Tech Hunters: the first TV set Britain fell in love with

Televisions might be cheap and plentiful now, but in the 1930s, they were almost exclusively reserved for the middle class. The BBC was the only broadcaster in town and a lucky, elite few were able to watch the Coronation of King George VI and British Movietone News cinema newsreels inside their homes. Then, the second World War broke out and transmissions stopped over fears that TV signals would aid German bombers.

It wasn’t until the 50s that TV became popular again, with royal events setting the benchmark. Following the death of King George VI in 1952, a young Elizabeth II took the throne and was coronated a year later. The Queen’s coronation became a defining time for television in the UK, and a lot of it was due to the availability of the Bush TV22.

The black-and-white Bush TV22 launched with a 9-inch screen and cost £35, which is roughly £800 in today’s money. It was cheaper and more portable than its bigger hardwood rivals at the time, with art-deco stylings that are now revered by British designers. When the royal family agreed to let the BBC inside Westminster Abbey to broadcast the Queen’s coronation in June 1953, it led to a huge boom in television set sales. More often than not, it was the Bush TV22 that people brought home.

In this episode of Tech Hunters, Julia Hardy travels to Norwich to find the TV that changed viewing habits in the UK forever. Rob Howard shows Julia round the cathode ray set was a design classic that ushered in the era of television.

Tech Hunters is a 10-part video series that uncovers the devices we were once obsessed with, looking at how they disrupted the tech industry, and what they’re worth today. From the pocket pet obsession with the original Tamagotchi, to mix-tapes and Sony Walkman, Tech Hunters explores the audio, visual, interactive and transport innovations that have shaped today’s culture.

Researchers create hydrogen fuel with artificial photosynthesis

Scientists all over the world have been attempting to recreate photosynthesis in the lab in hopes of being able to mimic the process to create fuel. Now a team of researchers from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and Virginia Tech have figured out the secret behind a man-made molecular system or a “supramolecule” that can do the job well. Their lead researcher originally created two supramolecules a few years ago. Both of them can perform the processes needed for photosynthesis to occur: absorbing light, separating and transporting electrical charge and catalyzing the reactions needed to produce hydrogen that plants use to turn carbon dioxide into glucose. However, one was more effective than the other, so the team performed experiments to figure out why.

Both supramolecules are made up of several light-harvesting ruthenium (Ru) metal ions connected to a single catalytic center made of rhodium (Rh) metal ions. The one with six Ru light absorbers produces 280 hydrogen molecules per catalyst for 10 hours, though, while the one with three Ru ions only produces 40 molecules for four hours before it stops functioning. After a series of tests, the team found that the larger supramolecule is slightly more electron-poor, making it more receptive to receiving electrons needed for photosynthesis.

By figuring out that secret, the researchers have opened up the possibility of designing even more effective molecular systems for artificial photosynthesis. It will take time, but the group (and other teams around the world) can use their findings to conjure up systems that can produce large amounts of hydrogen that we can use as fuel.

Via: Reddit

Source: Brookhaven National Laboratory, Journal of the American Chemical Society

32-Bit Apps No Longer Supported in iOS 11

Ahead of the launch of iOS 11, there were several signs suggesting 32-bit apps would no longer be supported in the new operating system, which has been confirmed with the release of the first iOS 11 beta.

When attempting to open a 32-bit app when running iOS 11, the app refuses to launch, offering up a message that says the app needs to be updated to work with iOS 11.

32-bit apps are also not available when searching in the new version of the App Store, and previously downloaded 32-bit apps can’t be installed through the Purchased tab.

Over the course of the last several months, warnings about 32-bit apps have gotten increasingly dire. With the launch of iOS 10.1 in October of 2016, Apple started warning customers that older apps “may slow down your iPhone.”

In January of 2017, the first iOS 10.3 beta featured an even more serious message when launching a 32-bit app, which specifically read “This app will not work with future versions of iOS.”

Given the warnings, it should come as no surprise that Apple has eliminated support for 32-bit apps, but it does render many older apps that have worked for years without updates unusable. There are likely many users who continue to use 32-bit apps regularly who will be surprised to find that those apps no longer work when iOS 11 rolls out to the public.

Apple started supporting 64-bit apps when the iPhone 5s launched in September of 2013. As of June 2015, all apps and app updates must use the 64-bit architecture, so apps that are still 32-bit have not been updated in at least two years.

Current iOS 10 users can check to see if there are any 32-bit apps on their iOS devices in the Settings app. Go to General –> About –> Applications to get to the “App Compatibility” section that lists any outdated apps.

iOS 11 is only compatible with devices that feature a 64-bit chip, meaning it works with everything that has an A7 or newer chip. Specifically, iOS 11 is compatible with iPhone 5s, SE, 6 Plus, 6, 6s Plus, 6s, 7 Plus, and 7, along with the new fifth-generation iPad, the iPad Air, the iPad Air 2, all iPad Pro models, and the iPad mini 2 and later.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Anki’s cute Cozmo robot is coming to Canada in July

Outside of its robotic remote control cars, last year Anki released a palm-sized robot companion called Cozmo. As adorable as it is intelligent, it rolls around on its tank treads using its arm to interact with the environment and a built-in camera to recognize you or even your pets. Since its debut last fall it has received at least one software update, but was only on sale in the US.

Starting next month that will change when it goes on sale in Canada for $250 CA, before it expands to the UK, France, Germany and Nordic countries in September. Even if you live in the US, starting today you can order a $180 Collector’s Edition of the bot that comes in a new Liquid Metal finish. Not sure if it’s worth the cash? Check out our video and see if you can live without one of these rolling off of your desk every day.

Source: Cozmo Blog

Amazon opens up Twitch Prime’s ad-free streaming worldwide

Twitch Prime subscriptions are more than a little handy. If you already have Amazon Prime, it lets you watch your favorite game stream ad-free (and support a favorite streamer) at no extra charge. However, it’s only been available in a handful of countries so far. That changes today — Twitch has made Prime subs available in over 200 countries and territories. So long as you can score an Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription membership, you can throw your weight behind one subscription-enabled channel every month. You’ll also get perks like free games, including the Twitch-exclusive PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds clothing that arrives on June 9th.

The move could do a lot to help Twitch drive subscriptions, especially among cost-conscious gamers who’d rather not have to choose between American Gods and custom channel emotes. That, in turn, could encourage users to either take up streaming or pursue it more aggressively. There are still some incentives to pay for a non-Prime sub (such as higher tiers), but that’s no longer mandatory in many parts of the world.

Source: Twitch (Medium)

Apple Drops 2TB iCloud Storage Price to $9.99, Eliminates 1TB Option

Following today’s Worldwide Developers Conference keynote that saw the debut of new software and hardware products, Apple has updated and simplified its iCloud storage pricing tiers.

The 1TB storage option has been eliminated, while the 2TB storage option has dropped in price to $9.99 per month, which is what 1TB of storage was previously priced at. Essentially, at the highest data tiers, customers are getting more storage space for less money. Pricing for Apple’s 50GB and 200GB iCloud storage plans remains unchanged.

The new pricing tiers in the United States:

– 50GB: $0.99
– 200GB: $2.99
– 2TB: $9.99

While U.S. prices are listed above, the same changes have been made in all countries where iCloud storage is available. 1TB storage options have been eliminated across the board, while 2TBs of storage is now available at the lower 1TB cost.

Many users have been hoping Apple will increase the free iCloud storage option, but following today’s update, free iCloud space continues to cap out at 5GB. In iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra, Apple is offering an option to share a 200GB or 2TB iCloud storage plan with family members, which is perhaps the reason behind the price drop.

The new storage plans are available immediately on all iOS devices.

(Thanks, Michael!)

Tag: iCloud
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You can now use AI to improve your golf or baseball swing thanks to Zepp

Why it matters to you

If you have neither the time nor the money to hire a coach to improve your sports performance, this kind of platform might be just what you need.

Practice may or may not make perfect, but technology might be able to substitute for talent. That is, if Zepp has anything to do with it. The digital sports training device maker has introduced a new tool it calls Visual Computing, which promises to help users “take advantage of artificial intelligence technology” in order to better analyze a golf or baseball swing, or a basketball shot. Because why hire a coach when you can just pull out your smartphone?

The technology depends on your smart device’s camera to record a swing or a shot, and once this data is recorded, you can highlight various aspects of your technique. Want to take a closer look at the moment of impact? Zepp’s Visual Computing will automatically detect that for you. Want to slow down your motions? Zepp can help with that, too. You can even create a video of your basketball shot motion and how you score. With Zepp, you’ll be able to download footage alongside analysis, and share this information with friends, family, a trainer, or even a recruiter.

Zepp, which first burst onto the sports scene five years ago, has since attracted millions of users of all different skill levels. And with those users has come a treasure trove of swing data, which Zepp notes has helped develop its newest Visual Computing platform. Indeed, this latest tool combines video and data, thereby allowing Zepp to provide its users with more actionable information that helps them improve. As the company notes, Visual Computing ought to help athletes “easily evaluate their mechanics and make meaningful adjustments that will serve them in competition.”

So if you’re looking to level up your game, you might consider giving Zepp and its artificial intelligence tool a test drive. You never know what you might learn.

Apple iOS 11: 11 new features coming to your iPhone and iPad

Apple made iOS 11 official while at WWDC 2017.

Although the software is not due to release until this autumn alongside the next iPhones, Apple used its mostly-annual developers conference to give customers a sneak peek at all the new features included in iOS 11. There are updates to Apple Maps, the Control Center, Siri, Apple Pay, Music, and more. Here’s everything we know about iOS 11 so far.

• Apple WWDC 2017: All the announcements that matter

What is iOS 11?

Apple’s mobile operating system for iPhone and iPad is called iOS, and iOS 11 is the next major update to iOS. It will bring a host of new features and improvements. Like all other software updates from Apple, iOS 11 will be free to download and use.

When will iOS 11 be available?

Developers can get their hands on iOS 11 now, but the final consumer version is still months away from release. Expect it to launch this autumn, maybe even around September. It usually rolls out after Apple demos the software on its next iPhones.

What’s new in iOS 11?

Siri

Siri has a new look in which your results will appear more like Google’s “cards”. Siri also has a male voice and some new voice tones for its female version. Other new features include suggestions for follow-up questions you can tap on, multiple results for a search topic, the ability to translate languages (English to Chinese, French, German, Italian, Spanish), and more.

Siri will attempt to learn what you’re interested in, or need, based on your location, or information you’ve already asked for, and it’ll suggest topics you’ll want to know based on what you’re doing, like a news item. It can respond to a message with your location or make a calendar appointment based on a reservation you booked, for instance.

iMessage

Apple

When you sync to another new device, such as an iPhone, iCloud will automatically sync all your conversations. So, if you delete a message on the iPhone, it’ll delete on your laptop and iPad, etc. iMessages also has an app drawer now, which will make it easier to find stickers and more. You can also now use Apple Pay, with TouchID authentication, so you can quickly send payments via iMessage.

Control Center

Control Center ditched the three-pane layout and is now a single panel so you can to get sliders and toggles right away, and it incorporates 3D Touch so you can access more specific, granule controls with a long press on the screen.

Notification Center

Apple also made the lock screen and notification center into one, meaning the lock screen will be able to show all your notifications. All you have to do is scroll up from the lock screen to see your notifications. You can still swipe left and right to get to widgets. This move should feel more convenient, as it give you the ability to quickly glance at alerts.

Music

Apple

Apple Music will let you play music in multiple rooms through different speakers, thanks to the new AirPlay 2 protocol. Multiroom audio will also work with third-party apps. You will be able to make and share public playlists with your friends, too, in the form of Shared Up Next playlists. Oh, and third-party apps, like Shazam, can automatically add songs it identifies to your collection.

Maps

Maps is adding 3D maps that help you navigate around indoors. You’ll see detailed airport and mall floor plans, for instance, but only in major cities at first. And when on the road, you’ll be able to watch your speed, because speed limits are coming to Maps, along with guidance to tell you which lane you’ll need to change into next. Apple has also introduced a one-handed zoom option.

AR

Apple

When you look at your iOS device screen, you’ll be able to interact with virtual items overlaid in your real world. In other words, you’ll be able to place items like a cup on your table. Apple is launching the developer platform ARKit, which will allow them to take advantage of an iPhone or iPad’s camera, sensors, gyroscopes, and other hardware in order to offer AR experiences.

Camera

Apple said video and images will take up less storage space now due to new compression technology, while low-light portraits will take advantage of optical image stabilisation and HDR. You can also loop a live photo to make a movie, or edit and trim it or save a still frame from a Live Photo. There’s also a new long exposure effect. And finally, videos in “Memories” will now play in Portrait mode.

CarPlay

Apple

You’ll now get an option to turn on Do Not Disturb while in Driving mode. It’ll mute notifications, and there’s an auto-response function you can use. The feature automatically detects when you’re in a moving vehicle, locks down your phone, and serves up a blank screen.

App Store

The App Store has a cleaner, simpler look on phone with separate Music app-style tabs separating content. There is an all-new Today tab, which shows new games and apps recommended for that day only. You can also see other days’ content just by scrolling down. There are also new tabs for Games. It will showcase a selection of the latest games and present gameplay videos and tips.

It will also list popular games and in-app purchases. Apps also gets its own tab. Every app and every game gets a new product page on the store with all new features and a friendly design. The idea here is that the redesigned App Store should make it easier to find new apps. But we won’t know for sure until we’ve had time to test it out.

iPad

Apple

There are iOS 11-specific features just for the iPad. The new app dock has space for more apps, and you can open them by pulling them up from the dock. A new App Switcher supports drag and drop for text, images, multi-select, etc. And a new Files app will house all files and folders to help you find everything on your iPad. Apple also added deeper support for Apple Pencil so you can mark-up anything.The Notes app supports in-line drawings, search, and handwriting recognition with Apple Pencil, for instance. And lastly, a new QuickType functionality allows punctuation, alternate characters, and numbers to be accessed from one keyboard by simply via small gestures on a key. You can basically flick keys to access these other characters without having to switch views.

What’s on TV: ‘Orange is the New Black,’ ‘Orphan Black’ and ‘Dark Matter’

This week the NHL and NBA Finals continue (and, in at least one case could come to an end), but that’s not the only thing on TV. Netflix is ready to officially release season five of Orange is the New Black, BBC America is beginning the final season of Orphan Black and Syfy has a new season Dark Matter. Ex Machina is back with an Ultra HD Blu-ray release, while gamers can check out the latest episode of Telltale’s Guardians of the Galaxy series, a new WipEout release on PS4, and DiRT 4. Look after the break to check out each day’s highlights, including trailers and let us know what you think (or what we missed).

Blu-ray & Games & Streaming

• Ex Machina (4K)
• Dredd (4K)
• Beauty and the Beast
• Juice (25th Anniversary Edition)
• Despicable Me (4K)
• Despicable Me 2 (4K)
• A Cure for Wellness
• The Last Word
• Fahrenheit 451
• Bambi
• A Cure for Wellness
• Major Payne
• Ugetsu (Criterion)
• Akira (Steelbook)
• The Elder Scrolls Online: Morrowind (Xbox One, PS4, PC)
• Neighborhorde (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
• Superbeat: Xonic (PS4, Xbox One)
• Randall (PS4, PC)
• Perception (PS4, Xbox One)
• The Town of Light (Xbox One, PS4)
• WipEout Omega Collection (PS4)
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series Episode 2 (PS4, Xbox One)
• DiRT 4 (PS4, Xbox One, PC)
• Conarium (PC)
• Refunct (Xbox One)
• Dark Rose Valkyrie (PS4)
• Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III (PC)
• Kholat (Xbox One, PS4)

Monday

• Gotham (season finale), Fox, 8PM
• If You’re Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast, Fox, 8PM
• Shadowhunters (summer premiere), Freeform, 8PM
• NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 4: Penguins vs. Nashville, NBC, 8PM
• Women Who Kill, A&E, 9PM
• Stitchers (season premiere), Freeform, 9PM
• Whose Line is it Anyway?, CW, 9PM
• The Twins, Freeform, 9PM
• #Murder (series premiere), TV One, 10PM
• Better Call Saul, AMC, 10PM
• Still Star-Crossed, ABC, 10PM
• American Dad, TBS, 10PM
• The Therapist, Viceland, 11PM
• Angie Tribeca, TBS, 10:30PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Tuesday

• Casual, Hulu, 3AM
• America’s Got Talent, NBC, 8PM
• Downward Dog, ABC, 8PM
• Pretty Little Liars, Freeform, 8PM
• The Manns (season finale), TV One, 8PM
• WWE Smackdown, USA, 8PM
• The Challenge, MTV, 8PM
• Animal Kingdom, TNT, 9PM
• The Challenge: Champs vs. Pros, MTV, 9PM
• Famous in Love, Freeform, 9PM
• Deadliest Catch, Discovery, 9PM
• iZombie, CW, 9PM
• Switched at Birth, Freeform, 9PM
• Face Off, Syfy, 9PM
• Tosh.0 (summer premiere), Comedy Central, 10PM
• Wold of Dance, NBC, 10PM
• Team Ninja Warrior, USA, 10PM
• Truth & Iliza (season finale), Freeform, 10PM
• The Jim Jefferies Show (series premiere), Comedy Central, 11PM

Wednesday

• The Handmaid’s Tale, Hulu, 3AM
• Catfish: Untold Stories, MTV, 8PM
• Dirty Dancing, ABC, 8PM
• Kingdom, DirecTV Audience, 8PM
• Catfish, MTV, 8PM
• 2017 NBA Finals Game 3: Warriors vs. Cavaliers, ABC, 9PM
• The Carmichael Show, NBC, 9PM
• Big Star Little Star, USA, 9PM
• The F Word with Gordon Ramsey, Fox, 9PM
• Are You the One: All Star Challenge, MTV, 9PM
• The Magicians, Syfy, 9PM
• Major Crimes, TNT, 9PM
• Fargo, FX, 10PM
• The Ultimate Fighter, FS1, 10PM
• I Am Heath Ledger, Spike TV, 10PM
• Nobodies, TV Land, 10PM
• Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, TBS, 10:30PM
• Bong Appetit, Viceland, 10:30PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Thursday

• NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 5: Penguins vs. Predators (if necessary), NBC, 8PM
• Beat Shazam Fox, 8PM
• Love Connection, Fox, 9PM
• King of the Road (season premiere), Viceland, 9PM
• Queen of the South (season premiere), USA, 10PM
• Party Legends (season premiere), Viceland, 10PM
• American Boyband (series premiere), Viceland, 10:30PM
• Impractical Jokers, TruTV, 11PM
• Desus & Mero, Viceland, 11PM

Friday

• Le Mans: Racing is Everything (S1), Amazon Prime, 3AM
• Shimmer Lake, Netflix, 3AM
• My Only Love Song (S1), Netflix, 3AM
• An American Girl Story: Summer Camp, Friends for Life, Amazon Prime, 3AM
• Orange is the New Black (S5), Netflix, 3AM
• Vice, HBO, 7:30PM
• Dark Matter (S3), Syfy, 8PM
• The Originals, CW, 8PM
• 2017 NBA Finals Game 4: Warriors vs. Cavaliers, Game 4, ABC, 9PM
• Motherboard, Viceland, 9PM
• Reign, CW, 9PM
• Becoming Cary Grant, Showtime, 9PM
• Wynonna Earp (season premiere), Syfy, 10PM
• Tanked, Animal Planet, 10PM
• Earthworks, Viceland, 11PM

Saturday

• The Wrong Neighbor, Lifetime, 8PM
• Idiotsitter (season premiere), Comedy Central, 8PM
• In an Instant, ABC, 9PM
• Doctor Who, BBC America, 9PM
• The Son (season finale), AMC, 9PM
• Orphan Black (season premiere), BBC America, 10PM

Sunday

• 71st Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 8PM
• NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 6: Predators vs. Penguins, NBC, 8PM
• Menendez: Blood Brothers, Lifetime, 8PM
• Sunday Night Baseball, ESPN, 8PM
• NCIS: Los Angeles, CBS, 8PM
• Bob’s Burgers, Fox, 8:30PM
• Claws (series premiere), TNT, 9PM
• American Grit (season premiere), Fox, 9PM
• Fear the Walking Dead, AMC, 9PM
• Steve Harvey’s Funderdome (series premiere), ABC, 9PM
• American Gods, Starz, 9PM
• Twin Peaks, Showtime, 9PM
• Jordan Klepper Solves Guns, Comedy Central, 10PM
• Naked & Afraid XL, Discovery, 10PM
• Unsung, TV One, 10PM
• Silicon Valley, HBO, 10PM
• United Shades of America, CNN, 10PM
• Veep, HBO, 10:30PM
• Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, HBO, 11PM

Steam brings virtual reality to macOS

Mac platforms have been too underpowered for virtual reality, requiring Apple diehards to bootstrap Windows for a ramshackle VR solution. But today at its annual WWDC conference, Apple announced an in-house solution: A Thunderbolt 3 GPU enclosure powered by AMD Radeon processors and a software seed in the new version of macOS. Combined, they finally make Macs VR-friendly. Wasting no time, Steam immediately launched a macOS version of its SteamVR platform, which anyone can access now while it’s in beta.

As the blog post notes, SteamVR on Mac gives the same room-scale tracking as the existing Windows and Linux variants. The beta is open to anyone and can be toggled on within the service’s Properties menu, though it requires macOS’s Metal graphics support in versions above 10.11.6 and only works with HTC Vive.

Source: Steam