Parker Planners launches new app that brings iPad compatibility and more

Why it matters to you

Looking for a way to better manage and organize your life? Now that it’s added iPad compatibility, Parker Planner may be the planning app for you!

Parker Planners can perhaps be described as a modern staple in the planner industry, and has been building top-quality paper planners since 2006. Parker first got into the digital world a few years ago with the Parker Planner app, which was only available for smartphones and not optimized for iPad use. Now, that’s finally changed with the launch of Parker Planner 2.0.

The new Parker Planner iPad app incorporates some pretty great features. For example, the app automatically imports all of your to-dos and lists straight from the Reminders app — and once you make changes to your lists or to-dos in either app, those changes will be reflected in the other.

Apart from that, Parker Planner offers most of the features you would expect from an iPad calendar app. For example, you’ll get the ability to view your calendar by day, week, or month. Calendar events can be color-coordinated, and are checked off throughout the day as they’re completed. You can also choose from a total of 12 color themes.

With the launch of Parker Planner 2.0, you’ll also get a new notes section, with the ability for those notes to be quickly and easily synced across all of your devices. Parker plans to launch an app for the Mac at some point later this year, according to a report from Silicon Slopes.

Unlike some other calendar apps, you’ll have to pay for Parker Planner. You can get it for $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year, which is a little steep for a digital calendar. Of course, it is around the same price you would expect to pay for a paper planner.

You can get the Parker Planners app for yourself from the Apple App Store.

Scientists develop an imaging technique for looking through concrete

Why it matters to you

Scientists have developed imaging technology that lets them detect corrosion in steel structures, even when it’s encased in thick concrete.

If Superman was a buildings safety inspector, he’d probably use his powers to pull off something similar to the new technique invented by researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They’ve developed new noninvasive imaging technology, similar to an X-ray or CT scan, that allows them to detect corrosion in steel structures like bridges — even when it’s encased in concrete. The Man of Steel would be proud!

“Corrosion of steel, aka rust, is a huge problem worldwide, and costs the U.S. alone over $300 billion per year in prevention and repair,” Dr. Edward Garboczi, an NIST fellow in the applied chemicals and materials division, told Digital Trends. “This includes corrosion of pipes in a chemical plant, corrosion of steel reinforcing bars in a concrete bridge deck, corrosion of a steel bridge, corrosion of automobile bodies, and many other examples.

“When something made of steel is out in the open, it is easy to inspect for rust. But when something covers the steel — such as the concrete cover over steel reinforcing bars, or insulation wrapping cold pipes in a chemical plant — one usually doesn’t know about the existence and growth of corrosion until enough damage has been done, which is usually too late for inexpensive repair.”

The “spectral fingerprint” detection method the team has developed is described in the journal Applied Magnetic Resonance. It involves using terahertz radiation — electromagnetic waves with frequencies 10-100x higher than the microwaves found in kitchens — to uncover corrosion products early in their development. This has an important advantage over current detection methods because it looks for the actual rust compound, not just physical changes like changing thickness in steel support bars.

So what’s next for the project? Getting it to the right people to take advantage of it.

“In many cases, NIST does the basic research, and others develop our basic research into practical tools,” Garboczi continued. “We are looking for people to take our concepts, proven in the laboratory, into the field. We are also interested in extending our technique to the detection of akageneite, another iron corrosion product that is antiferromagnetic. This compound often appears in rebar corrosion in reinforced concrete that has been exposed to a source of chlorine atoms — such as seawater in underwater structures or road deicing salts on highways.”

Microsoft finally adds My People feature in latest Windows Insider build

Why it matters to you

If you’re a Windows Insider who’s been looking forward to trying out the My People feature, then go hit that update button now.

Microsoft recently tapped lightly on the pause button on the rollout of Windows 10 Creators update, recommending that users don’t manually install the update if they want to avoid running into issues that might be identified by automatic upgraders. The company hasn’t hit the pause button on the Windows Insider program, however, as evidenced by the release of another Windows 10 preview build.

The next major Windows 10 update is currently code-named Redstone 3, and that’s the update Microsoft is working toward with the release of Windows 10 Insider preview build 16184. While most of the Redstone 3 builds so far have been focused more on the core operating system, this one actually introduces a meaningful new feature.

We should say that build 16184 reintroduces a feature because this one was supposed to have been included in Creators Update but didn’t quite make it. We’re referring to the My People feature, which greatly enhances how Windows 10 manages contacts and communications, making it more collaborative along the way.

Today’s build provides the first glimpse at My People. Users can pin up to three contacts — for now, with the ability to pin more contacts coming in future builds — to the taskbar, making it easy to start communicating without opening an app first. The feature defaults to Skype, but you can choose your preferred app and Windows 10 will remember your choice for later. In addition, users can view multiple communications apps in the same place, filtered by contact.

To set My People in build 16184, go to the Windows Store app and make sure that the Skype, Mail, and People apps are updated. Then, click on the People icon in the taskbar, activate the initial setup experience, and get things configured. In the latest versions of Skype, 11.13 or later, contact syncing is on by default, and if you’re using an older version then you’ll need to turn it on yourself.

Microsoft also reminded us that Windows Insiders will be getting enhanced Gmail account support in the Windows 10 Mail & Calendar app. If you’re a Windows Insider and haven’t yet received the notification to update your accounts settings to access the Focused Inbox support and other new features, then keep your eyes open for it.

Of course, build 16184 provides the usual list of changes, improvements, and fixes. Here are some highlights, and be sure to check out the complete list for more details:

• The night light feature will no longer get stuck in a disabled state.
• Dragging an app from the Start menu’s All apps list onto the app grid will no longer cause a crash.
• The Notification Settings page will now load up more quickly.
• If your audio system includes features like “Dolby Digital Live” or “DTS Connect,” then these features will work again.
• The Photos app should no longer crash if you open a picture from the Collection page and then hit the back button.

There are also some known issues that you’ll want to keep in mind. Check out the full list before you hit that update button, but here are a few that seem particularly problematic:

• If you see the error “Some updates were canceled. We’ll keep trying in case new updates become available,” then check out this forum post to learn more.
• You’ll need to right-click on the Windows Defender icon to open the app, rather than double-clicking on the icon.
• If you have an SD card inserted in your Surface 3, then you’ll need to remove it in order to update to new builds.

Microsoft also provided an update on some of the most recent changes to the Windows Insider program and team, including providing an overview of how the program works. If you’ve wondered who makes up Microsoft’s internal Windows Insider team, then you’ll want to check out the post.

As always, you’ll need to be a Windows Insider and enrolled in the Fast Ring to get today’s update. You can sign up here, and note that if you’re just starting out, it might take 24 hours or so before you’re offered the update. If you’re already signed up and ready to go, then go to All settings in the Action Center, then Update & security, then hit the Check for updates button.

Acer Predator Triton 700: Our First Take

The Acer Predator Triton 700 is weird, innovative, and very fast.

Acer has never been one to shy away from a challenge, and delivering a gaming laptop that didn’t compromise on slimness was one of the toughest it’s tackled. But the company triumphed in the Triton 700, a new notebook that’s just as lightweight and attractive as it is powerful. We took an up-close look at the during Acer’s annual press conference in New York City, and came away impressed.

A tri-tantic achievement

From a distance, you might mistake the Triton 700 for a generic model in Acer’s Predator series. The Triton 700’s hard angles, contoured edges, and matte finish are longtime hallmarks of the company’s gaming lineup, as are the oversized hinge and stylized grates on the rear outflow panel. But inside the Triton’s clamshell cover are where things get interesting.

Perhaps the highlight is Acer’s dual 2nd-generation AeroBlade cooling system, a five-pipe array that boosts airflow without producing more noise. Thanks to a “three-dimensional” low-profile fan, Acer said it can decrease temperatures by 35 percent.

The improved design also helped the Triton 700 achieve its incredible lightness and thinness. It measures about 18 millimeters (0.74 inches) at its thickest point, thinner than the Razer Blade. And it weighs just 5.7 pounds, light enough to pick up with one hand.

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Kyle Wiggers/Digital Trends

Acer’s unconventional touches don’t stop with Triton’s cooling. The company has positioned the Triton 700’s mechanical keyboard near its bottom half, toward the edge, with the touchpad above it — the reverse of what you’ll find on most machines. It has extended the length of said touchpad from one end of the keyboard to the other.

The Triton 700’s touchpad doubles as a window into its chrome-accented innards. It’s a genius touch. We also found the Triton 700’s keys to be responsive and springy. Strangely, the unique touchpad is located above the keyboard, rather than below it, as with most laptops. We know, we know – that seems insane. However, gaming laptops are generally used with an external mouse. The Triton 700’s arrangement puts the keyboard forward, and that may be preferable for gaming.

Packs a punch, too

You wouldn’t guess it from the Triton 700’s diminutive frame, but the laptop packs powerful hardware under its all-metal hood. There’s a seventh-generation Intel Core processor (at least at Core i5-7300HQ and optionally a Core i7-7700HQ). Acer says graphics are driven by Nvidia 10-Series graphics, but it declined to be more specific. We suspect, given the secrecy, that it’s a mobile implementation of the GTX 1080 Ti – but that’s speculation on our part.

Acer says the rig can hit a score of 17,000 in 3DMark. Unfortunately, it failed to specify what version of 3DMark it used beyond 3DMark 11, which might be used in a few different ways. The company did put that figure side-by-side with figures from the Razer Blade, though. The Triton is 40 percent quicker, if the scores are accurate.

Storage is provided by two NVMe PCIe SSDs in Raid 0 configuration. It also supports up to 32GB of DDR4 2400MHz memory (split between two modules).

The transparent touchpad is a genius touch.

The Triton 700 isn’t lacking in the connectivity department, either. There’s a Thunderbolt 3 connector that can transfer files at speeds up to 40Gbps, three USB ports (two USB 3.0 ports and one USB 2.0), an HDMI 2.0 port, and a DisplayPort connector.

The Triton 700 will ship with a 15.6-inch Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) IPS screen, which we couldn’t test — none of the Triton 700 units we handled were charged. But we were a bit disappointed by the screen’s bezels, which measure about an inch thick on all four sides. We would’ve liked thinner design. However, most of Acer’s competitors suffer the same problem.

Finally, Acer boasted to use of the Triton’s software optimizations, which we didn’t have an opportunity to try. The Triton 700 ships with TrueHarmony, which Acer says delivers “immersive” audio. It’s certified for Skype for Business. And it comes preinstalled with Killer DoubleShot Pro technology, which picks the fastest network connection (Ethernet or Wireless) and sends all “high-priority” traffic over it and standard traffic over the other.

The Triton 700 was designed to be the most powerful computer of its size. Of course, that means it won’t be cheap. It will start at $3,000 in North America when it launches in August. That’s a lot of cash, but if you desperately want a gaming laptop you can fit in a shoulder bag, this might be your best bet.

Highs

• Beautiful touchpad
• Responsive keyboard
• Light and thin body
• Great internal hardware

Lows

• Strange keyboard layout
• Pricey base configuration

Galaxy Note 5 and S6 series owners, how’s the Nougat update treating you?

A big update for some aging phones.

Depending on the carrier and version of the phone, it’s been between a few weeks and a few days since your Galaxy Note 5 or Galaxy S6 series phone was updated to Nougat.

The update, surprisingly, brings Samsung’s 2015-era phones largely to feature parity with the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S8 — barring any hardware-specific variances — and updates the Samsung Experience UI to the company’s blue-and-white color palette that it adopted with Nougat. Android 7.0 also brings battery-saving features in the form of a lower default resolution and improvements to background resources, which will hopefully boost uptime for a series of phones that were criticized for not having great battery life.

Beyond that, though, these are the same great phones that they’ve always been, even two years later. The Note 5, especially, feels like a new phone, and given that there’s no Note 7 on the market anymore, it’s still the phone we recommend if you need pen input on a phone. That the Note 5 and S6 edge+, each big phones, still feel so spritely and modern in mid-2017, is a testament to what Samsung accomplished with its then-new form factor and decision to ditch plastic for metal and glass. But hey, that’s just our opinion!

What’s your experience with the Android 7.0 Nougat update been on the Galaxy Note 5, or Galaxy S6, S6 edge or S6 edge+?

Samsung Galaxy Note 5

• Read our full review
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• Note 5 vs. Note 4: What’s the difference?
• Galaxy Note 5 specs
• Join the discussion
• Check out Note 5 cases

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Everything you need to know about Make VR

Bring all of your creations from VR into the real world using Make VR.

Make VR is a program for HTC Vive that aims to help you to bring your VR creations to life. From within the game you can create and adjust new items, and then export them. You can adjust the shape and scale, turn full items into wire outlines, and plenty more. Essentially, this is a CAD engine that allows you to see what you’re creating in 3D before you send it off to the printer to bring into the real world.

Read more at VRHeads.com.cta large

Pictionary finally gets mobile treatment from makers of Trivia Crack

The popular party game is now available to play on the go!

It’s weird that it took so long, but an official Pictionary game has finally landed in the Google Play Store. Developed by Mattel and Etermax — the same folks behind the all too appropriately named Trivia Crack — Pictionary takes the classic party game and breathes new life in the transition to mobile.

After signing in via Facebook or your Google account, you have the choice between two game modes. Quick Draw is a 2 vs. 2 game of Pictionary played in real time and is very similar to the original game’s style of play. Each team has a drawer and a guesser with 90 seconds on the clock to guess the assigned word. Both teams draw the same word in a head-to-head race with the other team.

You see both what your teammate and your opponents are drawing in real time and the first team to get the right answer wins. It’s not perfect in its current state — you may have troubles connecting to the server, and once you do if someone quits or even accidentally taps the recent app button on their phone, the game abruptly ends. I suppose that might be a feature to cut down on people switching over to a messaging app to cheat. Cheaters ruin everything.

Fortunately, that’s not your only way to play. Just like the turn-based trivia fun in Trivia Crack, Etermax has created a turn-based mode for Pictionary which lets you can play back-and-forth with friends or random opponents taking turns as the drawer and the guesser. When you guess right you earn coins and unlock chests which help you upgrade your sketching tools. All your drawings are also saved in the gallery, so you can go back and admire your previous drawings.

This certainly isn’t the first Pictionary-style game to hit the app store, as there’s already Draw Something, but this is the first game to be officially licensed by the makers of the original best-selling board game. Given Etermax’s success with Trivia Crack, this game has the potential to spread like wildfire on social media.

Download: Pictionary (Free w/IAPs)

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You can start planning your Google I/O 2017 schedule now and reserve yourself a seat

Some changes mean you’ll want to sort out your schedule right away.

Google has filled in most of the details for the Google I/O 2017 schedule of events and you can start selecting and planning out which ones you want to attend.

At the I/O 2017 website, you can see all the talks and presentations for all three days of the event and choose the ones you’re interested in attending. You can track changes and even get notified through the site. As a plus, the mobile view of the site looks great in Chrome and acts very much like a native app so you don’t have to wait for the Google I/O app to be updated and can get started right away.

And you’ll want to get started right away because there are some changes this year. Because of some logistic problems and first-time mistakes Google I/O 2016 and its outdoor venue was a bit of a disaster for many. Google has listened to feedback and made some changes in the way it’s going to work. The tents that events are held in will be bigger and you’ll be able to reserve seats in advance. Google also notes that a few seats will stay open for walk-ins.

We received a lot of great feedback from attendees last year, and have been working hard since then to make sure this is the best Google I/O, yet. To help make it easier to attend your favorite talks and minimize lines, you’ll be able to reserve seats across sessions before I/O starts. But don’t worry, we’re saving a few seats in each session that will be available on a first-come, first-served basis onsite. We’ve also increased the size of each of the tents this year, giving you more opportunities to see all of your favorite talks in-person.

They’ve also doubled the number of Office Hours where developers can work with Google developers and all coding sandbox sessions will be inside one of the climate controlled tents. All in all, these are great changes.

We’ve got a full staff heading to Google I/I in a few weeks and we’ll be sure to bring you the action as it happens. Stay tuned, this is gonna be great!

Google I/O 2017 preview: Everything you need to know about Google’s dev conference

Amazon might unveil a new Echo device with a built-in screen in May

Amazon isn’t done expanding its Echo line of voice-activated devices.

Earlier this week, Amazon introduced the Echo Look, the latest entry to its Echo line. Echo Look is unlike the original Echo, Tap, and Echo Dot in that it’s primarily about taking photos and giving style advice, rather than music playback or enhancing an existing audio setup. Now, according to CNET, Amazon is about to launch a new Echo, and like Echo Look, it has a dramatically different form factor and function.

This new Echo device has a built-in screen. Amazon is reportedly trying to more fully develop its Echo devices, each of which provide access to the company’s Alexa voice assistant. An unnamed source told CNET that Amazon isn’t happy that Google’s own smart speaker, Google Home, was first at being able to identify users by their voice, so it’s trying to stay ahead of the curve by quickly introducing new products.

• 12 best Amazon Echo compatible devices you can buy today
• Amazon Echo tips and tricks: Getting a grip on Alexa
• Amazon Echo: What can Alexa do and what services are compatible?

Amazon’s new Echo device is expected to debut in May. It may help Amazon expand Echo’s capabilities by offering video chats and a way to online shop. Keep in mind reports about an Echo with a screen have been circulating for some time. The device is thought to have the code name “Knight”. It’s unclear if it has a touchscreen, but the screen will presumably still allow Alexa to respond to more complex queries.

There’s even a chance Amazon will come out with an Echo that includes both a screen and camera. Nothing is confirmed, of course, but we can’t help but wonder if such a move would end up cannibalising sales of the Echo Look or even Amazon’s Fire tablets, which also offer Alexa.

• Buy Amazon Echo (UK), Buy Amazon Echo (US)
• Buy Amazon Echo Dot (UK), Buy Amazon Echo (US)
• Buy Amazon Echo Look (US)

Your next Lego masterpiece is a $120 NASA Saturn V rocket

Lego has been inspired by NASA lately. Last month, the toymaker paid homage to women who made great contributions to the space agency, and now it’s revealing an Apollo Saturn V set that also looks incredible. As seen in the picture above, this rocket stands at a little more than three feet tall and can be positioned horizontally or vertically. The idea for the piece was born out of the company’s Lego Ideas program, which lets people from all over the world submit concepts they’d like to see get made. Made up of nearly 2,000 Lego pieces, the NASA Apollo Saturn V is expected to hit stores in June for $120 — which is a small price to pay to make your Moon-landing fantasies come true.

Via: The Verge

Source: Lego