Silk Road founder loses appeal and will serve life in prison

The Silk Road network’s creator Ross Ulbricht vowed to fight his lifetime prison sentence when it was handed down two years ago. But today, the US Second Circuit officially denied his appeal, sending him away for a long, long time.

Under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” Ulbricht made continued to operate Silk Road, an underground drug marketplace operating on the dark web. A large-scale federal operation caught Ulbricht and several others who testified for reduced sentences. But the case didn’t go smoothly, including two government agents who tried to make away with seized assets: One, Shaun Bridges, tried to steal 20,000 bitcoins (worth $350,000 then and $46 million today) and got a six-year prison sentence. The other agent, Carl Mark Force, was sentenced to 6.5 years for trying to sell Ulbricht information about the Silk Road case itself.

The corrupt agents weren’t enough to void the original decision, however. Ulbricht was convicted on seven charges, including distributing narcotics over the internet, money laundering and related conspiracy claims. Ulbricht’s lawyers appealed the life sentence as a cruel punishment designed to send a message, which the circuit court’s decision rebutted by noting, “Ulbricht was prepared, like other drug kingpins, to protect his profits by paying large sums of money to have individuals who threatened his enterprise murdered.” At least the Coen Brothers’ forthcoming movie adaptation of the whole Silk Road hullabaloo finally got its ending.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: United States of America v. Ross Ulbricht (PDF)

Here’s how delivery drones stack up to trucks in terms of their carbon footprints

Why it matters to you

Demonstrating the efficiency of delivery drones takes us one step closer to UAVs dropping off our Amazon packages.

Delivery drones may still be a few years away from becoming a mainstream technology, but that doesn’t mean that researchers are hanging around when it comes to gauging the kind of impact they’re likely to have on the environment.

In a new study carried out by transportation engineers at the University of Washington, researchers compared the carbon dioxide emissions of delivery drones against trucks when both were being used to deliver packages. Which is better for the environment? The answer is different than what you might expect.

“My intuition was that the drones would produce high levels of CO2 compared to trucks due to their inability to consolidate deliveries into one vehicle and the energy intensity of flying, [since] per ton-mile air has been estimated to produce almost an order of magnitude more CO2 than current trucks,” senior author Dr. Anne Goodchild, a UW associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, told Digital Trends. “We were surprised to find that for some realistic conditions, drones produced less CO2 per delivery than trucks. They perform better with smaller distances, and fewer packages in the truck. This is largely due to their incredibly energy efficient and lightweight design.”

For their study, the researchers assumed that drones can only carry one package at a time, meaning a lot more back-and-forth has to take place as the drone returns to the delivery depot after each delivery. Even with this disadvantage, however, they were impressed by how energy-efficient drones are. They concluded that delivering items with drones rather than trucks is likely to reduce CO2 emissions on short-range trips and on routes with few customers.

Ultimately, the best overall solution may turn out to be one that uses both trucks and drones to the best of their abilities: something that UPS recently demonstrated.

“Having conducted the research, I’d suggest a hybrid approach where a truck can deliver a large number of goods to the center of a delivery area, and then drones can be used to conduct short, last-mile trips,” Goodchild said. “However, this requires we address air space safety, and the potential of drones to be a nuisance to the population.”

You can read the work of the researchers in full in a paper, due to be published in a forthcoming issue of the journal Transportation Research Part D.

Hackers ransom sensitive photos, information stolen from cosmetic clinics

Why it matters to you

Even if you are doing everything you should to keep your personal information safe, you can still be a victim if the organizations you do business with are vulnerable.

You can do everything right, including keeping your systems protected, never clicking on suspicious links, and making sure to enter private information only on safe sites, and you can still see your most private information stolen and published. The reason is simple — our information is located on servers that we do not control and sometimes, those servers are vulnerable to attack.

Such was the case with a chain of Lithuanian cosmetic surgery clinics, which was attacked by a group of hackers known as Tsar Team. The hackers broke into the servers, stole sensitive personal data and private client photos, and are now holding the clinics hostage, The Guardian reports.

When you have cosmetic surgery performed, the surgeons and their staff take photos to plan procedures and to provide before-and-after comparisons. Many of these photos are taken of clients in the nude and are thus just as sensitive as any of the photos stolen and published in various famous celebrity attacks. These photos, along with sensitive personal records, are now being used to extort individual clients of the clinics into paying between 50 and 2,000 Euros in bitcoin or the records and photos will be publicly released.

At first, the hackers were willing to sell back the entire database for 300 bitcoins, or around $685,000, but the clinics refused to pay. Now, the payment for the database has been reduced to 50 bitcoin, or around $114,000. The per-record ransom is based on how sensitive the data and photos are, with the most revealing photos and information like passport scans and national insurance numbers having the highest price tag.

According to Jonas Staikunas, the director of the Grozio Chirurgija chain of clinics that suffered the attacks, “Clients, of course, are in shock. Once again, I would like to apologize. Cybercriminals are blackmailers. They are blackmailing our clients with inappropriate text messages.”

The clinic is suggesting that patients do not engage the blackmailers and Lithuanian law enforcement agencies are working to locate the hackers. In addition, anyone who downloads and stores the data illegally will also be prosecuted.

The attack follows along with the massive Wannacry ransomware attack that affected hundreds of thousands of individuals and organizations around the world. It serves to further highlight the need for locking down systems and doing more to keep them safe from these kinds of attacks. In the end, it is not enough that we keep our own systems secure — we have to worry about the systems maintained by every organization we do business with.

Squeeze more out of your workouts with the best compression gear

While many of the popular shooting sleeves we’ve seen slowly dominate NBA fashion as of late may be purely for aesthetic purposes, there are many pieces of compressive clothing on the market that come with actual kinesiological functionality. Compression gear increases blood flow to the muscles and may even minimize lactic acid build up, allowing you to recover faster while minimizing soreness during and after a workout.

Although MIT researchers are already working on the next generation of microbial-enhanced “living clothing” to boost performance, there are plenty of compression garments currently available. From products designed to keep you cool during a workout, to responsive fiber networks designed to aid mobility and joint support, here are seven of our favorite pieces of compression gear.

Best long-sleeve — Skins A400 ($49+)

Virtually all athletes could use a long-sleeve compression shirt at some point during the year. From baseball to skiing, the added circulation throughout the torso and arms wards off fatigue during exercise and aids recovery afterward. That said, the Skins A400 series long-sleeve is our top pick.

Silicone grips along the bonded hem keep the shirt in place along the hip, waist, and shoulders. Also, unlike the vast majority of compression shirts, this model features five independent panels which enable the individual sections to more aptly respond and stretch to movement without tugging at others. This design prevents the material from uncomfortably “riding up” during more strenuous activity. A pair of mesh inserts under the arms even promotes natural ventilation, allowing for optimal cooling.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Best short-sleeve — Under Armour Men’s HeatGear Sonic Compression Short Sleeve ($20+)

While most athletes could benefit from a long-sleeve compression shirt, for some sports — such as basketball — a short-sleeve shirt is preferential. These models don’t restrict movement nearly as much along the triceps and elbow, allowing you to work on that jump shot with full freedom of motion.

Similarly, this Under Armour model has been designed with 4-Way Stretch fabrication that stays in place without being too rigid. The HeatGear Sonic series utilizes basic wicking, allowing the shirt to pull moisture away from your body — which keeps you dry and cool during intense workouts. The material prevents microbial growth, too, so you won’t have to worry about unwanted odor if you accidentally leave the shirt in your gym bag overnight.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Best targeted compression — Nike Pro Zonal Strength hyper compression tights ($100)

Full compression pants are ideal for lower-body circulation, as well as recovery for an array of sports and exercises. These Pro Zonal Strength Hyper Compression Tights are a perfect base layer with plenty of added bonuses. While most compression pants simply constrict the skin to increase blood flow, this model uses a series of injected silicone inserts at the calves, quadriceps, and along the hamstring to pinpoint specific regions and minimize potentially damaging muscle vibrations. A series of mesh sections also allow you to stay cool during the most grueling of regimens.

Buy now from:

Nike

Best compression shorts — Nike HyperCool ($40)

Cyclists and basketball players will certainly appreciate the benefits of these Nike HyperCool compression shorts. Covering the quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and hip flexors, these compression shorts give a friendly boost to long-distance athletes. There is also a longer, 9-inch version for those who prefer added support just above the knee. Large mesh pockets built throughout the shorts allow the material to naturally expel body heat, and the material pulls moisture from your skin for added cooling.

Buy now from:

Nike

Best ventilated compression pants — VIRUS Men’s Rx7-Stay Cool ($64)

The Virus RX7 Stay Cool compression pants are one of the best on the market for premium cooling. While many models include wicking fabrics and general mesh components for ventilation, the Virus model goes a step further. These pants are designed with Virus’ V2 CoolJade fabric, a material infused with recycled Jade nanoparticles, which creates a natural cooling effect on the skin. The company claims this technology, along with the aforementioned wicking properties, can decrease your surface temperature by up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Best for endurance — CW-X Endurance Generator tights ($99+)

We picked the Endurance Generator tights as our best endurance option, however, individuals with joint discomfort may also appreciate these compression pants. The Endurance Generator tights are designed with a responsive webbing pattern that wraps around the thighs and calves to maximize stability and power. Similarly, these tights sit higher on the abdomen than most compression models, helping to stabilize the hips during various activities. Like many of the other models on our list, the Endurance Generators also pull moisture away from the skin.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Best compression socks — MudGear compression socks ($30+)

Not all activities or exercises require a pair of compression socks, however, individuals who participate in soccer, mountain biking, and other support sports surely appreciate these rugged socks from MudGear. The socks utilize a graduated, 168-needlepoint compression system, which is loosest just above the knee and tightest at the ankle for added support and comfort. Originally designed for obstacle courses, these socks are made out of abrasion-resistant fabric to minimize cuts and bruises.

Buy now from:

Amazon

Other things to consider

As noted previously, the market for compression gear is exceptionally nuanced. That said, there are plenty of additional garments to consider beyond the models we’ve curated for this list. For example, some manufacturers have compression shirts, pants, and shorts outfitted with additional padding for contact sports such as rugby and football.

Other companies offer various models designed with pockets, which are meant for gel packs and inserts geared toward cyclists and long-distance runners. Additionally, for winter training, we suggest investing in an insulated model for added warmth and support during the colder months of the year. The rabbit hole runs deep, so stay tuned for recommendations as we update this list with the latest apparel in the months to come.

Everyone uses Gmail, but not everyone knows these awesome tips and tricks

Between Labs, extensions, and settings, there’s a plethora of ways that you can customize your Gmail experience and tweak how emails are handled. Below of some of our favorite methods for managing time and giving Gmail an extra boost when it comes to organization.

Send and archive in one step

Here’s a trick to save a lot of time. First, click the gear icon and choose Settings from the resulting drop-down menu. Find the Send and Archive section and check the box beside Show “Send & Archive” button in reply. This adds a new button when you’re replying to an email. Clicking it will allow you to send your response and automatically archive the email, thus removing it from your inbox. It’s a godsend for those who receive endless amounts of email, and one that keeps your inbox free of clutter.

Enable and disable tabs

Gmail has three tabs — Primary, Social, and Promotion — and organizes your emails for you automatically. But did you know you can customize these tabs? If you want to do so, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner and choose Configure inbox from the drop-down menu. This allows you to add new tabs, such as Updates and Forums, or remove any tabs that you don’t like or want. It’s a handy bit of auto-organization for when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

See more with the Compact setting

When you click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of Gmail, one of the first things you’ll see in the resulting drop-down menu is an option to switch between Cozy, Comfortable, and Compact viewing modes. Switching to Compact eradicates a good deal of space, allowing you to see more email information on each line. It’s a good setting to go with if you want to maximize your efficiency and see as much information as possible in a single glance.

Take back an unfortunate email

Whenever you send an email in Gmail, you’ll notice a yellow box that says the email was sent. If you catch it fast enough, however, you can actually cancel the email while it’s in the process of being sent. If it has already been sent, this option turns in Undo Send, which allows you to correct your mistake with a couple clicks. If you don’t see the feature, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select Settings from the drop-down menu. Then, check the box beside Enable Undo Send in the Undo Send section. Here, you can also set a 5-, 10-, 20-, or 30-second cancellation period.

Send money instantly

Whenever you start to compose an email in Gmail, you can hit the dollar sign — or the pound sign, if you’re located in the United Kingdom — to use that email as a vehicle for sending money. It allows you to set an amount and input, or choose a payment method. When the recipient gets the email, they can “activate” the payment and the transaction will occur. Could you just use PayPal? Yes, but this option is just as useful when it comes to making quick, small payments.

Use Smart Reply to save time on responses

In the mobile version of Gmail, there is currently a feature called Smart Reply. It uses some of Google’s AI tech to automatically create a few quick responses (somewhat modeled after your email behavior) that you can immediately send. These range from a basic “thanks!” to more complex questions based on the email you are responding to. It doesn’t always work, but for simple responses, it can help you save a lot of time on your mobile device.

Save space with Drive

If you can’t fit a file on an email or prefer not mess around with attachments, use Google Drive instead. Every Compose window comes equipped with a Drive icon, which allows you to quickly attach Drive files from within your browser. It’s also handy if you need to share files that aren’t stored on the device you’re using… as long as Drive is one of the common storage options.

Synergize with LinkedIn

One of the great extensions to use in the business world is Rapportive, a Gmail extension that links the sender’s contact information with social media, specifically LinkedIn. Open an email from someone with a LinkedIn account and the tool will immediately show their profile information in a sidebar, along with links to their various social media accounts. It’s one of the best networking tools available if you regularly use Gmail.

Use Canned Responses to save even more time

Gmail Labs are experimental extensions that you can enable for free. Labs don’t always stick around, but Canned Responses has been on the block for years, so we feel confident recommending it. Head over to the gear icon, choose Settings, and click the Labs tab. One of the labs should say Canned Responses. Enable it, and you can create email templates that you can immediately copy into an email and tweak as needed. It’s ideal for customer service or tracking down leads.

Delegate some of your emails

Gmail offers a service that allows you to set up a series of delegates. These delegates have the ability to read and respond to your emails, and even manage your contacts, although they can’t chat or change your settings. Setting up delegates is useful if you are a busy professional and need an employee or team member to step in and check the latest responses when you simply don’t have enough time.

Try IFTTT configurations

IFTTT or “If This Then That” is a smart device platform that allows you to customize a variety of responses and scenes for your smart home. It also works with a lot of other things, including Gmail. Here are some examples of the IFTTT ideas already created by people and ready to be used. With the right recipe, you can save files directly to Drive, automatically sync Evernote and Todoist, trigger notifications, and carry out a bunch of other useful actions. Find the options that are best for your life, and you can transform your Gmail experience into something twice as useful.

Everyone uses Gmail, but not everyone knows these awesome tips and tricks

Between Labs, extensions, and settings, there’s a plethora of ways that you can customize your Gmail experience and tweak how emails are handled. Below of some of our favorite methods for managing time and giving Gmail an extra boost when it comes to organization.

Send and archive in one step

Here’s a trick to save a lot of time. First, click the gear icon and choose Settings from the resulting drop-down menu. Find the Send and Archive section and check the box beside Show “Send & Archive” button in reply. This adds a new button when you’re replying to an email. Clicking it will allow you to send your response and automatically archive the email, thus removing it from your inbox. It’s a godsend for those who receive endless amounts of email, and one that keeps your inbox free of clutter.

Enable and disable tabs

Gmail has three tabs — Primary, Social, and Promotion — and organizes your emails for you automatically. But did you know you can customize these tabs? If you want to do so, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner and choose Configure inbox from the drop-down menu. This allows you to add new tabs, such as Updates and Forums, or remove any tabs that you don’t like or want. It’s a handy bit of auto-organization for when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

See more with the Compact setting

When you click the gear icon in the upper-right corner of Gmail, one of the first things you’ll see in the resulting drop-down menu is an option to switch between Cozy, Comfortable, and Compact viewing modes. Switching to Compact eradicates a good deal of space, allowing you to see more email information on each line. It’s a good setting to go with if you want to maximize your efficiency and see as much information as possible in a single glance.

Take back an unfortunate email

Whenever you send an email in Gmail, you’ll notice a yellow box that says the email was sent. If you catch it fast enough, however, you can actually cancel the email while it’s in the process of being sent. If it has already been sent, this option turns in Undo Send, which allows you to correct your mistake with a couple clicks. If you don’t see the feature, click the gear icon in the upper-right corner and select Settings from the drop-down menu. Then, check the box beside Enable Undo Send in the Undo Send section. Here, you can also set a 5-, 10-, 20-, or 30-second cancellation period.

Send money instantly

Whenever you start to compose an email in Gmail, you can hit the dollar sign — or the pound sign, if you’re located in the United Kingdom — to use that email as a vehicle for sending money. It allows you to set an amount and input, or choose a payment method. When the recipient gets the email, they can “activate” the payment and the transaction will occur. Could you just use PayPal? Yes, but this option is just as useful when it comes to making quick, small payments.

Use Smart Reply to save time on responses

In the mobile version of Gmail, there is currently a feature called Smart Reply. It uses some of Google’s AI tech to automatically create a few quick responses (somewhat modeled after your email behavior) that you can immediately send. These range from a basic “thanks!” to more complex questions based on the email you are responding to. It doesn’t always work, but for simple responses, it can help you save a lot of time on your mobile device.

Save space with Drive

If you can’t fit a file on an email or prefer not mess around with attachments, use Google Drive instead. Every Compose window comes equipped with a Drive icon, which allows you to quickly attach Drive files from within your browser. It’s also handy if you need to share files that aren’t stored on the device you’re using… as long as Drive is one of the common storage options.

Synergize with LinkedIn

One of the great extensions to use in the business world is Rapportive, a Gmail extension that links the sender’s contact information with social media, specifically LinkedIn. Open an email from someone with a LinkedIn account and the tool will immediately show their profile information in a sidebar, along with links to their various social media accounts. It’s one of the best networking tools available if you regularly use Gmail.

Use Canned Responses to save even more time

Gmail Labs are experimental extensions that you can enable for free. Labs don’t always stick around, but Canned Responses has been on the block for years, so we feel confident recommending it. Head over to the gear icon, choose Settings, and click the Labs tab. One of the labs should say Canned Responses. Enable it, and you can create email templates that you can immediately copy into an email and tweak as needed. It’s ideal for customer service or tracking down leads.

Delegate some of your emails

Gmail offers a service that allows you to set up a series of delegates. These delegates have the ability to read and respond to your emails, and even manage your contacts, although they can’t chat or change your settings. Setting up delegates is useful if you are a busy professional and need an employee or team member to step in and check the latest responses when you simply don’t have enough time.

Try IFTTT configurations

IFTTT or “If This Then That” is a smart device platform that allows you to customize a variety of responses and scenes for your smart home. It also works with a lot of other things, including Gmail. Here are some examples of the IFTTT ideas already created by people and ready to be used. With the right recipe, you can save files directly to Drive, automatically sync Evernote and Todoist, trigger notifications, and carry out a bunch of other useful actions. Find the options that are best for your life, and you can transform your Gmail experience into something twice as useful.

Samsung updating Gear Fit 2 with new and improved workout features, SOS function

Workout detection and post-workout feedback are getting better on Samsung’s fitness wearable.

Samsung has just pushed out an update to the Gear Fit 2 right around a year after launch that makes a few solid upgrades to its tracking — because, after all, that is what it’s designed to do. Building on the Gear Fit 2’s automatic fitness tracking that auto-starts workouts when it detects certain sustained movement, Samsung says it has improved its ability to detect workouts.

For runners, you can now set custom pace targets for runs or set certain time or distance goals in Samsung Health to let the app build an appropriate workout for you. After your run is done, the Fit 2 will now give you a detailed color-coded graph of how long you spent in each heart rate zone over the duration. You’ll also get more accurate information on a map of where you ran, right on the Fit 2’s display.

Samsung has also improved its sleep tracking to give more details on how well you slept through the night, and changed activity reminders to give you some options for light activity instead of simply telling you to stand up. Finally, the Gear Fit 2 now has an “SOS” function that can be activated with a triple press of the home button to send your location and a message to specified contacts.

The update is available now through the Gear Manager app on the phone you have paired to the Gear Fit 2. Just visit the “About Gear” section to download the update, which comes in at a 47MB.

Apple has begun production of its Siri speaker, should release this year

Amazon is supposedly working on a Siri-powered speaker, and according to a new report, it’s now in production.

Apple plans to go after both Amazon Echo and Google Home with its own assistant-enabled speaker. There have been several leaks and reports about this unconfirmed device, which you can read all about here in Pocket-lint’s round-up, but strangely, we’ve yet to see any images of it leak out through the press. Nevertheless, Bloomberg said it is still coming and that Apple has started manufacturing it.

Most people think it could be announced at WWDC 2017, Apple’s annual developers conference that kicks off in June. But if it’s only now entering production, don’t expect to buy one right off. Apparently, the speaker “will not be ready” to ship until later in the year, but it’ll be louder and better-sounding than the existing competition, as it will offer up a “virtual surround sound” – whatever that means.

We’re thinking it can just fill a room with sound, like 360-degree speakers do. Apple reportedly has also mulled the idea of including sensors that auto-adjust sound levels based on room noise, which means it might be able to lower music if you’re talking, but that’s not confirmed. It would also integrate with Apple’s ecosystem, so you should be able to control HomeKit-capable smart home devices.

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

If it does work with third-party services as well, then we should definitely hear something about it at WWDC, because that would give developers time to offer support before the speaker launches. Although WWDC doesn’t usually include hardware, there are other reports claiming that Apple may use the show to update its Mac and iPad lineups. Check out our WWDC guide for more details on that.

Pocket-lint will bring you the latest from WWDC as it happens.

Apple’s Siri speaker: What’s the story so far?

Apple is working on its own Amazon Echo or Google Home-like device, according to several reports from the last few months.

These reports have claimed that Apple is already testing the product inside Apple employees’ homes, and that we may see the device, which is expected to come loaded with support for Siri voice commands, introduced at WWDC 2017 in June. Here’s everything you need to know about the speaker so far, including how it might look and what it might feature. Just bear in mind that nothing is confirmed as of yet.

Apple’s Siri speaker: What could it be?

• 64 ways to get a giggle out of Siri

Apple has been rumoured to be working on an Amazon Echo or Google Home-like smart speaker since early 2016, around the same time Google introduced its Home speaker and around two years after Amazon launched its popular Echo. Although there has been no confirmation from the company, several reports have surfaced in recent months about the device and how it might differ from rival products.

Apple employees have reportedly been testing the speaker inside their homes for several months, according to Bloomberg. The publication also reported last September that Apple engineers had begun in-home testing of prototypes. In other words, if this is true, we’re likely getting closer to an actual unveiling of the product. And many reports are pointing to WWDC 2017 as the perfect venue to announce it.

Apple’s Siri speaker: What can you expect?

• Apple finalising plans for Amazon Echo-like device to control your home

Siri voice commands

The Information first reported in May 2016 that Apple is working on Echo-like device that could obey voice commands through Siri. The report, which was published prior to WWDC 2016, also explained that Apple planned to open up its Siri assistant to outside app developers by releasing an SDK. The company, of course, did just that, in June 2016, allowing app developers to make their apps accessible through Siri.

Virtual surround sound

Bloomberg claimed in May 2017 that Apple has started manufacturing its speaker. Apparently, the speaker “will not be ready” to ship until later in the year, but it’ll be louder and better-sounding than the existing competition, as it will offer up a “virtual surround sound” – whatever that means. We’re thinking it can just fill a room with sound, like 360-degree speakers do.

Apple reportedly has mulled the idea of including sensors that auto-adjust sound levels based on room noise, which means it may be able to lower music if you’re talking, but that’s not confirmed. It would also integrate with Apple’s ecosystem, so you should be able to control HomeKit-capable smart home devices. If it does work with third-party services, then we should definitely hear something about it at WWDC.

That would give developers time to offer support before the speaker launches. Although WWDC doesn’t usually include hardware, there are other reports claiming that Apple may use the show to update its Mac and iPad lineups. Check out our WWDC guide for more details on that.

Facial recognition

CNET also reported in May 2016 that Apple is working on Echo-like device, but it said the device could know who you are just by looking at you. The device will feature a built-in camera and will come in the form of a smart speaker. It’ll be “self aware” and detect who is in the room using facial recognition technology. Doing so would allow it to automatically pull up a person’s preferences, like music.

Early prototypes of Apple’s upcoming speaker, the so-called Siri speaker, for lack of a better name, are said to have included facial recognition sensors, using technology Apple acquired when it bought both Faceshift and Emotient in the last couple of years. It’s also been suggested that Apple’s speaker could trump the Amazon Echo by featuring more advanced microphone and speaker technologies.

Touchscreen

It’s unclear if Apple’s Siri speaker will feature a display – sort of like Amazon’s new Echo Show. It might just be all about audio – like the regular, cylindrical Echo speaker or Google Home. However, Apple executive Phil Schiller recently talked about gadgets with screens rather favourably: “The idea of not having a screen, I don’t think suits many situations,” Schiller said in an interview with Gadgets 360 in May 2017.

He noted voice-only assistants can’t show you photos posted to social media, and if you’re asking for directions, you can’t see them on map. “I think voice assistants are incredibly powerful. Their intelligence is going to grow. They’re gonna do more for us, but the role of the screen is gonna remain very important to all of this,” he explained, while also making it clear he is unimpressed by existing smart speakers.

“My mother used to have a saying that if you don’t have something nice to say, say nothing at all,” Schiller said.

Noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says there is more than a 50-per cent chance of the Siri speaker showing up at WWDC and that it will have a touchpanel. It’s not clear if this will be a panel of buttons or a proper touchscreen. He also said it will be announced alongside software development details for home AI, and it will be boast premium audio quality and have a higher price tag than the Echo.

Airplay product

In April 2017, it was reported that Apple’s Siri speaker designs were in the final stages. According to Sonny Dickson, who has hit the nail on the head many times in the past when it comes to leaking Apple news, the company is “finalising designs” for its Echo competitor after two years of development. Posting on Twitter, he added that any device will be marketed as a Siri/Airplay product.

Homekit

It’s also been reported that Apple’s Siri speaker will allow you to control your smarthome kit through Siri voice control. Mark Gurman at Bloomberg originally said that the device will be able to control appliances, locks, lights and curtains via voice activation.

Apple’s Siri speaker: What’s it look like?

Amazingly, there hasn’t been one leak yet to indicate what the device might look like when it launches.

Apple’s Siri speaker: When will it launch?

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

According to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple will announce this Siri smart speaker at its annual developer conference this June and will likely market it as a high-end speaker with built-in Siri, plus superior sound quality and computing power when compared to Echo and Google Home. The Siri speaker should go on sale by Christmas time, even if it’s not announced at WWDC 2017.

Bloomberg also claimed that Apple started manufacturing its speaker in May, but that it “will not be ready” to ship until later in the year.

Apple’s Siri speaker: What will it cost?

There’s no word yet on pricing or availability. Note analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said it will have a higher price tag than the Amazon Echo.

Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s WWDC 2017 guide for more details on what to expect from Apple’s annual developer conference.

Google’s latest addition to Allo is custom GIFs of your face

It seems like Google hopes tickling your funnybone will keep its Allo chat app installed on your phone. The latest update adds selfie clips so you can add a personalized touch to your responses. Essentially, they’re just looped GIFs made from a video of whatever’s in front of your phone’s camera. Allo’s head of product Amit Fulay tweeted the info out earlier today, including the GIF below. In the thread, Fulay says that the update is available to all users. Now, it’s worth noting that this sort of thing has been available via Giphy Cam before, but it being built directly into Allo (among the recent slew of updates) suggests that Google isn’t giving up on its latest chat app just yet.

We’re launching selfie clips in #GoogleAllo today, making it easier to capture and share your own personal gif pic.twitter.com/EzjLb33CSa

— Amit Fulay (@amitfulay) May 31, 2017

Source: Amit Fulay (Twitter), Google Play