Researchers create temperature sensor that runs on almost no power

Researchers at UC San Diego have developed a temperature sensor that runs on tiny amounts of power — just 113 picowatts, around 10 billion times less power than a watt. The sensor was described in a study recently published in Scientific Reports. “We’re building systems that have such low power requirements that they could potentially run for years on just a tiny battery,” Hui Wang, an author of the study, said in a statement.

The team created the device by reducing power in two areas. The first was the current source. To do that, they made use of a phenomenon that many researchers in their field are actually trying to get rid of. Transistors often have a gate with which they can stop the flow of electrons in a circuit, but transistors keep getting tinier and tinier. The smaller they get, the thinner the gate material becomes and electrons start to leak through it — a problem called “gate leakage.” Here, the leaked electrons are what’s powering the sensor. “Many researchers are trying to get rid of leakage current, but we are exploiting it to build an ultra-low power current source,” said Hui.

The researchers also reduced power in the way the sensor converts temperature to a digital readout. The result is a temperature sensor that uses 628 times less power than the current state-of-the-art sensors.

The near-zero-power sensor has a temperature range of -4 to 104 degrees fahrenheit and could potentially be used in wearables and both environmental and home monitoring systems. One power tradeoff is that it gives readouts slightly slower than currently used sensors, at around one temperature read per second. But the researchers said that shouldn’t be a problem when giving reads on things like the human body where temperatures don’t change too quickly. They’re now working on optimizing the design and improving its accuracy.

[Image: UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering]

Via: UCSD

Source: Scientific Reports

Volvo’s self-driving cars are thrown off by kangaroos

Volvo, like seemingly every other company, has been working on their autonomous vehicle technology and it has run into an interesting problem. While testing its cars in Australia, the company found that kangaroos were both a nuisance and very confusing to its cars.

The vehicles’ detection system has been exposed to large animals before — it came across moose while being tested in Sweden and it can respond to deer, elk and caribou. But kangaroos move much differently than other animals and their hopping is throwing off the system. “When it’s in the air it actually looks like it’s further away, then it lands and it looks closer,” Volvo Australia’s technical manager David Pickett told the ABC.

Kangaroos cause the vast majority of vehicle collisions with animals in Australia but getting the self-driving cars’ detection system to spot and accurately assess them is just part of the development process. Volvo didn’t expect the animals to prevent them from meeting their production deadline.

Volvo has partnered with a number of companies including NVIDIA and Autoliv as they work on their self-driving technology. It hopes to have its self-driving vehicles available for sale by 2021.

Via: The Guardian

Source: The ABC

Now Postmates’ SF couriers can make eco-friendly deliveries

You’ll need your own vehicle if you want to be a courier for Postmates, but if you’re in San Francisco, you can rent an eco-friendly option from the company itself. The food (and booze) delivery service has started renting out e-bikes to delivery personnel in the city as part of the zero-emission initiative it launched a few months ago in Manhattan, where it has electric scooters on offer. While the program is only live in two locations, Postmates says it could eventually expand to other cities across the US.

Postmates E-Bikes launched in San Francisco. Up to 20mph, 20-40 mile range, two batteries, giant bag. Get yours: https://t.co/RD51Bt0l6Y

— Bastian Lehmann (@Basti) June 30, 2017

San Francisco’s e-bikes can only last 20 to 40 miles on a single charge, a range much shorter compared to Postmates’ scooters in New York, which can run for 60 miles. However, it’s also cheaper: couriers can rent it for $80 a month instead of $120, paid via the money they make through the service. Besides, each e-bike comes with an extra battery and a bag they can use to hold deliveries.

By offering e-bikes for rent, the company is hoping not just to be kinder to the environment but also to boost its network’s earning potential. It would eliminate the need for gas, after all. And since it can go faster than a regular bike, couriers could take more orders and earn more money within the same amount of time.

Source: Postmates

Best camera accessories for iPhone and Android

Smartphone camera accessories, in general, are in the throes of a turbulent adolescence. The selfie stick seems to be telling the story of a larger trend with smartphone accessories: Some are made for some bizarre purpose that seems unapologetically bizarre, while others are actually so useful that you should consider adding to your bag of tricks. As smartphones now dominate casual photography, expect the number of accessories that users can buy to “enhance” their photo-taking to skyrocket. We’ve assembled a list of some of the unconventional smartphone camera accessories out there — from the ridiculous to the brilliant.

HTC RE Camera ($44)

Why use a periscope-esque device to shoot mobile photos? For starters, it’ll totally go with your Captain Nemo beanie. The HTC Re is waterproof up to 10 feet (30 feet with included rubber case) and enables quicker snapshots. The Re captures 16-megapixel images or 1080p videos with the touch of its one button. The Re camera hasn’t been updated for a while, and we doubt HTC will be making any more.

Read our full HTC RE review

Buy now from:

Amazon

Chest Mount for iPhone ($48)

The action camera is pretty much the domain of GoPro, but that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck if you want to use your iPhone to achieve the same POV function. Film your epic lines with this iPhone chest mount from HitCase, which frees your hands from having to hold the phone so that, you know, you can concentrate on not wiping out.

Buy now from:

Amazon

iOgrapher Filmmaking Case ($50-60)

Steady your iPhone footage with the iOgrapher case made from polycarbonate. It has mounts-galore to attach lighting and audio gear. We think it looks a little like a childproof tablet case or your 7th grade soccer trophy. But it’s far more practical and less expensive than other, iPhone camera accessories. It also has a port to attach your iPhone to any standard tripod and has a enough space to attach a converter lens from iOgrapher.

Buy now from:

Amazon iOgrapher

Cliquefie ($50)

The Cliquefie is an attempt at perfecting the selfie stick – and it may have succeeded. Described as “chic, lightweight, and ultra-portable,” Cliquefie’s makers seem to be targeting the female demographic (never mind that a photo of the Cliquefie in a pink purse resembles a feminine hygiene product). But compared to bulky selfie sticks you buy at the drugstore, the Cliquefie is stylish. But there are other ingenious features: It has a detachable Bluetooth remote, an inconspicuous phone mount, and a retractable tripod! A Mini version ($30) is available for smaller bags, like said purse, but lacks the removable remote. We still think selfie sticks are annoying for most situations, but at least the Cliquefie can be quickly stashed away when the museum guard steps into the room. It comes in a variety of colors.

Buy now from:

Cliquefie

Megaverse Anti-Gravity iPhone Case ($30)

Like a handful of other products on this list, the Mega Tiny Anti-Gravity Phone Case was brought to life with the help of Kickstarter. As its name suggests, this case lets you mount your phone to almost any surface imaginable using a nano-suction surface on the rear of the case.

Mega Tiny, the company behind the project, claims the case is “perfect for hands-free use and selfies.” Just stick it to a wall, mirror, or a window and you’ll have an extra free hand to throw up whatever sign you’re feeling that day. It’s available for all iPhone 5, 6, 7, and SE generations.

Buy now from:

Amazon Mega Tiny

Shiftcam ($125)

Most third-party lens add-ons won’t work with the iPhone 7 Plus’ dual camera lenses, but the Shiftcam isn’t your everyday camera accessory. This case, currently available through Kickstarter, offers six additional add-on lenses that can be used interchangeably by sliding them in front of the lenses. Sure, the case is a bit bulky and isn’t too aesthetically appealing, but who cares? You have a 6-in-1 camera case to use!

Pre-order now from:

Kickstarter

Phoneography Spy Lens ($20)

If you want to be a little more sly with your next smartphone capture, this 90-degree periscoping lens will be your best friend. It uses a mirror, placed at a 45 degree angle inside the device, to snap photos around the corner. It works great for candid shots, high perspective shots, and low perspective shots. Just don’t get caught using it for anything nefarious!

Buy now from:

Photojojo

Miggo Pictar One ($100-$110)

Smartphones may be our everyday cameras, but let’s face it, they aren’t comfortable to hold and unwieldy to use – at least for photography. The Pictar from Miggo brings familiar camera controls to the iPhone, through a mix of physical controls and a companion app. The neat trick with the Pictar is that it communicates wirelessly with the phone through sound – clicks that are inaudible to the human ear – so it doesn’t need a physical connection, nor does it draw power from the phone (it uses its own battery). The design harks back to old-school film cameras.

Read our full Miggo Pictar review

Buy now from:

Amazon Miggo

Lensbaby Creative Mobile Kit ($100)

Add-on lenses for phones are a dime a dozen. But Lensbaby’s Creative Mobile Kit is anything but ordinary, but that’s to be expected from a company that makes nothing but creative lenses. Whereas most lenses are about clarity, the Creative Mobile Kit is all about putting fun effects on photos. Using it takes some getting used to, but once you figure out what works, you can give basic photos some artistic flair.

Buy now from:

Amazon Lensbaby

This article was updated on July 2, 2017 to include the Megaverse Anti-Gravity Case, Shiftcam, Phoneography Spy Lens, Miggo Pictar, and Lensbaby Creative Mobile Kit.

Pixel party like it’s 1999 with the best screensavers from last millennium

Today, a screensaver may seem like a novelty,  but it once served as a way to prevent “screen burn” in cathode ray tube monitors. While screensavers are no longer necessary for that purpose, the nostalgia element will forever tie the programs into the fabric of a quondam age. In the era of bottomless add-ons and a regular rabbit hole of Easter eggs — we’re looking at you, Google — it’s difficult to conceptualize the rustic days of home computing and the dusty wild wild web. Thankfully, the best screensavers from the ’90s make it a little easier to do so.

Let’s take a trip back to a simpler time, when Chip challenged and Rodents revenged, shall we? Just sit back, relax — perhaps bust out the BonziBuddy for added ambiance — and enjoy some of the most memorable screensavers from yesteryear.

The Maze

It would be preposterous to have a roundup of the best screensavers and not mention perhaps the most recognizable program of them all. The 3D Maze originally came with Windows 95 and 98, and the Doom-esque first-person thriller gave millions of individuals a real hoot. Who needs virtual reality when you can plop down in front of an HP Pavilion and behold this?

You can alter speed and even add some shoddy graphics to go full-on bad batch at Bonnaroo, or even upload images from your media library and have a regular “this is your life” walkabout through a phantasmagoria of low-res images.

Starfield

This spacefarer screensaver was ubiquitous at the turn of the Willenium, because nothing says “warp speed ahead” quite like a dial-up connection. You can watch 10 hours of Starfield here, if you’re so inclined. Note: If you watch long enough you will eventually collide with a portion of a debris field in a galaxy far, far away. Trust us — wait for it.

Flying toasters

After Dark is a series of screensavers released by Berkely Systems, and the early packages included the popular Flying Toasters screensaver. Later variants even came loaded with all sorts of special features, like, you know, bagels.

Johnny Castaway

Johnny Castaway was a staple in many repurposed “computer rooms” of the mid-’90s. The screensaver illustrates a day in the life of Johnny Castaway, who is marooned on a deserted island with only a palm tree to hear his woes. We get to watch ol’ JC  fish, exercise, build sand castles, and enjoy an oddly-formal dinner with a merbae, but is he ever rescued? You’ll just have to buy one of the original, 3.5-inch floppy disks (or download the screensaver) to find out.

MOPy Fish

MOPy Fish was the result of both screensaver fever and the short-lived digital pet craze of the late-’90s. With our lanyards and keychains already loaded with digital pets in varying degrees of neglect and malnourishment, we needed yet another for our desktop machines. Behold MOPy fish, a blood parrot cichlid that individuals could feed and cherish — or not.

Ocean floor

As it turns out, this screensaver, much like the vast majority of the ocean floor, is relatively void of life. With this digital aquarium, you can experience the same ephemeral, emotional benefits of a pet fish without the cleanup or a constant, electric drone echoing through your lonely apartment.

Lost in space

This gem stands as a true testament to the seemingly boundless joy human beings once experienced at the mere sight of just about anything glinting off of their monitors. Splice in a couple of galaxies, some nebular remnants, add a dollop of two-dimensional goodness to taste and, my friend, you’ve got yourself a regular desktop hit. Time to get Microsoft on the phone.

The Matrix

The 1999 smash hit, The Matrix, inspired this cryptic “digital rain” screensaver. Remember, the Matrix is a system and that system is our enemy, and that system may or may not run on Windows Millennium. Here’s hoping those potential Matrix spinoffs actually get off the ground.

Google Pixel vs. Apple iPhone 7: Can the Google phone take down its enemy?

Look out Apple, Samsung, and just about every other smartphone maker out there, because Google’s coming for you with the Pixel smartphones. There are two, the Pixel and Pixel XL, and they run the very latest version of Android, look super, and have some exclusive features to make sure smartphone fans sit up and take notice.

One of Google’s prime directives with the Pixel was to tempt people who may be considering an iPhone away from Apple, and towards Android; but does it succeed? Like the Pixel there are two different iPhone models, the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. They both look great, have many special features, and have made people sit up and take notice ever since the launch.

Inevitably, if you’re about to buy a new phone, these two will be on your list. The Pixel naturally goes up against the iPhone 7, so which one should you buy? Each phone has its own positive and negative points, and we’ve given them a thorough examination to find out which deserves your money.

Google Pixel

iPhone 7

Size
143.8 × 69.5 × 7.3 mm (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 in)
138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm (5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 in)
Weight
5.04 ounces (143 grams)
4.87 ounces (138 grams)
Screen
5-inch AMOLED
4.7-inch Retina HD LED backlit screen
Resolution
1,080 × 1,920 pixels (441 ppi)
1,334 x 750 pixels (326 ppi)
OS
Android 7.1
iOS 10
Storage
32, 128GB
32, 128, 256GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
A 10 Fusion with 64-bit architecture, M10 motion coprocessor
RAM
4GB
2GB
Connectivity
4G LTE, GSM, CDMA, HSPA+, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
4G LTE, GSM, HSPA+, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi
Camera
12.3MP rear, 8MP front
12MP rear, 7MP front
Video
4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30, 60, or 120fps
4K at 30fps, 1080p at 30 or 60fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 4.2
Yes, version 4.2
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Barometer, gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor
Barometer, gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light sensor
Water resistant
Yes, IP53 rated
Yes, IP67 rated
Battery
2,770mAh
1,960mAh
Ports
USB Type-C
Lightning
Marketplace
Google Store
Apple App Store
Color offerings
Blue, silver, black
Black, Jet Black, gold, rose gold, silver
Availability

Verizon, Google Fi

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

Price
$650
$650
DT review
4.5 stars out of 5 stars
 3.5 out of 5 stars

Performance

The Google Pixel has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 inside, which is a small but significant update to the Snapdragon 820, seen in most major flagship phones released during 2016. It has since been superseded in Qualcomm’s line-up by the Snapdragon 835, used in phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S8, and the OnePlus 5. The 64-bit Snapdragon 821 has four cores and has a 10 percent performance bump over the already speedy Snapdragon 820, a 5 percent increase in graphical capabilities, is more energy efficient, and can use Quick Charge 3.0 for even faster battery recharging.

Apple doesn’t use a Snapdragon chip, and instead uses the A10 Fusion chip of its own design. Apparently it’s 40 percent faster than the A9, according to Apple, and it’s the first time the company has used a quad-core chip. Both chips utilize the multiple cores in a similar way, splitting the workload across them to reduce power consumption during easy tasks.

Our benchmark test of the Google Pixel using Geekbench 4 returned a 3,691 multi-core score, while the iPhone 7 score from Geekbench 4 return a multi-core score of 5,600. Discrepancies in benchmark results, especially when comparing two different operating systems, are to be expected; but does this make the Pixel a slowcoach? No, the Pixel is super fast and very smooth, due to impressive software optimization. This makes it interesting, because that’s also the Apple iPhone’s strength. It puts the two on a very even playing field in terms of performance, feel, and usability.

Elsewhere, the Pixel comes with 32GB or 128GB of internal storage, and doesn’t have a MicroSD card slot, sadly. The iPhone 7 adds a 256GB option to the list, so if masses of storage are important to you (and you can stomach the extra cost), the Apple phone has a slight advantage here.

Winner: Draw

Design

This is ultimately going to come down to personal preference, but there are a few things you should keep in mind as you size the two up. The Pixel is made of metal, glass, and plastic. The glass panel on the rear provides the antenna with room to breathe, while the plastic sections recall manufacturer HTC’s Desire range of phones. It’s thin at 7.1mm and light at 143 grams.

For the iPhone 7, Apple has blended in the antenna breaks more than on the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S, decluttering the rear panel, but keeping the camera bump. Google has avoided this by slightly enlarging the body itself. The iPhone 7’s body is made from aluminum, is 7.1mm thick, and a little lighter than the Pixel at 138 grams.

We describe the Pixel as being, “compact,” and comfortable to hold with one hand, while noting how good the two-tone finish looks and feels. However, we add in our review, “The design isn’t stunning, and the metal on the back doesn’t feel as high-end as the metal on the iPhone 7, but the device feels like it’s worth the high price tag, and it has a nice weight to it.” The iPhone 7 is extremely comfortable to hold, with wonderfully curved sides, and corners that nestle in the palm nicely.

Arguably, the Pixel looks a lot like an iPhone, but this doesn’t really bother us — both are great looking phones. Google gives you the choice of a white, black, or limited edition blue Pixel, and it’s the blue that really catches the eye. The iPhone 7’s jet black color was once is the limited edition showoffs should buy; but that has changed with the arrival of its Product (RED) edition, which looks stunning. However, for us it’s the regular matte black that’s the winner, as it neatly conceals the antenna lines for a smooth look.

Google’s phones have never been stunners, while the iPhone 7 has a class that the Pixel can’t quite match, supreme in-hand comfort, and a real premium build, which along with its lighter body and wider choice of colors sees it edge out the Pixel here.

Winner: iPhone 7

Battery and audio

Google has selected a 2,770mAh battery for the Pixel, complete with fast charging provided by the Snapdragon 821 and Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 feature. Plug it in using the USB Type-C cable and it should go from around 30 percent to 100 percent charge in just 15 minutes, according to our tests.

Inside the iPhone 7 is a 1,960mAh battery and in our review, we have seen 12 hours of solid use, and more than 40 percent left at the end of a day. There’s no fast charging though, and recharging the iPhone 7 will take longer than the Pixel. Neither phone has wireless charging as standard.

The iPhone 7 has stereo speakers, and audio performance is vastly improved over the iPhone 6S while the Pixel has a single downward firing speaker. However, the Pixel retains a 3.5mm headphone socket, while Apple forces you to use headphones with a Lightning connector or Bluetooth.

More battery capacity, faster charging, and a traditional headphone socket make the Pixel a clear winner.

Winner: Google Pixel

Display

Looking at the numbers, the Pixel should run away here. The 5-inch display is an AMOLED panel, therefore producing deep blacks and strong colors. It has a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel resolution and a 441ppi pixel density, is covered in protective 2.5D Gorilla Glass 4, and Google claims it has an excellent viewing angle with little decrease in brightness.

The iPhone’s Retina HD LED-backlit screen measures 4.7-inches, has a 1,334 x 750 pixel resolution for a 326ppi pixel density, and also a 2.5D piece of glass over the front. Although it has a lower resolution, it does still look great, but the Pixel’s AMOLED screen and higher pixel count will automatically make pictures, webpages, and games look better. It also works with Google’s Daydream VR headset, which is a big bonus.

However, there is one thing in the iPhone 7’s favor, and that’s 3D Touch, Apple’s pressure sensitive system. Here, additional functionality can be accessed with a harder screen press, and it’s surprisingly helpful. It’s great with iOS 10, and promises to get even better with the release of iOS 11 later in 2017. The Pixel doesn’t have this feature. Despite this, it’s not quite enough to take the win away from the Pixel.

Winner: Google Pixel

Camera

Let’s start with a spec shootout. The Pixel and the iPhone 7 both have 12-megapixel rear cameras. The Pixel has an f/2.0 aperture against the iPhone 7’s f/1.8 aperture, so it lets in a little more light, plus it has a quad-LED flash rather than the Pixel’s dual-LED. However, while both have phase detection autofocus, laser autofocus only comes on the Pixel.

Both have image stabilization, but only the iPhone uses traditional OIS, as the Pixel has a clever system that utilizes the phone’s gyroscope for smoothing out video. We’re big fans of the iPhone 7’s camera, although consider the iPhone 7 Plus to be the real winner, but we’re very impressed with the Pixel’s camera, too.

In our review, we put the Pixel up against the iPhone 7 Plus, saying, “With HDR+, the Pixel’s camera is on par with the iPhone 7 Plus, and Samsung’s Galaxy S8. In low-light scenarios, images are more colorful and brighter, but a little less sharp than the iPhone 7 Plus.” It’s a very similar story when comparing it to the iPhone 7, and the photos both phones take look superb. It’ll likely be a personal preference which one looks the best.

It should be noted that the Pixel also has free, unlimited full resolution photo storage in the cloud through Google Photos, while you’ll have to pay for extra iCloud space or full-res Google Photos storage if you own an iPhone.

Looking to external camera comparisons, well-respected camera testers DxOMark, gave the Pixel an 89 rating, the highest of any smartphone yet. The iPhone 7 isn’t far behind with 86 though. It’s a tight contest between the iPhone 7 and the Pixel here, and we’d argue that whichever phone you buy, you’ll be very happy with the pictures you take.

Winner: Draw

Durability

Unless these phones are securely wrapped up in a case, neither are going to come off well in the event of a nasty fall. Glass and aluminum bodies aren’t designed to withstand much shock.

It’s also worth mentioning that if you choose the jet black iPhone 7 and don’t wrap it in a case, expect it to gather up some scratches and scuffs pretty quickly. Apple knows the special finish is delicate, and recommends the use of a case.

Apple now edges ahead of the Pixel here, having made the iPhone meet IP67 standards of splash, water, and dust resistance. We’ve tested this out, and the iPhone happily continues working after taking a bath, something the Pixel is unlikely to do even with its basic IP53 protection.

Accidents happen, and if they involve the wet stuff, you’ll be glad it was the iPhone and not the Pixel underwater.

Winner: Apple iPhone 7

Software

If design was a difficult category to judge, due to personal preference playing a considerable role, software is also subjective. Unlike pitting a phone like the Galaxy S8 or LG G6 against the Pixel, Apple is prompt and regular with its software updates, which matches how Google will react with its new Pixel devices.

The Pixel comes with Android 7.1 installed, the very latest version of the operating system, which can’t (and won’t) be found in this form anywhere else. The Apple iPhone has iOS 10. The two are very different, yet also quite alike. There are icons to tap, a virtual assistant to help — Assistant on the Pixel and Siri on the iPhone — and special messaging apps for both. On the Pixel, it’s Duo for video calls and Allo for chats, while on the iPhone there’s FaceTime and iMessage.

Downsides of Google’s operating system don’t really apply here. It’s going to get regular updates, there’s no messy user interface over the top, and you’re assured of the latest version for at least a few years yet. Apple treats the iPhone in the same way. There’s little to choose between them when it comes to app stores either, with both being equally well stocked with apps, books, movies, and more.

Winner: Draw

Pricing and availability

Wallets at the ready? They better be, because you’re going to have to open them pretty wide to get either one of these phones. Unlocked, without a contract, the Pixel will cost you $650 for the 32GB model or $750 for the 128GB, and it can be purchased directly through the Google Play Store. The iPhone 7 also costs $650 for the 32GB, $750 for the 128GB, and then $850 for the 256GB model. It can be bought through the Apple Store, either online or in a retail store.

Contract prices vary for the iPhone, but it’s available with each major carrier in the U.S., while the Pixel is a Verizon exclusive. This hurts the Pixel here. We don’t like being forced onto one carrier and many people buy their phones in stores. However, there is good news for the Pixel: You can buy it unlocked from Google and get the same month-to-month financing you get with the iPhone at carriers. We’d suggest not buying either phone locked to a network, or fixed into a contract, anyway. There are financing options available for both the Pixel and the iPhone 7 through Google and Apple respectively too. However, be aware if you choose an iPhone on AT&T or Sprint with financing through Apple, it’ll be locked to that network.

International buyers will also find it easier to buy an iPhone 7, with 25 countries on the list at launch, and more than 30 having been added since then. Others are coming in October. Google is only selling the Pixel in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia, and Germany at the moment.

Wider availability, more carrier options, and equal pricing sees the iPhone take this category.

Winner: Apple iPhone 7

Overall winner: iPhone 7

It’s three category wins for the iPhone 7, and two for the Pixel, with three overall ties. It’s interesting to see where the iPhone 7 beats the Google Pixel, particularly because durability and price have long been problem areas for Apple, and winners for Android phones. Apple has turned that around with the iPhone 7. The Pixel has it beaten when it comes to display, battery, and the presence of a 3.5mm headphone socket.

Right now, because you can buy it in more places, with fewer restrictions, and it won’t stop working if it gets wet, the iPhone 7 has to take the win. Don’t dismiss the Pixel. It’s easily our favorite Android phone, and it’s easy to be beguiled by the excellent camera, clean and regularly updated Android.

Update: We’ve changed some of the text to reflect having lived with both the Pixel and iPhone 7 for a longer period of time. The result remains unchanged though.

The new ‘Zelda’ DLC is all about exploration and survival

The Nintendo Switch is a neat little console — but its debut was almost overshadowed by its flagship launch game: The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game was lauded as a long overdue evolution on the Zelda formula, and it deserved the praise, too — it’s an objectively excellent adventure game that brings the classic Nintendo franchise into the modern era.

Still, fans were worried Nintendo would stumble when it came to the game’s DLC packs. Rest easy, Hylian hero, Breath of the Wild’s first DLC drop is light, but actually pretty good. Mostly because it focuses on what made the game great in the first place: survival, exploration and problem solving.

It’s not completely apparent when you first install the DLC, but the updated Breath of the Wild content seamlessly fits in with the world of the original game. Yes, upon downloading the update the game will give you a list of new items, tools and quests available to pursue — but it doesn’t make them available to you as soon as you boot up the game. Instead, it tells you where to look for hints for finding the new items in the game world. Want to wear Majora’s Mask or Tingle’s silly green tights? You’d better find Misko’s journal in the Outpost Ruins. The DLC scatters books with rumors and riddles throughout Hyrule, each pointing you in the direction of the new items.

Thankfully, the riddles aren’t too hard to figure out, but they’re vague enough to make the task of redeeming your DLC feel a little bit like an adventure. It’s just the right balance of difficulty, offering enough of a challenge to scratch the player’s itch for exploration without making them feel like they’re working too hard to get an item they already paid for with real money. Sure, Nintendo could have dropped the DLC items out of the sky like an Amiibo-activated treasure chest — but making them part of Link’s adventure fits the theme of the game so much better.

Exploration is the true theme of the game’s new “Hero’s Path” feature, too. Calling up the in-game map now gives players the option to see the exact path they blazed across the open-world of hyrule for up to the last 200 hours. It’s more than a simple overlay — it has a playback function that draws the player’s footpath on the map at various speeds. Not only is this a little nostalgic (Apparently, I had forgotten some of my adventures until the map reminded me), but it’s incredibly revealing.

Before using Hero’s Path, I was certain I’d explored almost all of Hyrule… but it turns out I’d only looked at most of it from high vantage points. Entire valleys, fields and mountain ranges were untouched by Link’s boots. Maybe that’s why I can’t find the last few dozen shrines. Like the DLC’s new items, the paid update’s new map mode encourages exploration — now that you know where you haven’t been, you’re driven to see what’s there.

That’s all nice, of course, but by far the biggest selling point of the DLC is the new Trial of the Sword mode: a punishing dungeon segmented into 45 different challenges. Starting the trial strips the player of all of their items, forcing them to complete the dungeon with nothing other than weapons and armor they find within the challenge itself.

It’s like a much bigger, unforgiving version of Eventide Island, the core game’s survival challenge. It’s also great for the same reason: completing each segment of the Trial of the Sword is like solving an in-game puzzle. Figuring out how to survive and make the most of the limited resources feels like an accomplishment — much like how completing the game’s many physics-based shrine puzzles leaves the player feeling smart.

That said, the trial isn’t easy, and features some of the hardest gameplay Breath of the Wild has to offer. Worse still, failure hurts — there are 45 floors, but you can’t save until you’ve beaten at least 12. Fail before the first dozen, and you have to start over from the beginning. It’s not completely unfair (there are a few floors that offer rest, weapons and a cooking pot to create healing items with), but it’s not for the faint of heart, either.

If that’s not hard enough for you, the DLC update also adds a Master Mode — basically a new “hard” difficulty for the game’s main story. I only played a little bit of it, but what I did try was significantly harder. Thought weapon durability was frustrating in the early game before? Well, now it’s hard to defeat even the starting area’s enemies without at least one weapon on hand. Still, if you’re looking for a survival challenge, Master Mode has it aplenty — and thankfully, it has its own save system, too. Starting a new game on hard mode won’t erase your first adventure.

Overall, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild’s first DLC pack seems to hold a lot of value. It’s genuinely fun, has great challenges, and fits right in with the rest of the game without feeling tacked on. Better still, it’s only half of the game’s total DLC — this holiday season, the game will be getting a new dungeon, a new original story and a few other surprises. We’ve only just scratched the surface of the first pack, but between the two, Nintendo’s first major Zelda DLC effort seems to be worth the $20.

FAA considers remote identification system for drones in the US

The FAA is still trying to figure out the best way to regulate drones to ensure safety. Last week, a committee tasked with tackling the issue met for the first time, including representatives from Amazon, Ford and NYPD. One of the items discussed was a better way to identify registered drones from the ground since any ID numbers are pretty much invisible while the UAV is airborne.

This could be a workable solution for commercial drones, but since a Washington, DC court struck down the FAA’s registration requirement for personal machines last month, a remote ID system isn’t the answer for all of the UAVs flown in the US — right now, at least. As Recode notes, Congress is working to restore mandatory registration which would be key to tying a drone to its owner for the purposes of any remote identification. Of course, consumer drones have been used for all kinds of nefarious purposes and there are ways to get around any no-fly zones with the help of software.

The concept of remote identification for drones isn’t a new idea. Back in March, DJI proposed what it calls an “electronic identification framework” for all drones that would give authorities in the US information about the owner when necessary. That proposal includes using the radio tech DJI says is already on most drones to transmit details like location and registration number.

Any discussion of an actual working remote ID system for drones in the US is still in the early stages, but the FAA committee is scheduled to meet again on July 18th. Any formal recommendations are currently due to the agency by September 30th.

Via: Recode

Source: FAA

Best Google Pixel Deals for July 2017

What is the best deal you can get on a Google Pixel?

When shopping for a new gadget, like the Google Pixel and Pixel XL, you should be looking for the best possible deal available. But hunting them down can be difficult since most retailers change them weekly — but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Whether you are looking to save finance your purchase, get some freebies with it, or try and save some money on the purchase there are a few places to check out.

Let’s take a look at some of the best deals on Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL that are available right now.

Google Pixel

Want to pick up the smaller of the two Pixels but avoid paying full price? Retailers are offering a variety of deals on these phones as Google continues its marketing push, and some will offer discounts in the future and others will include some extras at no cost. If you want to check out the best deals, these are the ones you want to look at.

• Google Store offers 24-month financing and free shipping
• Verizon is offering the Pixel for as little as $15 with select trade-ins
• Best Buy is offering 12 months of interest free payments for Best Buy card members

Google Pixel XL

If you are looking for the larger version, you’ll want to check out the deals on the Pixel XL. Odds are that most of the times retailers will offer the same deals on the Pixel and Pixel XL in terms of discounts or freebies, but there may be some specific sales that offer incentives to go bigger. Here are some of the best deals that you can find right now on the Pixel XL.

• Verizon is offering the Pixel XL for as little as $20 with select trade-ins
• Best Buy is offering 12 months of interest free payments for Best Buy card members
• Google Store offers 24-month financing and free shipping

Other deals

As time passes you’ll start to see these appear on other sites like eBay and Swappa, offering great deals on second-hand units. Some people may turn around and sell theirs at launch for a profit, but if you are looking to save you’ll have to wait a bit longer.

Have you noticed any other deals on the Pixel or Pixel XL? If so, be sure to drop a line in the comments letting us know where the deal is and why other people may be interested.

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

Google Store
Verizon

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