Nerdcore artist Mega Ran takes us on a Gameboy nostalgia trip

Nerdcore artist Mega Ran has a new video out today and it’s full of Nintendo nostalgia. Church ft. KadeshFlow is a fun homage to the 8-bit visual style popularized by the GameBoy in the late 1980s. In the video, Mega Ran and KadeshFlow make their way through a green dot-matrix world full of retro gaming references to battle ghosts at Alex Trebek’s house (Trebek has been a favored target of the nerdcore community ever since he called them “losers” on an episode of Jeopardy!).

For the uninitiated, nerdcore is a sub-genre of hip-hop obsessed (unsurprisingly) with all things nerdy. Its songs typically focus on pop culture topics like video games, Star Wars, Stranger Things and Harry Potter. Anything an artist feels passionately about is fair game. “Anytime that I can use my platform to make people aware of things they might not be familiar with, and I can do it in an artistic manner, that’s what I’m going to do,” Mega Ran told us in an interview last year. “It’s great to have the kind of freedom we have to talk about whatever we want without having to fall into a format of genre or subject matter limitations.”

“If I can play a part in people being comfortable enough with themselves to talk about the things they love, using the vehicle of rap music, it’s a good thing,” he added. Well, we’re definitely comfortable enough to talk about anything Gameboy and Nerdcore related, so job done Mega Ran?

Source: YouTube

Uber self-driving lead steps aside due to Waymo’s lawsuit

While Waymo — the company formerly known as Google’s self-driving car project — continues to sue Uber over stolen trade secrets, the former employee at the center of its charges will “be recused from all LiDAR-related work and management.” Levandowski left last year to found a self-driving truck company called Otto, which was then purchased by Uber in an arrangement that Waymo lawyers claim was planned as a way to steal thousands of pages of confidential materials. Now Business Insider has obtained an internal memo where he tells employees they’ll be reporting to someone else for the duration of the lawsuit.

For its part, Uber is claiming it uses different LiDAR technology (which enables self-driving cars to see the environment around them) and has even made the argument that Waymo’s implementation is well ahead of the stuff it’s using. Next week the judge in the case is scheduled to rule on an injunction request by Waymo that could remove Levandowski from the project or otherwise cripple Uber’s efforts, while Levandowski recently invoked his Fifth Amendment right to avoid testifying in the case.

Source: Business Insider

Amazon is ‘doubling down’ on the Echo ecosystem

Amazon is off to a profitable start in 2017. The company’s first-quarter sales jumped 23 percent to $35.7 billion, beating analyst expectations, and top executives pinned part of that spike on the Alexa ecosystem.

“We’re very encouraged by the customer response to Echo products,” one exec said during Amazon’s financial call today. “Not only the products, but the ability now to use tablets as Echo devices, since we spread the Alexa technology to many of those devices. We’re also happy with the success we’ve had with developers; there are now more than 12,000 Alexa skills, so we think that’s all foundational.”

Amazon debuted the Echo in 2014, bringing the voice-activated Alexa assistant into people’s homes. Since then, the company has released the $50 Echo Dot and opened up the Alexa software to developers.

Echo and Alexa are crucial areas of investment for Amazon right now. It makes sense, too: As more people adopt Alexa-enabled technologies, Amazon is able to steer those customers toward its own products and services.

“Some of the things that we’re investing the most in are, as you say, the Echo and Alexa devices,” the executive said. “We’re doubling down on that investment.”

Amazon isn’t stopping with Alexa, of course. The company is involved in a multitude of industries, including livestreaming, space, cloud computing, fashion, autonomous driving, drone delivery, bookstores, original programming, experimental grocers, and, of course, online shopping. Thankfully, it seems to be done with the smartphone market for now.

Another major focus for the company going forward is artificial intelligence and machine learning — building up the software that powers Alexa and Amazon Web Services, the popular cloud computing platform. In this sense, Amazon is on the same page as one of its most prominent Silicon Valley neighbors: Google today announced a nearly $1 billion jump in its “other services” sector, which includes AI and hardware endeavors.

Source: Amazon

Apple Celebrates Opening of New Store at Dubai Mall

Apple’s third retail store in the United Arab Emirates opened today at the Dubai Mall, and Apple has shared several photos from its debut on the official Apple news site.

Apple Dubai Mall, located in downtown Dubai, features massive windows with an impressive view of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest structure in the world, along with the Dubai Fountain below. It spans two stories and offers the design that’s been seen in newer stores like Apple Union Square, plus it includes carbon fiber “Solar Wings” and a 186-foot curved storefront.

The new Dubai store features “Today at Apple” sessions focusing on art, design music, photography, videography, and coding, a feature that debuted at the Apple Store in San Francisco last year and will soon expand to all Apple retail stores around the world.

Today at Apple sessions are primarily taught by Creative Pros, which Apple has described as the “liberal arts equivalent” to its more technical Geniuses, but in select cities, well-known artists, photographers, and musicians will also teach classes.

Apple Dubai Mall is the company’s third Middle Eastern store, joining stores at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai and the Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi.

Related Roundup: Apple Stores
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Lexus SUV Being Used for Apple’s Self-Driving Software Test Spotted on the Road

Apple recently obtained a permit allowing the company to test its self-driving software on public roads in several Lexus SUVs, and now Bloomberg has shared details on the equipment Apple is using after one of the vehicles was spotted leaving an Apple facility.

Earlier this week, a white Lexus RX450h SUV was seen leaving an Apple building and was captured in a series of photos by an unnamed source who shared the images with Bloomberg. The vehicle is equipped with multiple sensors, cameras, and radar.

The sensors included Velodyne Lidar Inc.’s top-of-the-range 64-channel lidar, at least two radar and a series of cameras. The sensors appear to be products bought off the shelf from suppliers, rather than custom-made, according to an industry expert who saw the photos.

The vehicle is distinct from the vehicles used for Apple’s mapping project, which uses a series of Dodge Caravans to capture data across the United States for the purpose of improving the Apple Maps app.

Apple was first granted a DMV permit to test autonomous vehicles on public roads on Friday, April 14. At the time, a DMV spokesperson said the company had registered three 2015 Lexus RX450h SUVs to be driven by six Apple employees with expertise in autonomous vehicles.

Apple’s permit application and the appearance of the SUV confirm its work on a car-related project. Rumors originally suggested Apple was developing its own autonomous electric vehicle, but Apple is said to have since transitioned to building an autonomous driving system rather than a complete car.

In California, where Apple is testing its vehicles, companies that participate in the DMV’s Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program must file Disengagement Reports that outline how many miles were covered with self-driving vehicles and whether any accidents occurred, so Apple won’t be able to keep much of the testing on public roads a secret.

Apple’s car team, led by Bob Mansfield, reportedly has until the end of the year to prove the feasibility of an Apple-designed autonomous driving system.

Related Roundup: Apple Car
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Microsoft Surface revenue falls by 26 percent

Microsoft’s third quarter earnings are mostly rosy — except when it comes to sales of its Surface laptops. The company reports that Surface revenues fell 26 percent compared to last year, reaching $831 million down from $1.1 billion. It’s not hard to see why: Microsoft points to more pricing competition among premium 2-in-1 competitors, as well as “product end-of-life dynamics” for the decline. Simply put, Microsoft needs new Surface models to compete with the onslaught of new entries on the market, like Dell’s XPS 13 2-in-1 and Lenovo’s Yoga 910.

It’s also no wonder sales are slowing down. The Surface Pro 4 came out in 2015, and while it’s a capable machine, you can easily find better hardware from other computer makers. It’s also been two years since it updated the low-end Surface 3. While the Surface Book was an exciting addition to the Surface family, it also launched with a slew of problems, and didn’t sell as well as Microsoft had hoped. At least you can get one with some vaguely modern hardware, though.

We’re gearing up for an education-focused Microsoft event on Tuesday, May 3rd, where the company might finally unveil the next entry in the Surface lineup. And if not then, we might also hear something at its Build event next month. Given that Microsoft helped make the dream of tablet-like laptops a reality, I don’t expect it to give up on this category anytime soon.

The FCC doesn’t care what you think about net neutrality

By now, you’ve probably heard what FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has in store for the internet in the United States. If not, here’s the short version: Pai wants to strip the internet of its current status as a “common carrier” until Title II of the Telecommunications Act, roll back the “internet conduct standard” (a vague list of things service providers can’t do to interfere with your online experience) and open a discussion about whether we need specific “Bright Line” rules to prohibit blocking, throttling and paid prioritization. You may agree with Chairman Pai’s assessment of the situation, or you might not. (For the record, most of us around here don’t, for reasons we’ve made clear in the past.)

Either way, it’s your right as part of the FCC’s rule-making process to offer comments to the commission’s staff, and more people are doing that than ever. In 2014, when a proposed net neutrality plan was for discussion, the FCC received millions of comments on the matter — over 60 percent were in favor, and those rules were eventually adopted. While in that case, public opinion mostly aligned with the commission’s own plans, that’s probably not going to happen this time. There are reasons to support the Title II classification (among other things), and even if millions of you make your distaste known to the FCC, it probably won’t matter.

The thing to remember about FCC proceedings is that they are 100 percent not up to a public vote. You can — and should — offer your fears, concerns, your nuanced takes to these people who have been selected to serve us. With that said, remarks made recently by Commissioner O’Rielly, Chairman Pai and senior officials within the FCC make it clear that we, the people, have very little power to change their minds.

Pai broadly laid out his plan for the future of the internet in a speech (PDF) delivered at the Newseum in Washington DC yesterday, and in it, he referred to the main supporters of Title II classification as “special interests.” Groups like Free Press did advocate for the commission’s earlier Open Internet rules, and those groups certainly campaigned to get people to submit comments during the rule-making process. Still, that doesn’t mean the list of comments submitted (which is actually still growing) is invalid, or that those concerns aren’t valid. And Commissioner O’Rielly, when speaking at a FreedomWorks event, couldn’t start talking about the public response to the net neutrality rule-making process fast enough.

“I must smile when I hear proponents try to defend net neutrality’s enactment,” he said. They inevitably refer to the nearly four million comments the Commission received on the topic. Lost somehow is the simple truth that more than 1.6 million, or almost 40 percent, of those comments opposed the imposition of the rules. More importantly, Commission outcomes are not and cannot be decided by poll numbers or letter counts.”

That last point says it all, and was reiterated by senior FCC officials today when asked if massive backlash against Pai’s new rules would prompt the commission to reconsider its plans for Title II classification.

“We will of course take into account any comment that is filed, and analyze the arguments and reasoning that is made,” an official noted. “At the same time, certainly, the comments process does not function as the equivalent of a public survey opinion or poll, and what matters is the quality of the argumentation presented. The facts that are entered into the record, the legal arguments that are placed into the record; it’s not a counting procedure where we decide which side has placed more comments onto the record and that side wins.”

Put another way, Wheeler-era net neutrality opponents can complain as loud and often as they want. The FCC isn’t obliged to please them, even if a majority of commenters are opposed to Pai’s plan. Considering what the (normally five person) FCC looks like right now, it’s hard to see how supporters of the existing system even have a chance.

With the ouster of commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel and former chairman Tom Wheeler’s resignation last year, the ideological leanings of FCC has shifted. Chairman Ajit Pai and commissioner Michael O’Rielly are Republican, and since Republicans have control of the Senate (if only narrowly), it stands to reason that the next commissioner will be a conservative, too. Mignon Clyburn is the third member and sole Democrat on the commission and the best case scenario for her is that she’s joined by another, even though they’ll still be outnumbered. Point is, the bench is currently — and for the foreseeable future, will be — stacked with people who will almost certainly back Chairman Pai’s plans.

ThinCase brings the headphone jack back to the iPhone in a big way

Why it matters to you

Many cases offer these individual features, but few unite them in one package as ThinCase does.

When the iPhone 7 debuted without a 3.5mm headphone jack, as many had feared, two things happened: a sizable chunk of Apple’s user base was annoyed, and a new industry for accessory makers was born. Many companies, like Incipio and Fuze, introduced cases that revived the headphone jack, in most cases alongside an external battery.

Many of these products are just fine, but there’s always room for improvement. A campaign launched a little over a week ago on Indiegogo aims to add a little more utility than just a headphone jack or extra battery, and it’s called ThinCase.

ThinCase is unique for a couple of reasons. First, despite packing both those features, it is considerably thinner than the competition — even Apple’s own Smart Battery Case with the awkward hump. ThinCase adds slightly less than 5mm of bulk to the back of the iPhone 7, and the company is offering the product for the iPhone 6 and 6S ranges as well.

ThinCase

Better yet, although it’s more slender than Apple’s first-party case, it packs a significantly larger battery — 3,000mAh, compared to Apple’s 2,365mAh. You’re not paying any extra for it, either and you’ll actually pay less, if you’re one of ThinCase’s early bird backers. The case is currently available for $60, with shipping slated to begin just around the corner in June. The campaign is already well over 400-percent funded, and at the time of writing there’s still 22 days remaining.

But ThinCase’s real party piece is its kickstand. The case is functionally comprised of two halves that utilize the base as a hinge, and that clamp together with your phone sandwiched in between. The front half has a raised lip, and you can rotate it back to prop your iPhone up on a surface.

It’s an elegant and useful feature that also calls attention to how easy the designers have seemingly made the case to put on or take off. While many cases are overly form-fitted and difficult to slip on without causing damage (looking at you, Apple silicone case), putting your iPhone in the ThinCase is really as simple as plugging it in to the Lightning port, and snapping the top half closed.

Speaking of Lightning ports, ThinCase has one — which is not as common as you’d think among battery cases for Apple’s smartphones. The product works as a pass-through, topping up your iPhone’s battery first before charging the case’s. LED indicator lights on the rear show you the level of juice in the case with the press of a button.

Few cases include all of these features — a headphone jack, external battery, and kickstand — and fewer still accomplish this integration while still being reasonably compact. Many battery cases don’t even work with Apple’s included Lightning EarPods.

You can check out ThinCase and snap one up for yourself on Indiegogo. Conversely, you can find our picks for the best iPhone 7 battery cases here.

Acer’s focus grows with a new smartwatch, VR headset, and 360 camera

Why it matters to you

Acer’s side projects are helping bring Windows Holographic closer to fruition, among other beneficial partnerships.

Acer’s announcement-packed Next@Acer event included a slew of products ranging from gaming computers to slim laptops, with a varying set of release dates. A few don’t quite fit into any other major product releases, instead focusing on emerging and developing areas of technology with novel additions to the concept.

First up, the Acer Leap Ware takes the fitness smartwatch and refines it with a couple of key features that play well as a team. Instead of Android Wear, Acer developed its own smartwatch software, built on a MediaTek MT2523 chipset with an MT2511 for heart rate sensing. With a screen built from Corning Gorilla Glass and an IPX7 water resistance rating, users will not have to worry about an unexpected rainstorm or accidental damage, and a built-in LED helps for those who do not take their phone on a run. Acer also provides social features through the Liquid Life app, where users can share their workouts and battle for coins in the Liquid Life marketplace. The Leap Ware will hit shelves in North American in July, starting at $139.

Next up, two products with less clear release dates. The first is the Acer Holo 360, a 360-degree camera that also makes phone calls. It has 4G built right in and a small screen, which allows for quick viewing, editing, and sharing, all without a smartphone.

Acer also announced that it’s working with Microsoft on the mixed reality headset units promised for Windows Holographic, and that development kits are already in capable hands. No word on when either of those products will find their way into users’ homes, or how much they will cost when they do.

Acer continues to find new and intriguing ways to reach into different product categories. We have been waiting for mixed reality headsets in particular for quite some time, so any sign of progress is appreciated. That said, Acer’s focus continues to fall squarely on computers, which made up the bulk of the content at this year’s press conference.

Acer’s focus grows with a new smartwatch, VR headset, and 360 camera

Why it matters to you

Acer’s side projects are helping bring Windows Holographic closer to fruition, among other beneficial partnerships.

Acer’s announcement-packed Next@Acer event included a slew of products ranging from gaming computers to slim laptops, with a varying set of release dates. A few don’t quite fit into any other major product releases, instead focusing on emerging and developing areas of technology with novel additions to the concept.

First up, the Acer Leap Ware takes the fitness smartwatch and refines it with a couple of key features that play well as a team. Instead of Android Wear, Acer developed its own smartwatch software, built on a MediaTek MT2523 chipset with an MT2511 for heart rate sensing. With a screen built from Corning Gorilla Glass and an IPX7 water resistance rating, users will not have to worry about an unexpected rainstorm or accidental damage, and a built-in LED helps for those who do not take their phone on a run. Acer also provides social features through the Liquid Life app, where users can share their workouts and battle for coins in the Liquid Life marketplace. The Leap Ware will hit shelves in North American in July, starting at $139.

Next up, two products with less clear release dates. The first is the Acer Holo 360, a 360-degree camera that also makes phone calls. It has 4G built right in and a small screen, which allows for quick viewing, editing, and sharing, all without a smartphone.

Acer also announced that it’s working with Microsoft on the mixed reality headset units promised for Windows Holographic, and that development kits are already in capable hands. No word on when either of those products will find their way into users’ homes, or how much they will cost when they do.

Acer continues to find new and intriguing ways to reach into different product categories. We have been waiting for mixed reality headsets in particular for quite some time, so any sign of progress is appreciated. That said, Acer’s focus continues to fall squarely on computers, which made up the bulk of the content at this year’s press conference.