Emirates promises a VIP service for some fliers’ larger gadgets

Why it matters to you

If you’re flying to the U.S. from one of the airports affected by the ban, it’s good to know how different airlines are dealing with the issue.

Regulations imposed by the Trump administration last month meant that passengers flying from particular airports in the Middle East into the U.S. had to check in any electronic devices larger than a smartphone.

This left many fliers having to decide between leaving their pricey laptop or tablet at home, or letting it out of their sight when they boarded the plane and hoping it’d be there, intact, at the other end.

The rules were put in place in response to an apparent terror threat, though few details have been revealed about the potential risk faced by travelers.

Emirates is one of the carriers affected, and it’s been quick to tell its customers not to worry about putting their gadgets in the hold for U.S.-bound flights.

The airline is now operating a kind of VIP service for larger tech items such as laptops, tablets, cameras, and portable DVD players that have to go to the hold for the flight. A video posted this week on YouTube highlights the new “electronics handling service” launched in response to the U.S. ban.

So instead of tucking your tech in between your socks and underpants inside your suitcase and hoping for the best, Emirates promises to “pack, label, and seal your devices” in the departure lounge, just before you board one of its U.S.-bound aircraft. The gear is packed and handled separately to other luggage, and is returned by staff in the baggage hall when you show your boarding pass and ID.

The video shows plenty of cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and labels, the clear message being that it intends to take care of your tech while it’s out of your hands, and return it to you in one piece when you arrive at your destination.

More: The 5 longest flights in the world make NY to London feel like a hop

Of course, that doesn’t solve the fact that for many people, it’s rather annoying to have to give up your tablet or laptop before you board. Understanding that some people need to work during their journey, the airline has started handing out Microsoft Surface tablets equipped with Microsoft Office to first- and business-class passengers so they can complete important tasks at 36,000 feet.

Available for free on all non-stop flights from Dubai to the U.S., passengers are able to “download their work on to a USB which can be brought on board and plugged into the devices to continue working seamlessly.”

We’re not sure how comfortable customers will be with working on a device that they have to hand back at the end of a flight, but for some it could be a useful solution until the ban is lifted.

Emirates promises a VIP service for some fliers’ larger gadgets

Why it matters to you

If you’re flying to the U.S. from one of the airports affected by the ban, it’s good to know how different airlines are dealing with the issue.

Regulations imposed by the Trump administration last month meant that passengers flying from particular airports in the Middle East into the U.S. had to check in any electronic devices larger than a smartphone.

This left many fliers having to decide between leaving their pricey laptop or tablet at home, or letting it out of their sight when they boarded the plane and hoping it’d be there, intact, at the other end.

The rules were put in place in response to an apparent terror threat, though few details have been revealed about the potential risk faced by travelers.

Emirates is one of the carriers affected, and it’s been quick to tell its customers not to worry about putting their gadgets in the hold for U.S.-bound flights.

The airline is now operating a kind of VIP service for larger tech items such as laptops, tablets, cameras, and portable DVD players that have to go to the hold for the flight. A video posted this week on YouTube highlights the new “electronics handling service” launched in response to the U.S. ban.

So instead of tucking your tech in between your socks and underpants inside your suitcase and hoping for the best, Emirates promises to “pack, label, and seal your devices” in the departure lounge, just before you board one of its U.S.-bound aircraft. The gear is packed and handled separately to other luggage, and is returned by staff in the baggage hall when you show your boarding pass and ID.

The video shows plenty of cardboard boxes, bubble wrap and labels, the clear message being that it intends to take care of your tech while it’s out of your hands, and return it to you in one piece when you arrive at your destination.

More: The 5 longest flights in the world make NY to London feel like a hop

Of course, that doesn’t solve the fact that for many people, it’s rather annoying to have to give up your tablet or laptop before you board. Understanding that some people need to work during their journey, the airline has started handing out Microsoft Surface tablets equipped with Microsoft Office to first- and business-class passengers so they can complete important tasks at 36,000 feet.

Available for free on all non-stop flights from Dubai to the U.S., passengers are able to “download their work on to a USB which can be brought on board and plugged into the devices to continue working seamlessly.”

We’re not sure how comfortable customers will be with working on a device that they have to hand back at the end of a flight, but for some it could be a useful solution until the ban is lifted.

These compact, origami-inspired kitchen utensils will free up lots of space

Why it matters to you

If your kitchen is overflowing with stuff and you’re looking for ways to save space, then these foldable utensils may have a role to play.

Whether you’re tight for kitchen space or you just fancy the idea of compact and easy-to-carry utensils for your outdoor parties, the innovative “Ori-Kit” may be the answer.

The Ori-Kit comprises three spoons offering six sizes, a turner, a funnel, and a colander, and arrives with each one pressed flat.

What? Pressed flat? What’s that all about? Well, as the kit’s name subtly suggests, each of these stylish-looking implements requires a simple fold before you start using it. The idea is that they allow you to discard the bulkier equivalents in your kitchen to free up space, while they can also work as a lightweight option for taking to barbecues and other events away from home.

Speaking of barbecues, you can use the Ori-Kit’s turner to flip a burger or turn a sausage thanks to its ability to handle temperatures of up to 500°F (260°C). It also doubles up as a server.

The funnel will come in handy for transferring liquids or fine-grain substances into jars or bottles, while the colander can separate bits from different liquids and even act as a sieve.

Made from Teflon and silicone, the kitchen utensils are thin, strong and durable, and because they can be pressed flat, are simple to clean. They’re also dishwasher-safe so you can throw them in without a worry. And once they’re dry, you just flatten them down and store them as you would any other utensil, only these take up a fraction of the space.

More: Digital Trends’ favorite fun kitchen gadgets from the Home and Housewares Show

The Ori-Kit is currently looking for funding on Kickstarter and aims to deliver in September, 2017. Early-bird offers include a full Ori-Kit for $27, marking a 36 percent saving on the expected retail price of $42. Head over to its project page for more information.

Climate change could make future flights a lot rougher

Airplane rides could get extra bumpy in the future thanks to climate change. Turbulence could become two to three times more common because of it, according to a new study from the University of Reading.

The study, published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, is the first to investigate turbulence strength levels and how they’ll change in the future. Researchers found the average amount of light turbulence in the atmosphere will increase by 59 percent. Moderate turbulence will go up 94 percent, while severe turbulence will rise by 149 percent. The reason? Scientists believe higher carbon dioxide levels will create stronger vertical wind shears at aircraft cruising altitudes, which will make the shear instabilities that create clear-air turbulence more prevalent. CO2 levels are expected to double later this century.

“For most passengers, light turbulence is nothing more than an annoying inconvenience that reduces their comfort levels, but for nervous fliers even light turbulence can be distressing,” said the study’s author, Dr. Paul Williams, in a press release. “However, even the most seasoned frequent fliers may be alarmed at the prospect of a 149 percent increase in severe turbulence, which frequently hospitalizes air travelers and flight attendants around the world.”

Dr. Williams added that his top priority now is to investigate alternate flight routes. “We also need to investigate the altitude and seasonal dependence of the changes, and to analyze different climate models and warming scenarios to quantify the uncertainties,” he said. But, Williams isn’t the only one tackling this problem. IBM, which bought The Weather Company for $2 billion, recently teamed up with Gogo Inc. to give pilots a heads up when turbulence happens, so they can adjust their flight paths accordingly.

Via: EurekAlert

Source: Advances in Atmospheric Sciences

Amazon replaces battery forklifts with fast-fueling hydrogen ones

Amazon will replace its forklifts’ batteries in 11 warehouses with an alternative power source: hydrogen fuel cells (HFC). The e-retail giant is investing millions in the technology, acquiring the right to buy up to 23 percent of hydrogen fuel cell maker Plug Power. In a press release, Plug Power has revealed that the tech titan will spend $70 million this year on hydrogen fueling infrastructure, the fuel itself and fuel cells for forklifts and for backup power.

The power source will allow Amazon’s forklifts to work round the clock, since they don’t need to take time off to charge their batteries. Operators will simply have to refill them with hydrogen fuel when they run out. In addition to using Plug Power’s products in its fulfillment centers, Amazon will also work with the company to expand its fuel cell engines’ applications. If the partnership goes well, the tech titan could spend up to $140 million to equip fulfillment centers with HFCs and their corresponding infrastructure in 2018.

While the power source doesn’t emit anything harmful, they remain controversial to this day. To make hydrogen fuel, manufacturers have to use a lot of energy and produce greenhouse gases in the process. In addition, the fuel is pricey, as well as difficult to store and transport. These are merely some of the reasons why fuel cells never took off, though like Amazon, the military is giving the technology a shot: it’s current exploring the possibility of deploying Chevy’s HFC-powered pickups to battlefields and US bases.

Via: Ars Technica

Source: Reuters, Plug Power

Adidas Futurecraft 4D starts a new era of 3D-printed shoes

Adidas is back with another sneaker based on a 3D-printed midsole, but this time the company says it’s moving even closer to mass production. The Futurecraft 4D shoe will be the first one using Carbon’s “Digital Light Synthesis” process. The Silicon Valley company’s tech creates 3D items by blasting liquid with light, which Adidas says will allow it to operate on “a completely different manufacturing scale.” The shoes themselves have a slightly different midsole than their predecessors too, matching last week’s leaked model with a midsole that protrudes horizontally, increasing the visual 3D effect.

Last year’s 3D-printed Adidas sneaker arrived in December in very limited numbers. For this followup to the 3D Runner, Adidas says it will produce 300 pairs later this month for its friends & family, before releasing 5,000 pairs at retail during the fall/winter. That won’t be the end either, as its plan to scale up projects more than 100,000 pairs made with the Digital Light Synthesis method by the end of 2018.

Source: Adidas

Periscope opens 360-degree broadcasts to everyone

When Periscope debuted live 360-degree broadcasting late last year, it was only available to a handful of users. That changes now. A tweet from the company announced that as of today anyone who’s broadcasting either from the iOS app (with an attached Insta360 Nano) or via the Producer software can be part of the spherical zeitgeist. Periscope says that you’ll need the Producer app specifically if you want to do a 360 broadcast from an Android phone, in addition to a Ricoh Theta S or Orah 4i.

Honestly, until we have more cameras capable of grabbing 360-degree video (and, more important than that, cheaper and smaller ones) this probably isn’t going to see a lot of use outside of the people who’d have utilized it in the first place. Still, it’s good to see Periscope remove at least one of the barriers to entry.

Starting today, anyone broadcasting with Periscope for iOS or through Producer can go live in 360! 📱🎥 Here’s how: https://t.co/6BTIV4VjPl

— Periscope (@periscopeco) April 6, 2017

Source: Periscope (Twitter)

Tired of boring Facebook profile photos? Upload a profile video instead — here’s how

Profile pictures put the “face” in Facebook – serving as an online representation of your persona (or perhaps your cat). Cover photos, on the other hand, dress up your profile page with a larger image. Uploading either one is simple, but if you’re new to Facebook or can’t figure out why your profile photo looks odd, we’ve put together a simple guide on how to upload a Facebook profile photo and cover photo – and how to get fancy by uploading a profile video instead, adding a frame for a cause, using a temporary profile picture, or cropping your own image to the proper dimensions.

Uploading a profile photo

From a desktop

After logging into your account, go to your Facebook page by clicking on your name at the top menu or in the left column.
Hover the cursor over the profile photo (the square image). Click on Update Profile Picture when it appears.
A box will pop up, with several options. You can upload a new photo or graphic, take a photo using your computer’s webcam, select a photo from ones you have uploaded in the past, or edit an existing profile photo. If you upload a new photo, make sure each side is at least 180 pixels. Don’t worry if it isn’t an exact square, since you’ll adjust the photo in the next menu.
After uploading, taking, or selecting a photo, it’s time to crop and reposition it. Drag the image around to position the area you want to display, within the square box. Use the slider at the bottom to zoom in and out of the image. Hit Save to finish.
If you happen to be viewing a photo that you’d like to make your profile picture, click on Options at the bottom of the screen, then Make Profile Picture.

From a mobile device

After opening the Facebook app, access the menu options by tapping on the icon with three lines in the bottom-right of the screen.
Inside the menu, tap on your name to go to your page – it’s usually the first option listed.
Tap on your current profile photo – the small square at the top. It should say Edit in the corner if you are logged in and on your own page.
To upload a photo that you already have, tap on the Select profile picture option. Your photo library will pop up – find the one you want and tap on it.
If you would like your profile picture to revert back to the old one after a certain time, tap on the Make temporary button and choose a time from the menu, or set a custom time. This option is good for changing your photo for a certain holiday without remembering to change it back later.
To finish, tap Use.

How to upload a Facebook profile video

Facebook recently made it possible to use short video clips instead of a still image as your profile. Currently, the feature is only available through the Facebook app, not a desktop computer.

Follow the steps to change a profile picture from a mobile device listed above (steps 1-4) – navigate to your profile, then tap on the profile picture.
Instead of clicking on the Select profile picture, tap Select a profile video. In the list of videos that pops up, select the video you would like to use.
In the next screen, you’ll have the chance to edit your video using the icons at the bottom of the screen. With the trim icon (the pair of scissors) highlighted, you can click and drag the blue bars to shorten the video. The video will play on an endless loop in the profile photo space, so highlight the best moment from the footage.
If you don’t want sound to play in your profile video, tap the sound icon at the bottom and select Off.
Facebook profile videos use a still frame from the video when it’s not possible to play the entire video. To choose which part of the video is displayed, tap the “cover” icon at the bottom. Then, along the video timeline at the bottom of the screen, drag your finger until you find a suitable still to use. If you don’t select a still from the video, Facebook will choose one automatically. Tap Use to finish.

How to upload a Facebook photo with a frame

See those text and graphics a few of your friends have on their profile pictures, usually for a non-profit, sports team, or holiday? That’s called a Facebook Frame and it’s easy to do. Once again though, this is a feature from the app, not the desktop website.

Follow those steps to change a profile picture from a mobile device (steps 1-4 above), heading into your profile page and tapping on the profile picture. You’ll be a profile picture swapping guru in no time.
After tapping on the profile picture, select Add frame. You may have to approve a pop-up that gives Facebook access to your location, since some frames are location-based. Now, you’ll see a number of different frame options – Facebook prioritizes options that your friends use first, as well as seasonal frames. You can also use the search bar at the top to find a specific frame. Once you’ve settled on a frame, just tap it.
Frames automatically default to your current profile photo. If you want to swap out the photo for a different one while still using the frame, click the camera icon that says change on the top right of the photo. Underneath the preview, you’ll see options to change the frame, or to set your profile picture to expire and go back to the old version after a certain date — helpful if you are using a seasonal banner. You can also add a comment. Once you’re finished, tap Use.

How to watch porn on the Gear VR

Watching porn on Gear VR is both easy, and accessible.

Adult content is easy to access on Gear VR, provided you know what you’re doing. There is plenty of adult content available for Gear VR but getting to it will take a few extra steps. This may mean sideloading an app, or downloading the videos you want to watch.

Read more at VRHeads.com

Samsung expects to post record operating profit for Q1 2017

Samsung expects to post stellar earnings for the first quarter of 2017 despite its head honcho’s scandal in Korea and the lack of a new flagship phone for the period. The company believes its consolidated operating profit will reach approximately 9.9 trillion Korean won ($8.75 billion) for January to March this year. That’s significantly larger than its 6.68 trillion won ($5.9 billion) profit for the same period last year and bigger still than its 9.2 trillion won ($7.8 billion) profit for the fourth quarter of 2016.

While the Korean conglomerate has yet to reveal the breakdown per division, Yonhap News says Samsung can thank its flourishing chip business for what could be its second-highest quarterly operating profit ever. Bloomberg mentioned earlier this year that the growing demand for lower-end smartphones in China is driving up Samsung’s chip prices, and that might still be the case this quarter. The number to beat is 10.1 trillion won ($8.9 billion), which was set in the third quarter of 2013. Samsung’s semiconductor division was the one responsible for that milestone, as well.

In addition to its profit estimate, Samsung also noted in its guidance that it expects consolidated sales for Q1 2017 to reach approximately 50 trillion Korean won ($44.19 billion). The chaebol will reveal the breakdown for that amount, along with the rest of its first quarter results, later this month.

Source: Samsung, Yonhap News