Sony made a gigantic PS4 controller no one can use

Sony has eSports-tailored PlayStation 4 controllers, but aside from that, the gaming juggernaut hasn’t made any major changes to the gamepad that shipped with the PS4. But as a Japanese promo for the recent Parappa the Rapper re-issue, the company made a gigantic version of its best controller in years. We’re talking perfect-for-Wun-Weg-the-giant from Games of Thrones size.

As Japanese publication Gigazine notes, not all of the buttons are functional. Only the D-pad and square, triangle, circle, cross and shoulder buttons L1 and R1 work. Analog sticks and the L2 and R2 triggers are for show only, and we’d suspect the touchpad is as well.

If you think the bigger controller would make playing Parappa easier, that doesn’t seem to be the case. Gigazine said that pressing the oversized face buttons in rhythm with the action actually amps up the difficulty versus using a standard DualShock 4. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to test that theory out for ourselves at E3 — similar to how we played catch with a life-sized Trico at the 2015 Tokyo Game Show.

The size might be a problem for you and me, sure, but if Wun Weg can pound trees (and White Walkers) into the ground with a single fist, he’d probably own the competition with this controller. It’s too bad then that the 7-foot 7-inch tall Neil Fingleton who played the giant passed back in February. Standing him next to this giant piece of plastic would’ve probably given a better idea of its scale than the mere mortals in the video below.

Sure Sony isn’t the first here, as we’ve seen coffee-table-sized NES controllers a number of times previously, but that doesn’t make the gargantuan gamepad any less cool.

Source: Gigazine (Japanese)

Court documents reveal more shady dealings by Theranos

Things just got a lot worse for Theranos, the beleaguered blood-testing company that’s seen its share of bad press and class-action lawsuits. The latest complaint is mostly based on testimony from 22 former employees and directors, according to the Wall Street Journal. The filings allege that Theranos directly misled its own directors about its testing practices, secretly purchased off-the-shelf lab equipment to pass off as its own revolutionary gear and gave its investors false financial projections.

It’s a battle of back-and-forth as Theranos tries to retain its ability to eventually operate as a lab again while it weathers allegations of even more shady practices than originally thought. For example, the machines being used to test blood weren’t even made by Theranos but purchased through a shell corporation. In the newly-unsealed filings, former director and retired Navy admiral Gary Roughead claimed that he was unaware of the fact that there were “extensive commercial analyzers in use” — a reference to the commercial gear Theranos used to conduct much of the tests it claims it ran itself.

In addition, financial projections given by Theranos in were overstated. While the company’s former controller testified that Theranos had estimated $100 million to the IRS, investors were promised gross profits of more than $1 billion in 2014. The lab also ran fake tests for investors using the commercial devices it passed off as its own, according to the court document.

The latest revelations come from depositions in a suit by Partner Fund Management (PFM), one of the several companies to have sued Theranos. For its part, Theranos is playing it straight, calling the documents one-sided and saying that it disagrees with “much of what PFM alleges in its complaint.” The publically-accessible documents only include the complaint and a related brief, writes the Journal. Theranos has filed with the court to keep any more excerpts from the depositions under seal.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Dell’s first HDR display is aimed squarely at video editors

HDR10 and Dolby Vision are the two main competing standards for high dynamic range displays. Today, Dell lent its support to the former as it announced its first HDR10-compliant display, the Dell UltraSharp 27 4K HDR Monitor. Dell revealed the new device at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show today, along with two other UltraSharp monitors and various PC workstations for high-end image, video and VR production.

While 4K is the term bandied about most often, HDR brings better contrast, brightness, and vibrant color to the mix. It’s not just the number of pixels that are important anymore, but what your monitor does with them. Dell’s new 27-inch monitor, then, is meant for creative professionals who view and edit HDR content, but it will also work just fine with consoles like the NVIDIA Shield, Xbox One S and PlayStation 4, all of which support the standard. Dell is also showing off a couple of products it had at CES: the Precision 5720 All-in-One workstation PC for digital content creators and the Dell Canvas, its 27-inch touchscreen device that’s set to take on Wacom’s devices for digital artists.

You’ll be able to get Dell’s new display at Dell.com in the US on May 23rd, and it will retail for $1,999.99. Of course, if you want a 4K display but don’t need HDR, Dell’s standard 27-inch 4K monitor is a much more affordable $550.

Source: Dell

Apple Hires Two Google Executives With Satellite Expertise

Apple has recently hired John Fenwick and Michael Trela, two Google satellite executives, reports Bloomberg. Fenwick led Google’s spacecraft operations, while Trela was head of satellite engineering.

Both Trela and Fenwick are reporting to Greg Duffy, the former co-founder of camera company Dropcam. What the two are doing at Apple is unclear, but Bloomberg speculates they’re either working on satellites for image collection or satellites for communications.

Rumors have suggested Apple is using a fleet of drones to collect data to improve Apple Maps, with the company having filed for an FAA permit to be able to fly drones for commercial purposes. Apple also acquired Aether Industries in 2015, a previously unknown purchase.

Aether Industries develops high-bandwidth radio transceivers and high-altitude balloons. On its website, Aether Industries shows off a range of high-resolution aerial imagery and claims to provide a “full imaging and mapping solution for full color aerial images.”

There’s also evidence Apple is interested in deploying satellites for communication purposes. Boeing has been working on sending more than 1,000 satellites into low-earth orbit for the purpose of providing broadband access, and the company has reportedly been in talks with Apple.

The aerospace company has talked with Apple about the technology company being an investor-partner in the project, a person familiar with the situation said. It’s unclear if those talks will result in a deal.

At the annual Satellite 2017 conference in Washington D.C. last month, industry insiders said Boeing’s project was being funded by Apple, Tim Farrar, a satellite and telecom consultant at TMF Associates Inc., wrote in a recent blog. A Boeing spokesman declined to comment.

Former Boeing executive James Bell also joined Apple’s board of directors back in October of 2015, another potential link between Apple and Boeing.

It continues to be unclear if Apple will get involved with Boeing’s broadband endeavor, but it’s easy to see why Apple might be interested with Boeing aiming for faster speeds than existing cellular systems.

Apple and Google declined to comment on the hiring, while Fenwick, Trela, and Duffy did not respond to Bloomberg’s request for comments.

Tags: Google, satellite, Aether Industries, Apple acquisitions
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Apple Begins Notifying 2017 WWDC Scholarship Winners

Apple today began sending out emails to students and STEM organization members who have won a scholarship to attend the 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference, which will take place in San Jose, California from June 5 to June 9.

Scholarship winners receive free tickets to WWDC, a huge benefit as a ticket is normally priced at $1,599. Apple is also providing scholarship winners with free lodging this year, housing them at the San Jose State University dorms, located approximately 15 minutes away from the venue when walking.

To win a WWDC scholarship, students and STEM members were tasked with sharing a three-minute visually interactive scene created in Swift Playgrounds. Entries were judged on technical accomplishment, creativity of ideas, and content of written responses. Scholarship winners must accept the scholarship award by April 28.

Apple has also already selected WWDC ticket lottery winners and charged chosen developers the attendance fee.

Developers and students who were not selected to attend WWDC are able to watch both the keynote event and sessions with engineers through the Apple Developer website and the WWDC app for iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV.

(Thanks, Ian!)

Related Roundup: WWDC 2017
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MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Gravitas iPhone Dock From Henge Docks

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with Henge Docks to give MacRumors readers a chance to win a Gravitas dock for the iPhone or iPad.

Made from a heavy, sturdy metal alloy base, the Gravitas is designed for single-handed docking and undocking, but it’s also made to minimize the amount of space that it takes up on a desk.

It is made from an alloy that’s 265 percent denser than aluminum and it weighs in at 2.5 pounds, giving it enough stability to work with both the iPhone and the iPad. Due to the design, it’s compatible with thin cases, such as those made by Apple, but it won’t work with thicker Otterbox-style case options.

The Gravitas works with the iPhone 6, 6s, 7, and 7 Plus, along with multiple iPad models. It ships with a three-foot USB cable for charging and it also features a 3.5mm Stereo Audio Out port for listening to music.

Henge Docks normally charges $69 for the Gravitas, but we have four docks to offer to MacRumors readers for free. To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winner and send the prize. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (April 21) at 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:45 a.m. Pacific Time on April 28. The winners will be chosen randomly on April 28 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Tags: giveaway, Henge Docks
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Apple Autonomous Driving Training Program Confirms Self-Driving Software Platform

Apple has developed a training program to instruct employees on how to handle cars being used to test its autonomous driving software platform, according to documents obtained by Business Insider.

The company’s “Development Platform Specific Training” document references an “Apple Automated System” and a “Development platform,” alluding to the self-driving software platform Apple is rumored to be building after plans for a full autonomous electric vehicle fell through.

Click to enlarge
Apple recently obtained a permit from the California DMV that will allow it to test self-driving vehicles on public roads, and as part of that process, the company appears to be training employees to use whatever system it’s testing. According to the DMV, Apple plans to use three 2015 Lexus RX450h SUVs, which will be driven by six drivers with expertise in areas like machine learning.

Based on the documents, drivers are required to pass seven tests as part of their training before being allowed to work with Apple’s software platform. Each driver must complete two practice runs and three trials to pass tests, which cover topics like taking control of the vehicle at tight U-turns, sudden acceleration, sudden braking, and more.

Click to enlarge

According to the training packet, Apple’s self-driving car uses a Logitech wheel and pedals to actuate drive by wire, and it supports one person at a time.

Pressing the brake pedal or grabbing the steering wheel in Apple’s test vehicles will disengage the electronic driving mode, but drivers can accelerate without overriding the “drive by wire” mode.

Apple’s work in the car industry has been something of an open secret for the past three years. The company was originally planning to create its own autonomous vehicle, but pivoted to an autonomous driving software platform following internal strife and leadership issues.

Apple is now said to be creating a driving system under the leadership of Bob Mansfield, with the car team having been given until the end of this year to prove the feasibility of a self-driving car platform. Such a system could potentially allow Apple to partner with car manufacturers as a sort of expansion of CarPlay.

With Apple ready to test the software on public roads, it appears development is fairly far along. Should the company take vehicles out on California streets, its work will need to be publicly shared with the DMV based on California law.

Related Roundup: Apple Car
Tag: businessinsider.com
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Samsung Galaxy Book 2-in-1 PC pre-orders kick off today

Why it matters to you

The Galaxy Book is Samsung’s big attempt to carve out a slice of the growing hybrid market, and it’s set to debut sooner rather than later.

In February, Samsung officially unveiled its Galaxy Book 2-in-1 PC, the first laptop in the Galaxy line. Now, the company has offered up comprehensive specs for the device, and announced that it will be available to purchase starting Friday, April 21.

The Galaxy Book will come in two different sizes: A 10.6-inch model and a 12-inch model. The larger system will be available with or without LTE functionality, and all iterations come bundled with the S Pen accessory and a keyboard.

The 10.6-inch Galaxy Book is fitted with a TFT display that’s capable of a 1920 x 1280 resolution. It features an Intel Core m3 processor, 4GB of RAM and either 64GB or 128GB of eMMC storage. In terms of connectivity, it offers a single USB 3.1 Type-C port, as well a MicroSD port that can be used for extra storage.

Meanwhile, the 12-inch Galaxy Book is packing a super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2160 x 1440. Its processor is an Intel Core i5-7200U, and it has two USB 3.1 Type-C ports, as well as a MicroSD slot.

Things get a bit complex when it comes to the 12-inch version’s memory. The LTE model boasts 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid state drive, whereas the Wi-Fi variant can be outfitted with up to 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

The 12-inch LTE Galaxy Book will be available from Verizon Wireless starting on April 21, and is priced at $1,300. Pre-orders on the 12-inch Wi-Fi model, which costs $1,130, and the 10.6-inch Wi-Fi model, which costs $630, will also open on April 21 ahead of general availability on May 21. A silver version of the hybrid will be available nationwide, with a black variant offered exclusively at Best Buy locations.

Samsung is clearly aiming the Galaxy Book at the same sector of users who have made Microsoft’s Surface line such an enormous success. However, our hands-on time with the device revealed some significant issues with its keyboard, which may make it difficult for the 2-in-1 to compete with the Surface Book.

FCC votes to eliminate price caps for business broadband customers

Why it matters to you

The FCC is permitting reduced competition between service providers to spur investment, but that could mean small businesses end up paying more.

Small businesses may end up paying more for their broadband internet service thanks to a ruling made yesterday, April 20, by the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC voted to introduce a new standard that can classify local markets as being competitive, even if only one provider is available.

Home internet is not subject to price caps, but the FCC does put restrictions on the cost of broadband access provided to businesses by the likes of AT&T and Verizon, according to a report from Ars Technica. These connections are used for facilitating the use of credit card readers and ATMs, maintaining links with other branches, and for all the more common forms of internet usage.

Yesterday’s decision decrees that price caps will be nullified if 50 percent of potential customers in a given county are within half a mile of a location that’s served by a competitive provider. A county would also be classified as competitive if 75 percent of census blocks are served by a cable provider.

The FCC argues that companies will be more inclined to extend their coverage if the price caps are not in effect. Price caps that are set too low could have the undesirable effect of dissuading providers from making upgrades to their infrastructure.

However, the decision could mean that various businesses end up paying more for the same broadband service. Small businesses, schools, and hospitals could all end up feeling the effects of the FCC’s vote to reduce the influence that price caps hold.

In 2016, former FCC chairman Tom Wheeler submitted a proposal to reduce price caps on broadband service for business by 11 percent over the course of three years, citing efficiency improvements that had been implemented over the preceding decade. However, this proposal was rejected by the current chairman Ajit Pai, and replaced by the plan that just went into effect.

ARM-based Windows 10 machines will launch in fourth quarter of 2017

Why it matters to you

Qualcomm chips are powerful and could offer a new avenue for competition for the laptop and tablet market.

We’ve been hearing rumors about Windows 10 systems running on ARM processors since the tail end of last year, with only the vaguest of hints about when they might actually arrive. In an earnings call this week, however, Qualcomm CEO, Steve Mollenkopf, made it clear that we can expect the first machines to arrive in the fourth quarter of this year.

Although traditionally, desktops and laptops running Windows 10 have been powered by Intel and AMD processors, with the ever-evolving nature of competitor hardware like Qualcomm’s Snapdragon line — which uses ARM architecture — that won’t last forever. Indeed, now it seems like we’re mere months away from ARM hardware finding its way to the heart of new Windows machines.

“We have an opportunity to disrupt the existing suppliers of the PC and the data center,” Mollenkopf said during an April 19 earnings call, transcribed by SeekingAlpha (via PCWorld). “Our Snapdragon 835 is expanding into Mobile PC designs running Windows 10, which are scheduled to launch in the fourth calendar quarter this year.”

While that doesn’t signal a crusade against the traditional Windows 10 desktop, it looks like Qualcomm-powered laptops and/or tablets will be coming to the Windows sphere by the end of the year. Considering the Snapdragon processors with their ARM RISC instruction sets are designed around mobile hardware, a highly portable Windows 10 machine would be a good fit for a first generation of Windows device powered by Qualcomm hardware.

We don’t have the complete specifics of such a device, though it has been termed a ‘cellular PC’ and will feature high-end smartphone features like Bluetooth 5 support and possibly even WiGig, both of which are natively supported by the Snapdragon 835 chip.

These devices are likely to be manufactured in small numbers to start with as Qualcomm tests the water to see how popular they would be. However, as a dominant force in the smartphone business, Qualcomm could find expansion into companion markets like laptops and even eventually low-power desktop machines easier in the long run. Qualcomm is already planning to take on Intel in the server market with its Centriq 2400, 48-core server chips.

It also seems like no coincidence that Qualcomm is looking to cosy up to a major platform provider like Microsoft as its relationship with Apple turns sour.