimates.

Select Next.

Confirm your payment options and your pickup location.
Hit Book to hail an Uber.

You’ll be able to see your driver details, as well as the arrival time for your Uber.

Uber is baked into Maps, and while you get fare options and wait times for services like Lyft (or Ola in India), you’ll have to open its app to book a ride. What do you guys think of Google Maps’ integration with Uber?

Get 20% off high-speed 4G data service! [Best deal for LTE]

Android Central and Mint SIM have partnered to bring you an insanely good deal on high-speed 4G data in the United States.

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Learn more at MintSIM.com

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Google Store finally lets you buy products from another country

Google Store gets a country picker.

The Google Store is finally easing geographic restrictions and allowing customers to purchase products from other countries. The store’s country selector page lets you browse products and get them delivered to that specific country, provided you have a valid address. For instance, I can now browse the U.S. Google Store from India and pick up the Daydream View or Chromecast Ultra and get them delivered to my family in the U.S.

If you’re looking to send a gift to someone across the world or are using a forwarding service to purchase an item that isn’t available in your country yet, the feature definitely comes in handy.

As noted by Android Police, you can use debit or credit cards issued in your own country to purchase products in another region, and track the package from your Google account. The move is definitely welcome, and brings the Google Store on par with the likes of Best Buy when it comes to international orders.