New Raspberry Pi Zero W is just £9 and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-loaded

The latest Raspberry Pi costs just $10 (£9). And it comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capability.

It’s called Pi Zero W, and it’s an updated version of the $5 Pi Zero that released in November 2015 for $5/£4. Raspberry Pi is a series of small single-board computers developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, and the new Pi Zero W is the newest member of the Pi product line.

It is smaller and cheaper than the flagship Pi. It’s also identical to the original Zero, but it’s double the price and adds a wireless chip to support 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 4.0 (a feature also found in the $35 Pi 3 from 2016). Elsewhere, Pi Zero W features a single-core 1GHz CPU and 512MB of RAM, and because it connects to the internet or wireless peripherals, it’s suited for all sort of projects.

Raspberry Pi Foundation

Until now, if you wanted to get online with Pi, you had to get a full-sized model. Here are a few other Pi Zero W specs:

• Mini-HDMI and USB On-The-Go ports
• Micro-USB power
• HAT-compatible 40-pin header
• Composite video and reset headers
• CSI camera connector
• 2.6 x1.2x 0.2-inch dimensions

Pi Zero W is available now through the foundation’s distributors, like ModMyPi in the UK. It costs £9.60 including VAT.

Vizio’s new entry-level 4K TVs make HDR accessible

Vizio’s higher-priced HDR-capable TVs aren’t exactly pricey, but you now have some truly low-cost options if you’re just looking for the basics. The company has launched its 2017 E-Series line, and the emphasis this time is on making high dynamic range video accessible to many more people. As long as you buy a 55-inch set or larger, you’re getting both 4K and HDR — not bad when that means paying as little as $550. While you aren’t going to get the best HDR compatibility or visual quality (no Dolby Vision HDR or quantum dots here), you at least won’t have to pay a premium to see what the fuss is about.

This is also your chance at getting a very large Vizio set without paying as much as you might expect, as the E-Series now includes 75-inch and 80-inch models. While we’d say the $3,400 price of the 80-inch set is a bit excessive, the $2,000 you’ll pay for the 75-inch set might hit the sweet spot if you want a gigantic picture at a semi-reasonable price.

All of the new sets have Chromecast support built-in, including Google Home integration if you have the smart speaker. The 75- and 80-inch sets are available now, and the rest of the line shouldn’t be far behind. The biggest dilemma may be deciding whether or not to forgive Vizio for its recent privacy issues.

Source: Vizio

Intel meets some of its key diversity goals

Intel’s diversity push still looks to be largely on track, and it’s now hitting some of its most important milestones. The chip maker’s newly published 2016 Diversity & Inclusion report reveals that Intel has met all of its pay and promotion equality goals in the US — both women and underrepresented minority should have the same incomes and chances of advancement as anyone else. Intel also says it met its broader diverse retention goal, keeping a better-than-parity number of those underrepresented workers.

The company also says it beat its own hiring target for the year (45.1 percent diverse), and notes that representation for women is up to 25.8 percent, or 2.3 points more than in 2014. Other progress? Intel now has a more diverse roster of vice presidents (41 percent) and decision-making Fellows, and it’s spending more money with diverse suppliers.

As happy as Intel is, it’s quick to admit that not everything is going smoothly. The ratio of underrepresented minorities has barely moved, growing just 0.2 points to 12.5 percent. Minorities in technical roles even slid a bit — there’s a lower ratio of Hispanic tech workers than there was in the 2015 report. Intel’s hiring approach may do well for women and non-technical positions, then, but it still leaves something to be desired.

The findings are leading Intel to switch its focus for 2017. It’s going to focus more on improving minority representation, and will start to think about intersectionality between these groups. For example, it’s making sure that non-white women will have more opportunities for promotion. Also, every manager will go through training to help them create and run more inclusive teams. Intel isn’t certain to hit its 2020 diversity targets by any means, but it at least has an idea as to what needs the most work.

Source: Intel (1), (2)

Ford concept uses drones and self-driving vans for deliveries

Ford has a vision for the future, and it’s apparently one where an army of autonomous vans and drones deliver things to your doorstep. The company used VR to put visitors at Mobile World Congress in the shoes of a dinner party host missing key ingredients. Using a service called “Autolivery,” the woman places an order from an app. Her package is loaded into an self-driving van, and a drone flies it up to a landing pad on the balcony on her 30th floor apartment.

Autolivery was developed by Shanghai-based Ford designers Euishik Bang, James Kuo and Chelsia Lau for the company’s Last Mile Mobility Challenge. Automating the final stretch of the goods delivery process, from curb to door, is difficult, and many companies are working to solve the problem. Ford believes the pressure to develop mobility solutions in urban areas will grow in the near future due to the rise in local deliveries from online sales. Ideas like Autolivery can potentially reduce gridlock and air pollution, and allow people to move about more easily.

“It’s all about making life in the city easier. The possibility of harnessing autonomous and electric vehicle technology with drones to quickly and easily send and deliver parcels could help to make life better for everyone,” said Bang.

Autolivery is part of Ford’s attempt to adapt to a future where fewer people buy cars. It recently invested $1 billion in a relatively unknown self-driving technology startup called Argo AI. Argo’s software will be used to pilot fully autonomous delivery vehicles like Autolivery, as well as ride sharing and ride hailing vehicles. Ford plans to have its fleet on the road shuttling packages and people in 2021.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.

Source: Ford

Uber CEO argues with a driver over dropping income

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick hasn’t been earning many brownie points with the public lately, and that trend isn’t about to stop any time soon. Bloomberg has obtained video of the hard-driving executive getting into an argument with long-serving Uber Black driver Fawzi Kamel over dropping ridesharing fares. When Kamel complains that the overall price is going down and ruining his finances, Kalanick defends cuts as necessary to fend off rivals like Lyft. He disputes that prices on Black in particular are dropping, and quickly gets mad — he claims that people like like Kamel “don’t like to take responsibility for their own shit” and are trying to blame others for their own problems.

The company declined to comment about the video to Bloomberg.

While it’s hard to know just how much Uber affected Kamel’s bottom line, there is some evidence to back up his claims. Uber drivers have complained that fare cuts are making the job unsustainable, and the company recently paid $20 million to resolve complaints that it exaggerated drivers’ potential income. At least for some workers, then, Uber isn’t nearly as alluring as it was in previous years.

Kalanick’s behavior isn’t unexpected, but calling this bad timing would be an understatement. Many have already accused him of being tone deaf to social issues, whether it’s sexism among his staff or his initial reluctance to leave President Trump’s advisory council despite widespread anger. While there are hints of a more receptive approach (Kalanick recently met with women at Uber to listen to their issues), the video suggests there’s still room for improvement. He’s not exactly reassuring drivers worried that they’re merely serving as placeholders until self-driving cars can take over.

Source: Bloomberg

Google brings your Keep notes directly into Docs

Google’s handy notetaking app Keep is getting bumped up to official G Suite status. According to a blog post today, Google has made Keep a part of the core lineup of cloud apps so users can pull in write and share their notes and doodles within their work domains. And while they’re at it, the company is adding some additional functionality to make Keep even more useful inside of Google Docs.

In a separate blog post, Keep product manager Mario Anima laid out the new features, which easily let users drag and drop note snippets from Keep directly into their open Google Doc. Like the contextual Explore tab, the Keep tab is found in the Tools menu and allows users to search their notes in a side panel. Search results show up as cards that can be dropped into the main edit window and preserve their formatting. It also works in reverse: users can now add Keep notes directly in the sidebar of their open Google Doc, or just by highlighting text and right-clicking to select “Save to Keep notepad.” The new notes will be linked to the original doc.

According to Google, the new Docs-Keep integration should roll out to everyone on G Suite over the next few days.

Source: Google Blog

Verizon Offering Up to $500 Back in New VZW and Fios Cross-Promotion

Verizon today announced a new promotion that’s designed to encourage its customers to sign up for both Verizon Wireless cellular service and Verizon Fios internet and TV plans.

Verizon Fios customers who activate a new service on Verizon Unlimited will receive $250 in bill credits (applied as a $10 discount over 25 months), while Verizon Wireless customers can get a $250 Verizon Wireless gift card when signing up for a qualifying Triple Play Fios TV, internet, and phone package with a two-year agreement.

New customers can take advantage of both of the offers simultaneously for a total of $500 back during the promotion period.

Verizon’s Triple Play Fios plans start at $80 per month for 150/150Mb/s internet, phone, and custom TV package. Verizon’s new Unlimited cellular plan is priced at $80 per month for a single user.

Tag: Verizon
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Hands on with the Nubia N1 Lite

While the flagship launches at MWC are understandably the stars of the show, the lesser known OEMs take advantage of the general fanfare surrounding the event to showcase their offerings as well. Nubia just took the wraps off their latest entry-level smartphone, which, like a lot of other affordable smartphone out there, is a “Lite” iteration of one of their more premium devices. We go hands on and give you a quick look at the Nubia N1 Lite!

Despite what this smartphone is called, the Nubia N1 Lite doesn’t really share a whole lot with its higher-end namesake, apart from the size of the display. In terms of design, while the latter features a full metal unibody construction, the N1 Lite comes with a primarily plastic build, with a soft touch finish on the back that allows for a lot of grip.

The camera has been moved from the top left corner to a more central location, with the fingerprint scanner right below it, for a more symmetrical design. Even the signature capacitive red circle home button up front is longer to be found, with Nubia favoring on-screen navigation keys with the N1 Lite.

In terms of specifications, the device comes with a 5.5-inch display with a 720p resolution, a quad-core MediaTek MT6737 processor, 2 GB of RAM, 16 GB of on-board storage, and a 3,000 mAh battery. On the camera side of things, the N1 Lite features an 8 MP rear shooter with a f/2.0 aperture, and a 5 MP front-facing camera, with both cameras able to take advantage of a LED flash.

Unfortunately, the Nubia N1 Lite will launch with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box, and given its low-end nature, the chances of an update to Nougat is somewhat slim. A new phone being released with Marshmallow is certainly disappointing to see, regardless of how budget-friendly it might turn out to be.

Speaking of budget-friendly, the pricing and of the Nubia N1 Lite is still unknown, but considering its specifications and features, it will definitely have to be on the really inexpensive side to able to compete in this space. The N1 Lite is slated for release in March in various European and Asian markets, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic, India, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

So, there you have it for this quick look at the Nubia N1 Lite! This entry-level smartphone may be an appealing starter device for some, or for those who are budget conscious. Stay tuned with Android Authority as we continue to bring you more great coverage from MWC 2017!

Google pulls the plug on its Pixel laptops

Although its new flagship phones have been doing brisk sales, Google’s high-end, $1,299 Pixel-branded Chromebooks won’t be seeing much love from the search giant in the near future. According to TechCrunch, reporting from the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona today, Google’s SVP of hardware Rick Osterloh has announced the second version of the Pixel laptop will be the last of its kind.

As TechCrunch notes, Google is trimming down the Pixel line to just the smartphones and the Pixel C tablet for now. Although there may be other devices carrying the name in the future, Osterloh said it was unlikely that its own laptops would be one of them. And don’t hold your breath if you were in the market for a Pixel 2 yourself: the company sold out of them back in August and has no plans to restock them. Chrome OS is staying put, however, and users will still be able to buy third-party Chromebooks. “Google hasn’t backed away from laptops,” Osterloh said. “We have the number two market share in the U.S. and U.K. — but we have no plans for Google-branded laptops.”

Click here to catch up on the latest news from MWC 2017.

Source: TechCrunch

Cog Systems’ custom, super-secure HTC One A9 phone protects against malware

Why it matters to you

Truly secure smartphones are difficult to find these days, but a customized HTC One A9 from Cog Systems might just fit the bill.

When you’re handling documents that require security clearance, you obviously want a smartphone that’ll shield you from the most common forms of malware. Sure, Android and iOS boast built-in security features, but they sometimes fall short of providing the degree of protection required for enterprise and government users. Luckily, Sydney-based security firm Cog Systems has a solution: An HTC One A9 phone equipped with the firm’s super-secure D4 platform.

Cog Systems, which designs and implements secure mobile software for select governments, debuted a customized phone from Tiawanese-based manufacturer HTC at the Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona. The tailor-made HTC One A9 packs Cog Systems’s D4 mobile development kit, a suite of advanced security features that includes an encrypted storage module, a non-bypassable virtual private network that routes internet traffic through a secure server, and more.

More: Top 5 Android security apps: Do they protect you?

The announcement comes at a time when mobile devices are under siege. In the second quarter of 2016, Kaspersky Lab detected more than 3 million harmful app packages, or 1.7 times more than the previous quarter. And at the RSA security conference in San Francisco earlier this year, Android developer Google said that Verify Apps, a feature of Android that automatically scans devices for infected software, checks more than 6 billion apps a day for malware.

“With 73 percent of all Americans having fallen victim to some type of cybercrime, everyone needs a secure device, not just select government agencies,” Cog Systems CEO Daniel Potts said in a press release. “Our [software] is about to upgrade the level of mobile security available to the enterprise market for the first time.”

The customized One A9 is available through select carriers and resellers, and priced “consistent with [HTC’s] existing commercial pricing.” Cog Systems notes that it’s already drawn attention — the U.S. Department of Defense acquired the first round of devices for internal use.

Cog Systems has its eyes set on more than just phones. “Our D4 [software] is just the beginning,” Potts said. “We are expanding the [platform] to other connected devices beyond mobile, including gateways and IoT devices. This broad reach will allow for a compete ecosystem approach to unlocking the true potential of connected devices while gaining a level of security that can be trusted.”