Did Google hire Apple’s chip designer to make chips for Pixel 2?

Future Pixel phones might feature custom, Google-designed chips.

According to Variety, Google has hired Manu Gulati, an Apple micro-architect. He worked at Apple on chip development for about eight years, but his LinkedIn profile shows he just joined Google. With the title of lead SoC architect, he’s obviously overseeing some type of system-on-a-chip development at Google. It’s a bold move for a company that uses third-party chips in all its products.

Google’s current Pixel phones rely on Qualcomm chips, but the company may be planning to ditch them going forward, considering it has over a dozen new SoC-related job listings live right now that are all specific to mobile. A few of the postings include a mobile SoC architect, mobile SoC CPU architect, mobile SoC memory architect, and so on. Their descriptions also offer up clues.

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We can see phrases like “architect the memory sub-system of a high-end mobile SoC” and “help define the architecture of future generations of phone and tablet SoCs”, which, again, all suggest Google wants to develop custom chips, possibly for future-generation Pixel phones. The Information even reported in 2015 that Google was considering developing its own chips to compete with Apple.

Check out Pocket-lint’s Pixel 2 guide for more details on what the next Pixel phones from Google may feature.

Microsoft Surface Laptop: How to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S

Microsoft has a new Surface device, the Surface Laptop, which comes running Windows 10 S out of the box.

The thing about Windows 10 S is that it is designed to run Windows Store apps only. If you’ve bought the Surface Laptop, you may want to consider upgrading to Windows 10 Pro. It’s a free upgrade after all, as long as you meet the criteria and take advantage of the offer before it expires later this year. With Windows 10 Pro, you get the full Windows 10 experience and aren’t limited to specific apps in the app store.

Here’s everything you need to know about how to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 10 S.

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Which Windows is right for you?

Windows 10 S

Windows 10 S is described as a fully-functional version of Windows that is designed to run smoothly on all hardware. Microsoft hasn’t revealed exactly what the S stands for, but it claimed that its evolved from features that teachers have asked for – hence the education tie-in. Those things include things like faster log-in, better battery life, and, apparently, the ability to only run verified apps.

That’s the big catch with Windows 10 S: it’s designed to only run verified apps from the Windows Store. You will not be able to download apps online and install them, so this version of Windows is essentially sandboxed. You can learn more about Windows 10 S from our guide here. As for Windows 10 Pro, it’s a higher-end version of the Windows 10 OS that can install and run any app.

Windows 10 Pro

Windows 10 Pro also comes with more sophisticated features, like the encryption software BitLocker, which is handy for when you’re traveling and want to lock down your data. It also offers a remote desktop connection between your machine and a Windows 10 Home PC. Another feature is Client Hyper-V, which lets you create a secure operating environment so you can run different operating systems.

You can learn more about Windows 10 Pro, which is primarily aimed at business-class users, from Microsoft’s site. The software retails for $199. Keep in mind all versions of Windows 10 come with Cortana, Microsoft’s virtual assistant, which can make calendar entries, take dictation, open applications and local files, search the web, and give directions — all based on your voice commands.

Does it cost anything to upgrade?

If you buy a machine, like the new Surface Laptop, that runs Windows 10 S, you can upgrade to Windows 10 Pro with just a few clicks and an update. This will remove the restriction on app installs – an attractive option for those of you who may need an app that’s not verified by Microsoft and therefore isn’t accessible otherwise. The upgrade will be free until the end of the year, if you fit certain criteria.

First, you need to have a Windows 10 S computer priced at $799 or above. Or, if you’re using Microsoft Intune for Education to manage your device (for instance, schools and accessibility users), you can also upgrade for free. But if you don’t fit into either of those categories, then you must pay Microsoft’s $49 upgrade fee (UK price to be confirmed), which is processed through the Windows Store, naturally.

How do you upgrade to Windows 10 Pro?

Download an app

The quickest way to begin the upgrade process is to install – or try to install – an app outside the Windows Store. Once you download it and attempt to install it on a Windows 10 S PC, you’ll be warned that the OS is restricted, but you’ll also see the following option: “Still want to install apps from outside the Store?” If you do, click the “see how” link, which will open a new Windows Store page.

One-way switch

You’ll then see an offer to switch to Windows 10 Pro. You’ll also see a breakdown of the difference between Windows 10 S and Windows 10 Pro. If you don’t meet the free-upgrade requirements, you’ll be prompted to pay the $49 fee. If you’re good to go, you’ll see a free upgrade button, which will essentially let you upgrade your license key to Windows 10 Pro. But keep in mind this is a one-way switch.

Backup your files

In other words, you can’t switch back to Windows 10 S. Now, for whatever reason, if you already own a Windows 10 Pro key, you can manually enter that now to avoid the $49 fee. Otherwise, click the upgrade button to proceed. Windows 10 will remind you to backup all your files, and then it’ll start the switch, which takes a couple minutes at most. When it’s done, your system will reboot.

At that point, you should be running Windows 10 Pro. A notification will tell you if the upgrade worked. Once you see it, feel free to install regular Windows desktop apps from outside the Windows Store.

Want to know more?

Check out Pocket-lint’s Surface Laptop review to see what we think of Windows 10 S.

Assassin’s Creed Origins gameplay preview: The rethinking of a classic

At E3 2017 there seems to be one game on everyone’s lips: Assassin’s Creed. In its latest iteration, Origins, which is set in ancient Egypt, the game returns after a hiatus from its usual annual cycle.

While Origins embodies what is is to be an Assassin’s Creed game, in both style and exploration, it’s also a rethinking of the classic formula. There’s no mini map displayed on the screen. Combat is far more engaging. Towers are a thing of the past for opening new map areas. And the parkour and press-and-hold climbing of previous titles takes a back seat.

Add that Origins runs in 4K on the Xbox One X and, well, there’s no denying it looks visually stunning too.

From the beginning of our gameplay session we set off on horseback, playing as Bayek, following the beaten desert track (which can be automated, to make firing your bow while in motion easier), free to explore the world. A top bar acts as a compass to track down points of interests, critical missions and side missions.

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The landscape isn’t as tightly knit as some previous Assassin’s games, which means the constant climbing up and down buildings isn’t as prevalent. You can still climb, of course, with a degree of automation ensuring your assassin-like skills remain in check and that you won’t go tumbling down. We climbed a ships mast and skipped along the ropes when looting a boat as part of a mission.

Ubisoft

Getting to said boat was interesting for a number of reasons: a press down on the directional pad puts your eagle, Senu, into flight to explore the surrounding landscape and tag enemies. Once we’d flown Senu miles off the shoreline we knew which boats we wanted to loot and then it was a case of swimming there.

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Water is no stranger to Assassin’s Creed. There was an abundance of it in Black Flag. But in Origins it plays a critical role; diving in a swimming underwater is a serene experience which looks stunning. Well, it’s serene until Bayek is attacked by a hippo or shark, adding a whole other dynamic.

Ubisoft

Having completed one of the many available missions, involving returning gold statues looted from a boat, we levelled up. Opening the skills tree from within the settings showed the breadth of skills available and how it’s possible to tune Bayek to suit your play style.

We opted to carry two melee weapons rather than one, to add different options to combat. Fight scenes in Origins feel like a much more involved experience than previous games. It feels less on rails, with the ability to dodge to help breakup those infuriating moments when mobbed by a gang of enemies. There are light and heavy attacks, separated by left and right triggers, adding further decision-making dynamism to play. It’s more like The Witcher, in a sense. And it’s way better.

Ubisoft

Which is our sentiment of Origins as a whole: it’s Assassin’s Creed as we know it, only better. Whether the stunning setting and 4K HDR graphics lures you in or not, it feels as though Ubisoft has brought the series into the future. If it launches with no major bugs and glitches then it looks like a surefire success that will please fans and newcomers alike.

Assassin’s Creed: Origins will be available for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 27 2017.

Virtual nation Asgardia will launch itself into space

Asgardia, also known as “The Space Nation,” will launch a small satellite later this year. According to Asgardia’s leader, Russian scientist Igor Ashurbeyli, the satellite will carry the nation’s constitution, its flag and data stored by up to 1.5 million of its citizens.

But let’s take a step back. What the hell is Asgardia? The nation, if you want to call it that, was officially announced on October 12th, 2016 — or October 5th if you’re an Asgardian. The nation has its own calendar with 13 months (the additional month is named Asgard) that are 28 days each, which actually makes much more sense than our own calendar.

According to Asgardia’s website, the nation received over 100,000 applications in the 40 hours after its debut and if you want to join the nearly 200,000 current citizens, all you have to do is apply. As of now, Asgardia is run by Ashurbeyli alone, but it’s holding Parliamentary elections for verified Asgardian citizens beginning today, June 24th, 0001.

At a press conference in Hong Kong today, Ashurbeyli announced the plan to launch the satellite — Asgardia-1. “Asgardia-1 will mark the beginning of a new space era, taking our citizens into space in virtual form, at first,” Ashurbeyli said. On its website, Asgardia says that a second satellite is planned for 2018.

Asgardia’s website includes a history of satellite launches, starting with Sputnik-1. But it leaves out a lot of examples, like every single Vanguard satellite, for instance.

It’s a weird experiment pushing the boundaries of what makes a nation and what’s considered sovereign, though it’s unlikely many recognized countries will acknowledge Asgardia as a state. I, however, need to get back to my Asgardian application because even a virtual space nation seems like a good idea these days.

Via: CNET

Source: Asgardia

Watch Nintendo’s E3 2017 event in under 7 minutes

The E3 Nintendo Spotlight earlier today delivered a load of announcements in about half an hour. We’re all busy people, and you might not have time to watch the entire event to catch up on the news. Now you don’t have to. We’ve cut down the the finer points to a clip that’s less than 7 minutes. Sit back, relax and check out all of the Switch, Mario, Kirby, Yoshi and Pokémon stuff you may have missed. And yes, there’s Metroid.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

The Xbox One X is aspirational in the purest sense of the word

The Xbox One X is aspirational in the purest sense of the word. It’s Microsoft’s direct response to people saying that the standard Xbox One wasn’t powerful enough in comparison to Sony’s PlayStation 4. With six teraflops of processing power and a raft of other specs that have already given fanboys plenty to brag about, that’s no longer the case. But what’s it like to actually play around with the console? Well, I can’t tell you. Microsoft’s “Xbox One X Experience” at E3 this year was a hands-off theater presentation. The company had mock-up consoles outside its demo area, but inside, everything ran on developer kits. Yes, those really cool looking white boxes with the LCD display on the front of them.

While I didn’t get to pick up a gamepad myself, Microsoft tried wowing the press in its hands-off demo area with Forza Motorsport 7, Gears of War 4 and Minecraft running in 4K. The most impressive of the trio wasn’t car porn, however, nor did it involve chainsawing aliens in half. Forza and Gears look great, but the same can be said for their 1080p counterparts too.

Surprisingly, it was Mojang’s blocky world-builder’s “Super Duper Graphics Pack” that borrows from high-resolution total conversion mods on PC to make Minecraft look as good as it possibly can. Things like railroad tracks now have geometric depth to them (they were previously flat), the water almost looks real enough to drink and, all around, the lighting has received a massive upgrade. The sunrise in the trailer below looked absolutely gorgeous on the theater’s massive HDR display. Believe me: I’m as surprised as you are that Minecraft was the most impressive looking demo.

If you don’t want to upgrade your TV, the Xbox One X uses supersampling to push more detailed graphics to your existing HD display. Microsoft unfortunately didn’t showwhy someone with a 1080p should really be interested in the upgraded hardware, though, which makes it hard to know why someone like me with a TV that looks markedly better than a majority of affordable 4K sets should care about the new console.

To get the most out of the One X, you need to spend even more than the $500 Microsoft is asking for. 4K TVs have dropped in price dramatically, so taking advantage of HDR video and UHD’s millions of pixels is less of a bank-breaking proposition. But if you’re the type who’s after pristine image quality — seemingly who the target market is here — an entry-level Vizio isn’t going to do it for you. Which makes upgrading to the One X an even more expensive proposition.

To get the most out of the One X, you need to spend even more than the $500 Microsoft is asking for

And then there’s audio. Dolby and Microsoft had their theater kitted out with a 7.4.1 Atmos setup; seven surround sound speakers, four ceiling-pointed ones and a gigantic subwoofer. Most people play games either through their TV speakers or dedicated headphones, though. Atmos is something exotic and likely incredibly out of reach for most people — even for someone like me with a dedicated 5.1 surround sound system in a modest apartment.

No matter, because whether you’ll be able to use it or not, this fall, Microsoft will issue a patch for Gears of War 4 that adds native support for Dolby Atmos.

How does it sound? Based on the demo I saw (and heard), really good. At one point, a helicopter hovering behind me fired off some rockets and hearing the sound of them whoosh overhead, from the back of the room to the front, was undeniably cool. Very subtle, yes, but still very cool.

Sure you could always use a pair of headphones paired with Dolby’s relatively new Access app (which uses software to bring positional audio to any pair of existing cans), but it’s really hard to beat the spatial separation of having discrete speakers placed around a room. Specifically, it’s incredibly difficult for headphones to trick your brain into thinking that dialog from the center channel is firing directly at you.

Right now, it’ll cost at least $1,600 ($500 for the One X, around $700 for the speakers and receiver and $428 for a Vizio E series display) to actually use the One X to its fullest potential — four years after spending $500 for the Xbox One, or a little over a year after spending $400 on a One S. There’s still six months before the system’s November 7th retail release, though, so we still have time for Microsoft to prove the One X’s value proposition for everyone — not just the well-heeled.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

The FCC can’t limit excessive inmate phone call rates

The FCC of 2015 pushed for limits to “excessive and egregious” rates for prison-based telephone calls. This was a progressive move to limit the ability states and private prisons to make money off of prisoners, who have no choice in choosing how much a phone call costs. When the new Trump administration took over, however, the FCC stopped defending its policy on caps. In what seems to be the final blow, an appeals court has ruled that the FCC cannot, in fact, cap rates for prisoner phone calls within states.

This isn’t the first rollback for the Trump administration, of course. It has withdrawn from the Paris climate change agreement, added nothing but more surveillance to US cybersecurity policy and may even revisit fuel efficiency rules for car makers. Current FCC Chairman Ajit Pai has long opposed the caps on telephone rates. “Today, the DC Circuit agreed with my position that the FCC exceeded its authority when it attempted to impose rate caps on intrastate calls made by inmates,” he said in a statement. Advocates of the caps are more devastated. “”We’re profoundly disappointed,” attorney Lee Petro told The Verge. “Families lose, privately owned [inmate calling service] providers will win.” Petro also said that all options, including an appeal to the US Supreme Court, are being reviewed.

Via: The Verge

Source: FCC

Relive ‘Tron’ disc battles when ‘Sparc’ launches first on PSVR

Have you wanted to relive Tron’s light disc battles through CCP Games’ Sparc (aka Project Arena)? You’re about to get your chance… although you may have to switch platforms to get it soon. CCP has revealed that Sparc will launch in the third quarter of the year for PlayStation VR. The developer stresses that this is only a temporary exclusive (it’s arriving “first” on PSVR), but that still means you’ll have to forego any near-term dreams of virtual arena battles on your Vive.

The title is notable not just as CCP’s first game outside of the EVE universe, but as a rare example of an explicitly competitive VR game. You can play solo if you like (including spectating), but this is really meant for two-player duels. We wouldn’t count on Sparc eSports tourneys, but this could easily give you a reason to don your VR headset well after the novelty of single-player experiences has worn off.

Follow all the latest news from E3 2017 here!

Source: Sparc

Senators reveal plans for national self-driving car legislation

The American transportation industry has been calling for national rules governing self-driving cars, and it looks like it might get its wish. Senators Bill Nelson, Gary Peters and John Thune have unveiled the principles they’ll use to craft legislation that greenlights autonomous vehicles. Safety will be the top priority, they say, but they also want make sure the law is “tech neutral,” clears up the roles of federal and state governments and improves cars’ online security. And importantly, they want to “reduce existing roadblocks” in the law — after all, many laws assume that someone needs to take the wheel.

Don’t get your hopes up for legislation in the immediate future. Although this is a bipartisan measure, there’s no timetable for completing a bill, let alone a surefire guarantee that it will become law. It won’t be surprising if the eventual bill passes, though. Both sides of the aisle have strong incentives to shake up the rules: Republicans may get looser regulation, Democrats may get safer cars and everyone gets boosts to their local economies. The time it takes to draft the legislation could easily pay off if it helps usher in a driverless future.

Via: Reuters

Source: Senator Gary Peters

Amazon offers cash back for keeping your gift card topped up

Amazon knows how to keep you topping up your gift card balance: offer a little money in return. It’s introducing a Prime Reload perk that gives American shoppers 2 percent cash back whenever they reload their balance using a debit card. That’s not a huge amount, but it could add up if you’re a frequent Amazon shopper (rather likely if you pay for Prime). It’s certainly your best option if you don’t like the idea of signing up for a Prime Rewards Visa card just to get a return on your purchases.

It’s not hard to see the incentive for Amazon, of course. In order to enjoy the savings, you have to pour funds into Amazon — and that means committing to a purchase at some point down the line. You may be tempted to load more money than you need just to be sure you’ll have something on hand, and that reduces the temptation to buy goods elsewhere.

Even so, this could do a lot to expand Amazon’s audience. The company recently launched its Cash service to court people without any bank cards, and Reload appears to be a logical extension: it addresses those people who have a debit card, but can’t (or just won’t) use a credit card. In some cases, it could mean the difference between buying online and having to pay through the nose at retail.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Amazon