Waymo says Uber hid a LiDAR device based on its technology

The legal battle Waymo waged against Uber is getting more and more intense, and the Alphabet-owned division is showing no signs of slowing down. It has just accused the ride-hailing company of covering up a trade secret theft in a new set of court of documents. Waymo says Uber hid a Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) device — the system that serves as self-driving cars’ “eyes” — that former Google engineer Anthony Levandowski developed based on its technology. If you’ll recall, Waymo filed the lawsuit after another one of its engineers revealed that Levandowski downloaded 9.7 GB of confidential materials related to its self-driving system before leaving company. He then established Otto, the autonomous truck company that Uber ended up acquiring for its own self-driving ambitions.

Alphabet’ self-driving division submitted the documents to court in an effort to convince a federal judge to ban Levandowski from working on Uber’s self-driving project. It says it only discovered the device after one of Uber’s engineers was forced to admit its existence, something Matt Kallman, a spokesperson for the beleaguered ride-hailing firm, strongly denied.

Kallman told Bloomberg that his company made the device available to Waymo from the start, so it could inspect and even photograph it as part of court-ordered information sharing. He further clarified that it’s merely an abandoned project that didn’t even reach prototype stage. Waymo’s sudden focus on the device, he told the publication, “represents a strategic pivot… and a retreat from its original claims.”

In previous statements, Uber said it never touched any of the 14,000 files Levandowski allegedly stole and that it’s been working on a LiDAR system before he came onboard. Further, it said its LiDAR system, whch isn’t even ready for us, has a single-lens design that’s vastly different from Waymo’s multi-lens tech. The device mentioned in the court documents apparently pertains to a second LiDAR technology that more closely resembles Waymo’s. We’ll know next month whether the accusation is solid enough to sway a federal judge once preliminary injunction hearings begin.

Source: Bloomberg

Pinterest fixes its broken visual search tool for Chrome

Pinterest thought it launched something cool when it added visual search to its Chrome browser in March. It was supposed to be able to pinpoint specific items in an image, say a pair of sunglasses somebody’s wearing in a photo, and find pins with similar objects. Unfortunately, it didn’t always work as intended. It tended to capture screenshots of whole windows instead of specific objects you want to look up, and the website can’t find objects within screenshots once they’re already pinned on the site. To address the issue, Pinterest’s extension now uses Javascript to look for the most interesting rectangle in a web page, which most likely contains the image you want to pin.

Here’s how it works: it looks for the most interesting rectangle by taking a screenshot of the page and downgrading it. The extension then looks at the colors in the pixelated image to separate the background from the photos. It switches colors to simpler ones until it’s basically a bunch of white blocks representing pictures against a blue background. By pinpointing the most prominent rectangle on a web page, the extension increases its chances of finding the object you want to look up.

You’ll need to install the social network’s Chrome extension to use its enhanced visual search tool. Once you’re done, simply right-click on an empty space on a website and click Search. The company says the feature is now out for everyone, but give it a bit of time to make its way to your browser if you can’t see the option yet.

Via: VentureBeat

Source: Pinterest

Researchers use ambient light sensors to steal browser data

Why it matters to you

There’s yet another unexpected way for hackers to attack a system and steal our data, this time using its ambient light sensor.

There are more ways to access your data than by exploiting the various software vulnerabilities and hardware bugs that we seem to hear about on a daily basis. Our gadgets actually have all kinds of weaknesses that could allow nefarious parties to steal our information, and some of them are things we’d probably never consider.

One of those weaknesses stems from the fact that our PCs, tablets, and smartphones are stocked with sensors that extract information from our environments and use that data to make our devices more useful. Some researchers have found a way to use the innocuous-seeming ambient light sensor to grab potentially sensitive browser data and pass it along.

The ambient light sensor is used for a couple of purposes. It detects background light levels and adjusts screen brightness, and it works as a proximity sensor to determine when to shut off a smartphone’s screen during a call. As the researchers point out, the ambient light sensor is quite precise, and can measure light intensity from completely dark to incredibly bright.

The specific hack that the researchers developed uses the ambient light sensor to pick up color and lighting information from the screen by tapping into the data the sensor passes to the system. Because the sensor’s data is affected by what’s being displayed on the screen, it can be used in a variety of ways to pick up browser information that affects the light that the screen is giving off.

One simple example is the colors of visited links, which are normally obfuscated by the browser to avoid just this kind of snooping. Essentially, the light sensor readings can be used to distinguish between visited and unvisited links and thus inform an attacker as to which links the user had previously visited.

Another example involves using the ambient light sensor data to grab QR codes. That data can be used for such things as hijacking a user’s account when a QR code is used to provide emergency access to an account.

So far, the researchers have managed to create attacks that work in Firefox and Chrome on Android devices and on PCs with ambient light sensors. Certain problems exists, such as changing lighting conditions in real-world situations, and also screen brightness variations. Nevertheless, the attack presents yet another reason to wonder who might be stealing our information in ways that we’d never imagine — or prepare against.

You can now start your Mercedes car via Alexa or Google Assistant

It’s official. Voice assistants are everywhere.

They’re in our phones, speakers, washing machines, and now, cars. Mercedes-Benz has announced that both Alexa and Google Assistant will work on all of its 2016 and 2017 models released in the US. Apart from a compatible car, you will need an active Mercedes Me account and a subscription to mbrace, Mercedes’ smartphone platform in the US that costs $199 a year after a six-month free trial.

• Google Home review: Better than Amazon Echo?
• What is Google Assistant and how does it work?
• 7 best Google Home compatible devices you can buy today

So, starting 21 April, owners of newer Mercedes can command their Google Home or Amazon Echo to remotely start or lock their vehicles. They can also send addresses to their in-car nav system. In its announcement, Mercedes explained how the integration works:

“Customers with Google devices can simply say, ‘Ok, Google, tell Mercedes me to start my car,’ and it will remotely start the customer’s car. Another available feature includes remote lock. With Alexa devices, customers can say, ‘Alexa, ask Mercedes me to send an address to the car’ for remote navigation input and point-of-interest requests.”

And here’s a promo video that shows the integration in action:

Mercedes first revealed that in December 2016 that it would soon support Google Assistant on Google Home. The company has also said that Europe will get these same features in the near future.

Valve is trying to end account smurfing in ‘Dota 2’

Valve is changing the way Dota 2 is played, at least on a meta level. Beginning May 4th, players will be required to register a unique phone number to their accounts in order to queue up for ranked matches. That’s one account per phone number, ostensibly placing a hard limit on the number of ranked accounts that any one player can have.

Before you get any fresh ideas, Valve says online services that provide virtual phone numbers won’t work in this new system. Nice try.

The move is designed to curb the practice of smurfing — when a high-ranked player creates a new account and jumps into competitive matches against people of vastly lower skill levels.

“Players using multiple accounts create a negative matchmaking experience at all skill brackets, so our goal is to add just enough friction to this process that the number of players doing this will be noticeably reduced,” the Dota 2 team writes.

Notice the developers don’t promise to stop smurfing entirely. The (non-virtual) phone number requirement makes it really difficult to establish more than one ranked Dota 2 account, but Valve seems to recognize some players will inevitably sneak their way around it.

Smurfing isn’t a problem just for Dota 2. Valve previously implemented Prime Matchmaking in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive requiring a phone number for ranked play, but that program is opt-in. The developers of other competitive online titles, including League of Legends’ Riot Games, are also looking for ways to combat harmful smurfing practices. Meanwhile, Overwatch director Jeff Kaplan recently said he didn’t think smurfing was a big deal at all.

Source: Dota 2

The Moto Z2 Play looks very familiar

You probably picked up the Moto Z Play for its long battery life, mid-range price and compatibility with Motrola’s flagship modular backs. If you were worried that those components wouldn’t work on the next version of the handset, don’t — leaked images of the Moto Z2 Play from TechnoBuffalo suggest that the device will be almost visually identical to the original. Well, there is one notable change: the Moto Z Play’s square button has been replaced with a round one.

Ultimately, this isn’t too much of a surprise — any drastic changes to the phone’s chassis would have made it incompatible with the battery, camera back and other accessories created for the Moto Z line. Keeping the same shape was important. Unfortunately, beyond form factor and the hard-point connector that confirms mod compatibility, the leak tells us precious little else about the phone. The leaked image’s clock does have a date listed for June 8th, however, which could be a tease, but take that with a grain of salt. If we hear anything, we’ll let you know.

Source: https://www.technobuffalo.com/2017/04/21/moto-z2-play-first-look-exclusiv

Lawsuit takes aim at Google, Huawei over Nexus 6P battery issues

A federal class action complaint has been filed accusing Google and Huawei of fraud, breaching warranty and improperly handling customer complaints after a number of Nexus 6P smartphones unexpectedly shut down and became trapped in “boot loop” cycles. The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and it claims Google and Huawei have never publicly admitted there were issues with the Nexus 6P, even while they continued to sell the phone.

The Nexus 6P hit the market in late 2015. It’s a $500 smartphone with a 5.7 inch screen that was, overall, a welcome improvement over the previous year’s Nexus 6. As long as it didn’t suddenly shut off with full battery, that is.

The plaintiffs in today’s lawsuit want to force Google and Huawei to issue a recall or repair program, and provide monetary compensation to those affected. The filing includes a few pages of Reddit comments and tweets from dissatisfied Nexus 6P customers; it notes the boot looping complaints began around September 2016.

“When bootlooping occurs, the phone is essentially a very expensive paperweight,” the suit reads. “After the Defect occurs, the Phone no longer operates whatsoever. It cannot be used to make calls, send text messages, access the internet, or use any other function available on the Phone. Consumers lose all access to any data or information stored on the Phone, including any photographs or other intellectual property.”

The Nexus 6P joins a handful of other past-gen Android phones embroiled in lawsuits over dysfunctional devices, including LG’s G4, V10, G5, V20 and even the Nexus 5X.

Source: Chimicles & Tikellis LLP

This leak shows Microsoft finally plans to take on Chromebooks

Microsoft has an event scheduled next month, and it could take the stage to unveil its version of a Google Chromebook.

The company is also expected to debut its Windows 10 Cloud operating system at the 2 May event in New York City. Reports have claimed it will introduce the software alongside its own hardware, and now, thanks to internal Microsoft document obtained by Windows Central, it appears as though Microsoft’s new hardware will be low-end devices that can compete with Google’s cloud-focused Chromebook laptops.

Windows Central

The Microsoft document details the minimum hardware specifications for “Windows 10 Cloud performance”. The chart includes decent specs like 4GB of RAM, a quad-core Celeron or better processor, either 32GB or 64GB of storage – the kind of specs you’d find in a Chromebook. Microsoft is also pitching an “all-day” battery life and seems to be targeting students, something Google does with Chromebooks.

• Microsoft will now release major Windows 10 updates twice a year

Other rumours have claimed Microsoft has developed a clamshell design for a low-priced laptop. Could this be the Windows 10 Cloud-powered hardware it is expected to unveil in a few weeks? Looks like we’ll have to wait to see.

• What’s new in Windows 10 Creators Update?
• The best new features from the Creators Update

Samsung to roll out software fix for the Galaxy S8’s red-tinted screen

Samsung doesn’t want people to worry about getting a Galaxy S8 with a red-tinted display, so it’s issuing a software fix.

There’s been reports coming out of South Korea about people getting their new Galaxy S8 phones early, and some of those people have been posting pictures of their phone having a noticeably reddish screen. Samsung has acknowledged the issue and told media outlets that it has found no quality issues, and yet, according to The Korea Herald, it plans to roll out a software update that will fix the issue.

“Because there are some complaints about the red-tinted screens, we decided to upgrade the software next week for all Galaxy S8 clients,” a Samsung spokesperson told the newspaper. In another announcement, the company said: “There will be an additional update to make colour revisions more minutely at the end of April.” Samsung has also recommended people adjust their display settings.

• Galaxy Note 8 may be the first Samsung phone with a dual camera
• Best Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus cases: Protect your new phone
• How to get the S8 with the Samsung Upgrade Programme

However, some people have said that despite switching the red colour to the lowest setting, the tint issue didn’t go away for them. Perhaps that is why the company now plans to deliver software updates to fully address the issue. Keep in mind thse are the first smartphones to use “Deep Red” OLED technology, which is thought to be the reason why whites on the Galaxy S8’s screen appear more reddish.

Samsung’s new flagships officially launched on Friday. The upcoming software update will apply to all Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8 Plus models, and it will be done automatically. Check out our reviews of the phones:

• Samsung Galaxy S8+ review: The best Android phone, bar none
• Samsung Galaxy S8 preview: Small enough for everyone

Adidas will sell more shoes partially made with ocean trash

In honor of tomorrow’s Earth Day celebrations, Adidas is unveiling yet another collaboration with Parley, an organization that focuses on protecting oceans from being polluted. This includes three new models of its flagship running shoe, the original Ultra Boost, Ultra Boost Uncaged and Ultra Boost X, all of which feature a Primeknit upper made mostly (95 percent) from marine plastic debris. Adidas says about 11 bottles of plastic were used for each shoe, with the set being part of the company’s overall commitment to sustainability. All in all, Adidas plans to make at least one million more pairs like these by the end of 2017.

Additionally, the sportswear giant also announced that it has teamed up with Major League Soccer on team jerseys that were created out of Parley Ocean Plastic. Unfortunately, these won’t be available to the public. As for the new UltraBoost designs, they’re scheduled to hit Adidas stores and its site on May 10th for $200 each.

Source: Adidas (1), (2)