Weekly Rewind: Apple’s Siri speaker, solar startups, Charlize Theron’s ‘Atomic Blonde’
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from what to expect from WWDC to a Tesla-inspired pet carrier — it’s all here.
Apple’s ‘Siri speaker’ may debut as early as next week
It seems as if we’re just a few days away from Apple unveiling a Siri-enabled speaker similar to Amazon’s range of Echo devices and Google’s Home offering.
The Cupertino company has started manufacturing the device, “people familiar with the matter” told Bloomberg this week, and it could be shown off during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference which kicks off in San Jose, California, on June 5.
However, anyone keen to get their hands on the Siri-controlled smart speaker may have to exercise some patience, as the sources said it won’t be ready to ship until “later in the year.”
Read the full story here.
First clip from Charlize Theron’s ‘Atomic Blonde’ is as brutal as it is beautiful
The first trailer for Charlize Theron’s upcoming film Atomic Blonde did not skimp on the action, so it’s no surprise that the first full clip from the July movie is one long, frantic, and impressively brutal fight sequence.
But if that’s the sort of scene you can appreciate, the clip really is a fantastic thing to behold.
Directed by John Wick co-director David Leitch (who’s also helming the upcoming Deadpool sequel), Atomic Blonde casts Academy Award winner Theron as a secret agent who will use anything at her disposal to complete a mission. The film’s script was penned by Kurt Johnstad (300, Act of Valor), and is based on the graphic novel The Coldest City, created by writer Antony Johnston and illustrator Sam Hart.
Read the full story here.
This Tesla-inspired pet carrier lets your cat seethe in style
Pet carriers are usually more functional than fashionable, but Waul Studio wants to change that. Inspired by a Devon Rex cat named Marvin who looks like a “little alien,” the team decided to make an ergonomic pet carrier that suited him. Waul Studio debuted a carrier that resembles a spaceship on Kickstarter in May, and the campaign quickly exceeded its initial goal.
The futuristic product doesn’t just look unique — it is designed to be more comfortable for both the pet that rides in it and the person who carries it. One of the upgrades animals will appreciate is an interior space that is designed to keep them entertained. Not only can they see outside the clear door, but there is also a built-in toy at the front of the carrier. A swirl-patterned ball in a track, the toy is meant to attract the animal’s attention and maintain it.
Read the full story here.
Amazon’s new retail bookstores have all of the books, but none of the charm
Large book chains like Barnes & Noble have been shutting down bookstores for a decade now, which makes it a peculiar day when a new bookstore opens up in the heart of New York City. Even odder, it’s a physical store from Amazon, the online retailer whose Kindle ebook reader is a prime culprit in bookstore declines in the first place. But Amazon is always up to the task of transforming traditional experiences into opportunities that require you to use technology.
Opening a physical bookstore may seem strange in 2017, but it’s no different than the release of Dash buttons or the opening of Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh food outlets. Amazon isn’t just on the web these days, it’s everywhere. Sadly, it has yet to learn what makes a bookstore great.
Walking into NYC’s first Amazon Books location — the seventh bookstore it has opened nationwide — the 4,000 square foot space is packed with books, but barely feels like a bookstore. Sure, there are rows of books separated by genre, from Young Adult novels to cookbooks; and the space looks big, carrying thousands of titles, but it feels as packed as a train car during rush hour. The maze of bookshelves and extremely tiny seating area leaves no room to hide and zone out with a stack of comics or relax and absorb yourself in the prologue of a new novel.
Read the full story here.
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 numerous 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.
Read the full story here.
Audi snags the first automated vehicle testing license in New York
Fresh off its announcement at CES 2017 of a self-driving car by 2020, Audi said Wednesday that New York state had approved its application to test autonomous vehicles. The license is for Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) Level 3 vehicles, which is reserved for cars capable of automated driving at highway speeds if certain conditions are met.
To satisfy New York state regulations, two trained engineers will be in the car at all times, one in the driver’s seat and another in the back. These engineers will monitor the system and ensure the car is operating safely. So far, the company says the company has logged “thousands of miles” in its concept cars without an incident.
Audi is the first automobile manufacturer to win a license to operate autonomous cars in the state, less than a month after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state would begin accepting applications. The test period runs through April 1, 2018, but comes with some fairly onerous stipulations to participate.
Read the full story here.
Switzerland’s new ‘air-scrubbing’ plant sucks CO2 out of the atmosphere
A company in Switzerland recently unveiled the world’s first commercial so-called “air-scrubbing” plant designed to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide. At the 2015 Paris climate conference, 195 countries adopted the legally binding global climate deal aimed at limiting the rise in temperature to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit and air-scrubbing technologies are pivotal to this overall objective.
The first of its kind direct air capture (DAC) unit utilizes 18 Climeworks carbon dioxide collectors on top of a waste utilization plant, KEZO, to filter CO2 from the atmosphere. This concentrated CO2 is then supplied to a greenhouse — located just a quarter mile down the road — where it is used as fertilizer to grow tomatoes and cucumbers. The DAC itself is powered by low-grade waste heat generated by the KEZO complex.
Read the full story here.
Google uses ‘Wonder Woman’ to inspire next generation of female programmers
A recent study co-published by Google and Gallup states that just 48 percent of girls between seventh and 12th grade are “very confident” they could learn computer science, compared to 65 percent of boys.
Clearly there’s an imbalance that has pervaded the field. And although tech companies have made strides in terms of representation, there’s still much work ahead. Even Google, it must be said, has come under fire in recent years for failing to do enough to fix the lack of diversity within its walls — especially where equal pay is concerned. And that brings us to this week.
On Friday, Wonder Woman hits theaters, and Google is using the opportunity to take action.
Read the full story here.
Dragonflies are being genetically engineered into cybernetic drones
Cybernetic insects may sound like something out of dystopian fiction, but they’re being developed in labs around the world. And their uses may be more beneficial than you’d expect. Some researchers have proposed remote-controlled insects for surveillance, while others think they can help sniff out explosives and aid in search and rescue missions.
Up until now, these insects have mainly been controlled by firing electrical impulses through electrodes plugged into the little invertebrate — a technique that’s been effective but clunky and energy hungry.
Now engineers at Draper and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) at Janelia Farm have begun work on DragonflEye, a project to develop a more sophisticated technique that may usher in an evolution for cybernetic insects.
Read the full story here.
Startup’s solar roof is cheaper, more efficient, and easier to install than Tesla’s solar tiles
The solar roofing competition is heating up, and one company in particular is looking to challenge Tesla head-on. Californian upstart Forward Labs has its own solar roof design, and not only is it cheaper than Tesla’s, but it allegedly installs in half the time as well.
Technologically speaking, Forward Labs’s solar roof is slightly different than Tesla’s. The startup’s innovative design uses monocrystalline solar cells, which have a higher energy density than most other solar products. As such, these solar cells can achieve 19 watts per square foot compared to 11W per square foot for other solar cells.
Aesthetically, the overall design of the Forward Labs roof is notably different from Tesla’s as well. The Tesla roof is designed to mimic the classic rooftop shingle model, with each solar shingle made from three basic layers: a solar cell, a masking film, and a top layer of tempered glass. Conversely, Forward Labs’s design uses a single, fully-integrated standing-seam metal design with a similar tempered glass top layer.
Read the full story here.
Weekly Rewind: Apple’s Siri speaker, solar startups, Charlize Theron’s ‘Atomic Blonde’
A lot can happen in a week when it comes to tech. The constant onslaught of news makes it nigh impossible for mere mortals with real lives to keep track of everything. That’s why we’ve compiled a quick and dirty list of this week’s top 10 tech stories, from what to expect from WWDC to a Tesla-inspired pet carrier — it’s all here.
Apple’s ‘Siri speaker’ may debut as early as next week
It seems as if we’re just a few days away from Apple unveiling a Siri-enabled speaker similar to Amazon’s range of Echo devices and Google’s Home offering.
The Cupertino company has started manufacturing the device, “people familiar with the matter” told Bloomberg this week, and it could be shown off during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference which kicks off in San Jose, California, on June 5.
However, anyone keen to get their hands on the Siri-controlled smart speaker may have to exercise some patience, as the sources said it won’t be ready to ship until “later in the year.”
Read the full story here.
First clip from Charlize Theron’s ‘Atomic Blonde’ is as brutal as it is beautiful
The first trailer for Charlize Theron’s upcoming film Atomic Blonde did not skimp on the action, so it’s no surprise that the first full clip from the July movie is one long, frantic, and impressively brutal fight sequence.
But if that’s the sort of scene you can appreciate, the clip really is a fantastic thing to behold.
Directed by John Wick co-director David Leitch (who’s also helming the upcoming Deadpool sequel), Atomic Blonde casts Academy Award winner Theron as a secret agent who will use anything at her disposal to complete a mission. The film’s script was penned by Kurt Johnstad (300, Act of Valor), and is based on the graphic novel The Coldest City, created by writer Antony Johnston and illustrator Sam Hart.
Read the full story here.
This Tesla-inspired pet carrier lets your cat seethe in style
Pet carriers are usually more functional than fashionable, but Waul Studio wants to change that. Inspired by a Devon Rex cat named Marvin who looks like a “little alien,” the team decided to make an ergonomic pet carrier that suited him. Waul Studio debuted a carrier that resembles a spaceship on Kickstarter in May, and the campaign quickly exceeded its initial goal.
The futuristic product doesn’t just look unique — it is designed to be more comfortable for both the pet that rides in it and the person who carries it. One of the upgrades animals will appreciate is an interior space that is designed to keep them entertained. Not only can they see outside the clear door, but there is also a built-in toy at the front of the carrier. A swirl-patterned ball in a track, the toy is meant to attract the animal’s attention and maintain it.
Read the full story here.
Amazon’s new retail bookstores have all of the books, but none of the charm
Large book chains like Barnes & Noble have been shutting down bookstores for a decade now, which makes it a peculiar day when a new bookstore opens up in the heart of New York City. Even odder, it’s a physical store from Amazon, the online retailer whose Kindle ebook reader is a prime culprit in bookstore declines in the first place. But Amazon is always up to the task of transforming traditional experiences into opportunities that require you to use technology.
Opening a physical bookstore may seem strange in 2017, but it’s no different than the release of Dash buttons or the opening of Amazon Go and Amazon Fresh food outlets. Amazon isn’t just on the web these days, it’s everywhere. Sadly, it has yet to learn what makes a bookstore great.
Walking into NYC’s first Amazon Books location — the seventh bookstore it has opened nationwide — the 4,000 square foot space is packed with books, but barely feels like a bookstore. Sure, there are rows of books separated by genre, from Young Adult novels to cookbooks; and the space looks big, carrying thousands of titles, but it feels as packed as a train car during rush hour. The maze of bookshelves and extremely tiny seating area leaves no room to hide and zone out with a stack of comics or relax and absorb yourself in the prologue of a new novel.
Read the full story here.
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 numerous 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.
Read the full story here.
Audi snags the first automated vehicle testing license in New York
Fresh off its announcement at CES 2017 of a self-driving car by 2020, Audi said Wednesday that New York state had approved its application to test autonomous vehicles. The license is for Society of Automobile Engineers (SAE) Level 3 vehicles, which is reserved for cars capable of automated driving at highway speeds if certain conditions are met.
To satisfy New York state regulations, two trained engineers will be in the car at all times, one in the driver’s seat and another in the back. These engineers will monitor the system and ensure the car is operating safely. So far, the company says the company has logged “thousands of miles” in its concept cars without an incident.
Audi is the first automobile manufacturer to win a license to operate autonomous cars in the state, less than a month after Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the state would begin accepting applications. The test period runs through April 1, 2018, but comes with some fairly onerous stipulations to participate.
Read the full story here.
Switzerland’s new ‘air-scrubbing’ plant sucks CO2 out of the atmosphere
A company in Switzerland recently unveiled the world’s first commercial so-called “air-scrubbing” plant designed to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide. At the 2015 Paris climate conference, 195 countries adopted the legally binding global climate deal aimed at limiting the rise in temperature to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit and air-scrubbing technologies are pivotal to this overall objective.
The first of its kind direct air capture (DAC) unit utilizes 18 Climeworks carbon dioxide collectors on top of a waste utilization plant, KEZO, to filter CO2 from the atmosphere. This concentrated CO2 is then supplied to a greenhouse — located just a quarter mile down the road — where it is used as fertilizer to grow tomatoes and cucumbers. The DAC itself is powered by low-grade waste heat generated by the KEZO complex.
Read the full story here.
Google uses ‘Wonder Woman’ to inspire next generation of female programmers
A recent study co-published by Google and Gallup states that just 48 percent of girls between seventh and 12th grade are “very confident” they could learn computer science, compared to 65 percent of boys.
Clearly there’s an imbalance that has pervaded the field. And although tech companies have made strides in terms of representation, there’s still much work ahead. Even Google, it must be said, has come under fire in recent years for failing to do enough to fix the lack of diversity within its walls — especially where equal pay is concerned. And that brings us to this week.
On Friday, Wonder Woman hits theaters, and Google is using the opportunity to take action.
Read the full story here.
Dragonflies are being genetically engineered into cybernetic drones
Cybernetic insects may sound like something out of dystopian fiction, but they’re being developed in labs around the world. And their uses may be more beneficial than you’d expect. Some researchers have proposed remote-controlled insects for surveillance, while others think they can help sniff out explosives and aid in search and rescue missions.
Up until now, these insects have mainly been controlled by firing electrical impulses through electrodes plugged into the little invertebrate — a technique that’s been effective but clunky and energy hungry.
Now engineers at Draper and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) at Janelia Farm have begun work on DragonflEye, a project to develop a more sophisticated technique that may usher in an evolution for cybernetic insects.
Read the full story here.
Startup’s solar roof is cheaper, more efficient, and easier to install than Tesla’s solar tiles
The solar roofing competition is heating up, and one company in particular is looking to challenge Tesla head-on. Californian upstart Forward Labs has its own solar roof design, and not only is it cheaper than Tesla’s, but it allegedly installs in half the time as well.
Technologically speaking, Forward Labs’s solar roof is slightly different than Tesla’s. The startup’s innovative design uses monocrystalline solar cells, which have a higher energy density than most other solar products. As such, these solar cells can achieve 19 watts per square foot compared to 11W per square foot for other solar cells.
Aesthetically, the overall design of the Forward Labs roof is notably different from Tesla’s as well. The Tesla roof is designed to mimic the classic rooftop shingle model, with each solar shingle made from three basic layers: a solar cell, a masking film, and a top layer of tempered glass. Conversely, Forward Labs’s design uses a single, fully-integrated standing-seam metal design with a similar tempered glass top layer.
Read the full story here.
Built-in conveyor belt lets BlackBelt 3D printer create objects longer than itself
Why it matters to you
One of the limitations of many 3D printers is an inability to print objects longer than themselves. The BlackBelt 3D Printer uses a built-in conveyer belt to solve that problem.
There are no guarantees on Kickstarter, but when a project comes along that blows through its fundraising target in just 15 minutes, you can at least be assured that it’s stirring up some serious interest.
That’s the case for the so-called BlackBelt 3D Printer, which set out to raise 50,000 euros (around $56,000), and managed to surpass that goal in just a quarter of an hour. The reason for the excitement surrounding it is that the BlackBelt promises users the opportunity to print pieces much longer than itself, thereby allowing makers to take their additive manufacturing fabrication to the next level.
That’s because it incorporates a high-precision conveyor belt as a print platform, which moves horizontally with every new layer that’s printed. The conveyor also means it’s possible to create queues of items, since each one can be shifted off the printing platform after it’s finished. It’s a brilliantly simple idea (at least in conception), but one that makes it possible to create pieces that — for reasons of either volume, dimensions, or both — would otherwise prove extremely challenging.
“We have designed a new type of 3D printer that has some advantages over the existing technology,” creator Stephan Schürmann told Digital Trends. “This machine allows extraordinary, long workpieces, series production, and special geometries without additional support material.”
With its use cases, footprint, stainless steel exterior, and price, everything about the BlackBelt screams “industrial 3D printer,” as opposed to one you’ll want to get for playing around with at home. Still, if you’re looking to kit out your maker space with an innovative new piece of kit, this may well be the one you’re looking for. It can currently be pre-ordered on Kickstarter, where it’ll set you back upwards of 6,500 euros ($7,300), plus shipping. It’ll be winging its way to customers this October.
You can check out more of the technical details about print volume and the like on the printer’s Kickstarter page.
Mindmaze’s system for VR is still learning about how you smile and frown
Why it matters to you
Virtual reality headsets may be enhanced with facial-tracking capabilities late this year to make your experiences more personal.
While Bebop Sensors is serving up gloves to virtual and augmented reality headset makers that track hands and fingers, Mindmaze is working on technology to correctly track facial expressions. Simply called Mask, it sits between the user’s face and the virtual reality headset and will be compatible with the HTC Vive, the Oculus Rift, and Samsung’s Gear VR headsets when it possibly launches at the end of 2017.
Mask is comprised of eight, low-cost electrodes mounted within the foam padding of a VR headset. These electrodes detect the electrical impulses of the face, analyzes them via advanced machine learning, and replicates the facial movements on a virtual avatar. This tech supposedly detects expressions 20 to 30 milliseconds before they even physically appear on your face.
However, Mindmaze will not sell Mask directly to users. Instead, it will be sold to headset makers to implement into their own retail kits. Because Mask is a very low-cost solution, the cost of VR headset kits will not see a dramatic price increase. The big cost on Mindmaze’s part was creating software that could understand the data generated by those eight electrodes.
According to Mindmaze CEO Tej Tadi, a computer receiving the eight streams of data registers the rise and fall of each signal like an EKG. Thus, MindMaze had to utilize its neurotech expertise to create an algorithm — a set of rules for calculating a problem or situation — to read the data and pull information to form a set of facial expressions.
“When I strapped on the headset to try Mask for myself, even without any calibration, a range of canned expressions that I made were quickly reflected on the face of an avatar that represented me in the virtual world,” reports Ben Lang from Road to VR. “When I smiled, it smiled. When I frowned, it frowned. It was easily the best calibration-free tech that I’ve seen of this sort.”
That is good news coming from a hands-on experience with a prototype. Lang said this model only supported 10 different facial expressions. On top of that, facial movements were sterile, meaning Mask did not render all the small little facial details that make your expressions unique. Eventually, the team will add more facial expressions along with low-key eye tracking to express basic eye movements.
That said, Mask is still in the prototype stage. The model Lang tested tended to render facial expressions incorrectly and had trouble picking up normal blinking. But that is where machine learning comes in: The algorithm will get smarter over time, making for a more “robust” experience as it understands the facial movements of each user.
While all of this sounds like a lot of computing power, Tadi said that the workload is low enough for the system to run on smartphone-based VR headsets. That is due to the electrode/algorithm combo, which is a stark contrast to the camera-based facial tracking approach on PC.
So when will Mask be ready? There is a good chance it will be integrated into VR headsets by the 2017 holiday season or shortly thereafter.
HP Spectre x360 (2017) preview: 15-incher with supermodel looks
While perusing the Microsoft stand at this year’s Computex, we spotted and unmarked HP Spectre 360x 15-inch.
This is an updated version of 2016’s model, and we suspected that there were going to be some worthwhile improvements. We decided to take a closer look: This is a seriously good-looking convertible device. It’s slim at 17.8 mm and weighs an acceptable 1.47kg. The gold trim is a nice touch. Sleek and well-thought out design details draw the eye, and it pulls off an overall air of sophistication.
The membrane keyboard is spaced very well, and the mouspad is trimmed with gold. We couldn’t really test them much, but the brief moments we had were fully satisfactory. The speakers to either side of the keyboard complete a very visually pleasing deck. The 15 inch-screen is 4K touchscreen and it is running on seventh gen Core i7 (U series). The unit on display had 16GB of Ram and 512GD SSD.
- MSI GS36VR Stealth Pro preview: Taking gaming laptops to the Max-Q
- Computex 2017: All the announcements that matter
- Best of Computex 2017: The top 5 tech products on show
It also had Nvidia 940 MX. Although it is a convertible, we were a bit limited in how much we could play around with the unit, as technically, it was there to showcase some Microsoft software. However, we noted the 360 degree hinges and the movement was fluid on opening and closing. The Spectre has 10-touch pen support, a full SDcard slot — marking it out for creatives.
It also had two USB 3.1 Type-C (one is Thunderbolt enabled apparently), USB 3, and an HDMI port. There’s an audio jack too of course. Although we couldn’t play around with it too much, we did manage to get the floor staff to stop the demo quickly to try out the Bang and Ouflsen audio. The sound that emerged was extremely full and impressive even on a crowded showfloor.
All in all the Spectre 360x struck us a capable and attractive device.
MSI GT83VR Titan preview: Gaming monster with a roar
Computex has very much been about the onslaught of super-slim gaming machines due to the launch of Nvidia’s Max-Q architecture.
However, we spotted a beauty in the desktop replacement category from MSI. The first thing that grabbed our attention was mechanical keyboard, a first in this category. It boasts a switch by Cherry MX Speed Silver, too, and is the Steel Series Engine 3 keyboard.
The top-of-the-range version comes with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1080 8 GB GDDR5X SLI (two GPUs running together) and 7th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU. There’s a 2.5 HDD and up to Super Raid 4 (2x NVMe M.2 SSDs by PCIe Gen3 X4 in Raido). It also boasts 64GB DDR4 of memory (4x16GB). The raid allows for speeds of up to 3,300Mbps.
You need some serious cooling tech to keep the thermals under control with these specs and in this case the Titan uses MSI’s proprietary Cooler Boost Titan Technology system, which employs whirlwind blades for 30-per cent increased air pressure on two of the three fans, dual thermal modules for the GPU and CPU and 15 heatpipes.
- MSI GS36VR Stealth Pro preview: Taking gaming laptops to the Max-Q
- Computex 2017: All the announcements that matter
- Best of Computex 2017: The top 5 tech products on show
The Titan also has a 18.4 inch FHD IPS-level display and 2-megapixel front-facing camera. There are connections for three external 4k UHD displays for a fully immersive gaming experience as well. All of this comes with a fairly impressive weight of 5.5kg.
Unsurprisingly, given the beauty of the design and the specs, it garnered a Best Choice Award at Computex this year as well.
Snapchat Spectacles tips and tricks: Get creative with your new specs
Snapchat makes a pair of smart glasses you can use to capture snaps.
These glasses, called Snapchat Spectacles, come with two mini cameras situated on the side of each eyepiece. They can capture small bursts of video, from 10 to 30 seconds, which is then uploaded to the Snapchat Memories section of the iPhone or Android app via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, respectively. They can be purchased online in the US or from a vending machine in London for £129.99.
So, now that it’s a lot easier to get your hands on a pair of Snapchat Spectacles, we’ve decided to round up a selection of tips and tricks to help you get started with the right away. But first, if you want to know more about Snapchat or Spectacles, check out these in-depth guides:
- What’s the point of Snapchat and how does it work?
- Snapchat Spectacles: What are they and how do they work?
Snapchat Spectacles tips and tricks
Pairing Spectacles
You need to pair your Spectacles with your phone. Simply turn on your phone’s Bluetooth, then open the Snapchat app, and go to your Settings (swipe down and then tap the gear icon). From there, scroll down, select Spectacles. Under Pair new device, tap Pair Spectacles. Once paired, can choose the name for your Spectacles or just go with the default name. It’s up to you.
After that, the Snapchat app will display a QR code. Press the record button on your Spectacles and then look at the QR code for it to scan. Once it finds the code, you’ll be all set to begin recording snaps with your new glasses. Your friend can also pair Spectacles with his or her phone and Snapchat account and then they’ll be able to capture their own snaps, separate from yours.
Record snaps
To record a snap, tap the button the top left-hand corner of the glasses. It will automatically stop recording after 10 seconds, but you can tap again to add another 10-second increment (you can record up to 30 seconds at a time). You’ll see a inward-facing light when you’re snapping, while an outward facing-light to show others when you’re recording and they’re in your field of view.
Recording times
Spectacles record 10-second videos by default, but you can cut the recording time short, with a press-and-hold of the button before the time is up. Alternatively, you can record up to 30 seconds by pressing the button to extend the time to 20 and then 30 seconds. You don’t have to wait until the end of the video, though. You can triple-press the button at the start to record a 30-second snap.
Blinking lights
You’ll notice a blinking circle on the glasses when you press record. (It’s a good idea to explain to your friends what it means as a courtesy). You’ll also notice a light on the inside of the Spectacles when you’re recording, too. It starts off solid, but then it blinks when you have two seconds of recording time left. This signal is a warning, giving you the chance to extend the recording.
Snap playback
Snap Spectacles work with Android and iOS devices. If you own an Android phone, you’ll be able to automatically transfer your snaps over Wi-Fi, but if you have an iPhone, they’ll transfer either via a Bluetooth connection or Wi-Fi. Snapchat Spectacles store can roughly 10 videos until you have access to your phone. To play them back, you need the Snapchat app for Android or iOS.
They’ll be uploaded to Memories (swipe up from the main screen in the Snapchat app). Transferring videos to your phone can be weird. They wont always transfer if your phone’s screen is off or if you haven’t opened the app in awhile. To check the status of your videos, go to Memories, and then you’ll see a progress bar surrounding the story (a collection of the day’s snaps).
Sharing snaps
In Memories (swipe up from the main screen), you will see a search button in the corner, followed by a menu bar that consists of several tabs: All (shows all your saved snaps), Snaps (shows your snaps), Stories (shows your stories), Camera Roll (shows your phone’s camera roll), My Eyes Only (shows your locked memories), and Specs (shows snaps taken with your glasses).
Videos taken with Spectacles can be found under the Specs tab inside of Snapchat’s Memories section, where they’re all grouped by day into a single story. To share an individual video in a story, swipe over to the Specs tab and long press the most recent story. From there, select Edit story, then swipe over to the video clip, and tap on the blue arrow icon in the bottom right corner.
You can choose to share it to My Story (public) or directly with a friend (private) by selecting their boxes on the right. It’s also possible to share every video you’ve shot from throughout the day at once. Just long press the Story inside of Memories, then select the blue arrow icon in the middle of the screen, and choose where you want to send the story.
Export
When viewing a video, you’ll see it cropped in either landscape or portrait orientation. Tap on the share button to save it to your Photos app or camera roll. Remember that videos shared outside of Snapchat won’t look or work in the same manner. When watching exported snaps, you’ll notice a new “circular” format that is meant to display your footage the way the human eye sees.
Get HD video
If you have an iPhone, you won’t automatically get HD versions of your snaps. But you can take a couple extra steps to get it: when viewing your recordings in the Snapchat app, tap the Get HD button near the top. When prompted, leave Snapchat and open the Settings app. From there, go to Wi-Fi and tap the Spectacles Wi-Fi network, and then return to the Snapchat app.
For Android users, Snapchat will import HD videos by default.
Charging
You can charge your glasses via its case, which is able to hold somewhere around four full charges. It can be topped off using the included USB cable. The cable attaches to the connector on the outside of the case. To see how much of a charge is left in the case, press the button on the side. An LED indicator will show you the remaining charge represented in dots (four of them).
Battery life
To check the current charge of your glasses, you can either double tap the side and read the LED indicator on the front of the glasses or open the Snapchat app’s Settings menu for an actual percentage.
Settings
Spectacles has its own Settings menu, of course. To access it, open the Snapchat app. From Snapchat’s main screen, swipe down, then tap the Settings icon, and select Spectacles. You will see options to clear stored videos, view battery, change the name, and more.
Reset
If your Spectacles are acting buggy for whatever reason, you can reset them under settings. Open the Snapchat app > swipe down from Snapchat’s main screen > tap the Settings icon > and select Spectacles. You’ll see options to restart and reset.
Manage storage
Spectacles can store about 10 or so videos. If you ever want to clear the internal memory, there is an option inside the Snapchat app. Open Snapchat > swipe down from Snapchat’s main screen > tap the Settings icon > select Spectacles > go to Manage > tap Clear Spectacles Storage.
Update
You can check for a software update on your Spectacles by opening the Snapchat app, then swiping down, and selecting settings (gear icon). From there, tap Spectacles, go to Manage, and select Check for Updates.
Get creative
Keep in mind you don’t have to wear Spectacles. You can record video while holding them in your hand or after you’ve put them on a desk. Get creative with them!
‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Galaxy S8 comes with its own booty chest
Samsung’s Galaxy S8, released in April, was the success the tech titan needed after the Note 7’s spectacular (and flammable) failure. Now safely underway with high sales, the company has included its new smartphone in another time-honored Samsung tradition: Special movie editions. Why buy a boring regular Galaxy S8 when you can get a Pirates of the Caribbean-themed version for $880?
Unfortunately, the actual phone is just a standard Galaxy S8 wtih 4GB RAM/64 GB memory: Unlike the Iron Man and Injustice: Gods Among Us tie-ins of yesteryear, the Pirates edition isn’t stylized at all. The plain black device comes in fancy box with a ring fob and phone case styled for franchise’s latest movie, Dead Men Tell No Tales, which came out last week. To us, that’s a plank-walking offense. If your compass is still set on picking up this scurvy version, it’s available now on the Chinese retailer JD.com.
Via: PhoneArena
Source: Samsung (YouTube)
Gears of War 4′ retools its Horde mode in time for summer
Gears of War 4 dropped last October with more story, kinetic sound and a revamped version of its signature players-vs-AI Horde mode. Microsoft Game Studios has continued to refine the game in the months since to keep multiplayer fresh, from punishing rage-quitters to inexplicable DLC with rap duo Run The Jewels. But new gratis content is on the horizon: On June 6th, players get more goodies, maps and difficulty levels for Horde mode, along with a free trial for players on Xbox One or PC who haven’t yet tried the title out.
The Rise of the Horde DLC introduces 15 new skills (three for each class) and a new cap to level 6, as well as reward drops after every boss. Multiplayer gets two new maps: Avalanche, from Gears of War 2, and Rust Lung from the third game. Both Campaign and Horde Mode get two new difficulties: the harder Inconceivable and Ironman, which grants only a single life.
Those who haven’t touched Gears of War 4 can try the game out from June 9th to the 15th. Players can gun through the campaign’s first act or try out Horde mode or traditional Versus multiplayer for themselves, with progress carrying over if they decide to buy the full game.
Source: Xbox Wire
Apple to Expand Siri to Work With More Types of Third-Party Apps
At its Worldwide Developers Conference next week, Apple is expected to expand Siri’s functionality, allowing the voice assistant built into the iPhone and iPad to work with a wider variety of apps, reports Reuters.
Apple first started allowing third-party apps to interface with Siri with iOS 10, but Siri integration is limited to apps in the following categories: ride booking, messaging, photo search, payments, VoIP calling, and fitness. In iOS 11, that’s expected to expand to additional categories, but it is unclear which categories will be added.
Apple Inc is expected to announce plans next week to make its Siri voice assistant work with a larger variety of apps, as the technology company looks to counter the runaway success of Amazon.com Inc’s competing Alexa service.
But the Cupertino, California company is likely to stick to its tested method of focusing on a small amount of features and trying to perfect them, rather than casting as wide a net as possible, according to engineers and artificial intelligence industry insiders.
Expanded third-party app access to Siri is one of the few tidbits we’ve heard about Apple’s plans for iOS 11, which is also expected to feature new design elements and a revamped Apple Music app. Rumors suggest Apple has been working on significant improvements to Siri, so other Siri features could also be included.
Part of the reason behind bolstering Siri’s capability is likely Apple’s work on a Siri-based smart speaker designed to compete with the Amazon Echo and the Google Home. It’s not yet clear what the speaker will be capable of, and it isn’t included in today’s Reuters report beyond a brief mention, but to be competitive, the speaker will need to interface with third-party apps much like iOS.
Rumors suggest there is a chance Apple plans to introduce the Siri speaker at WWDC to allow developers time to create integrations and features for the device ahead of a fall launch, but whether that will happen remains to be seen.
Apple’s Siri and speaker plans will be unveiled on Monday, June 5 at 10:00 a.m., which is when the WWDC keynote event kicks off.
Related Roundups: WWDC 2017, iOS 11, Siri Smart Speaker
Tag: Siri
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