Can technology help make the American Flag Football League a hit?

Why it matters to you

The American Flag Football League will use a host of new technology to pull viewers into a game by making it faster, easier to follow, and, hopefully, more fun too.

Later this summer the new American Flag Football League will make its debut with a pair of test-run games to be held at Avaya Stadium in San Jose, California. The plan is to show sports fans that football can still be exciting, even without the bone-crunching tackles. The league made headlines earlier this week when it was announced that former NFL players Michael Vick and Justin Forsett will participate in the scrimmages, which are scheduled to take place on July 26 and 27. But AFFL founder Jeff Lewis knows that if his fledgling league is going to take off, he needs more than just a few former pro players to garner support from fans. Instead, he is betting heavily on technology to help lure in viewers in the digital age.

When planning for the launch of the new league, Lewis enlisted SMT — the sports tech company behind the yellow first down marker used in NFL broadcasts — to help create innovative technology that could potentially set the AFFL apart from other leagues. One of the first things that the company came up with was the “e-flag” system, which can accurately track the on-field position of a player’s flag and alert officials when it is pulled. Reportedly, the system is accurate to within four inches and uses a special app to let referees know exactly where to place the ball. This should help speed up play and achieve one of Lewis’ goals of finishing games in under two hours.

SMT also helped the league create custom onscreen graphics for use when streaming games online or through the Kiswe video app (iOS/Android). For instance, AFFL rules prevent defensive players from rushing the quarterback for two seconds after the snap of the ball, and viewers will see a visual indicator to let them know when that time limit has expired. Similarly, the QB has just four seconds to throw the ball or run past the line of scrimmage, and a similar graphic will appear beneath his feet. Naturally, first down markers will be displayed as well, and broadcasters calling the game will have an assortment of tools, such as the ability to show passing routes. Fans watching the game live in the stadium will get visual cues using the location’s lighting system too.

The first AFFL game on July 26 will actually be played in an empty stadium, giving players, coaches, refs, and announcers the chance to do a live walkthrough before fans arrive the following day. Then, on July 27, they will play a regular game in front of an audience for the very first time. Tickets are available for $10, with all proceeds being donated to the Positive Coaching Alliance.

Find out more at AmericanFlag.football.

Scoot around town on the Kiwano K01 electric scooter — or have it follow you

Why it matters to you

Self-balancing scooters are some of the coolest ways to ride around town. When it is time to walk, riders can hop off and the Kiwano will follow along.

Since the reveal of the original Segway, self-balancing transportation has taken off in a variety of styles and methods. Joining the market is the Kiwano K01 electric scooter.

The Kiwano electric scooter uses a sleek design to provide a stable, intuitive mode of transportation. Like other self-balancing scooters on the market, the Kiwano features responsive body control. What truly sets it apart is its ability to control wirelessly. Users can get off, press a button, and the Kiwano will follow along.

Using a lightweight structure of carbon fiber and zinc alloy, the Kiwano electric scooter is able to pack a punch even with its slim design. The powerful wheel hub motor can push riders up to 20 miles per hour. Even riders in hilly areas like San Francisco can get around on inclines of up to 35 percent. If the scooter feels too fast or powerful, riders can easily switch between modes for a more comfortable riding experience.

Electricity stores in individual LC battery cells located in the central neck of the scooter. With all the issues around exploding phones and hoverboards, a fireproof safety shield encases the batteries to prevent this from happening. Charging the batteries takes only an hour for up to 20 miles of range.

Other features of the Kiwano allow for some fun. A shock suspension system not only creates a smooth ride in bumpy areas, it also allows riders to perform jumps like on a pogo stick. The scooter has also been IP54 certified. What this means is that the body protects against dust and splashing water. Riders should have no problem driving through puddles and dirt patches. For sharing the excitement, the Kiwano also features a free mount for a GoPro camera to attach above the wheel.

Using the companion app, owners gain extra features such as wireless control. Here the scooter can either be controlled at the press of a button or set to follow along as riders walk. Additionally, owners can calibrate their desired launch positioning depending on how much they would like to lean forward. Other features of the app include checking the speed, battery, distance, and route map. Regular firmware updates to the battery and motor processors will also ensure that the scooter is at its best.

For safety, the foldable footpegs feature anti-slip grip to keep the rider on board. Head and tail lights also keep the rider visible even during low-light conditions. To keep track of the essential data like battery level and speed, a small LCD display sits at the top of the central neck. When the ride is done, a discreet kickstand folds out for easily storing the scooter anywhere.

The Kiwano K01 is available for pre-order for a discounted price of $800. Consumers can choose between road or all-terrain tires, fender and grip color and other accessories like a helmet and rapid charger. Shipments go out in July.

Drone users no longer have to register with the FAA, but that may change

Why it matters to you

For the time being, if you’re planning on buying a drone, you won’t have to go through any pesky registration process for it.

Drone hobbyists are no longer required to register with the Federal Aviation Administration thanks to a Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals ruling delivered on Friday. The ruling affirms a lower court ruling in 2016 that found the policy in violation of a preexisting law banning regulation of model aircraft.

That law, passed in 2012 and called the FAA Modernization and Reform Act, restricted the agency from passing any law that placed restrictions on how model aircraft are operated. Despite the law, the FAA moved in late 2015 to set up a system to register drones and more than 820,000 hobbyists registered to fly them.

Friday’s ruling saw surprising opposition — with some in the industry actually supporting the FAA’s efforts. “The FAA’s innovative approach to drone registration was very reasonable, and registration provides for accountability and education to drone pilots,” DJI’s policy head Brendan Schulman told Recode earlier on Friday. It is not immediately clear whether the FAA plans to appeal the ruling.

Even without an appeal, it is likely that drone hobbyists will only see a brief reprieve from the registration process. South Dakota Republican Senator John Thune is expected to address the issue with current law in the coming weeks, including the technicality which allowed the current system to be shut down.

This new regulation could go even further, mandating that manufacturers develop some kind of identification system so that law enforcement can identify who is flying drone aircraft even when the pilot is not visible. The FAA is reportedly looking into methods to make this feasible.

Friday’s ruling does not prevent the FAA from doing so, as it only addresses the contradictions with current law. The FAA said it is currently reviewing the ruling and is weighing future options.

“The FAA put registration and operational regulations in place to ensure that drones are operated in a way that is safe and does not pose security and privacy threats,” it said in a statement Friday afternoon.

Google announces 2017 Google Play Award winners

Here are Google’s picks for the best apps in the Google Play Store.

As part of the Google I/O festivities, Google held a ceremony to announce the winners of the 2nd annual Google Play Awards.

With over 85 billion downloads from the Google Play Store, it’s always nice to see Google give some praise to the most innovative and interesting apps of the past year. Google has highlighted 12 apps this year, each chosen for its outstanding user experience or social impact.

Standout Indie: Mushroom 11

Mushroom 11 is a super interesting puzzle game in which you take control of a shapeshifting fungus as you make your way across an apocalyptic wasteland.

This game features challenging puzzles and fantastically fluid controls. Definitely worth checking out!

Download: Mushroom 11 ($4.99)

Standout Startup: HOOKED

HOOKED is a storytelling app that tells its story one text at a time. This app lives up to its name by drawing you into its library of mysterious stories, presented as a series of chat logs.

New stories are added daily, and there’s even an option to upload your own stories for others to read. It’s strangely addictive despite its occasionally cheesy storylines.

Download: HOOKED (Free)

Best Android Wear Experience: Runtastic Running & Fitness

It probably comes as little surprise that a fitness app would win the the award for Best Android Wear Experience.

Runtastic is one of the best fitness tracker apps you can use and is especially worth checking out if you’ve got a new Android Wear 2.0 watch or are planning to pick one up to revamp your summer fitness routine.

Download: Runtastic Running & Fitness (Free, or $4.99 for Pro version)

Best TV Experience: Red Bull TV

From the best in extreme sports to music festivals, Red Bull delivers endless entertainment — enough so that you may forget they also sell energy drinks!

Red Bull TV wins the award for its TV Experience, which will be worth keeping in mind the next time they have some guy free-fall from space.

Download: Red Bull TV (Free)

Best VR Experience: Virtual Virtual Reality

We imagine that this category is going to be getting very competitive over the next few years. This year’s winner is Virtual Virtual Reality, which is built around a really fun concept of strapping on different VR headsets within a VR setting — similar to the dream within a dream scenario from Inception.

This Daydream VR app is currently on sale for half off, so there’s no better time to check it out!

Download: Virtual Virtual Reality ($4.49)

Best AR Experience: WOORLD

We should be seeing more Tango-enabled phones to take advantage of Augmented Reality. When you finally get your hands on one, check out WOORLD.

It’s a great showcase for the quirky side of AR, and is intuitive enough for anyone to pick up and play.

Download: WOORLD (Free)

Best Apps for Kids: Animal Jam – Play Wild!

For those looking for more kid-friendly apps to keep the young ones occupied in the back seat, Google gives the nod to Animal Jam.

Set in a fun and cartoony 3D world, your kid will learn about animals and their real-life habitats while playing fun games. There’s also a social aspect for chatting in-game, with the developers committed to providing a safe online playground for kids.

Download: Animal Jam – Play Wild! (Free w/IAPs)

Best Multiplayer Game: Hearthstone

Hearthstone is still going strong three years on from its launch on Android. Developed by Blizzard, it’s a social card game based in the same universe as World of Warcraft.

If you’re brand new and interested in checking it out, there’s great tutorial and single player modes to help teach you the basics and learn strategies before you move on to facing online opponents. Keep in mind that if you want to get serious here, you’re going to need to buy some in-game expansion packs.

Download: Hearthstone (Free w/IAPs)

Best App: Memrise

The big prize of Best App went to Memrise, an intuitive app to assist you in learning a new language. Over 15 million people are using Memrise to learn a new language by playing games, watching videos from native speakers to offer social contexts, with more resources to help you along. It’s free to try out, so what do you have to lose?

Also, check out the developer’s “What’s New” update for its reaction to winning the award for Best App. It’s pretty swell!

Download: Memrise (Free)

Best Game: Transformers: Forged to Fight

Join Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Waspinator, Rhinox, Grimlock, Soundwave and many more of your favorite bots in Transformers: Forged to Fight. Personally, I’m kind of surprised to see this game pick up the top spot — It certainly wouldn’t top my list.

Then again, who doesn’t love a good ol’ fashioned robot fight?

Download: Transformers: Forged to Fight (Free w/IAPs)

Best Accessibility Experience: IFTTT

If you’ve been looking into connecting all of your smart devices around your home into a fully automated system, you’ve probably already looked into IFTTT. Using custom Applets, IFTTT lets you connect hundreds of apps and devices in seemingly endless orientations — and of course there’s support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can control everything with your voice.

Definitely an app you’ll want to have on your phone in the years to come.

Download: IFTTT (Free)

Best Social Impact: ShareTheMeal

ShareTheMeal is a charity developed by the UN World Food Programme that lets you feed a child with a simple tap on your phone. It only takes about $.50 a day to feed a child for a day. There are 20 times as many smartphone users as there are hungry children. You do the math.

With several ongoing famines around the world, we should all do our small part to make a difference. Apps like this are a great showcase of how technology can be used to make a positive impact.

Download: ShareTheMeal

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HTC Vive standalone Daydream headset: What’s the story so far?

Google and HTC are making a standalone VR headset together based on the Daydream platform.

Google’s already made a prototype of the headset, while HTC is readying the consumer version that should be available by the end of the year. In an essay on Medium, Clay Bavor, Google’s VP of VR and AR, said this upcoming headset will have “everything you need for VR built in” – including no phone or cables – and that getting into VR will be as easy as picking it up. OK, we’ll bite. They’ve piqued our interest.

Here’s everything you need to know about this headset, including all the latest details and rumours.

• Google I/O 2017: All the announcements that matter
• Google Daydream: What does it do and what devices support it?
• Standalone Daydream VR is now a reality, HTC and Lenovo onboard
• Google Daydream: Google’s Android VR platform explained

What is Daydream?

Google’s Daydream simplifies access to VR content on a mobile device.

There’s three aspects: An optimal specification list that manufacturers must meet for a smartphone to be labelled Daydream-ready; a Google-made Daydream View VR headset, although multiple manufacturers could also build their own designs (as long as they meet Google’s standards); and an all-in-one hub for VR content called Daydream Home. You can learn more about Daydream from Pocket-lint’s guide.

HTC

HTC Daydream headset: What’s the story?

Partnership announcement

Daydream has so far been an experience that has run on your smartphone, but now, it’s making the jump into a standalone headset. While at the Google I/O 2017 developers conference, Google announced it is working with HTC and Lenovo on the first standalone Daydream VR devices. HTC also produces the Vive VR headset, while Lenovo has worked heavily on Google’s Tango efforts.

Inside-out tracking

Google said these upcoming standalone Daydream VR headsets will support inside-out tracking. They will track virtual space using Google “WorldSense” technology, something that’s powered by its Tango augmented reality system. Google said it’s creating a reference design with help from Qualcomm, and it’s also partnered with HTC and Lenovo to manufacture the standalone headsets.

Design

Google and HTC have only only revealed an outline of the headset alongside a Daydream-like controller. A prototype version was seen by Backchannel and described as clunky, though it apparently offers a better experience than the Gear VR or Daydream VR. A rendering system called Seurat enables it to have high performance with low power and greatly optimised 3D graphics.

This prototype and its tracking system means Google plans to take on Oculus, which has also teased early standalone headsets with self-contained tracking systems. It also reminds us of Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Headset development kits with inside-out tracking.

New #Daydream standalone headsets from partners like @htcvive won’t require a phone or PC. #io17 pic.twitter.com/7TpYPJGEdU

— Google (@Google) May 17, 2017

Portable VR experience

HTC revealed in a blog post that it is “perfectly positioned to deliver the most premium standalone headset and user experience” and that the Vive standalone VR headset will provide a “deeper and more immersive portable VR experience than ever before”. It also promised to announce more information on the headset soon, but said it will be “simple, easy-to-use and with no cables to connect”.

You should be able to just pick it up, put it on, and be fully immersed in your new reality, according to HTC.

Release date and price

There was no release date or price announced on stage, though Google said HTC’s standalone Daydream VR headset will arrive later in 2017. Backchannel said that Google has developed a prototype and that HTC will release a commercial version “in the coming months.” It should cost somewhere in the “mid-hundreds range”. The Oculus Rift and HTC Vive are in the $600 to $700 range.

HTC

Is this different from HTC Vive 2 Oasis?

Most likely. HTC introduced the HTC Vive VR headset in 2015 and started selling it last year, and by late 2016, the company was rumoured to be working on a second-generation version, codenamed Oasis. According to @LlabTooFeR, who has leaked accurately in the past, HTC was developing a refreshed version in November, though it was unclear if the new Vive would be standalone or just a slimmer, lighter version.

Anything else you should now?

• HTC is making a mobile VR headset unlike anything we’ve seen so far

Now that we’ve delved into what Google announced at Google I/O 2017, it’s important to note that HTC revealed in early 2017 that it was making a mobile VR headset. At the time, it was described as something different than Google Daydream View and similar headsets. According to CNET, which spoke to Chief Financial Officer Chia-lin Chang, HTC developed a VR product compatible with the U Ultra:

“We have a good plan in terms of combining mobility with VR,” Chang said. “Vive is very top end, and in the coming months you’ll see our plans in terms of mobility and VR, and it’s not a phone slapped onto a headset … It’d be a different thing.”

HTC already sells the HTC Vive headset, which is a lot like the Oculus Rift in that it needs to be tethered to a PC, though it also offers an add-on that turns the headset into a standalone device, but now it’s apparently developing something altogether different. The company specified that it wouldn’t work like Google’s Daydream View, which use a phone for its screen, sensors, and processing power.

CNET itself labeled the upcoming device as a “new virtual reality toy”, while Chang was a bit more vague. He did suggest, however, that it was a device that’ll sit somewhere between the full-fledge Oculus Rift headset and a mobile VR headset like Daydream View.

Is Apple testing an Apple Watch device that tracks blood sugar?

Tim Cook is reportedly testing a yet-to-be-announced Apple Watch accessory aimed at people with diabetes.

According to a report from CNBC, which cited anonymous sources, Apple’s chief executive has been wearing a prototype glucose tracker that pairs with the Apple Watch. Keep in mind a previous report from CNBC claimed the Cupertino, CA-based company recently hired a team of biomechanical engineers, with the purpose of developing a noninvasive device that can monitor blood sugar levels.

The team has already begun tests with the tracker, which connects to the Apple Watch, while Cook himself told students at the University of Glasgow in February that he had been wearing a glucose tracker so that he could better understand how different foods affect his blood sugar levels: “It’s mentally anguishing to stick yourself many times a day to check your blood sugar,” Cook said.

“There is lots of hope out there that if someone has constant knowledge of what they’re eating, they can instantly know what causes the response… and that they can adjust well before they become diabetic,” Cook explained, according to CNBC.

• Apple could update its entire MacBook line at WWDC next month
• Don’t expect an iPad Mini 5: Apple might ‘phase out’ its smallest tablet
• Apple Siri speaker and 10.5-inch iPad Pro all but confirmed for WWDC

Existing glucose trackers use sensors that pierce the skin in order to be as accurate as possible, but Apple has been rumoured to be working on a noninvasive tracker for people with diabetes for at least five years. If Cook is indeed now testing Apple’s version and talking about it openly, it’s safe to assume the project may be getting closer to actually being announced and released to the public.

Apple’s annual developers conference is set to kick off next month. We may hear more about this healthcare device then, unless Apple plans to spend more time perfecting it and conducting feasibility trials.

Facebook adds food ordering so you never have to leave

The Facebook additions are coming fast and furious these days, with possible Instagram notifications, a revamped Marketplace, and a new visual style for comments. TechCrunch reports that the latest feature, rolling out to select users today, brings online food ordering into the social network app and website. Now you can order your favorite takeout from the restaurant up the street without leaving the safe confines of the social network.

You can find the hamburger-styled light blue “Order Food” icon in the Facebook app’s menu area, or a somewhat more realistic-looking hamburger in your sidebar on the Facebook website. According to TechCrunch, the system is powered with Delivery.com and Slice, an enhancement of an earlier feature that let you order directly from a restaurant’s Facebook page. We’ve confirmed the new feature in our own web browser and mobile app.

When you tap through to the new food ordering icon on Facebook, you’ll see a list of restaurants in your area that use the service. A tap on the restaurant’s image will take you to its Facebook page, or you can just hit Start Order to get directly to the menu. There’s a spot to enter your address to ensure the place can deliver to you or tell it that you’ll pick up your order. The interface for ordering seemed fairly straightforward for the restaurants we tried it out with, too.

All in all, ordering food directly from within Facebook could make it more convenient for users that don’t want to figure out which restaurants in their local area have online ordering. Users won’t have to navigate to an eatery’s Facebook page anymore, either. Facebook gets to keep its users in its own walled garden, too, which is probably good for their business, as well. We’ve reached out to Facebook to find out when this new feature will roll out to all users and will update the article when we hear more.

Via: TechCrunch

Apple blames third-party batteries for exploding Beats headphones

Apple has refused to compensate an Australian woman who woke up on a flight to the sound of her Beats headphones exploding in her face. According to Australian site Adelaide Now, Apple says they have investigated the incident and determined that third-party batteries were to blame.

The Beats headphones in question were reportedly an older model, purchased in 2014, that required extra batteries to function. The woman, who is remaining anonymous, said she was disappointed with Apple’s decision because, “nowhere on the headphones – or their packaging – did it specify which brand of batteries should be used.” Although the woman was burned on her face and hands, she was only seeking reimbursement to replace her headphones and items of clothing she was wearing. Engadget reached out to Apple for comment and we will update this post if we hear back.

Battery explosion mid-flight prompts passenger warning. Read more: https://t.co/ggCwATEiDI pic.twitter.com/YTTP9rEzFf

— ATSB (@atsbinfo) March 14, 2017

This isn’t the first time Beats has had a battery problem. In 2015, Apple recalled the Beats Pill XL speaker because it had a tendency to overheat and risk starting a fire in some rare cases. After the Australian woman’s exploding Beats incident in February, Australian regulators issued a warning to leave battery powered devices stowed unless they’re in use — although it’s unclear whether that policy would have actually prevented the explosion in this case. Anyhow, those less explosion-prone, zinc-based batteries can’t arrive soon enough.

Via: 9to5Mac

Source: Adelaide Now

You don’t have to register personal drones with the FAA anymore

In March, the FAA noted that over 100,000 hobby drone owners had registered their machines since the year began, bringing the total in the US over 770,000. Owners have filed their non-commercial UAVs with the agency ever since the DoT passed a law in December 2015 that made registration mandatory. But a Washington, D.C. court has struck down that legislation, freeing just-for-fun drone owners from notifying the government of their purchases — for good and ill.

Model aircraft enthusiast John Taylor brought his case against the FAA back in January 2016, shortly after the regulations came in place. The DC court of appeals ruled (PDF) in his favor, effectively classifying non-commercial drones as model aircraft and subject to the FAA’s 2012 Modernization and Reform Act, which prohibited the agency from making new laws restricting flying hobbyist craft.

But the drone industry isn’t celebrating this turn: Turns out, keeping track of owners and making sure they’re trained to fly was useful for everyone.

“The FAA’s innovative approach to drone registration was very reasonable, and registration provides for accountability and education to drone pilots,” DJI’s head of policy Brendan Schulman told Recode in an email. “I expect the legal issue that impedes this program will be addressed by cooperative work between the industry and policymakers.”

The FAA could appeal, but Congress might step in to explicitly lay out the FAA’s authority in regulating non-commercial drones. That 2012 model aircraft-excepting law is set to expire at the end of the year, so the clock is ticking — especially since the FAA expects total hobbyist aircraft in the US to triple from 1.1 million to 3.55 million UAVs by 2021, the agency predicted in March.

Via: Recode

Source: John Taylor v. FAA (PDF)

App Highlight: Bvddy

The App

Developed by Buddy Tech, Inc, Bvddy is a health and fitness app from a new developer that aims  to help you find people around you that love the same sports you do. It’s not been updated since December 22, 2016, but the last update saw a big redesign smoothing out the interface and introducing an entirely new home screen.

What it does

Working out alone sucks and some sports are just outright impossible alone, but Bvddy aims to find people around you that like to play the same sports and have the same interests as you. Bvddy finds people who like to play your favorite sport right in your area, taking the difficulty out of finding that partner to play with. With a tinder-like swipe and match system, you’ll be sure to find someone who shares the same interests as you in no time.

Why we like it

The idea is great and allows you to match against someone who is in a similar position. However, an app like this is only as good as the people that use it and matches can only be found if people accurately and routinely use it. I’m not a fan of the swipe selection method and think if you’re trying to find a sports partner, it shouldn’t be based on a profile pic and instead aim to take people out of their comfort zone. Otherwise, it’s a great idea that is worth a try if you’re finding yourself often looking for a tennis partner.

How to get it

Bvddy is available for free from the Google Play Store. You can download it right here.