HTC 10 revisited: one year later
With the HTC U 11 set to be announced in a little over a week, it’s only fitting that we take a look back at its predecessor, the HTC 10, which is easily one of the most underrated flagships of 2016. The device definitely deserved a lot more attention that it received, but now that it is a year old, let’s see exactly how well it has held up. Here is the HTC 10 revisited.
It really is unfortunate that the HTC 10 failed to garner more attention from consumers despite being universally praised by reviewers, which is not something that can be said for a couple of its predecessors. However, as good as the HTC 10 was and remains, people were just not buying it. Apart from tech journalists and reviewers, I’ve rarely spotted this phone in the hands of the average consumer.
Don’t miss:
HTC 10 review
April 14, 2016
In fact, I’ve seen the LG G5 out in the wild a whole lot more than the HTC 10, and HTC’s marketing (or lack therefore) is definitely accountable for that. It’s a shame that this phone became one of the best smartphones of 2016 that no one was buying, despite going toe to toe with the other flagships that were available at the time.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t enough of a push behind the device for HTC to capitalize on this chance
It’s hard to think back to a time only a few years ago where HTC ruled the roost, with their fortunes skyrocketing with the arrival of the HTC One M7. Things have been at a steady decline since then, but with the LG’s 2016 flagship being mostly a miss with consumers, HTC had an opportunity to recapture that magic. Unfortunately, there just wasn’t enough of a push behind the device for HTC to capitalize on this chance.
- HTC 10 vs Samsung Galaxy S7 vs LG G5
- #ThrowbackThursday – when HTC was the king of ‘premium’ design
I still think that the HTC 10 is an attractive looking phone, and is easily one of my favorite designs from 2016. The metal body feels incredible in the hand, and the huge chamfer along the back is a very unique touch that I wish HTC wasn’t so quick to get rid of. The front of the phone is completely clean and free from any logos or branding, which is how it should always be with any smartphone.
Something I truly appreciate about the HTC 10 is how easy it is to use with one hand. It has a very small overall footprint and despite having a slippery metal body, the flat sides made it easy to grip. In terms of the phone’s durability, there are some minor nicks and scrapes to be seen, but it definitely is in great shape when you consider that I didn’t use a case with this phone.
It may be hard to not think this is an AMOLED display because of how bright and colorful it looks
Even though I generally prefer AMOLED displays, I’m a huge fan of the LCD screen of this device that HTC has done an excellent job with. HTC flagships feature some of the best LCD panels in the market, and I love how sharp, vibrant, and full of contrast the HTC 10 display is. If you didn’t know any better, it may be hard to not think of this display as AMOLED because of how bright and colorful it looks.
One thing that did change rather significantly with the HTC 10 when compared to its predecessors was the audio experience. Instead of the dual front-facing speaker setup that the company was known for, the 10 featured a single front-firing speaker and a bottom-mounted woofer instead. It wasn’t a bad change in terms of audio quality however, but I do miss dual front-facing speakers, which has gone by the wayside in the smartphone market. The headphone jack was included though, and actually provided some very high quality audio with the built-in DAC and amp.
Even after a year, performance is still solid
Even after a year, the performance is still quite good in my experience. The hardware may not be the latest and greatest anymore, but the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 has held up very well, and everything remains snappy and responsive even after several software updates.
On the other hand, the battery life has unfortunately not fared as well as the performance. The HTC 10, with its 3,000 mAh battery, didn’t offer impressive battery life to begin with, and didn’t last a full day with heavy usage even then. It does recharge very quickly though by taking advantage of Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 technology, so even if you run out of battery, you can be up and running with little delay.
See also:
HTC 10 battery life review
April 26, 2016
HTC historically struggled a lot in the camera department, but that changed pretty drastically with the HTC 10. While I still feel like the camera of this device was a step behind its 2016 counterparts from LG and Samsung, it was leaps and bounds better than what was available with the One M7, M8, and M9. I actually forgot how good this camera was until I started using this phone again, and even when browsing through photos I’d taken when the device first released, the images are a lot better than what I remembered.
You also get manual controls and the ability to shoot in the RAW format, so you have a lot of flexibility here when it comes to shooting photos. The front-facing shooter is also quite good and featured OIS, which is great for taking selfies and particularly for vlogging. It’s actually rather surprising why OIS isn’t more easily found with front-facing cameras on smartphones.
- HTC 10 feature focus: camera
- HTC 10 feature focus: Sense UI
On the software side of things, the device has received an official update to Android 7.0 Nougat and is also fairly on track with regards to monthly security patches. The Nougat update brought Google Assistant to the device, but apart from that and the other Android 7.0 features and enhancements, the software experience is largely the same as what it was when the device was running Android 6.0 Marshmallow. HTC Sense hasn’t changed much, and while it certainly is one of the cleanest software experiences around, it does seem due for an update, which will hopefully be available with the HTC U 11.
The big question here is whether the HTC 10 is still worth buying in 2017. The price if you get it directly from HTC is a steep $599, but it is possible to get the international version of the device on Amazon for about $150 cheaper.
It is a fantastic phone that has stood the test of time very well, and isn’t missing a whole lot even when compared to current generation flagships. It certainly deserves to be in the pocket of more people, especially if you cherish the classic HTC metal construction and design. Considering what we’ve seen so far from HTC this year and from rumors surrounding the upcoming flagship, the HTC 10 looks to be the end of era, so you might want to get your hands on one while you still can.
What are your thoughts on the HTC 10? Do you own one? If so, how has your experience been? Be sure to let us know in the comments!
Bak USA Atlas hints at what Windows 10 S PCS will be like
Why it matters to you
Although this doesn’t give us a real example of a Windows 10 S laptop, Bak USA’s new Atlas should be competitive with them and therefore broadly comparable.
Although it comes running Windows 10 Pro, Bak USA’s new Atlas 2-in-1 laptop gives us our first hint of what kind of hardware we could expect with Windows 10 S laptops in the future. Aimed at the education market, much like Windows 10 S, the new convertible tablet is resistant to various kinds of wear and tear and packs a quad-core Intel Atom CPU.
Internally the Atlas comes with a quad-core Intel Atom CPU running at 1.92Ghz when boosted, paired up with 4GB of LPDDR3L memory. Base storage is 128GB of eMMC flash, with up to 64GB of additional storage space via a MicroSD card. We’re told that this offers a “major boost,” in speed and performance compared to the Atlas 12.
Battery life is said to last around eight hours, while the display is IPS and measures 11.6 inches diagonally, with a resolution of 1,366 x 768.
Bak claims that the new Atlas is dust, water, and drop-resistant, with a robust design. It also features a built-in handle for easy portability and an attached stylus for more refined inputs via the touch interface. The camera too can be rotated through 180 degrees, making it versatile for both front and rear-facing picture taking.
It also comes with a fingerprint reader and has two USB ports: one 2.0 Type-A and one 3.0 Type-C.
In line with its educational focus, the Atlas will also be available with a Steam Starter Kit. That doesn’t give it a bunch of games to play, but it will feature optional accessories such as a detachable microscope powered by LabCamera software. It also comes with ClapMotion, a program that makes it easy for students to create stop-motion movies by clapping their hands.
As standard, each Atlas will also come with Office 365, which includes full copies of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams.
“We believe the new Atlas is competitive with any other laptop dedicated to education currently on the market,” said Bak USA’s vice president of products, Christian Bak. While that statement doesn’t explicitly say so, that should mean that whatever other manufacturers offer sporting Microsoft’s newest iteration on Windows 10, the Atlas will match.
Best app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time
Everyone likes apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers make paid apps free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest apps on sale in the iOS App Store.
These apps normally cost money, and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged.
More: 200 Awesome iPhone Apps | The best Android apps for almost any occasion
USB Drive, Video, & Music Player
Store any file on your iPhone or iPad just like you do on USB flash drive, copy files from your Mac quickly and easily, play any video format, and all for a fraction of the cost of a USB stick.
Available on:
iOS
Smile More
Feeling down and a bit lost? Sometimes all we need is a little reminder that there are things to smile about. Whether it’s the thought that everything will get better, or to be reminded that you are both lovely and loved, Smile More is here to help brighten your day.
Available on:
iOS
Recapify
Recapify is a mobile collaboration app that allows users to elegantly recap, communicate, organize, save, and measure high-value meeting results, all in two minutes or less.
Available on:
iOS
Adrian James Bootcamp
Adrian James Bootcamp has been named the toughest 15-minute bootcamp on the planet. Download the chart-topping app to increase strength, burn fat and boost your energy levels.
Available on:
iOS
Blend
Blend is a simple, global, interactive group messaging app for groups of friends who share common interests. Get the latest updates on Beyonce, The Warriors, NYT, and many other topics, all through Genies.
Available on:
iOS
Sleepy Fan
Millions of people around the world use a fan to fall asleep. Recreate the sound of a real fan with Sleepy Fan and use the powerful noise shape designer to mix in additional masking noise to your liking.
Available on:
iOS
Everything you need to know about the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4
Why it matters to you
The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is an excellent option for those looking for a budget smartphone.
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4 is proving a popular device in China, but that’s not the only market in which it’s expected to flourish. In January, the 5.5 inch-phablet device went on sale in India, where its predecessor, the Redmi Note 3 was already a big hit.
Release date and availability
Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4 is priced at 899 yuan for the 16GB and 2GB RAM variant, which translates to about $135 U.S., or 8,900 rupees. The 64GB variant with 3GB of RAM costs 1200 yuan/$180/11,900 rupees. It originally went on sale in China at Mi.com on August 26, and is now also on sale in India in a number of different variants. If you live in India, you’ll be able to get the 32GB version for 10,000 rupees (about $155), the 32GB version for 11,000 rupees ($170), and the 64GB version for 13,000 rupees ($201).
In May, the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 was made available in Mexico starting at 5,500 pesos ($288). The company also debuted an online platform for Mi users known as Mi Community LATAM, which can be accessed by way of a mobile app. The handset can be purchased at retailers like Coppel, Best Buy, and Sam’s Club by the end of May. Online, customers in Mexico can head over to Amazon, Best Buy, Soriana, Elektra, and Walmart.
Design
Take the iPhone 6S Plus and mix it with the HTC 10 and the result will come close to the metal Redmi Note 4. The front looks sleek and minimal, and at the bottom you’ll find capacitive navigational buttons. The power button and volume rocker rest on the right side of the device, but overall the front gives off iPhone vibes. The back, on the other hand, is more akin to HTC’s most recent flagship, the HTC 10. Antenna bands sit at the top and bottom of the device, and there’s a circular camera, flash, and a circular fingerprint sensor at the top center.
The Note 4 comes in silver, gold, and dark gray color options. Of course, the familiar Mi logo sits at the bottom back of the device.
The fingerprint sensor supports Xiaomi’s relatively new Mi Pay mobile wallet service, which competes with the likes of Apple Pay.
Specs
The 5.5-inch phablet has a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, and the LCD display utilizes 2.5D curved glass so the edges blend into the sides of the device. It’s powered by MediaTek’s 10-core Helio X20 processor, and comes with 2GB or 3GB of RAM, which corresponds with 16GB or 64GB variants. The device also supports a MicroSD card, so you can add 128GB.
What’s most impressive is the battery on the Note 4 — Xiaomi has managed to pack in a 4,100mAh battery, which is much larger than the 3,500mAh battery on Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7.
The rear camera is packed with 13 megapixels, with an aperture of f/2.0. The selfie camera has 5 megapixels, which is the same as Samsung’s Note 7 and most flagship devices. It’s the sensor and processing software that will put the camera to the test, and Xiaomi has provided a few shots reportedly taken with the Note 4. Check them out:
The Redmi Note 4 runs the latest MIUI 8 software, which is based off Google’s Android operating system. The new version saw a global rollout to current devices.
The company says the “total sales of Redmi and Redmi Note series reached 50 million units.”
Originally published in August 2016. Updated on 05-10-2017 by Lulu Chang: Added news of Mexico availability.
Show your Galaxy S8 you care with one of these great cases
In a galaxy of metal and glass smartphone beauties, Samsung’s S8 stands out as a real head-turner. As we showed you in our Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus review, the gorgeous screen has curves in all the right places and has the skimpiest of bezels. It is truly a great-looking phone, but it was not built to withstand the rough and tumble of the real world.
Drop your S8 and you risk scuffs and dings in the metal frame, or worse, scratches or cracks in the screen that are eye-wateringly expensive to repair. You should really invest in some protection. Check out the best Galaxy S8 cases and covers to see if you can find something that suits you.
Nomad Folio Wallet Case ($50)
Classic, durable, and practical, this genuine leather wallet case from Nomad could be the ideal companion for your Galaxy S8. It has a thin, plastic shell inside that holds your phone firmly in place and it’s wrapped in brown or grey American patina leather. The inside cover sports three neatly stitched card slots and there’s a larger pouch at the back for cash. There are generous openings for access to buttons, ports, camera, and everything else.
Buy one now from:
Best Buy
Skech Crystal Clear Case ($20)
We don’t blame you if the idea of covering up your gorgeous Galaxy S8 design has you shaking your head, but this phone is easily damaged. Skech might have the perfect compromise for you with its Crystal Clear S8 cover. The back is hard polycarbonate, and the frame is a softer material designed to absorb impact shock. There are thin button covers and accurate cut-outs for the ports, camera, and everything else. It’s slim, so you can’t expect rugged drop protection, but it will ward off minor bumps and scratches. It also has an anti-yellowing coating, so there’s no need to worry about UV rays.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Pelican Voyager Case ($42)
One of the best rugged cases for the Galaxy S8, Pelican’s Voyager covers your phone from every angle and has a built-in screen protector and a holster. The back is transparent, but there’s a thick, protective frame with a soft touch finish that enhances grip. The buttons have tactile covers and the cut-outs are accurate, so you can use your S8 just fine with the case on, which is just as well, because it’s not easy to remove in a hurry. The holster also has a swivelling belt clip which can double up as a kickstand. This is a reliable option for drop protection and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
CM4 Q Card Wallet Case ($25)
You can ditch the wallet with this case, provided you don’t use too many cards. It’s a slim option compared to other S8 wallet cases, because it’s a standard TPU shell case with a special pouch sewn onto the back with space for up to three cards. There are textured strips on the sides for enhanced grip, accurate cut-outs for the ports, camera, and fingerprint sensor, and decent button covers. It extends a little at the top and bottom of the front to safeguard the screen. There’s also a clever groove on the back so that you can use one of your cards as a kickstand.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
RhinoShield CrashGuard Bumper ($25)
This protective bumper is a good alternative to a traditional Galaxy S8 case, because it provides protection where you need it most – around the frame. Your phone is open front and back, so it’s easy to access the screen and you can enjoy Samsung’s curved design, but the bumper extends a little to protect both. The combination of hard and soft polycarbonate enhances grip and offers solid drop protection for falls from up to 11 feet. There are chunky button covers and generous openings for your ports. It comes in black, dark blue, and grey.
Buy one now from:
Amazon
Ted Baker Folio Cases with Mirror ($50)
Designer Ted Baker has partnered with Proporta on a series of gorgeous folio cases for the Galaxy S8, all showing off the latest floral print trends. We’ve highlighted the black Knowane and nude Knowai Porcelain Rose models here, but also love the bold Cendra Butterfly Collective model. Flip open the magnetically secured folio cover to find a handy mirror inside, and be safe in the knowledge Proporta has used an electroplated shell to keep both the phone and the design looking its best.
Buy one now from:
Proporta
Skinit Pro Case ($35)
The Skinit Pro case gives you everyday drop protection, with raised front bezels to keep your screen safe. Skinit’s website features a customization tool that you can use to upload any graphic or picture that you want featured on your custom case. You can position and resize the picture to make the case look exactly the way you want to before placing your order. You can also browse the wide selection of ready-made cases that are already available on the website.
Buy one now from:
Skinit
Mujjo Leather Case ($42)
Mujjo’s leather cases for iPhone proved to be so popular, they decided to bring them to the Galaxy S8. This is the kind of case you want if you’re looking for a good quality leather case that will last you a long time. You can see that Mujjo chose to fold the leather inwards toward the camera instead of using a plastic ring. The interior of the case is a soft microfiber material, and the full-grain leather is will look even better as it ages with long-term use. This case comes in black and a beautiful saddle tan color.
Buy one now from:
Mujjo
Caseology Vault II Case ($10)
Caseology brings the Vault II case to the Galaxy S8, and it gives you good impact protection without adding a lot of bulk. In the looks department, the Vault II is your typical impact-resistant case, but there are a few carefully thought out elements that we appreciate. Adding diagonal lines across the back of the case gives you that extra grip you need when using large smartphones. We are also glad to see that Caseology is featuring tactile button covers, as it creates a feel like you’re pressing on real buttons instead of mushy button covers, and they’re easier to find without looking.
Buy one now from:
Amazon Caseology
Otterbox Commuter Case ($40)
Very few case manufacturers have Otterbox’s reputation for drop protection. If you’re looking for heavy-duty impact protection for the Galaxy S8, then Otterbox cases should definitely make your shortlist. The Commuter series is more manageable, as Otterbox has made the cases as slim as possible without compromising toughness. The case features Otterbox’s 2-layer protection and dust covers to keep dirt out of the smartphone’s ports. It comes in black, but you can also order it in a range of two-tone color combinations.
Buy one now from:
Amazon Otterbox
Speck Presidio Clear Case ($45)
The Presidio clear case comes in a variety of looks to suit any taste. You can opt to get the clear case, or you can jazz it up with some glitter. The case will protect your phone and is capable of resisting damage from drops of up to eight feet. One of the most annoying side effects of owning a clear case is the dreaded yellowing, but Speck uses a material called Impactium Clear which will resist yellowing, even when exposed to the sun for a long period.
Buy one now from:
Speck Amazon
Cuteness overload: Xiaomi’s Redmi Note 4X dedicated to virtual idol Hatsune Miku
Why it matters to you
Xiaomi’s limited edition Hatsune Miku phone is the first we’ve seen that hasn’t been made by Sony.
If you’re a Hatsune Miku fan, then Xiaomi’s new phone is going to be like a dream come true. The new Redmi Note 4X will be sold as a special edition dedicated to the virtual pop star, complete with a Miku color scheme, a Miku protective case, and a Miku powerbank, all wrapped up in specially designed packaging. It’s the first time we’ve seen a Hatsune Miku smartphone from a company other than Sony, which has released Miku-branded Xperia phones in the past.
The Redmi Note 4X is a slight update to the Redmi Note 4, which was made official in mid-2016, and shares a very similar design. The phone has a metal body broken by two antenna lines running across the top and bottom of the back panel. The screen measures 5.5 inches and has a 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, with slim bezels either side.
The major alteration to the Note 4X is the inclusion of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, rather than the MediaTek Helio X20 found in the Note 4. The Snapdragon 625 is a midrange but highly capable octa-core chip, which we’ve enjoyed using in the Huawei Nova. Xiaomi hasn’t mentioned the amount of RAM the phone has, but rumors put it at 4GB, 1GB more than the Redmi Note 4. A 13-megapixel camera sits on the back of the phone, above a fingerprint sensor, and a 4,100mAh battery powers the device.
Xiaomi will release the Redmi Note 4X in five colors: Gold, pink, black, gray, and green, which is the Hatsune Miku special edition, matching her signature hair color. The Redmi Note 4X Hatsune Miku edition also has her name in Chinese stamped on the back, under the Mi logo, and a limited edition number.
The phone shown in the promo images is listed as number 831, a nod to Miku’s August 31 “birthday.” The box art, and the cute Miku case and powerbank, feature original artwork by iXima, the artist who created Miku’s look for the recent V3 and V4X software releases. Although it’s not mentioned, we’d expect the limited edition to come with special Miku wallpapers, themes, and sounds, just like most other co-branded phones.
When will you be able to by the Redmi Note 4X? It was made available in February, starting around $200. The Redmi Note 4X was only for China for quite some time, and while we previously told you that a wide international launch outside Xiaomi’s established markets seemed unlikely, Xiaomi has now proved us wrong by launching the handset in Mexico.
In early May, the company announced that the Redmi 4X would be made available for 4,000 pesos, or about $210. A specific release date has yet to be set. Donovan Sung, Xiaomi Global’s director of product management and marketing, said of the launch, “Xiaomi’s products combine cutting-edge technological innovations and great design while defying price expectations. We are really excited to be bringing even more of our amazing products to fans in Mexico and the region across numerous offline and online partners. Mexico is a really important market for us and acts as our starting point to reach the rest of Latin America. We hope to continue growing our presence here with the constant support of our passionate Mi fans.”
Article originally published on 02-07-2017 by Andy Boxall. Updated on 05-10-2017 by Lulu Chang: Added news of availability in Mexico.
MIT is developing robots that can learn and pass on skills
Why it matters to you
Training robots is time consuming. This new system makes it easier for robots to acquire new skills so they can focus on making out lives easier.
Humans take learning for granted. It’s remarkable how quickly we can pick up a new task just by watching someone else do it. Robots meanwhile don’t have it so easy, but researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) are here to help. They’re teaching robots to teach each other.
The new system, C-LEARN, combines two traditional elements of robotic learning — learning from demonstration and something called motion planning, actions which have to be hard-coded by developers. They say this new technique is meant to make it easier for robots to perform a wide range of tasks with less programming.
“Robots could be of so much help if only more people could use them,” Claudia Perez-D’Arpino, a PhD candidate who worked on the project, told Digital Trends. She explained that the team’s motive was to maintain some of the high-level skills enabled by state-of-the-art programmers, while allowing the system to learn through demonstration.
Programming robots to perform even a single task can be complicated, involving precise instructions that take time to code. Instead, Perez-D’Arpino and her team developed C-LEARN to let experts focus on the tasks most relevant to their respective fields. With this system, non-coders can give robots bits of data about an action and then fill in the gaps by showing the robot a demonstration of the task at hand.
Jason Dorfman / MIT CSAIL
“We wanted to … empower [experts] to teach robots how to plan for tasks that are critical in their field of application,” Pérez-D’Arpino said. “Progress in recent years in learning from demonstrations is moving in this direction,”
C-LEARN works by accumulating a body of experience, which the researchers call a knowledge base. This base contains geometric information about reaching and grasping objects. Next, the human operator shows the robot a 3D demonstrations of the task at hand. By relating its knowledge base to the action it observed, the robot can make suggestions for how best to perform the actions, and the operator can approve or edit the suggestions as she sees fit.
“This knowledge base can be transferred from one robot to another,” Pérez-D’Arpino said. “Imagine your robot is downloading an ‘app’ for manipulation skills. The ‘app’ can adapt to the new robot with a different body thanks to the flexibility of having learned constraints, which are a mathematical representation of the underlying geometrical requirement of the task, which is different from learning a specific path that might not be feasible in the new robot body.”
In other words, C-LEARN allows that knowledge to transfer and adapt to its context — kind of like how an athlete can learn a skill in one sport and alter it slightly to perform better in a different sport, without having to completely relearn the action.
The researchers tested C-LEARN on Optimus, a small two-armed robot designed for bomb disposal, before successfully transferring the skill to Atlas, a six-foot-tall humanoid. They think the system could be help improve the performance of robots in manufacturing and disaster relief, to allow for quicker responses in time-sensitive situations.
MIT is developing robots that can learn and pass on skills
Why it matters to you
Training robots is time consuming. This new system makes it easier for robots to acquire new skills so they can focus on making out lives easier.
Humans take learning for granted. It’s remarkable how quickly we can pick up a new task just by watching someone else do it. Robots meanwhile don’t have it so easy, but researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) are here to help. They’re teaching robots to teach each other.
The new system, C-LEARN, combines two traditional elements of robotic learning — learning from demonstration and something called motion planning, actions which have to be hard-coded by developers. They say this new technique is meant to make it easier for robots to perform a wide range of tasks with less programming.
“Robots could be of so much help if only more people could use them,” Claudia Perez-D’Arpino, a PhD candidate who worked on the project, told Digital Trends. She explained that the team’s motive was to maintain some of the high-level skills enabled by state-of-the-art programmers, while allowing the system to learn through demonstration.
Programming robots to perform even a single task can be complicated, involving precise instructions that take time to code. Instead, Perez-D’Arpino and her team developed C-LEARN to let experts focus on the tasks most relevant to their respective fields. With this system, non-coders can give robots bits of data about an action and then fill in the gaps by showing the robot a demonstration of the task at hand.
Jason Dorfman / MIT CSAIL
“We wanted to … empower [experts] to teach robots how to plan for tasks that are critical in their field of application,” Pérez-D’Arpino said. “Progress in recent years in learning from demonstrations is moving in this direction,”
C-LEARN works by accumulating a body of experience, which the researchers call a knowledge base. This base contains geometric information about reaching and grasping objects. Next, the human operator shows the robot a 3D demonstrations of the task at hand. By relating its knowledge base to the action it observed, the robot can make suggestions for how best to perform the actions, and the operator can approve or edit the suggestions as she sees fit.
“This knowledge base can be transferred from one robot to another,” Pérez-D’Arpino said. “Imagine your robot is downloading an ‘app’ for manipulation skills. The ‘app’ can adapt to the new robot with a different body thanks to the flexibility of having learned constraints, which are a mathematical representation of the underlying geometrical requirement of the task, which is different from learning a specific path that might not be feasible in the new robot body.”
In other words, C-LEARN allows that knowledge to transfer and adapt to its context — kind of like how an athlete can learn a skill in one sport and alter it slightly to perform better in a different sport, without having to completely relearn the action.
The researchers tested C-LEARN on Optimus, a small two-armed robot designed for bomb disposal, before successfully transferring the skill to Atlas, a six-foot-tall humanoid. They think the system could be help improve the performance of robots in manufacturing and disaster relief, to allow for quicker responses in time-sensitive situations.
Google Street View program will help contributors upload imagery
Why it matters to you
This move will help democratize the process of contributing imagery to Google’s Street View service.
Google has detailed a new initiative that’s intended to ease the process of uploading imagery to its Street View service. The company’s Street View certification standard will help anyone who is eager to contribute to the service choose software and hardware that’s fit for the job.
Twenty new 360-degree cameras that are certified by the program are set to be made available over the course of 2017, according to a post on the Google blog. Sphericam, Z CAM, Giroptic, and Insta360 are among the manufacturers fielding the first wave of devices to be approved by Google.
The Street View certification standard covers four different strands. Street View mobile-ready devices are 360-degree cameras that are capable of publishing directly to the service via an app, without the need for a desktop computer as part of the user’s workflow.
Street View auto-ready cameras are designed to be attached to a vehicle, and offer optimal results for contributors who plan to capture imagery as they drive, cycle, or even ride on horseback. Street View VR-ready devices can capture geometry as well as static images that can be stitched together, streamlining the creation of a Street View scene that can be viewed with a virtual reality headset.
Finally, Street View workflow-ready software will help users upload their content to their Street View accounts. Some of these tools are set to be bundled with Street View-certified cameras.
Street View launched in 2007 as an expansion of a Stanford University research project that got underway in 2001. Google’s new certification standard should ensure that the service continues to update its imagery for years to come.
More information on upcoming Street View ready cameras and software is expected to come out of the Street View Summit, which is being held on May 10 and 11 in Tokyo.
We tried the most high-tech three-course meal of all time, and it was glorious
Why it matters to you
Technology is transforming food. That was no more evident at the International Culinary Institute in New York, where we tried dished by the school’s technology director.
In the right hands, cutting-edge tech and cooking can be a killer combination — and if that’s a combination you’d like to try, you need look no further than the International Culinary Center’s New York City outpost, which hosts a food technology program focused on futuristic gastronomy.
Hervé Malivert, the center’s director, is an accomplished gourmand. He joined the International Culinary Center in 2006, after a culinary study in France and a two-decade tour in the restaurant business. He’s a traditionalist — Malivert’s a card-carrying member of the Maître Cuisiniers de France (Master Chef of France), a 60-year-old society that’s among the most exclusive in the country — but one that’s not afraid of a little experimentation. Malivert made headlines last year when he worked alongside a Columbia engineering professor to prototype a 3D food printer.
To demonstrate the latest in high-tech cooking, Malivert invited Digital Trends to a three-course, brunch-themed cooking demo. Using techniques like “liquid nitrogen blending” and “immersion curing,” he whipped up dishes fit for Michelin. Here’s a taste of what we tried:
Olive Oil poached egg
The first dish was a modernist take on an egg sandwich — three olive oil-cured yolks topped with with salmon roe, mustard seed, and a crème fraiche garnish. Malivert described it as an omage to “Oeufs au Caviar,” a eggs-and-caviar dish served at Jean-Georges in New York. His take was a little less extravagant — he subbed salmon roe for caviar — but no less visually stunning.
It was also deceptively complicated. The yolks alone required two hours of prep work, Malivert said — one hour in a vacuum seal infused with herbs, spices, and simmering water, and another in an immersion circulator — a kitchen appliance that draws water from a tub or pot of water, heats it up to a precise temperature, and spits it back out.
The mustard seeds were just as labor-intensive. Once the seeds were blanched five times, they were pressure-cooked in a blend of rice vinegar, sugar, and salt. The finished mixture was transferred to a bain marie (a slow-cooking container immersed in hot water), and left to cool on ice.
But the wait was worth it. The tart mustard, creamy crème fraiche, buttery brioche, and fatty yolk left us smacking our lips.
Short ribs pastrami
The second dish — short ribs rubbed with peppercorn and finished with a gel-like fluid — was a little meatier than the first. But just like the olive oil-poached eggs before it, it wasn’t easy to assemble.
The short rib brine — a blend of salt, sugar, and rib fat — had been melding together in a refrigerator for five days, Malivert said. The pastrami had taken longer — once it was removed from the brine and rubbed with spices, it was smoked for four hours, then boiled, strained, cooled, vacuum-sealed, and cooked sous vide for 72 hours.
The fluid gel, a bright-colored substance that looked a little like thick ketchup, was the product of cooking liquid from the pastrami, vinegar, and sugar. It was brought to a boil, transferred to a container on ice to set, and blended in a food processor until smooth and creamy.
The dish was a stunner. The fluid gel’s sweetness complimented the melt-in-your-mouth pastrami beautifully, and the peppercorn rub lent just enough of a kick to keep things interesting.
Smoked Salmon en Brioche
Malivert’s last dish was featured brioche, salmon, an orange jam, and watercress puree.
The salmon wasn’t your weeknight dinner variety. It was seasoned and vacuum-sealed in a refrigerator for 12 hours, and infused with smoke from a smoking gun. The barbecue-like flavor paired perfectly with the final component: A slice of egg white-brushed brioche.
The jam was just as labor-intensive. Malivert cut oranges into slices in and combined them with sugar, and then pressure-cooked them in a canning jar for two hours before chilling them. Finally, he blended them with oil.
After whipping up a simple peas puree — a mix of watercress, shallots, and vice vinegar blended together until they reach a smooth consistency — and a pickled tomato, Malivert plated the final dish. And what a dish: The savory-and-sweet salmon and jam combination was our favorite of the evening.
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