Samsung Galaxy X foldable phone now likely shelved until 2019

Don’t expect a foldable smartphone from Samsung anytime soon.

Information about a foldable Samsung phone, dubbed Galaxy X, has been slowly leaking out over the past couple years, with reports claiming the company is developing a version that folds out and transforms into a 7-inch tablet. While a recent report from ET News said Samsung is planning to start production of a foldable smartphone prototype sometime this year, Samsung Display’s principal engineer has now suggested otherwise.

Kim Tae-woong has revealed that Samsung is currently focused on bezel-free displays: “Because the bezel-free display currently sells well, we still have enough time to develop foldable display,” said Kim. So, Samsung is putting off commercialising foldable phones until 2019, although it’s been rumoured to launch one since at least 2015 or 2016. Bloomberg even said Samsung will release two smartphones with bendable displays in 2017.

Is Samsung still perfecting the display technology? Who knows. Korean media claimed Samsung would have a foldable phone ready for show in Q3 2017, around the time that an OLED iPhone 8 may be announced. Samsung will reportedly be monitoring the quality of the prototype internally before producing a consumer version of the phone, which could launch sometime toward late 2018, ET News previously said.

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Honestly, there’s so many unknowns right now. If Samsung is developing a foldable phone prototype, we may see it in 2018, possibly around IFA in September. But a commercial version of any foldable phone prototype now won’t debut until 2019 at least, Samsung has claimed. Plus, there’s no guarantee it’ll be the long-rumoured Galaxy X, which was previously known by the code name Project Valley.

Twitter hopes to stream paid TV

Have you spent a lot of time watching Twitter’s live video? No? We can’t entirely blame you — with some exceptions, many of its streaming agreements are for niche events. However, the social network might have a way to make its watch-and-tweet feature more broadly appealing. Twitter’s Anthony Noto tells the Telegraph that his company is hoping to land deals for streaming pay TV channels on its site and apps. You’d have to subscribe to existing TV service for this to work, but it would be much more powerful — you could theoretically watch and comment on all the live programming you’re used to, such as Premier League matches (Noto’s example) or the latest episode of your favorite drama.

It’s not clear just how close Twitter may be to securing these deals, let alone who it’s talking to (if anyone). Twitter tells us that it doesn’t have anything more to add to Noto’s remarks. Given the requirement for an existing subscription, though, Twitter might not have too much trouble garnering support from TV networks that are normally averse to internet-only video.

There’s certainly pressure to sign these kinds of pacts soon. Twitter is betting on video as an answer to its financial struggles, and pay TV would make that video more alluring to just about anyone with a conventional cable subscription. Even if it doesn’t convince people to sign up for Twitter, it might get existing users to participate more often and stick around in the long run.

Source: The Telegraph

DARPA successfully flew a model of its 24-fan electric plane

DARPA’s experimental Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft, the XV-24A LightningStrike, cleared another developmental hurdle by completing its subscale flight tests in early March, according to its manufacturer, Aurora Flight Sciences.

The unmanned subscale demonstrator weighs in at 325 pounds and is powered by a single lithium battery. That’s a far cry from the 61-foot wingspan, 12,000 pound aircraft it’s meant to represent that but plenty large enough to demonstrate the same technical abilities, including transitioning into and out of forward flight from a hover. The full-size version is expected to begin proper flight tests in late 2018.

Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft offer both the speed of conventional winged aircraft and the hovering ability of helicopters but their flexibility comes at the cost of not excelling at either. The LightningStrike program aims to change that. By using 24 electric fans spread across its wings and canard, this prototype aircraft should achieve be able a top speed of 300 – 400 knots (345 – 460 mph), which is twice as fast as most helicopters, while improving its hover efficiency by 15 percent.

And while VTOL aircraft exist almost exclusively in the military domain at the moment, the technology is quickly seeping into the civilian world as well. Uber has been toying with using VTOL aircraft for short-hop flights around cities, while Airbus is looking into cars that can transform into quadcopters to avoid traffic congestion.

Bipartisan bill aims to curb warrantless phone searches at the border

The Trump administration revealed its “extreme vetting” procedures on Tuesday and hoo boy, are they draconian. They’ll require foreign visitors — even close allies like France and Germany — to potentially reveal passwords, phone contacts and even financial records in order to enter the country. Americans are being searched as well, with Border Patrol forces increasingly demanding the same information from US citizens as they cross the border, but a newly introduced bicameral bill could help safeguard their privacy.

As it stands now, the DHS is allowed to search electronic devices — even those belonging to American citizens — whenever they come across the US border. This new bill, put forward by Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rand Paul (R-KY) in the Senate and Reps. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Blake Farenthold (R-TX), would instead require that border agents obtain a warrant or, at least, suspect a crime is currently taking place, before they can search phones and laptops. The rules would apply to airports and land crossings alike.

“Americans’ constitutional rights shouldn’t disappear at the border,” Wyden said in a statement. “By requiring a warrant to search Americans’ devices and prohibiting unreasonable delay, this bill makes sure that border agents are focused on criminals and terrorists instead of wasting their time thumbing through innocent Americans’ personal photos and other data.”

According the the Customs and Border Protection’s publicly available data, the agency conducted 23,877 electronic media searches in 2016. That’s an eight fold increase over 2015’s 4,764 but still a fraction of the roughly 400 million people who entered the country that year.

Senator Paul pointed out that the Supreme Court already ruled that cellphones and laptops cannot be treated with the same cavalier nature as pockets and backpacks during police searches since they contain a host of personal digital information that wouldn’t normally be carried around in its physical form. He argues that the same rules should apply at the border.

“As the Supreme Court unanimously recognized in 2014, innovation does not render the Fourth Amendment obsolete,” Paul said. “It still stands today as a shield between the American people and a government all too eager to invade their digital lives. Americans should not be asked to surrender their rights or privacy at the border, and our bill will put an end to the government’s intrusive practices.”

Source: CNN

Apple Music for Android gets an overdue makeover

The Android version of Apple Music was very close to the iOS app when it first arrived, but it’s clear that the software has lagged in recent months. While iOS and desktop users got a (frankly needed) overhaul last year, Android users were stuck with the old interface. No more: Apple has released a new version of the app that brings it up to par. That means a redesigned For You section with many more recommendations, stronger support for your own music library and a revamped player with quick access to your queue and lyrics.

Is this going to make you jump ship from Spotify or Google Play Music? Probably not, especially since it took a while for Apple to give Android users a refresh. It should help you stay aboard if you’re an existing subscriber, though, and it shows that Apple is willing to put sustained effort into a client for Google’s platform. The real test is whether or not Apple improves upon this update schedule — ideally, you wouldn’t have to wait quite so long for subsequent updates.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: Google Play

Microsoft will unveil the next Xbox’s specs on Thursday

Last fall, Sony outraced the competition in releasing the PS4 Pro, their half-step improvement on current consoles that includes better tech to handle VR gaming. Microsoft’s mid-generation successor to the Xbox One, known as Project Scorpio, was in no shape to try beating Sony’s to market, but it’s rumored to be a far more powerful system. Just how much beefier has been confined to rumor and isolated reports, but soon we’ll have the official word on Scorpio’s technical guts ahead of its planned full reveal at E3 2017. On Thursday at 9AM ET, Microsoft is releasing the specs for its upcoming system.

To clear up the speculation: @digitalfoundry will have an exclusive Xbox Scorpio reveal on @eurogamer this Thursday at 2pm UK / 6am Pacific. pic.twitter.com/S6xxT2YCcn

— Eurogamer.net (@eurogamer) April 4, 2017

Initial reports claim that Scorpio will run at 6 teraflops (TF) , dwarfing the Xbox One’s 1.3 TF and the PS4 Pro’s 4.2 TF. According to Windows Central, Scorpio will have a “compact” design thanks to improvements in cooling, hopefully reducing the size of the console below its current VCR-level of girth. It’s also killing the power brick in favor of an internal power supply. That’s all the new information we have until Microsoft pulls the rug out Thursday morning.

Via: The Verge

Source: Eurogamer (Twitter)

Send Starbucks lattes to your lover with iMessage

Saying “I love you” with a Grande Soy Latte just got a little easier. Starbucks updated its iOS app with its first iMessages offering which allows you to send anyone you chat with a Starbucks gift card without interrupting the flow of your conversation. The Starbucks app update also includes enhanced push notifications, a new mobile ordering interface and new filtering options for locating a nearby location.

Apple added the iMessage App Store last September, which made it possible to add stickers and play games within a conversation using the company’s popular chat app. While this is the first iMessages app made by Starbucks, the coffee retailer is no stranger to working with software makers. It teamed up with Microsoft Outlook last year to help easily send a cup of coffee or schedule a meeting at a local Starbucks via the email app.

The update includes new push notifications that will change based on how often you use the app, a mobile ordering review screen with “brand-new look and animations” and new location filtering options so you can find the nearest Starbucks based on what they offer, like when you’re looking for a nitro cold brew or a PSL. Better yet? You don’t have to wait to try it out as all these new features are available now.

Via: 9 to 5 Mac

Source: Starbucks / iTunes

Twitch starts selling the games it streams

We already new Twitch planned to start selling its viewers a selection of PC games directly through the streaming site. Starting today, the service allows users to purchase a variety of different titles from the site while watching related streams. Over the next week, around 50 games and various add-ons will be available to purchase mid-stream, including Ubisoft’s recent big hitters — For Honor and Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Wildlands.

As well as simply selling their games at full price, developers can also use the service to award fans with special offers for watching streams at certain times. It’s not just developers who will benefit from selling games, however, with partnered Twitch streamers also set to earn 5% of sales generated through their channels.

Opting to bypass Steam completely, games bought through the site can be downloaded and played through the Twitch Desktop App. Alternatively, users can opt to load games through existing publisher specific game launchers like Uplay. In a bid to get viewers to choose Twitch over the competition, the streaming site is rewarding buyers with free Twitch Crates. These digital boxes will award recipients with a randomized drop of items, including exclusive emotes, chat badges and Bits for Cheering. To entice initial purchases, until the end of April buyers will be entered into a raffle — giving them the chance to win $500 worth of pro streaming gear.

While the move certainly makes sense, having streamers take a cut of game sales arguably blurs the line between genuine content and paid advertisements. With partnered streamers more likely to make more from the big releases, this could see many content creators streaming games purely to make a buck rather than to entertain viewers. With many YouTubers caught up in similarly shady practices, Twitch will have to moderate partner streams carefully if they want to keep content feeling genuine.

Source: Twitch

Kanye West album is the first to go platinum from streaming alone

Kanye West’s The Life of Pablo may have had excessive hype between the initial Tidal exclusive, the expansion to other services and the changing tracklist, but it’s definitely a commercial success. The RIAA has confirmed to Engadget that Pablo was recently certified platinum, making it the first-ever album to get the honor based solely on listens through streaming-only services. While it’s not exclusively a streaming album (Kanye sells it as a download on his site), its 1.5 billion US streams were enough to achieve platinum status by themselves. Downloads represented less than 0.1 percent of Pablo’s performance back in May 2016, and it’s safe to say they didn’t climb higher without availability in iTunes and other download stores.

There were claims that the album went platinum in October, but those were never validated.

To some extent, Chance the Rapper has stolen Kanye’s thunder by having the first truly streaming-only album to both hit the Billboard 200 and win a Grammy. Still, this is an important milestone — it shows that you can achieve massive commercial success in music without having to offer permanent copies. Although it’ll likely be a while before artists are regularly managing this feat, it now seems more like a matter of time than anything else.

Via: The Verge

Source: Pitchfork

Mac Pro CPU and GPU Upgrades See Significant Price Drop

Apple today announced price drops for its Mac Pro lineup ahead of a major revamp coming in the future, dropping the 4-core option and significantly lowering the prices of its new baseline 6-core and 8-core machines.

Apple has also made Mac Pro build-to-order processor and GPU upgrades much more affordable for pro users who need higher-end specs than the base machines provide.

Upgrading the new 3.5GHz entry-level 6-core Mac Pro to the 3.0GHz 8-core processor now costs $800, while upgrading to the 2.7GHz 12-core machine costs $2,000. Prior to today, the 8-core upgrade was priced at $1,500, and the 12-core upgrade was priced at $3,000.

GPU upgrades are also more affordable. With the 6-core machine, upgrading from the stock dual AMD FirePro D500 to the FirePro D700 now costs $200, an upgrade that was previously priced at $600. The GPU upgrade isn’t necessary on the new stock 8-core machine, as it ships with the D700s.

RAM and flash storage upgrade pricing has not changed, however. It continues to cost $400 to upgrade to 32GB RAM and $1,200 to upgrade to 64GB RAM. 512GB flash storage is available for $200, and the 1TB flash storage upgrade costs $600. Prices on flash storage were lowered back in October alongside the launch of the new MacBook Pro.

All in all, a maxed out Mac Pro machine with a 12-core processor, 64GB RAM, 1TB flash storage, and dual AMD FirePro D700 GPUs will now cost $6,999 instead of $9,599.

The Mac Pro lineup has not gained any refreshed or updated hardware — all that’s changed is configuration and price. The machines continue to use Ivy Bridge E Xeon processors, dual AMD FirePro GPUs, and Thunderbolt 2.

Apple’s reconfigured Mac Pros are available starting today from the online Apple Store and Apple retail stores. The 6-core model can be purchased immediately, but the 8-core model is listed as “currently unavailable.”

Today’s price drops come ahead of a promised overhauled Mac Pro that will be introduced sometime after this year. Apple is working on a high-end high-throughput modular Mac Pro system that will facilitate regular upgrades to meet the needs of Apple’s pro user base.

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