Researchers are using neural networks to make more realistic animations

Why it matters to you

Your games could looks a bit more smooth if these researchers are successful in using neural network tech to make animations more realistic.

The term “uncanny valley” refers to that feeling of discomfort that arises when viewing things like robotic faces and animations that are not quite right. The closer something is to being lifelike without quite being perfect, the more uncomfortable the experience.

The technology industry has been working diligently at solving the problem of the uncanny valley for years now, without complete success. One recent effort in the field of animation aims to bring more natural motion via neural network technology, TechCrunch reports.

The research is being conducted jointly by the University of Edinburgh and Method Studios and it focuses on replacing huge libraries of custom animations with more fluid animations created by a machine learning algorithm. The idea is that the algorithm can generate motion more smoothly using a phase function that avoids things like causing an animated figure to take a step when it’s actually in the process of jumping.

According to the researchers, “Since our method is data-driven, the character doesn’t simply play back a jump animation, it adjusts its movements continuously based on the height of the obstacle.” While the algorithm is not yet ready for use in games and other applications, it is a promising approach for creating more intelligent animation processes.

The details of how the system achieves smooth and more natural human motion, and how it might be applied to any character, are quite technical. However, the concept is straightforward: Use an intelligent system that can generate any animated motion on demand rather than selecting from pre-generated animations that might not perfect fit the specific environment and situation.

You can learn more about the new technology when Jun Saito of Method Studios and some other researchers show off their work at the upcoming Siggraph event in Los Angeles on July 30 through August 3. The presentation’s abstract can be seen here, and the full paper is available with all of the technical details.

Is this Microsoft’s new Surface Laptop?

Tomorrow Microsoft is holding its #MicrosoftEDU event where we expect to find out how it will take on Google’s Chrome OS, but some of the news may have already leaked. Notorious Microsoft watcher @h0x0d tweeted out a few images of a slim 13.5-inch laptop that apparently runs Windows 10 S — a cloud-optimized version of Windows that only access apps from the Store — has a PixelSense display, comes in four colors and features an Alcantara-covered keyboard. We’ve seen that material on a Surface Pro 4 keyboard before, and the other specs line up from the Chromebook fighter we’re expecting. Interestingly, it also only has a few ports visible.

Developing…

Surface Laptop: 13.5-in PixelSense display, 4 colors (Platinum/Burgundy/Cobalt Blue/Graphite Gold), Alcantara-covered keyboard, Windows 10 S pic.twitter.com/AEAAhYPgQN

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) May 2, 2017

Surface Laptop: 360 view pic.twitter.com/b5ENVcCIzI

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) May 2, 2017

well Surface Laptop has only these ports, doen’t look ….. right…. to me pic.twitter.com/8fN7JwOYsa

— WalkingCat (@h0x0d) May 2, 2017

Source: WalkingCat (Twitter)

Apple’s Echo-like smart speaker with Siri could debut at WWDC 2017

Apple is rumoured to be developing its own smart speaker, and a new report has suggested it could arrive as soon as June.

The Amazon Echo ignited a smart speaker craze, with even Google jumping on board with its own Google Home. So, of course it didn’t take long for reports to emerge about Apple making its own device powered by Siri. Now, according to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via 9to5Mac), Apple will announce this Siri smart speaker at its annual developer conference this June.

Apple will likely market it as a high-end speaker with built-in Siri and superior sound quality and computing power when compared to Amazon Echo and Google Home. The Siri speaker should go on sale by Christmastime, even if it’s not announced announced at WWDC 2017. We think it makes sense for Apple to unveil it this summer, giving developers the chance to build apps for the device.

• Curved OLED iPhone 8 confirmed by Samsung?
• Apple will officially test its self-driving tech on this car in California
• Apple and Nike made a new Apple Watch called NikeLab and it’s limited

Keep in mind another leaker, Sonny Dickson, said the Siri speaker would also appear at WWDC and would be marketed as a Siri/AirPlay device. It might end up look like a cylindrical Mac Pro with a mesh covering. Check out Pocket-lint’s WWDC 2017 roundup for more rumours about what to expect from the conference.

What’s on TV: ‘Prey,’ ‘Sense8’ and ‘TumbleSeed’

This week we get the second season of the Wachowski’s Sense8 series on Netflix, as Hulu continues on with The Handmaid’s Tale. For gamers, a rebooted Prey arrives at the end of the week, along with indie charmer TumbleSeed on Switch, PS4 and PC, plus DLC for the PS4 hit Nioh. This weekend we have finales including The Challenge, The Last Man on Earth and Billions. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

Blu-ray & Games & Streaming

• A Dog’s Purpose
• Gold
• 3:10 to Yuma (4K)
• The Expendables (4K)
• The Expendables 2 (4K)
• Brewster’s Millions
• Saturday Night Fever
• Real Genius
• Rings
• Hindenburg
• Streets of Fire
• TumbleSeed (Switch, PS4)
• Portal Knights (Xbox One, PS4)
• Nioh: Dragon of the North DLC (PS4)
• Akiba’s Beat (PS4)
• Planetbase (Xbox One)
• ACA NeoGeo Last Resort (PS4)
• Prey (PS4, PC, Xbox One – 5/5)
• Dreamfall Chapters (PS4, Xbox One – 5/5)
• Gnog (PS4)
• Save the Ninja Clan (Xbox One – 5/5)
• Super Rude Bear Resurrection (PS4, Xbox One)
• World to the West (Xbox One, PS4 – 5/5)

Monday

• The Shadow of Iris, Netflix, 3AM
• The Voice, NBC, 8PM
• Dancing With The Stars, ABC, 8PM
• Kevin Can Wait, CBS, 8PM
• Gotham, Fox, 8PM
• WWE Raw, USA, 8PM
• Young & Hungry, Freeform, 8PM
• Man with a Plan, CBS, 8:30PM
• Baby Daddy, Freeform, 8:30PM
• Lucifer (spring premiere), Fox, 9PM
• The Twins, Freeform, 9PM
• The Great Indoors, CBS, 9:30PM
• Warning: This Drug May Kill You, HBO, 10PM
• Better Call Saul, AMC, 10PM
• American Dad, TBS, 10PM
• Scorpion, CBS, 10PM
• Taken (season finale), NBC, 10PM
• Quantico, ABC, 10PM
• Angie Tribeca, TBS, 10:30PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Tuesday

• Maria Bamford: Old Baby, Netflix, 3AM
• Jackson: The Place with One Clinic, Showtime, 7:30PM
• Victorian Slum (series premiere), PBC, 8PM
• The Voice, NBC, 8PM
• Pretty Little Liars, Freeform, 8PM
• The Flash, CW, 8PM
• The Manns, TV One, 8PM
• Brooklyn Nine-nine, Fox, 8PM
• WWE Smackdown, USA, 8PM
• The Middle, ABC, 8PM
• The Mick (season finale), Fox, 8:30PM
• American Housewife, ABC, 8:30PM
• Famous in Love, Freeform, 9PM
• Deadliest Catch, Discovery, 9PM
• iZombie, CW, 9PM
• Prison Break, Fox, 9PM
• Fresh off the Boat, ABC, 9PM
• The Challenge, MTV, 9PM
• Switched at Birth, Freeform, 9PM
• Face Off, Syfy, 9PM
• Outsiders, WGN, 9PM
• Imaginary Mary, ABC, 9:30PM
• Great News, NBC, 9 & 9:30PM
• Fargo, FX, 10PM
• Problematic with Moshe Kasher, Comedy Central, 10PM
• Cooper’s Treasure, Discovery, 10PM
• Team Ninja Warrior, USA, 10PM
• The Americans, FX, 10PM
• Rebel, BET, 10PM
• Imposters, Bravo, 10PM
• Truth & Iliza (series premiere), Freeform, 10PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Wednesday

• The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu, 3AM
• Harlots, Hulu, 3AM
• Shots Fired, Fox, 8PM
• Blindspot, NBC, 8PM
• Catfish, MTV, 8PM
• Arrow, CW, 8PM
• The Goldbergs, ABC, 8PM
• Survivor, CBS, 8PM
• Speechless, ABC, 8:30PM
• Are You the One: All Star Challenge, MTV, 9PM
• Empire, Fox, 9PM
• Criminal Minds, CBS, 9PM
• Law & Order, NBC, 9PM
• The 100, CW, 9PM
• The Magicians, Syfy, 9PM
• Major Crimes, TNT, 9PM
• Archer, FXX, 10PM
• The Comedy Jam, Comedy Central, 10PM
• Designated Survivor, ABC, 10PM
• Chicago Justice, NBC, 10PM
• Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, CBS, 10PM
• The Expanse, Syfy, 10PM
• Nobodies, TV Land, 10PM
• The Quad, BET, 10PM
• Suits, USA, 10PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Thursday

• The Big Bang Theory, CBS, 8PM
• Supernatural, CW, 8PM
• Superstore (season finale), NBC, 8:30PM
• Riverdale, CW, 9PM
• Mom, CBS, 9PM
• The Blacklist, NBC, 9PM
• Scandal, ABC, 9PM
• The Amazing Race, CBS, 9PM
• Beerland, Viceland, 10PM
• Inside the FBI, USA, 10PM
• The Catch, ABC, 10PM
• Dark Net, Showtime, 10PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Friday

• The Last Kingdom (S2), Netflix, 3AM
• Sense8 (S2), Netflix, 3AM
• Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie, Netflix, 3AM
• Simplemente Manu Nna, Netflix, 3AM
• Spirit: Riding Free (S1), Netflix, 3AM
• The Mars Generation (S1), Netflix, 3AM
• Kazoops (S3), Netflix, 3AM
• The Originals, CW, 8PM
• First Dates , NBC, 8PM
• Toy Box, ABC, 8PM
• You the Jury, Fox, 9PM
• Al Madrigal: Shrimpin Ain’t Easy, Showtime, 9PM
• Tattoo Age, Viceland, 9PM
• Blue Bloods (season finale), CBS, 10PM
• Vice, HBO, 11PM
• Animals., HBO, 11:30PM

Saturday

• Batman & Bill, Hulu, 3AM
• Deadly Sorority, Lifetime, 8PM
• Doctor Who, BBC America, 9PM
• Training Day, CBS, 8PM
• The Son, AMC, 9PM
• Chris Gethard: Career Suicide, HBO, 10PM
• Class, BBC America, 10PM
• Samurai Jack, Cartoon Network, 11PM
• Saturday Night Live: Chris Pine / LCD Soundsystem, NBC, 11:30PM

Sunday

• White Princess, Starz, 8PM
• The Challenge (season finale), MTV, 7PM
• 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards, MTV, 8PM
• Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings, Freeform, 8PM
• The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth (season finale), Showtime, 8PM
• Once Upon a Time, ABC, 8PM
• Sunday Night Baseball: Cubs/Red Sox, ESPN, 8PM
• Making History, Fox, 8:30PM
• American Gods Starz, 9PM
• Guerrilla, Showtime, 9PM
• The Leftovers, Showtime, 9PM
• Home Fires (series finale), PBS, 9PM
• Family Guy, Fox, 9PM
• The Last 100 Days of Diana, ABC 9PM
• Madam Secretary, CBS, 9PM
• The Last Man on Earth (season finale), Fox, 9:30PM
• Silicon Valley, HBO, 10PM
• Into the Badlands, AMC, 10PM
• United Shades of America, CNN, 10PM
• Shades of Blue, NBC, 10PM
• Billions (season finale), Showtime, 10PM
• Trapped, Viceland, 10PM
• Veep, HBO, 10:30PM
• Talking with Chris Hardwick, AMC, 11PM
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO, 11PM

Apple Watch apps for Amazon, eBay and Google Maps disappear

Have you noticed a few apps disappearing from your Apple Watch? It’s not just your imagination. AppleInsider has learned that the Amazon, eBay and Google Maps iOS apps no longer include versions for Apple’s smartwatch. The first two appear to have lost Apple Watch support in just the past few days, while Google’s software scrubbed Watch support in the past few weeks. However, the disappearances raise more questions than they answer. Why didn’t most people notice? And is this a sign the Apple Watch is in trouble, or is this more a reflection of a maturing smartwatch landscape?

We’ve reached out to Apple, eBay and Google for their official takes, and will let you know if they have explanations or plans to restore their apps. However, this doesn’t necessarily reflect sinking Apple Watch demand. Remember, Apple said that the 2016 holiday quarter set a record for Watch revenue. Wouldn’t you want to keep your app around if you were only interested in having a healthy, growing base of potential users?

Rather, it might be a matter of reevaluating the necessity for smartwatch versions of these apps. If few people see a need for an app on their wrist, it won’t matter how successful the Apple Watch is — the effort won’t be worth the reward. And of course, there’s also question of whether or not a given smartwatch app even makes sense. Do you really want to shop Amazon on your wrist? And does the Watch version of Google Maps have a reason for being when it can’t integrate as tightly as Apple Maps?

This could be a sign of trouble, but it could also be a simple matter of culling apps that were created in that “because we can” rush from the Apple Watch’s early days. Those remaining apps are more likely to be ones you’ll actually use, the ones that have a life once the novelty wears off.

Source: AppleInsider

Apple’s AirPods Achieve 98% Satisfaction Rate in User Study

Apple customers who have purchased the AirPods are largely satisfied with the wire-free earbuds, according to a new survey conducted by Experian and Creative Strategies.

Of 942 AirPods owners polled, 82 percent said they were “very satisfied,” while another 16 percent said they were “satisfied,” for an overall customer satisfaction score of 98 percent.

At 98 percent satisfaction, Creative Strategies says the AirPods set the record for the highest level of satisfaction for a new product from Apple. For comparison’s sake, the iPhone had a 92 percent customer satisfaction rate in 2007, the iPad had a 92 percent customer satisfaction rate in 2010, and the Apple Watch had a 97 percent customer satisfaction rate in 2015.

Customers were also asked whether or not they would recommend the AirPods to others, and AirPods owners largely said yes, earning the AirPods a Net Promoter Score (explained below) of 75.

We used a standard benchmark question called a Net Promoter Score, which ranks a consumer’s willingness to recommend the product to others. This ranking is on a scale of 0 to 10 with 10 being extremely likely to recommend and 0 being not likely at all to recommend. It was this number that surprised me. Apple’s Net Promoter Score for AirPods came back as 75. To put that into context, the iPhone’s NPS number is 72. Product and NPS specialists will tell you anything above 50 is excellent and anything above 70 is world class.

When asked to explain the ranking they gave, customers used words like magic, fit, sound quality, convenient, love, good sound, and battery life, and cited benefits like the simple pairing process, and the convenience of a wireless experience. Negatives included issues with fit and connectivity.

In a series of general sentiment questions, 82 percent of survey respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that AirPods are their favorite recent Apple product, while 62 percent said they consume more audio with the AirPods. 82.5 percent wanted more control over content, like turning the volume up or changing a song, and 84 percent said that using one AirPod makes sense in certain situations.

Apple’s AirPods, priced at $159, first went on sale in October, but are still hard to track down even today. Current shipping estimates suggest orders placed today will not arrive for six weeks, while in-store pickup estimates offer June 20 as the earliest possible pickup date.

Tag: AirPods
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At 5 trillion fps, this camera could lead to scientific breakthroughs

Why it matters to you

Researchers can only watch scientific processes that are slower than their cameras and those cameras just got a whole lot faster.

The secret to building cleaner, more fuel-efficient engines might just be uncovered by a camera that shoots 5 trillion images per second.

Scientific cameras to record processes in physics, chemistry and other disciplines traditionally topped out at 100,000 images per second — though recent research has upped that to 100 billion — making some processes simply impossible to document in detail. But, researchers at Lund University in Sweeden have broken the speed record with a camera capable of creating videos at 5 trillion images per second.

Unlike a traditional camera, the shutter does not open and close 5 trillion times in one second. Instead, the camera, called FRAME (Frequency Recognition Algorithm for Multiple Exposures), uses a laser beam, multiple exposures, and a computer. As the laser hits the image, it uses a unique code. A single frame will have several encoded laser beams inside the image. A computer can then split that frame into several images using the encoded data in the laser. Those split frames can then be assembled into a movie boasting that top frame rate.

By encoding several images in one, the researchers were able to push beyond what is physically possible with current camera technology. The new camera is designed to record rapid processes, from how light travels to even brain activity in animals. The researchers behind the new camera, Elias Kristensson and Andreas Ehn, typically study combustion — their plan is to use the camera to visualize combustion on a molecular level, which they hope in turn will lead to the creation of more fuel-efficient engines, turbines, and boilers.

“Today, the only way to visualize such rapid events is to photograph still images of the process,” Kristensson said. “You then have to attempt to repeat identical experiments to provide several still images which can later be edited into a movie. The problem with this approach is that it is highly unlikely that a process will be identical if you repeat the experiment.”

Researchers estimate the new camera system could be available — to other scientists — in about two years.

Save money on Macpaw cleaning software with bundles and license deals

There is a virtual sea of software available for cleaning and maintaining a Windows PC, but if you use Apple hardware, you might not have considered using a similar program for your Mac. Macpaw makes some of our favorite apps for tidying up your Mac and removing junk files, so we’ve rounded up some current software offerings – including one PC program for you Windows users – as well as some great bundle deals that can save you up to $110.

CleanMyMac 3

Good cleaning software is a must, but CleanMyMac 3 does much more than just sort out and delete unnecessary files on your hard drive. Macpaw’s flagship app scans your drive with the press of a button and shows you which files can be safely removed, letting you clear out everything from browsing history to old emails. You can also thoroughly remove any apps, widgets, and plug-ins that you aren’t using, making sure no junk data is left behind.

Along with tidying up your file system, CleanMyMac improves performance by actively monitoring your computer’s memory use, temperatures, hard drive health, and more. It then alerts you to any problems and tells you how to fix them. You can also see real-time performance data and free up RAM to keep things running smoothly. A single-user license costs $40, but if you have multiple computers to clean, you can save $20 when you buy two licenses for $60 or save $110 when you buy five licenses for just $90.

Buy it from Macpaw

Gemini 2

Clearing out junk from your hard drive is great for keeping your system healthy and freeing up storage space, but duplicate files can remain undetected by cleaning software and might be taking up more room on your computer than you realize. Gemini 2 explores every nook and cranny of your Mac, hunts down duplicate files such as photos and music files, and tags them for removal. You can review the files and choose which you want to keep, if any, or let the Smart Select feature automatically determine which ones can go.

Gemini 2 doesn’t just look for copies, however – it can also find files that are similar, such as photos that look alike, helping you sort out the junk from those you want to keep. A single license for this handy Mac tool costs $20, and you can save $10 when you purchase two copies for $30 or save $55 when you buy five licenses for $45.

Buy it from Macpaw

Hider 2

Just as important as cleaning your computer is keeping your sensitive information private. Encryption software, once the domain of tech professionals and government agencies, has become mainstream over the last decade as consumers have grown increasingly privacy conscious. Desktop computers have also been slowly replaced by portable laptops, which are much more likely to get lost or stolen.

Hider 2 is a lightweight and user-friendly security solution for Mac users who want to secure their sensitive data. AES-256 encryption locks down files you want to keep private, and the data can only be decrypted with your unique passkey. Hider 2 can also hide encrypted folders and can completely lock down your external drives as well. A Hider 2 license goes for $20, while two copies come in at $30 and licenses for five different computers can be had for $45.

Buy it from Macpaw

CleanMyPC

Although Macpaw mostly focuses on software for Mac computers, it hasn’t forgotten the many Windows PC users out there. CleanMyPC brings the great features of CleanMyMac to Windows, scanning every corner of your hard drive for space-wasting cache files, logs, hibernation files, browser cookies, and more. CleanMyPC also scans the Windows registry and resolves errors, and the uninstaller feature makes it simple to completely remove unwanted software and extensions – including residual installation files and user data – without having to hunt around for uninstallers for each program you want to get rid of.

CleanMyPC is priced similarly to CleanMyMac, with a single license coming in at $40, two at $60, and a five-license family pack at $90, for savings of up to $110.

Buy it from Macpaw

Macpaw also offers several discounted bundles, so if you want more than one of their apps, you can buy them together for some extra savings. The Maximum Bundle for Mac includes CleanMyMac 3, Gemini 2, and Hider 2 for $63, which saves you $17. If you don’t need Hider 2, you can buy CleanMyMac and Gemini together with the $54 Space Saving Bundle abd save yourself $6. Finally, if you use a Mac and a PC and want cleaning software for both, then the Universal Cleaning Bundle gives you CleanMyMac and CleanMyPC for $68, a savings of $12.

Buy it from Macpaw

Smart device shockingly effective at improving running via jolts of electricity

Why it matters to you

Trying to perfect your running game? FootStriker trains you how to run properly by zapping you with jolts of electricity.

The idea of getting electric shocks to make us run better sounds like the kind of middle school nightmare our nerdy teenage selves might have had the night before gym class.

In fact, it’s the basis for a new device called FootStriker that was created by researchers at the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Saarbrücken. The idea behind FootStriker is that it uses jolts of electricity to stimulate muscles as a means of correcting the angle of a person’s foot prior to it hitting the ground when they run. It figures out when you’re going to place your foot incorrectly based on pressure sensors in the shoe’s insole, and then gives a quick, instructive zap.

It seems to be effective, too, according to a test carried out by the researchers that involved six runners. In a 1 kilometer run without FootStriker, the average percentage of incorrect heel landings in the group was 95 percent. When the device was then switched on for the following 3 kilometers, that number fell dramatically to just 16 percent. For the final kilometer, FootStriker was then switched off again, and heel landings not only stayed low — but actually decreased to just 8 percent. As a result, the researchers concluded that the participants had learned the correct technique due to FootStriker.

To back this up, a control group without the device decreased their average number of heel strikes from an initial 97 percent to 80 percent over the course of the run.

The hope is that the technology could be used to improve technique among runners, particularly when it comes to reducing injuries that frequently result from landing on the wrong part of the foot.

The technology could also be applied to other sports to help participants learn how to correctly execute maneuvers. While there’s no word on when FootStriker might be available to purchase, it’s certainly the kind of thing we can imagine finding its way into future sports equipment.

You can check out the research paper describing the technology in the journal Proceedings of the ACM on Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies.

An LG G6 Mini with a 5.4-inch display could be on the way shortly

Why it matters to you

Like the look of the LG G6 but want something a little smaller? The LG G6 could be the device for you!

The LG G6 was only released recently but it may not be the only device labeled “G6” that we see from LG. In fact, it looks like the company is prepping a so-called G6 Mini, which could be released in the near future.

Not much is known about the LG G6 Mini at this point, but as the name suggests the device will basically be a smaller and perhaps less powerful version of the original G6.

So what should we expect from the phone? Well, at this point, only specs related to the display of the phone have been leaked and it appears as though LG will be keeping the 18:9 aspect ratio, and that the display will be 5.4 inches. That is slightly smaller than the 5.7 inches on the original LG G6. The information was first reported by TechnoBuffalo.

It is possible that the LG G6 Mini won’t be released at all — the document TechnoBuffalo obtained is actually dated from earlier this year, so it is possible that the phone was planned to launch alongside the standard G6, but was eventually nixed.

Still, it is also possible that LG intends to ride on the success of the G6 with a follow-up. The display specs are about all we know about the phone at this point, but we expect the phone will feature slightly less powerful specs than the original G6 with a similar, if not identical, form factor.

Another theory is that the phone will feature the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, making it more powerful than the original G6. The G6 did not feature the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, instead, it made use of the aging Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 processor because of the fact that initial stock of the Snapdragon 835 was reserved for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S8. Samsung co-developed the Snapdragon 835, so it makes sense that it got first dibs — but that did mean that the G6 was a lot less powerful than it could have been.

You can see our review of the original LG G6 here.