Nest said to be working on home security and a low-cost thermostat

Notice how Nest hasn’t had any truly new products lately? If you believe insider accounts, it’s no coincidence — management troubles, and the struggle to develop a home security system, left it with little to show. However, it now looks like it’s back on track… and then some. A Bloomberg source claims that Nest has multiple new products in the works, headlined by a reborn security system. The “end-to-end” design would include a central hub with a keypad, alarm sensors and a quick control fob. That doesn’t sound too unusual, but it’d pair with a mobile app that lets you greenlight access for specific people, such as a friend checking in on your pets. The security setup is reportedly due to ship this year.

The other hardware would be more iterative, but you might not necessarily mind. The star would be a sub-$200 take on the Learning Thermostat that would use lower-end materials (no metal ring here) and other cost-cutting measures. It could launch by 2018, the tipster says. There’s also a second-generation Nest Cam, tentatively targeted for a fall release, that may learn to identify specific people. And there’s even talk of Nest getting into the smart doorbell game. Much like Ring and similar products, you’d use a built-in camera in the doorbell to talk with would-be visitors even when you’re far from home. The company is only “exploring” development, Bloomberg says, but the doorbell could be ready as soon as 2018.

The products don’t sound revolutionary at first blush, but that may not necessarily be the point. Now that Nest is operating under the Alphabet banner, it’s under greater pressure to improve its bottom line — and that means releasing new products. An expanded lineup would also help Nest create a full ecosystem of home automation hardware, rather than focusing on just three areas like it has for the past few years.

Source: Bloomberg

Bentley unveils its first all-electric grand tourer

If you ever wanted a sign that the world is moving toward a greener future, you could find a big one at the Geneva Motor Show. Bentley, a company that makes enormous gas-guzzling vehicles for the one percent, surprised attendees with its first all-electric convertible, the EXP 12 Speed 6E Concept. Bentley has flirted with plug-in hybrids before, with one expected to launch in 2018, but this is the first “pure” vehicle it has made.

The 6e looks like pretty much like a Bentley, affirming a promise that company chairman Wolfgang Dürheimer told Bloomberg. The executive explained his desire to make an EV that doesn’t “necessarily need to look like a refrigerator,” adding that the cars can be “sexy” and “emotional.” The company has also said that it is “committed” to producing an all-electric car in the future, and will listen to feedback about the 6e’s design.

Bentley wants to use this one-off car as a showcase for its technology chops, including an inductive-charging plate for wire-free re-juicing. But for those times when you’re not on a golf course sponsored by Qualcomm, there’s also a regular power plug hidden away. The company also built the central console out of a curved piece of glass, backed with an OLED touchscreen display that controls navigation, entertainment and climate controls.

Passengers, meanwhile, get their own display that enables them to send and receive email, browse social media or watch online videos. But beyond that, actual details about the vehicle are scarce, including the size of the battery and what its proposed range would be*. Bentley wants its electric vehicles to travel the same distance as its gas-powered grand tourers, getting you from London to Paris, Milan or Monaco on a single charge. How feasible that is will be another story.

Bloomberg’s interview with Dürheimer also explains that, should the 6e ever go into production, it’ll come to China first. That country is becoming increasingly environmentally-aware and affluent, and so it’s likely bougie millennials will want to buy that ride. Although, of course, buying a lavishly-appointed grand tourer might not be the thing for a generation of people who have been raised on the promise of a self-driving car.

*Although, as Joe Winn points out on Twitter, that concept image of the cabin reads 256 miles on a full charge.

Source: Bentley

Many of us bought the Nintendo Switch last week

We were lucky enough to get an early look at the Nintendo Switch and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. But now that the console and its killer launch game are finally available to all (if you can find them, at least), we’ve asked several of our editors about their thoughts on the system. Despite the Switch’s limited launch-title selection, most of them came away impressed.

Aaron Souppouris, Senior Editor

I’ve had the Switch for just under two weeks. I was always going to like it, but recently, I’ve grown to love it.

I traveled away from my home in London to New York a couple of days ago, and the Switch has made a great travel buddy. Typically, I take a 3DS or a Vita (or both) to pass the time on the eight-hour flight and scratch my gaming itch after late nights writing in hotels. This time, though, I essentially have a home console always within arm’s reach.

I played Zelda pretty much solidly on the flight over, and the plane’s USB port kept me reasonably charged. Since then, I’ve raced in Fast RMX when I’ve had a spare 10 minutes and also played a fair amount of the new Shovel Knight DLC. Gaming is such a huge part of my life, and the Switch has kept me connected to it more than any portable console before it.

Moving forward, I can see myself using my Switch to play cross-platform indies a lot. Why would I buy Celeste on my PC or PlayStation 4 when I can grab it on Switch and play it anywhere? The same goes for pretty much every cross-platform game that comes to Nintendo’s console. That flexibility — even to play in bed rather than on my couch — is a huge plus. Sure, the Switch is never going to replace either a PC or a PS4 for me, but it’s definitely going to fill the gaps in between better than my Vita ever has.

Sean Buckley, Associate Editor

I bought the Nintendo Switch thinking I’d use it mostly as a home console. I imagined dropping it in the TV dock on the first day and taking it out only rarely to play in bed or at my desk. My weekend had other plans, taking me out of the house to pitch in at a part-time job and visit my in-laws for a surprise dinner. I took my Switch with me everywhere. It was fantastic.

Playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild during the slow moments of my day and lying on the floor of my wife’s childhood home at night was the perfect respite from my unexpectedly busy weekend. I knew the Nintendo Switch was designed to be a hybrid portable game console, but I honestly didn’t expect it to work so well. The Switch pops in and out of sleep mode almost instantly, making it ideal for quick pick-up-and-play sessions. There’s no load time for the game you were playing back at home or impatient wait for the console to boot up. The screen felt a little small if set anywhere further than a couple feet away, but whenever I wanted it, Hyrule was there.

You can blame my trepidation about the Switch’s performance on its spiritual predecessor. No, not the Wii U (though it has its own imperfections) but the NVIDIA Shield tablet. Like the Switch, it’s a NVIDIA-powered gaming tablet that’s designed to hook up to your TV for full-screen gaming. Unlike Nintendo’s kit, its TV experience is cumbersome, forcing the user to dip into menus and choose the right setting before settling back on the couch. The Nintendo Switch, on the other hand, just worked. It completely fills Nintendo’s promise, offering the same experience I have on my TV at home anywhere I can carry the console’s tablet.

I’ll still probably use the Switch primarily as a traditional home console. The way I play video games has just changed — but unlike my 3DS, which I almost never play at home, the Nintendo Switch is the console I play at home. That’s far more enticing than I thought it would be.

Kris Naudus, Senior Editor, Database

After three days with the Switch, I have so many questions. Why can I only put the dock on the right side of my TV? Is Nintendo trying to instill some fūsui into my living room? How the hell did my friend manage to put the Switch into the dock backward and crooked? How many five-year-olds will do the same thing? Why are the wrist-strap attachments so hard to put on? How long will it be before I lose this kickstand? Why are the game cases so damn big? Could these game cards taste any worse? Why did I put that in my mouth? Am I milking this cow right? Why won’t this baby shut up? And finally, am I the only person who didn’t buy Zelda?

Stefanie Fogel, Contributing Editor

I spent all weekend playing on the Switch in both handheld and TV configurations. I love handhelds. I was an early adopter of the PS Vita, and if I had to save one gaming console from a fire I’d probably pick my 3DS. So I absolutely love the idea of a home console that also works as a fully functional handheld, but I’m withholding final judgement on the Switch.

The Switch in its tablet form feels comfy enough, as does the Joy Con grip. It’s great that it powers on so quickly, and I like the minimalist UI. The battery life isn’t great, however, and the lack of wireless headset support is disappointing. But the biggest reason that I’m currently in wait-and-see mode is the library. It’s anemic right now, and a lot of the announced games don’t have solid release dates. I have faith the situation will improve though. After the mild disaster that was the Wii U, Nintendo needs the Switch to succeed.

Timothy J. Seppala, Associate Editor

My biggest takeaway after a few days with the Switch is its social implications. No, not sharing screenshots to Facebook or Twitter but carrying the device with me wherever I go. The fact that I can take my shiny new Nintendo console anywhere and, within seconds of pulling it out of my bag, show it to my friends and parents has been a cool experience. I don’t have to invite them over to my apartment or have a TV handy; I just press the power button and a no-compromises console game jumps to life in front of them.

I waited in line at Meijer with a few friends last Thursday night, got my console (neon, thank you very much) at midnight and picked up Zelda. We formed a Facebook group chat and have been trading tips and tricks since. But what surprised me most was how that Messenger chat translated to the real world. On Sunday, we went to a cafe to play Breath of the Wild together. It was an extension of something my friends had done with Elder Scrolls games prior: getting together in one room with everyone playing a massively single-player game on their own console, trading strategies and secrets they’d discovered.

Except this time no one was lugging around bulky CRT TVs, LCD computer monitors and boxy consoles that were meant to be set up once and never moved. No, we had three Switches sitting on a wobbly pair of tables, headphones half on, trading “holy shit, look at this cool thing I just found!” moments as people filtered in and out of the coffee shop. It didn’t feel like we were spoiling anything for one another; instead, it drove us to seek out the neat thing the others had discovered. At that moment I realized I was not only a fan of the new Zelda but also the Switch itself.

But even as big as Breath of the Wild is, the Switch won’t stay afloat without a steady stream of new games. Mario Odyssey is due out later this year, sure, but what’s the future look like beyond that? For me and countless others, that’s a question Nintendo needs to address. Thankfully, E3 is coming up, so we only have a few months left to guess. Until then, I have plenty of Sheikah Shrines to discover with my friends.

Mat Smith, Senior Editor

The Switch didn’t launch with many games — but that’s OK. Nintendo’s last console, the Wii U, came with a hefty 32 (mostly forgettable) launch games, ranging from New Super Mario Brothers U to Just Dance 4. In comparison, the Switch has just 16. But! It has The Legend Of Zelda: Breath of The Wild. It sounds like shallow video game hyperbole, but (at just 14 hours in) I’m calling it a masterpiece. Nintendo made an open-world game that doesn’t swallow you up in side quests and collectible time sinks. Sure, there are plenty of shrines, puzzles and trinkets to find, but I didn’t feel obliged to do so — and I didn’t.

My journey in the game takes on a more organic shape. I run toward a shrine and a village girl chastises me, dragging me back to the entrance and forcing me to walk in a laborious spiral to the entrance. The nomadic traders offer me discounts in rainy weather. If I see something weird, I play around with it and I’m more often than not rewarded with items for my efforts. There’s so much character built into everything, and the learning curve is just challenging enough that I don’t even mind that this is the only game I can play on it.

You might be better off waiting for the next Mario game (or that Mario Kart 8 remake), but Zelda is such an incredible launch title — heck, it’s such an incredible game — that I don’t regret buying an entire console for it. Nintendo is off to a great start — now it has to follow through soon with some more games.

Nick Summers, Associate Editor

Nick’s Switch pre-order didn’t show up, and he is sad.

Nintendo sorta cares about getting Netflix on the Switch

Nintendo will bring streaming video services to the Switch, but don’t hold your breath, because it’ll probably take a while. That’s the main takeaway from a Washington Post interview with the company’s Reggie Fils-Aime that was published earlier today. When asked why Nintendo didn’t have the major names in video on its latest console, the executive said that they would come, “in time.”

Nintendo is currently talking to the usual suspects like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, and it’s inevitable that those apps wind up on the Switch. Then again, Fils-Aime’s approach is typical of Nintendo’s overall approach, since access to those services aren’t “differentiators.” After all, you can access Netflix on pretty much every device in your home and/or pocket, it’s not as if you’re really missing out if it’s not on the Switch.

Fils-Aime also defended the Switch’s launch titles, which basically amounted to, uh, Zelda, saying that the list of games currently in development will motivate people to buy the console. In addition, he says that the Switch will be a welcoming home for games from independent studios. It’s these ties that, the executive claims “will help make Nintendo Switch into a long-term success.”

Via: Verge

Source: Washington Post

PS4 gets Boost Mode, external drive support on March 9th

After more than a little teasing, Sony’s PS4 version 4.50 update is almost here. The sweeping upgrade is now slated to arrive on March 9th, and is now confirmed to include that rumored Boost Mode for PS4 Pro owners. Enable it on the higher-end PlayStation and “select legacy titles” should run faster (or more consistently fast) without needing a Pro-specific patch. They may even load sooner, Sony says. The boost isn’t certain to work with every unoptimized game, but it should do more to justify the Pro if you have an extensive game collection.

Of course, there are still plenty of updates for all PS4 systems. For most, the big practical improvement is long-awaited external hard drive support for games. You can now install titles to USB hard drives as large as 8TB, sparing you from having to perform surgery on your system (or buy a new console) when the included storage no longer passes muster. Given the frequently massive size of PS4 games, this could mean the difference between having to cherry pick the titles you keep loaded versus installing them all.

Other upgrades? You can now use in-game screenshots for custom wallpaper, much like your Xbox One-owning friends. There’s voice chat in Remote Play to let friends know when you’re late for a gaming session. And if you have a PlayStation VR headset, you’re in for a treat: you can watch 3D Blu-ray movies, and 2D imagery (including in Cinematic Mode) should display at higher resolutions and frame rates. All told, version 4.50 is addressing a laundry list of wishes that could have a tangible impact on your day-to-day use.

Source: PlayStation Blog

IBM built an atomic hard drive

While the rush to keep pace with Moore’s Law is getting rather “chaotic”, researchers at IBM announced on Wednesday that they have drastically reduced the space required to store a bit of information down to that of a single atom.

This tiny advancement in storage technology, is a big deal. Given that modern hard drives need about 100,000 atoms to store a single bit, this development could shrink the size of future storage mediums by an order of magnitude. IBM figures that it can store the entire iTunes catalog (all 35 million tracks) onto a disk the size of a credit card by using this technique.

A single atom of holmium credit: IBM Research – Almaden

The system uses atoms of holmium seated atop a magnesium oxide surface, which keeps the atom’s magnetic poles stable — even in the presence of other magnets. The orientation of these poles determines whether the atom constitutes a 1 or a 0. To write to this storage system, a microscopic needle induces a current to flip the atom’s orientation. Reading the information, conversely, is simply a matter of measuring the magnetic current passing through each atom, which varies depending on which pole is facing up.

But don’t expect this technology to show up in the next iPhone, mind you. It currently requires a liquid nitrogen-cooled tunnelling electron microscope operating in a vacuum to work. The study was published today in the journal Nature.

Facebook’s Gear VR app helps you find 360 photos and video

A ton of 360-degree photos and videos are uploaded to Facebook every day. The challenge, if you own a Gear VR headset, is finding the best stuff in the Oculus Video store, or amongst the deluge of selfies and viral videos that make up most News Feeds. To help, the social network has built a new app for Gear VR called Facebook 360. It’s a basic interface with four tabs that help you browse and launch 360-degree media. “Explore,” for instance, lists the most popular uploads, while “Following” collects everything posted by your friends, and the pages and people you follow.

Facebook says more than 1 million 360-degree videos and 25 million 360-degree photos have been posted to the platform to date. Those numbers, while impressive, represent just a drop of total Facebook uploads. With its new Gear VR app, the company is trying to ensure that 360-degree content is seen by the largest possible audience. That’s important, because otherwise media organisations and ‘content creators’ will shy away from the format. If the interest in VR tapers off, it won’t have much of an impact on Facebook’s popularity, or the company’s overall success — but for Oculus, and its ongoing collaboration with Samsung, it could be pivotal.

Airbus unveils an autonomous, modular flying car concept

Flying cars face many obstacles, but one of the biggest is accommodating all the parts needed to both drive and fly — their designs amount to big, heavy compromises. Airbus and Italdesign want to try something different. They’ve just unveiled the Pop.Up, an autonomous concept that uses a modular passenger capsule to switch between four-wheeled ground transport and quadcopter flight. All you do is tell the vehicle’s AI where to go — it’ll snap on air or ground modules based on both the available routes and your habits. Airbus even floats the possibility of shuttling your capsule through hyperloop tubes when they’re available.

This wouldn’t sit in your driveway. Airbus foresees Pop.Up vehicles forming an on-demand transportation network that isn’t hampered by the limitations of ground-based options. It could dramatically reduce traffic congestion, too. Why drive on a packed bridge when you can simply fly over the river?

The gotcha, as you might guess, is that this is just a concept. There are life-size examples of Pop.Up at the Geneva Motor Show, but there’s a big difference between that and showing off a working prototype, let alone something ready to handle your commute. If Airbus is committed to making this a real product, any practical use is going to be years away.

Source: TechCrunch

Apple Pay Likely to Launch in Belgium in May

Just one day after Apple Pay launched in Ireland, there is now evidence to suggest the service could launch in Belgium soon too.

Belgian bank CBC Banque & Assurance on Tuesday tweeted that Apple Pay will be available in May, as spotted by French blog iGeneration. Meanwhile, another Belgian bank Belfius Bank said it will begin accepting contactless payments on May 2, although it did not mention Apple Pay specifically.

@jeromevde @fouranto
L’apple Pay sera disponible chez CBC pour mai 2017 également ! ^Anaïs

— CBC Banque&Assurance (@CBC_BE) March 8, 2017

Apple Pay is currently available in the United States, Australia, Canada, China, France, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Taiwan and likely Italy will follow.

Apple Pay vice president Jennifer Bailey has said Apple is “working rapidly” to expand the service to additional countries in Asia and Europe.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
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Vimeo Announces Support for 360-Degree Video

Vimeo today announced that 360-degree video support has arrived for the service’s web and mobile app platforms. The update will provide a place for creators to learn and upload videos in the popular format, as well as a community hub of 360-degree video content for viewers to browse and watch flat, or using compatible VR headsets.

Vimeo’s 360-degree videos will support 8K content in both monoscopic and stereoscopic formats, offline viewing in HD, and include a virtual compass in the video to orient viewers “and encourage interaction.” These settings will be available to all of Vimeo’s creators, who will also gain access to a “360 Video School” to learn the ins and outs of shooting and editing on 360-degree cameras.

The new videos will be available to watch on the Vimeo iOS [Direct Link] and Android apps, as well as VR headsets including Zeiss VR One, Samsung Gear VR and Google Daydream. Oculus Rift and HTC Vive support is said to be coming soon. The debut also includes a 360-degree video marketplace where viewers can browse videos published by Vimeo creators, through Vimeo On Demand, and purchase or rent the videos.

Some of the first 360-degree video content will be coverage of South by Southwest, which is kicking off in Austin, Texas this weekend. 360-degree video has become a popular addition to existing platforms, with Facebook, Periscope, and YouTube all recently adding support for the format.

Tag: Vimeo
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