‘Payday 2’ puts you inside the bank heist with free VR mode

Popular multiplayer bank heist shooter Payday 2 has been around since 2013, but it’s about to get a new life as a virtual reality game. Developer Overkill showed off the new mode at its Starstream event, with players using an HTC Vive VR headset and dual wielding weapons via the motion controllers. It uses a full body system, letting players duck or lean to shoot around walls or other obstacles.

Lest you think this is a mere companion experience, fear not. It’s actually a full version of Payday 2, with all the bank, jewellery store and other set pieces, and any gameplay you’ve already unlocked will be available in VR. What’s more, you’ll be able to do cross-play with friends who don’t have a headset and if you already own the PC game, its free on VR. (The developer hasn’t yet said if the game will also work on the Oculus Rift.)

Overkill also revealed the Payday 2 Ultimate Edition coming June 8th, and said that any upcoming downloadable content will be a free update, after it was stung by criticism for microtransactions. Until the new edition arrives on June 8th, the current game will be available at an 85 percent discount — good news if you’re interested in the VR version but don’t yet have the PC game.

Via: Polygon

Source: Overkill (YouTube)

Director of National Intelligence warns of IoT security threats

Hackers aren’t the only ones bypassing the weak security of the Internet of Things. According to Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats, smart devices could also be used to shut down US intelligence operations in the future. At an open hearing today, the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) heard testimony on the worldwide threat assessment of the US intelligence community. Coats’ opening statements included a warning of the dangers of poor smart device security as well as the continued inevitability of Russian cyber threats.

Coat’s testimony lists these concerns first, with Russia topping the list of enemy actors. Coats says that the Kremlin has taken a much more aggressive “cyber posture,” which “was evident in Russia’s efforts to influence the 2016 US election.” Coats’ report also says that Russian actors have conducted attacks on critical infrastructure networks, even going so far as to pretend to be third parties hiding behind false online personas. “Russia is a full-scope cyber actor that will remain a major threat to US Government, military, diplomatic, commercial, and critical infrastructure,” says Coats in the written version of his statement. The document notes that China, Iran and North Korea, as well as terrorists and criminals, are also threats.

Coats also spoke at length about “smart” devices, which have increased the number of vectors that hostile actors can attack. The denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks that we already see will only become more prevalent. These botnets use weakly-protected IoT devices to overwhelm websites and other networks. “In the future,” Coats says in his report, “state and non-state actors will likely use IoT devices to support intelligence operations or domestic security or to access or attack targeted computer networks.”

According to cybersecurity reporter Eric Green, who liveblogged the hearing on Twitter, Coats didn’t mention climate change in his verbal testimony, even though it is noted in the written report as a threat to human security. Cybersecurity has been an area of concern for a while now, with hackers taking out howitzers and federal commissions seeking more funding for innovation. Even the president thinks it’s an issue with an executive order aimed at increasing the federal government’s cyber security.

Vice-chair of the Senate committee, Mark Warner, noted that FBI Director Comey was not in attendance. According to reporter Eric Geller, Warner said, “It is impossible to ignore that one of the leaders of the intelligence community is not with us here today.” The Democrat finds it hard to avoid the conclusion that the Comey firing was related to the FBI investigation into Russia, and said, “we will not be deterred from getting to the truth.”

Via: Eric Green/Twitter

Source: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

The Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $70 on an Apple Watch Series 2

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.

Garmin Forerunner 230 Running Watch

Street price: $190; MSRP: $250; Deal price: $155 with code AFFEMFIT

This is the lowest price we’ve seen on this GPS running watch at $155 after applying coupon code AFFEMFIT. While the street price of the Forerunner 230 has fallen under $200 in recent months, this is still a new low by a nice margin and a good opportunity to pick one up if you’re a runner looking to up your game. Black, Yellow, and Purple colors are available at the $155 price. Shipping is free.

The Garmin Forerunner is our pick for the best GPS running watch. Jim McDannald writes, “The Garmin Forerunner 230 (FR 230) has everything we were looking for in a great GPS running watch. It takes the accuracy and long battery life of our previous pick, the Forerunner 220 (FR 220), and makes the screen larger and more readable during activities, while retaining a light and small profile that won’t feel weird wearing as an everyday watch. The FR 230 can pass along smartphone notifications and track your steps and other casual activities. The interface and data syncing are easy enough to use if you are new to GPS watches, but the FR 230 also contains deep features and optional app downloads that experienced runners and statistics wonks can dig into. It can track some advanced running metrics we’ve only seen in higher-priced models and can also work with separate cycling monitors for speed and cadence. All of these features rest on top of Garmin’s unparalleled reputation for making reliable GPS watches; adding up to a watch that, while right in the middle of the pricing curve at about $250, feels many product cycles ahead of its competitors.”

Fitbit Flex 2 Fitness Tracker

Street price: $100; MSRP: $100; Deal price: $60

Here’s a nice drop on our new budget pick for best fitness tracker, the Fitbit Flex 2. This is the first sale we’ve seen on the Fitbit Flex 2 since making it one of our picks and marks a $40 drop from the usual street price. Most of the sales we see on this Fitibit only drop the price $20 down to $80, so this is a great price to pick it up. Since the only other time we saw this Fitbit at $60 was last year during Black Friday sales, it’s unlikely that this deal will stick around for too long. The deal is currently available in black, lavender, magenta, and navy.

The Fitbit Flex 2 is our new budget pick in our guide to the best fitness trackers. Amy Roberts wrote, “If you just want a simple way to monitor and track your daily activity (including workouts), nightly sleep habits, and get reminders to be more active, the Flex 2 is a great choice—especially if all your friends are on Fitbit. Unlike other Fitbits, it’s water resistant to 50 meters so you can track swimming and shower with it. However, there’s no screen—just five status LEDs to track progress towards your daily step count goal. It also doesn’t track heart rate, but Fitbits in general continue to struggle with heart-rate accuracy, so we don’t see this as a major issue; it helps the Flex 2 maintain its slim profile and lower price. The Flex 2 syncs wirelessly to the Fitbit app on a smartphone or the Fitbit website on a computer to keep a record of your activity and link you to other Fitbit users—a real highlight, as research shows that friendly competition can be very motivating.”

Apple Watch Series 2 – 38mm Aluminum

Street price: $370; MSRP: $370; Deal price: $300

This is the first big drop we’ve seen on our upgrade Apple smartwatch pick. We haven’t seen many (or any) really worthwhile sales on the Apple Watch Series 2, so if you’ve been waiting for a decent sale, now is the time. This deal is available in space gray, rose gold, and white, as well as the 42mm size for $30 more.

The Apple Watch Series 2 is our upgrade pick in our guide to the best smartwatch for iPhone owners. Dan Frakes wrote, “The Apple Watch Series 2 has three features that make it far more useful than the Series 1 for outdoor or water exercise: onboard, no-phone-required GPS, a waterproof design (up to 50 meters in fresh or salt water) that can handle swimming or surfing, and a brighter screen that’s easier to see outside. Combined with the watchOS 3’s improved Health app, these improvements mean the Series 2 watch can compete with fitness trackers and running watches while also being stylish enough to wear in casual and work settings.”

Amazon Fire HD 8 Tablet

Street price: $90; MSRP: $90; Deal price: $65

This comes in $5 below the previous sale we featured last month and is one of the best sales we’ve seen on this tablet. Since those sales tend to be pretty short, it’s safe to assume that this one won’t last longer than a few days. Outside of the occasional lightning sale, this is likely the new best price you’ll find on the Fire HD 8.

The Amazon Fire HD 8 is our budget pick in our guide on the best Android tablet. Chris Heinonen wrote, “If you want a cheap tablet for watching videos, reading, or browsing the web, Amazon’s Fire HD 8 tablet is great. It doesn’t have access to the Google Play Store or any of Google’s apps, but it costs less than $100 and makes it easy to access Amazon content (especially for Prime members). Amazon’s Fire OS (based on Android) runs very well, and the Fire HD 8 offers better battery life than the Shield K1 or Pixel C. The display is only 1280×800, but that’s fine for a budget media tablet. Amazon’s app store is not as extensive as the Play Store, but it does have free versions of many apps and games that cost money on other Android tablets. The Fire HD 8 also has more extensive parental controls than other tablets, making it a great family device.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursdays, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.

By the numbers: Microsoft Build 2017

It was a big day for Microsoft’s personal-computing aspirations. During its Build keynote today in Seattle, the company announced a new pair of mixed reality controllers and support for three separate Linux builds as well as unveiled its Fluent Design System. Here are the numbers, because how else are you going to calculate market share?

Click here to catch up on the latest news from Microsoft Build 2017.

Harley-Davidson embraces the potential of electric motorcycles

Bikers interested in going green have reason to rejoice today. Harley-Davidson has already shown off its prototype Livewire electric bike, and it’s promised to offer you a real one in the next five years. Today, the motorcycle manufacturer said it has plans to make 100 new motorcycles over the next 10 years, including an entire range of electric vehicles.

Vice president Bill Davidson confirmed that electric bikes are Harley-Davidson’s future to Drive magazine while in Sydney to celebrate the brand’s 100th anniversary in Australia. While an electric Harley won’t have the signature engine boom that its combustion-powered bikes have, Davidson said that the company is working on a sound that he likens to a jet engine. “It is an amazing motorcycle,” he told Drive. “While it doesn’t have a 45-degree, pushrod twin-cylinder engine it has the performance expected from a Harley Davidson even if it won’t sound the same,” he said.

So far, we’ve only seen the one Livewire concept model with a limited top speed and range, it’s likely thHarleyely-Davidson will create both sport and cruiser-style bikes to appeal to both the speed freaks and the touring bikers. Davidson noted that as automated cars become more ubiquitous, driving enthusiasts may turn to motorcycles to get their manual fix, telling Drive, “I think the more automatic cars [happen], motorcycling will become more appealing. I see it as a huge opportunity.”

Via: Autoblog

Source: Drive

Trump signs executive order for sweeping review of US cybersecurity

Today, Trump finally signed an executive order for an extensive review of the US government’s cybersecurity, which has been some months coming. He was originally set to sign an earlier version back in January, but postponed it for unknown reasons. A draft of the revised EO surfaced in late April, which was an improvement over earlier versions, cyber experts told Politico — but today’s order essentially maintains the cybersecurity path set by the last two administrations. What it concretely does is order reviews of the government’s digital security, find issues and report them back to the White House and Department of Homeland Security.

The reviews aim to point out holes in the nation’s cybersecurity that have been abused by pranksters, hackers and foreign government-directed data thieves. The EO further directs agencies to adopt better digital safety practices, though details are scarce at the moment pending the full release of the order. The Obama-formed cybersecurity commission’s report released in December did recommend specific security-improving policy changes, but it’s unclear if today’s EO follows those directives.

The order also commissions a survey to determine the feasibility of transitioning the government’s aging individual IT systems into shared services and networks. As Politico points out, 80 percent of the $80 million federal IT budget goes toward maintaining legacy setups.

This will be the first cybersecurity measure ordered by Trump. It comes a week after his previous EO created the American Technology Council, which includes senior Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner, and gestured vaguely toward modernizing the IT systems and information delivery used by the government. Sources tell Politico that both the Council and Kushner’s Office of American Innovation will implement the modernization of the government’s IT systems.

Oh, and before you ask: The EO reportedly vowed to improve security against foreign threats, but said nothing about Russia. Yet, on the same day, the Director of National Intelligence told the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that Russia will continue to be a cyber threat to the US.

Via: Politico

Source: The White House

Google’ Allo chat app crafts custom emoji using your selfies

Google’s Allo chat program is still missing some basic features, but hey, you’re a fan of Bitmoji right? That’s the line of thinking for the app’s latest add-on: personalized emojis, made from your face. Unlike Snapchat’s Bitmoji, though, Google’s version relies on computer vision and neural networks to craft a likeness from your selfies. Yup, algorithms are being tapped to draw your face.

In a blog post, Allo’s expressions creative director Jennifer Daniel writes that while humans use context clues to suss out a things like a person’s eye color in a variety of lighting conditions, computers can’t quite do that. So her team turned to neural networks for help in that matter.

“We discovered that a few neurons among the millions in these networks were good at focusing on things they weren’t explicitly trained to look at that seemed useful for creating personalized stickers,” Daniels writes.

From there a team of humans was tasked with rating the output of the neural networks. According to Fast Company, there are around 563 million possible permutations. To deal with the issue of the uncanny valley, Google sidestepped off-putting caricatures by going for stickers/emoji versus an exact replication of a face. Sort of like the way a caricature artist at the boardwalk or county fair might.

“Pursuing a lower-resolution model, like emojis and stickers, allows the team to explore expressive representation by returning an image that is less about reproducing reality and more about breaking the rules of representation,” according to Daniels.

How does it fare? If today’s “sarcastic” style pack from Steven Universe designer Lamar Abrams and the samples we’ve seen are any indication, pretty well. Should you be an Allo user on Android, Daniels’ blog post says the feature has begun rolling out today. Folks using the app on iOS will have to wait a bit longer, however.

Source: Google Research

Fossil hopes you’ll like one of its 300 smartwatches

Back in March, Fossil revealed its plans to introduce 300 smartwatches in 2017, including a mix of hybrid analogs and others running Android Wear 2.0. The new wearables come from Fossil itself as well as brands like Misfit, Diesel, Emporio Armani and Skagen, all of which are owned by parent company Fossil Group. The firm says the idea here is to offer consumers more choices, since not everyone likes the same style of watch. Pictured above, for one, is Skagen’s Hagen Connected Steel-Mesh, a $220 hybrid smartwatch with a traditional design and features such as activity tracking, sleep monitoring and support for phone notifications.

Asides from those specs, Fossil’s hybrid pieces have another thing in common: they come with a standard, replaceable coin-cell battery. Essentially, you just have to worry about downloading Fossil’s companion app to keep track of your data. As for the fully fledged smartwatches, there’s the Misfit Vapor, which sports a Moto 360-like design, heart-rate sensor and is powered by Android Wear 2.0. Naturally, Fossil has pieces for both men and women, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find a model you may be interested in. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Ticketmaster shows you the view from any seat in the house

When you buy a ticket to a concert or sports event, you want to make sure your view is a good one. The days of peering at a line drawing of a venue’s seating plan to figure that out could soon be a thing of the past. Ticketmaster confirmed to Engadget today that its new Virtual Venue technology is ready to roll out. Created by Io-Media, Virtual Venue uses gyroscopic and panoramic views to show you the view from any seat in the stadium or concert hall. The technology is now integrated into Ticketmaster’s desktop and mobile sites. There are currently 110 venues across North America with the capability.

According to Ticketmaster, an exact replica of each venue is created with a 3D wireframe model made from CAD documents, onsite surveys and photos. These are then given textures, lighting and “branding elements” to accurately represent what it looks like from every seat in the house. Just like with Facebook’s 360 videos, you can pan your phone around to see the entire view from your planned seats. You can use your mouse to navigate around with your mouse, too.

Ticketmaster has been working on interactive seat maps for a while. Back in 2011, it rolled out a way to see if any of your Facebook friends had bought tickets to the same event as you. The virtual view tech has been brewing since 2015, too, though this is the first time it’s been available to consumers like you and me.

Via: The Verge

Apple Watch Able to Detect Abnormal Heart Rhythm With 97% Accuracy

The Apple Watch’s built-in heart rate monitor is 97 percent accurate when detecting the most common form of an abnormal heart rhythm when paired with an algorithm to sort through the data, according to a new study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco and the team behind the Cardiogram app (via TechCrunch).

There were 6,158 participants in the study, all of whom used the Cardiogram app on the Apple Watch to monitor their heart rate. Most were known to have normal EKG readings, but 200 suffer from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (an occasional irregular heartbeat).

Data from these participants, along with data taken from normal Cardiogram users, was used to build a neural network that could recognize the abnormal heart rhythms solely from data collected by the Apple Watch. As of today, Cardiogram says its algorithm can almost always successfully determine when a patient is in atrial fibrillation.

In order to validate the model, we obtained gold-standard labels of atrial fibrillation from cardioversions. In a cardioversion, a patient experiencing atrial fibrillation is converted back to normal sinus rhythm, either chemically or with a shock to the heart. 51 patients at UCSF agreed to wear an Apple Watch during their cardioversion.

We obtained heart rate samples before the procedure, when the patient was in atrial fibrillation, and after, when patient’s heart was restored to a normal rhythm. On this validation set, our model performed with an AUC of 0.97, beating existing methods.

Cardiogram is a startup that’s aiming to garner more information from the data collected by the Apple Watch. The study, which Cardiogram has raised funding for, started in March of 2016 and will continue as UCSF and Cardiogram work to refine the neural network and detect other conditions beyond atrial fibrillation.

Cardiogram plans to put in additional work before using its algorithm to start notifying Cardiogram users of arrhythmias. The company needs to conduct further testing to make sure the algorithm works in a variety of conditions and it needs to work on scaling it so it can be used continuously by all Cardiogram users.

The Cardiogram app can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
Discuss this article in our forums