This neural network generates weird and adorable pickup lines

Training a neural network involves feeding it enough raw data to start recognizing and replicating patterns. It can be a long, tedious process to just approximate complex things — like writing articles for Engadget, for example. Research scientist Janelle Shane has experimented with her own neural network to create recipes, lists of new Pokemon and weird superhero names with varying results. Now, however, she’s turned her training attention to pickup lines. Surprisingly, her neural network has generated some pretty adorable ones.

After sorting through various pickup lines on the internet, many of which she called “obscene, or aggressive, or kind of insulting,” Shane found that her neural network wasn’t really able to generate similarly gross lines. “However, the only words and phrases it learned to use reliably were the ones that showed up in the dataset multiple times,” she said, “(like) sky, heart, love, beautiful.”

At first, though, the network was way off, spitting out utter nonsense like “De’ver dincing you bangting Won pantt ore.” After more training, the list entries it finally generated ended up ranging from surreal to downright cute.

You must be a tringle? Cause you’re the only thing here.
If I had a rose for every time I thought of you, I have a price tighting.
Hey baby, you’re to be a key? Because I can bear your toot?

“In retrospect,” she joked, “I probably confused it further by putting in all the Harry Potter and astrophysics pickup lines.” But the process didn’t sound terribly laborious overall. “It learned many of the basic formulas fairly early in the process,” Shane said.

Sure, many of the lines sound like poorly translated English, but a few of them still stand out.

Do you have a pence? Because you stole my heart bat.
I had a come to got your heart.
You look like a thing and I love you.

Actually, that last one might be pretty useful, even if you’re not a research scientist.

Source: Janelle Shane

Watch ‘Citizenfour’ team’s WikiLeaks doc this summer on Showtime

There haven’t been any shortage of documentaries about WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, but the one we’ve kept a keen eye on is from filmmaker Laura Poitras. You might remember her as the director of the the Edward Snowden documentary Citizenfour and as one of the 150 filmmakers calling for camera encryption. As it happens, Risk will see a theatrical release, but this summer the film will be available on the small screen thanks to Showtime, Variety reports.

The Sam Esmail-executive-produced (Mr. Robot) film has been in production for some six years, and apparently is being updated to include WikiLeaks’ role in the 2016 election. For a chilling sneak peek — Poitras is heard describing coming home to her apartment door being open — check out the new trailer embedded below.

Source: Variety

Play ‘The Elder Scrolls Online’ for free this week

Bethesda is trying to boost The Elder Scrolls Online’s player base less than two months before the launch of its big Morrowind expansion. Starting tomorrow at 10 am EST, anyone can download and play the game on PC, Xbox One or PlayStation 4 for free for an entire week.

People taking advantage of the free play week will have access to the full The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited base game, but not the DLC. They’ll also get 500 crowns to spend in the in-game store when they create a new account. Any characters, Crown Packs or store items bought during the week, as well as any progress made, will carry over if players decide to buy the game.

TESO: Morrowind comes out on June 6th for $39.99. New players can buy both the base game and the expansion for $59.99. Bethesda is promising over 30 hours of new content in Morrowind, a new Warden character class, and new player vs. player battlegrounds.

Source: Bethesda

The next big ‘Overwatch’ event starts tomorrow

According to a trailer released for French-speaking audiences, Overwatch‘s next big event is headed to consoles and PC tomorrow, April 11th. “Insurrection” sends you and five teammates into the past against hordes of robotic Omnics on the King’s Row map. Set as a “declassified” archival mission detailing Tracer’s first outing for Overwatch, the update will have more than 100 new character models, emote poses and graffiti tags waiting for you. Be sure and grab this quickly, though, as the event only lasts until May 1st. Character skins from the new “Insurrection” event also leaked onto Xbox Live a few days ago, too, as fans search for more details to whet their appetite for the new update.

‘Insurrection’ includes Tracer’s first mission and a horde of invading robots. This isn’t the first event like this for Overwatch. The co-op event plays much like Gears of War‘s “Horde Mode” or Team Fortress 2‘s “Mann vs Machine,” pitting your team against waves of computer-controlled enemies. Last October’s event had a Halloween theme, setting you up with two other heroes to take on Frankenstein (played by Junkrat) and his monster (played by Roadhog, of course) as they sent groups of ghouls to destroy your castle.

The original leaked video has since been pulled from YouTube (as might the one above), but it’s making its way around the internet. We’ve reached out to Blizzard for confirmation (as well as an English trailer) and will update this post as we find out more.

‘Planet Earth II’ on 4K Blu-ray will make you want a new TV

Planet Earth II looks so good on 4K Blu-ray that it completely justifies the existence of the doomed disc format. The original Planet Earth sold most consumers on the benefits of Blu-ray and HD video in 2007. It was like peering through a pristine window for the first time, after being stuck with muddy standard definition video for decades. This version of Planet Earth II, on the other hand, is like stepping through that window and into a whole new world of clarity.

While 4K is the big selling point for the sequel nature series, the UHD Blu-ray is currently the only way to view it with HDR (high-dynamic range), which is a much more significant visual upgrade. HDR is about more than just extra pixels: It allows for a far greater color range, contrast and peak brightness than what we’re used to. Together with sumptuous nature footage from all over the world, Planet Earth II is the first true “killer app” for the new Blu-ray format, 4K and HDR and the next TV in your living room.

On my LG OLED B6 4K set, the snow-capped peaks of the Himalaya’s shine as brightly as if I was there in person in the “Mountains” episode. There’s an incredible amount of depth to every image, especially in drone and helicopter shots of showing off sweeping vistas. And the sheer range of color on the screen is astonishing, like the highlights in the beaks and talons of yellow eagles, the march of red crabs on Christmas Island, or the contrast of bright pink flamingos against a pristine lake and white salt flats. If you have a modern surround sound setup, you’ll also be able to hear the intricacies of every environment in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1.

It’s hard to convey the visual wonder of Planet Earth II in words, so I recommend finding some way to check it out in person. It’s the best example I’ve seen yet for showing off nebulous new video technologies. I wouldn’t be surprised if Best Buy and retailers started using it to highlight their new TV sets. The huge variety of wildlife and environments, together with the tear-inducing aspects of 4K and HDR, is enough to make even a layman realize their HDTV might need an upgrade. Sure, there’s plenty of 4K HDR demo material out there, but there’s nothing that’s as well-produced and sumptuous as Planet Earth II.

If you’re trying to avoid buying a new TV sometime soon, you might want to avoid being spoiled by Planet Earth II footage — not because of plot twists, but because it’ll look so good you might drop a grand or more on the spot. While it’s a fairly safe time to buy a 4K set today — now that prices have fallen and even OLED is becoming affordable — there are still good reasons to wait. We’re still in the midst of a format war between HDR 10 and Dolby Vision, so it might make sense holding off until the dust has settled. (For now, I’d recommend snapping up a TV that supports both standards, like Vizio’s P and M series sets.) And of course, prices will continue to fall for the next few years, so you might be able to get a much better deal this holiday season.

Perhaps Planet Earth II’s greatest accomplishment is justifying the need for 4K Blu-ray. Sure, the BBC and Dish are already streaming it in 4K, but there’s no HDR streaming option for the series yet. And even if it inevitably lands on Netflix or Amazon with HDR support, it’ll still be a much lower bit-rate presentation than the disc.

Simply put, the 4K Blu-ray is the best way to see Planet Earth II for the foreseeable future. Mainstream consumers might not appreciate that, but it’s pure eye candy for videophiles. And while it’s been tough to recommend 4K Blu-ray players in the past (outside of the Xbox One S), Planet Earth II makes the choice pretty simple. What’s a couple hundred dollars for the best TV viewing experience you’ll ever have?

Photo credit: Justin Anderson/BBC

FCC axes plan to allow phone calls on flights

There hasn’t exactly been a groundswell of support for in-flight phone calls in the US, and regulators are now ready to drop the idea. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has proposed that his agency cancel a 2013 proceeding that would have let people make cellphone calls on aircraft. It’s in the “public interest,” he claims, and removing the option from the table would be a win for people who “value a moment of quiet” in the skies.

Unlike many of Pai’s moves, this proposal likely won’t face much public opposition. Notwithstanding objections from travelers who don’t want to listen to others’ conversations, airlines like Delta vowed to ban in-flight calls even if the FCC allowed them. What good is loosening the rules if few people can or want to take advantage of that change? Pai’s proposal isn’t so much a bold decision as an acknowledgment that the concept of in-flight calls isn’t likely to gain much support.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: FCC (PDF)

FCC Chairman to End Plans to Allow In-Flight Cellphone Calls

Full smartphone use on commercial flights will continue to be disallowed, according to a proposal issued today by United States Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai. Pai wants to terminate 2013 proceedings that aimed to relax the rules prohibiting passengers from using their cellular phones for phone calls and data while in the air.

In a statement [PDF], Pai called the FCC’s plan “ill-conceived” and said that tabling it permanently would be a “victory for Americans across the country.”

“I stand with airline pilots, flight attendants, and America’s flying public against the FCC’s ill-conceived 2013 plan to allow people to make cellphone calls on planes. I do not believe that moving forward with this plan is in the public interest. Taking it off the table permanently will be a victory for Americans across the country who, like me, value a moment of quiet at 30,000 feet.”

Back in late 2013, The FCC announced plans to introduce a proposal that would allow passengers to use their cellular phones on airplanes during flight for making phone calls and browsing the web. The proposal went forward, despite protests from flight attendants, airlines, consumer groups, and pilots, leading the Department of Transportation to announce plans to consider banning calls if the FCC approved the measure.

Since then, the FCC has been investigating the safety of allowing cellphone service on planes, and the proposal has not moved forward. With Pai aiming to nix it completely, it sounds like cellphone usage while in flight, including data usage for web browsing and making voice calls, will continue to be banned.

Under the FCC’s existing rules, which were updated in 2013, passengers can use personal devices like iPhones and iPads throughout their flights, but cellular service must be disabled through Airplane Mode.

Tag: FCC
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Apple Stops Signing iOS 10.2.1 and iOS 10.3

Following the release of iOS 10.3.1 on April 3, Apple has stopped signing iOS 10.2.1 and iOS 10.3, earlier versions of iOS that were previously available to consumers before the latest update was released.

Customers who have upgraded to iOS 10.3.1 will no longer be able to downgrade their devices to iOS 10.2.1 or iOS 10.3.

Apple routinely stops signing older versions of software updates after new releases come out in order to encourage customers to stay up to date.

iOS 10.3.1 are now the only versions of iOS 10 that can be installed on iOS devices by the general public, but developers and public beta testers can also download iOS 10.3.2, a future update that is currently being beta tested.
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76% of U.S. Teens Surveyed Using iPhones, 81% Plan to Purchase

The iPhone continues to be the most popular smartphone among teens, according to data gathered by investment firm Piper Jaffray in its most recent semiannual U.S. teen survey.

76 percent of teens surveyed own an iPhone, up from 69 percent in the spring of 2016, and the highest ownership level seen in the teen survey. A record 81 percent of teens surveyed said they expect their next phone to be an iPhone, up from 75 percent a year ago.

Piper Jaffray attributes the jump in interest to the upcoming 2017 iPhone, which is expected to include an OLED display with an edge-to-edge design, a glass body, a faster A11 processor, no Home button, and wireless charging capabilities.

Apple continued to grow smartphone share among teens with 76% of teens owning an iPhone vs 74% in Fall-16. We view the survey as a positive data point on iPhone 7 demand and excitement around the upcoming launch of the 10th anniversary iPhone (iPhone X)

Teen interest in smart watches has also continued to grow, with interest in the Apple Watch up slightly. 13 percent of teens surveyed said they plan to buy an Apple Watch in the next six months, compared to 11 percent in the spring of 2016.

Among fitness bands, the Apple Watch is the second most popular choice after Fitbit. 71 percent of teens said they prefer the Fitbit, while 10 percent chose the Apple Watch. Nine percent preferred Nike-branded fitness bands, while four percent preferred Garmin.

While iPhone adoption among teens could see significant growth in the fall with the release of a new line of iPhones with exciting new features, Apple Watch growth may remain stagnant as rumors have thus far not pointed towards major changes.

For the teen survey, Piper Jaffray accumulated responses from 5,500 teens in the United States with an average age of 16.

Tags: Piper Jaffray, teen survey
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Fire Emblem Heroes (review)

In the past, Nintendo has traditionally released games on its own hardware. When Nintendo decided to jump into the mobile space, it made a conscious decision to create mobile-tailored games to supplement software on its own dedicated gaming systems. One of the first games announced from this mobile venture was a new entry in the Fire Emblem series.

Fire Emblem has a long history dating back to the Famicom (Japanese NES) with Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light which came out in 1990. Gamers in the U.S. weren’t introduced to the Fire Emblem series until 2003 when the plainly-titled Fire Emblem came to Game Boy Advance. From that point on Fire Emblem has slowly built up a fanbase across the world with a half-dozen follow up titles.

The Fire Emblem series has a large cast of characters in its history–many of which show up in Heroes

With the deep history of the Fire Emblem series, Nintendo has a rich cast of characters to bring to the mobile landscape with Fire Emblem Heroes. The turn-based strategy game relies heavily on character development and an intricately weaving story that plays out differently depending on how you perform on the battlefield and which relationships you choose to develop.

Gameplay

Fire Emblem Heroes follows in the footsteps of its older siblings with similar gameplay, similar art and music, as well as comparable sound effects. The gameplay translates perfectly to the touchscreen nature of mobile devices. Sorting and commanding your troops is very easy to execute by selecting your units with your fingertip and dragging or tapping nearby squares within the game grid. You’ll quickly learn how each unit type can attack and move within the gameplay area and how your turns throughout each battle play out against your enemies. The amount of variety in each battle quickly becomes apparent early in the game.

Guide your allies to victory as you master the unique art of the battle

As you command the Emblian Empire against the Askran Kingdom, you’ll be able to summon “Heroes” you encounter throughout the game. Strategically choosing each group of playable characters allows you to command the battlefield to varying degrees. After completing a set amount of story missions you’ll gain access to special timed events, as well as fight against rivals around the world in the arena maps. Items that buff your heroes’ abilities can be obtained in arena battles as you make your way up the leaderboards.

I really have to commend Nintendo on its ability to focus on gameplay first with a lot of the titles its made in the past. Fortunately with Fire Emblem Heroes, the graphical presentation and overall package don’t suffer from this focus on gameplay. The entire package fits together nicely with an emphasis on classic gameplay.

Presentation

The visuals in Fire Emblem Heroes are some of the best in the mobile space–especially when it comes to the fully pre-rendered cutscenes. Each character within the game is drawn with incredible detail and color. It’s easy to differentiate each character from the next because of the amount of detail each character employs. It’s also fairly evident from early on that care was taken in designing the world, the characters, and playing fields in Heroes.

Fire Emblem has always been known for great symphonic music. Fire Emblem Heroes follows suit with a wonderful soundtrack that brought joy to my ears every time I booted up the game. The music has a strong Japanese influence, but also integrates a fair amount of European classical flair to complement the visuals. All in all, Nintendo and Intelligent Systems have done a great job composing a strong soundtrack for Fire Emblem Heroes.

The hand-drawn art style is second to none when compared to other games on the Google Play store

The story plays out in a traditional medieval setting. You play as a commander to the heroes that you’ll instruct on the battlefield. The dynamic between the player and the accompanied heroes plays out nicely with an introduction to each new battle. Menu systems are designed well but take a little bit to get used to, as there are a lot of options for the player. Navigating between the battle arenas, your home area and the shop is just a tap away at any moment and each section is labeled at the bottom of the screen.

Mobile ties

Although Fire Emblem Heroes harkens back to the classic and appreciated gameplay of the games before it, it also has some new features that many current mobile games have employed. Among them is a currency system represented by Orbs within the game. Orbs that you collect through gameplay can be used to progress through missions within the game and there’s always an option to purchase more.

Nintendo and DeNA’s partnership comes together in multiple titles, including Fire Emblem Heroes

Fire Emblem Heroes does a great job of tip-toeing between a traditional handheld game and what many mobile phone games have become. It never forces you to pay in order to advance, but instead gives players the option to purchase items that provide benefit in various ways. I honestly prefer this setup over completely unlocking all modes from one larger payment as it gives the choice to really dig into the experience or occasionally hop into a few battles from time to time. In regards to that point, the battling is also streamlined to be much more bite-size in comparison to other dedicated games in the series. This fits nicely with the lifestyle that many mobile gamers have–occasional free-time that allows for a quick match.

There are also bonuses available to those players that choose to link their game to a Nintendo account. The ‘My Nintendo’ account system allows players to receive certain perks and discounts on digital goods that can be applied to Fire Emblem Heroes or other offerings from Nintendo. it’s a nice feature that few mobile games make use of and could be used to promote other Nintendo properties.

Heroes Wrap

Nintendo/Intelligent Systems and DeNA have paired up to offer a wonderful gaming experience that encapsulates what’s great in both mobile and traditional handheld games. The entire experience is tied together nicely in a fairly approachable package that eases even the least seasoned gamer into the basics. This approachability along with a strong presentation and deep gameplay mechanics make Fire Emblem Heroes one of the best turn-based strategy game available on Android.