Destiny 2 Gameplay Premiere livestream, watch it right here

Activision and Bungie will today unveil Destiny 2 gameplay for the first, with a special event in Los Angeles where it will reveal more details about the forthcoming game and livestream footage.

It will also allow a select few, including Pocket-lint, hands-on time with multiple modes across the PS4 and PC versions of the game. We will be posting our thoughts after our playtime, so check those out later, but for now you can watch the keynote yourself as we host it right here.

When is the Destiny 2 Gameplay Premiere?

The event, being held in an aircraft hanger in LA, will start with a full keynote address at 10am PT today, Thursday 18 May, so 6pm BST.

It will debut gameplay footage and special guests will appear on stage to kick off the show.

• E3 2017: Rumours, press conferences and what to expect from the world’s biggest games show

Where can I watch the Destiny 2 Gameplay Premiere?

We have the livestream of the event below for you to watch live. It will become available to view shortly before the show starts:

You can also watch it on destinythegame.com, where there is currently a countdown clock to the event, or on Bungie’s own Twitch channel.

What can I expect from the Destiny 2 Gameplay Premiere?

You can find out a lot more about Destiny 2 in our extensive rumour round-up feature. It has trailers and other info we know or have heard about so far. You can find it here: Destiny 2: Release date, screens, formats and everything you need to know

Destiny 2 will be released for PS4, Xbox One and PC on 8 September 2017. 

Soft-legged robot is designed for rescue missions

Soft robots typically have squishy bodies and limbs so that they can squeeze into the tightest spaces. If they’re to be used for search and reconnaissance missions, though, they’ll need to be able to navigate rough terrains. A team of engineers from the University of California San Diego have created a soft robot that can do just that. They made a four-legged machine that can not only wriggle into confined spaces, but also climb over obstacles and walk on sand, pebbles, rocks and even inclined surfaces. The team’s secret? A high-end 3D printer that can print soft and rigid materials together.

The robot moves by pumping air into its legs, which are inflatable chambers that are hollow on the inside. When one leg is inflated and the others aren’t, for instance, the inflated leg bends. The machine can also easily transition from a crawling to a walking position, and vice versa. At this point in time, the current model still has to be tethered to an open source board and an air pump, but the team is working on making a smaller version that can move freely.

You can check out the robot walk on sand and rockets in the video below:

Source: University of California San Diego

Watch today’s Google I/O VR and AR livestream right here!

What, you thought Google I/O ended with the company spilling all sorts of details about the future of its mobile AI initiatives and the latest tidbits about Android O? Not so fast. There’s a keynote today that’s all about augmented-and-virtual reality as well and you can watch it right here starting at 12:30pm Eastern. Of course, we’ll be live-blogging the event as well, in case you wanted some textual commentary to go with your livestream.

For all the latest news and updates from Google I/O 2017, follow along here

Source: YouTube

Facebook makes Messenger easier to use for social butterflies

First it added stickers, then it was games. Now, Facebook’s latest Messenger update simply aims to make the popular app even easier to use. Starting today, the chat service is getting a bit of a makeover, introducing a few subtle tweaks to Messenger’s home screen in a bid to make it more user-friendly.

The service is now split into three tabs, letting users instantly access their messages, see which friends are ‘Active now’ and lastly, go straight into their favorite Groups. As well as this top level organization, the update also introduces a new bottom bar, which has tabs for home, calls, camera, people and games. A red dot next to one of these tabs will indicate that someone’s tried to reach you, meaning that users on the go can easily see who’s communicating with them through Messenger, and by which method. Given all the new features Facebook has crammed into Messenger recently, this much needed tidier UI is definitely a welcome addition.

While not exactly groundbreaking, this update looks to do one thing that everyone can appreciate — save you time. Yet, with various concerns arising over how Facebook handles users’ privacy, you might want to be careful about how much you want to say through Messenger. The update’s come at a good time for the company, as Facebook is dealing with a bit of a legal headache at the moment. Still, what’s the small matter of being fined €110 million by the EU compared to introducing a totally sick new Messenger home screen?

Cultured Code Announces ‘Things 3’ Task Manager for Mac, iOS, and Apple Watch

Cultured Code today officially released an all-new version of Things, the personal task manager software for Mac, iOS, and Apple Watch.

Things 3 brings an overhauled user interface and multiple new features to the to-do apps, which continue to use Things Cloud to seamlessly sync across devices.

First up is the new design, offering a stripped-down look that aims to integrate the old features with the new, and put user content front and center. For example, to-dos are adaptive to their content, and can look like straight text on a piece of paper, or include additional details like tags, checklists, a start date, or a deadline. These fields also respond to a range of gestures (drag and drop, swipe, tap to expand, mark complete) to make organization easier.

Other refinements include the ability to search across the entire app by pulling down inside any list to trigger Quick Find, which offers immediate access to to-dos, lists, tags, and more. There’s also a progress indicator for projects, indicating their status at a glance.

The Today and Upcoming screens have been re-imagined, and now display both calendar events and to-dos together, with events for the day shown in a timeline at the top. Every day at midnight, the next day’s to-dos appear at the top of the Today list. There’s also a new section called “This Evening” to make it easier to structure your day.

Things 3 also introduces headings, which can be used to break up milestones in projects and make them easier to grasp. Another new structural tool are checklists within individual to-dos, making it possible to break down tasks even further.

In addition, Things 3 features a new way to create to-dos called the Magic Plus Button. The button lives in the corner of the screen and can be either tapped or dragged up to a particular list to generate the to-do in a specific location. The button can also be used to quickly create and place headings in new projects.

Elsewhere, the iOS app now offers multiple item selection and easier list editing interactions, while the macOS version features a Slim Mode for better focus and the ability to open multiple windows with drag-and-drop support between them. Time-based reminders have also been added to the task manager, offering instant sync between devices. And a new feature called Type Travel enables fast navigation to any project, area, or to-do in the app.

Finally, the all-new Things brings an updated Apple Watch app, Wunderlist/OmniFocus import, a new structure for Areas, and Touch Bar support on MacBook Pros.

The apps will be available in the App Store as one-time purchases for Mac ($49.99), iPad ($19.99), and iPhone/Watch ($9.99). They are a paid update for existing customers, who can take advantage of a 20% discount on all apps during launch week (offer ends on May 25). A 14-day trial of Things for Mac is available on the Cultured Code website.
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SiriusXM Again Having ‘Active Discussions’ to Acquire Pandora

Broadcasting company SiriusXM Satellite Radio is having “active discussions” about the potential acquisition of internet radio company Pandora, after previously showing interest in bidding for Pandora last year. After those talks stalled, The New York Post is now reporting that SiriusXM is reigniting its interest in Pandora, which would grant the company access to Pandora’s online radio service and the just-launched on-demand “Premium” streaming service.

Pandora Premium itself is the result of the company’s acquisition of key assets and employees who worked for Rdio, which Pandora acquired in 2015. The $9.99/month service is a competitor to Apple Music and Spotify, giving listeners access to a large on-demand library, playlist creation, unlimited skips, and no ads, unlike Pandora’s base radio service.

Pandora’s new on-demand service, Pandora Premium

Liberty Media-backed SiriusXM is in active discussions about making a bid for internet radio company Pandora, The Post has learned.

The New York satellite radio company, which has exhibited on-and-off interest in the struggling streamer, has recently restarted talks with Pandora’s banks and is discussing the size of a potential offer, sources said.

According to Goldman Sachs analyst Heath Terry, the music industry is currently focused on the “increasingly competitive environment in streaming music,” so SiriusXM might be interested in acquiring Pandora to help beef up its Premium streaming service and compete more directly with Apple Music and Sirius, which are both above 20 million and 50 million paid subscribers, respectively. Since the trial period opened in March, Pandora Premium has reported 1.3 million sign-ups for the streaming service.

The specific number of those users who continued to pay for Premium was not disclosed, but the company saw a 6 percent revenue uptick in the first quarter. Its total active listeners nevertheless decreased to 76.7 million from 79.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Pandora co-founder Tim Westergren hoped to keep Pandora away from a sale, but two of its largest shareholders — Corvex Management and Matrix Capital Management — have repeatedly pushed the company in that direction.

According to sources familiar with the talks between the two companies, no price has yet to be agreed upon but bids could range between $12 and $13 per share, while other sources “immediately shot down” those estimations. Greg Maffe, the CEO of SiriusXM parent company Liberty Media, has said previously he believes Pandora to be worth $10 per share. On Wednesday, Pandora’s shares closed at $8.93.

Tags: Pandora, SiriusXM
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Pioneer Unveils New Aftermarket CarPlay Receivers, Including First Single-DIN Model For Older Vehicles

Pioneer today unveiled five new NEX in-dash multimedia receivers with CarPlay and Android Auto support, including its first single-DIN model.

The single-DIN AVH-3300NEX is a smaller, more universally sized receiver that can fit into many older and collectible cars. Unlike a double-DIN receiver, which has a built-in display, this single-DIN model features a 7-inch pop out, motorized display. The whole unit is also detachable for added security.

The other four receivers are double-DIN models, including the 7-inch AVH-2330NEX and AVH-2300NEX and 6.2-inch AVH-1330NEX and AVH-1300NEX.

In addition to CarPlay and Android Auto, Pioneer said all five receivers feature Bluetooth for hands-free calling and music streaming, native Spotify and Pandora, a USB port, HD Radio, and SiriusXM compatibility with a tuner sold separately. All models are also backup camera and Pioneer navigation system ready.

The AVH-3300NEX, AVH-2330NEX and AVH-1330NEX also come with a remote control to adjust volume, audio sources, and more.

Pioneer said the new NEX lineup will be available through resellers in July with suggested retail prices of $600 for the single-DIN model, and between $400 and $500 for the double-DIN models, in the United States.

Pioneer’s current NEX receivers retail for between $400 and $1,400 in the United States. Competing aftermarket CarPlay systems are available from Alpine, Clarion, Kenwood, JVC, JBL, Sony, and other manufacturers.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Tag: Pioneer
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OnePlus 5: Release date, rumours and everything you need to know

OnePlus announced an upgrade to its OnePlus 3 in the form of the OnePlus 3T in November 2016, but that hasn’t stopped speculation for the next “flagship killer”.

Rumours are starting to pick up, along with predictions from fans as to what we might see on the next OnePlus smartphone. Here is a run down of everything we’ve heard so far about the OnePlus 5.

OnePlus 5: Name

• To be called OnePlus 5 instead of OnePlus 4
• Number 4 is bad luck in Asia

The next OnePlus smartphone, thought to have the model number A5000, should have been called the OnePlus 4 and if it was any other number, this probably wouldn’t even have been called into question. But it isn’t any other number because the number four is considered unlucky in Asia, apparently.

It’s was previously suggested that OnePlus may indeed skip the 4 name and go straight to OnePlus 5 because of the unlucky associations, something the Verge also claimed would be the case.

The company’s CEO posted a picture on his Weibo account confirming a new OnePlus device is on its way with the hash tag of Never Settle, and although there was no hint as to what the device would be called at the time of the posting, OnePlus has now officially confirmed it will be called the OnePlus 5.

OnePlus 5: Release date and price

• June release expected

OnePlus revealed the OnePlus 3 on 14 June 2016, the OnePlus 2 on 28 July the year before and the original OnePlus on 23 April 2014, meaning there isn’t a distinct release pattern for OnePlus like there is with the Apple and Samsung.

The OnePlus 3T was revealed almost exactly five months after the OnePlus 3 on 15 November 2016 but we wouldn’t expect to see another device for six months, allowing the Chinese company to see what the flagships it’s trying to kill had up their sleeves.

With Samsung, LG and Sony all having announced now, we’d expect OnePlus to reveal its offering around June again. It’s anyone’s guess at the moment but as April has long gone and May is in full swing with no word on an event date as yet, we’d be surprised to see anything earlier than June. According to the Verge, the OnePlus 5 will arrive this summer, which would tie in with a June launch.

In terms of price, a listing for what is claimed to be the OnePlus 5 leaked a while ago on Geekbuying.com, pitching the new device at £360 or $450. Given the OnePLus 3T costs £399 though, this seems too low. We’d expect it to be closer to the OnePlus 3T in terms of price, if not a little more.

OnePlus 5: Design

• All glass design suggested
• Dual camera setup on rear claimed

The OnePlus 3 upped its game in terms of build quality, delivering a premium, solid and metal casing that allowed it to challenge phones £300 more expensive. A fingerprint sensor is positioned on the front, a large rear camera is present on the rear and USB Type-C sits at the bottom.

India Today

There has been a suggestion on Weibo that the OnePlus 5 will offer a glass-made body however, which is something the company dabbled with previously on the OnePlus X, along with ceramic, which has also been suggested for the next OnePlus smartphone. The idea of a ceramic finish has also been supported by some recently leaked sketches published by Android Pure.

Samsung uses a combination of glass and metal for its latest flagships Galaxy S8 and S8+, as it did with the S7 and S7 edge, and Google added a glass element to its Pixel smartphones too so glass isn’t an unreasonable suggestion to opt for over all metal again, though nor is ceramic.

Android Pure

A dual-camera setup has also been thrown about, which is plausible too given LG, Huawei and Apple all offer dual cameras on their flagship smartphones. India Today Tech said the next OnePlus device would come with a dual rear camera and no rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, while the leaked sketches also suggests a dual rear and dual front camera.

According to India Today Tech, the fingerprint sensor would instead be placed under the screen at the front in place of the physical button, suggesting the new device may have an all-screen front like the latest Samsung devices.

Geekbuying

That said, the leaked posting on Geekbuying.com shows a device with a dual-rear camera but there is a fingerprint sensor on the front of the device beneath the screen. It is not yet clear how legitimate this leak is though so we’d advise you grab the salt rather than take it as gospel.

• Samsung Galaxy S8+ review

OnePlus 5: Display

• Size reduction to 5.3-inches suggested
• Resolution increase to Quad HD claimed

The OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T both feature a 5.5-inch display sporting a Full HD resolution, as does the OnePlus 2. The OnePlus 2 has an LCD screen, while the two newer models have Optic AMOLED, but all three have a pixel density of 401ppi. 

It is thought the OnePlus 5 might reduce the screen size to 5.3-inches, which will put it between the OnePlus 3T and the OnePlus X in terms of size, though 5.5-inches has also been claimed. It has also been suggested the resolution will increase to Quad HD, which would result in a pixel density of 554ppi if the screen size is reduced. A smaller display would seem like an odd move though, especially given its competitors are all opting for larger.

Apart from Sony Mobile, almost all the flagship smartphones the OnePlus goes up against also feature a 2K display or slightly higher, so despite the OnePlus 3 delivering a fabulous display, this is the area where the OnePlus devices lose marks in terms of the numbers. A leaked AnTuTu Benchmark does suggest the OnePlus A5000 model will have a 1920 x 1080 resolution display, but as PocketNow says, a single benchmark won’t be able to show all the features of a phone’s configurations so there is still hope.

Whether a bump in resolution is noticeable to the human eye or not is another story entirely, but if OnePlus wants to remain a flagship killer, an increase in resolution is probably essential, especially given Sony’s flagship has a 4K display, Samsung’s has a 2960 x 1440 and LG’s has a 2880 x 1440 resolution.

• OnePlus 3T vs Google Pixel XL: What’s the difference?

OnePlus 5: Camera

• Dual-camera for augmented reality touted
• Larger pixels or wider aperture possibilities
• Possible dual camera on front

A dual-camera setup has been suggested for the OnePlus 5, as we mentioned previously. Several companies have already taken this path, all of which use different technologies in order to deliver different features. Huawei has an RGB and a monochrome sensor for example, while LG has a standard lens and a wide-angle lens.

True-Tech

A dual-rear setup has been supported by some leaked sample shots, said to be from the new device, as well as the leaked sketches which also show a dual front camera. Website True-Tech posted the sample shots which appear to show optical zoom and the bokeh effect, like the iPhone 7 Plus, but these images could have been faked of course.

It has also been claimed the two cameras on the rear of the OnePlus 5 might be used for a type of augmented reality or mixed reality feature, which would add yet another feature variation of the dual camera setup. This could be just fans hoping however so take this with a pinch of salt for now.

In terms of camera resolutions, the Geekbuying.com post suggests there would be 23-megapixel sensors on the rear and 16-megapixels on the front, while India Tech Today also claims the front will remain at 16-megapixels, like the OnePlus 3T, but it didn’t mention the rear. The leaked AnTuTu benchmark suggests a 16-megapixel rear and 16-megapixel front, but as we said above, one benchmark can’t show all the different features and configurations of a device.

• OnePlus 3 review

OnePlus 5: Hardware

• Qualcomm SD830 or SD835 chip suggested
• 6GB or 8GB RAM, 64GB or 128GB storage
• 4000mAh battery capacity rumoured

Claims suggest the OnePlus 5 could feature a Qualcomm Snapdragon 830 or 835 processor, along with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage though there has also been talk of 64GB.

The SD835 chip comes with Quick Charge 4.0 and it has been used in Sony’s Xperia XZ Premium and some Samsung S8 and S8+ devices, depending on the region, meaning it is the more likely choice for OnePlus as the company doesn’t tend to opt for anything less than the latest processor. The AnTuTu benchmark supports the use of the SD835 in the OnePlus 5 with 6GB of RAM and 64GB storage.

As for the RAM and storage suggestions, both seem plausible. The current OnePlus 3T has 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB storage options so they aren’t numbers we haven’t seen before. An increase to 8GB of RAM would most likely see OnePlus win points on the numbers chart against competitors and if it is going down some sort of augmented reality route with its rear camera, it will probably need it.

A 4000mAh battery capacity has also been suggested, which would be pretty significant for a device of its purported size. The OnePlus 3T currently offers a 3400mAh battery. 

OnePlus 5: Software

• OxygenOS likely, probably based on Android Nougat

The OnePlus 5 will most likely launch on OxygenOS, like its predecessor, but the software is likely to be a customised version of Android Nougat, rather than Android Marshmallow, as the OnePlus 3T arrived on.

What features will come with that have yet to be seen, but we’d expect a similar experience to what is already offered to OnePlus 3T users, such as the Shelf, dark and light themes and an enhanced doze mode. There is also an update incoming that will allow users to take longer, expanded screenshots, so we’d fully expect to see that on the new device too.

• OnePlus 3T: Release date, price, specs and everything you need to know

OnePlus 5: Conclusion

For now, the OnePlus 5 is based on guess work. More rumours and leaks will no doubt appear over the coming months however, all of which could help shape a picture of what we might see appear.

Don’t expect anything concrete until early Summer, but watch this space and we will continue to bring you the latest speculation as it appears.

• OnePlus 3T vs OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 2: What’s the difference?
• OnePlus 3T vs Samsung Galaxy S7 edge: What’s the difference?

Qualcomm can charge EVs while they’re moving

Forget about better batteries, what if you could just drive your EV forever? Qualcomm just showed off technology called dynamic electric vehicle charging (DEVC) that juices an EV via road-embedded wireless charging hardware while you’re driving. During the demonstration, two Renault Kangoo vehicles equipped with Qualcomm’s “Halo” DEVC receivers were charged simultaneously while moving down a 100 meter test track.

Based on Qualcomm’s wireless electric charging (WEVC) tech, the track can charge vehicles driving at highway speeds in both directions (both in forward and reverse) at 20 kW max. If it works, the tech could be used in a system that lets you call a car using a smartphone, get picked up where you are and be whisked to your destination autonomously (as shown in the animated video, below).

The track was built at Versailles near Paris by France’s Vedecom as part of the EU’s €9 million FABRIC project, which is testing DEVC feasibility as a means of EV range extension. There are 25 organizations tackling it, including automakers, suppliers and researchers from nine European countries, Qualcomm says.

The group isn’t the only one considering dynamic charging. Honda has also developed and tested a system that “enables dynamic charging with a charging power of 180 kW while driving at a vehicle speed of 155 km/h (96 mph),” it said in a paper. The infrastructure costs would be a big barrier to the development of such a system, but could perhaps be offset by a user-pay system for electricity or other means.

Qualcomm will now hand its DEVC charging system to Vedecom, which “will evaluate the operation, safety and efficiency of energy transfer to the vehicles for a wide range of practical scenarios, including vehicle identification and authorization on entering the track, power level agreement between track and vehicle, speed and alignment of vehicle along the track.”

Start racking up Delta SkyMiles with your Lyft rides

Lyft is no stranger to offering perks with every trip. Its latest bonus will be more than a little useful if you’re a frequent flier, though. The service just unveiled a partnership with Delta that has you earning SkyMiles with every ride. After you link your Lyft and SkyMile accounts, you’ll earn one mile for each dollar you spend. There’s also a promo running until August 31st that will triple your miles whenever you travel to or from the airport.

You’re unlikely to earn that long-sought European vacation solely through Lyft rides, but the points could add up if you regularly use Lyft as an alternative to a personal vehicle. This is more about adding to your existing SkyMiles sources — and, of course, giving you a reason to pick Lyft over Uber or (gasp) a taxi. And when Uber has offered incentives like Starwood hotel points in the past, it only makes sense that Lyft would return fire with a travel-focused deal of its own.

Via: The Verge

Source: Lyft Blog