Huawei’s Watch 2 costs $550 more with a Porsche Design logo

Android Wear still pretty clunky despite the version 2.0 release, and most of the smartwatches using it are somewhere on a scale between homely and fugly. Huawei’s Watch 2 is a decent looking exception, though, and it’s hoping to boost profits from brand-conscious, deep-pocketed consumers with a Porsche Design version. Launched earlier this year, it now has a price: €795 ($920, or £710). That’s around $550 more than the Watch 2 Classic, a similar model with a metal bezel on a plastic body.

So what does that extra dose of cash get you? Apart from a snazzy ad with a less-than-enthusiastic looking Lionel Messi (below), you get red accents on the buttons, a hybrid strap with red stripes, and the Porsche Design logo. There’s also a different metal bezel with the logo and what looks like a speedometer readout instead of minutes and seconds, because cars, I guess.

Suffice to say, buyers of this model are probably looking for the Porsche Design branding because their rich friends have never heard of Huawei. While that might sound like a crazy reason to buy a smartwatch, a lot more people than expected plopped down $1,500 for a Tag Heuer model without a second thought.

Via: Android Police

Source: Porsche Design

Facebook boosts live 360 video to 4K for better VR

Following YouTube’s support for 4K live 360 video late last year, it was only a matter of time before Facebook caught up. After all, Zuckerberg’s betting big on VR. Today, the social media giant announced the launch of 4K resolution for live 360 streams, meaning we can soon enjoy more immersive VR live streams via the Facebook 360 app for Gear VR. This also preps the platform well for when 4K VR headsets finally go mainstream. As part of this update, Facebook is also bringing its Donate Button and Scheduled Live features over to its live 360 video service, in the hopes of driving 360 video viewership while helping out non-profits.

Also announced today is the expansion of Facebook’s “Live 360 Ready” program, which now covers both devices and software suites from third parties. In addition to the Insta360 Air, Insta360 Nano and Insta360 Pro that were already certified earlier this year, the “Live 360 Ready” list now also includes Giroptic IO, Nokia Ozo, ION360U, ORAH 4I, Z Cam S1, 360fly 4K Pro and Garmin VIRB 360. You’ll be able to spot these in the shops thanks to the Facebook Live logo on their new packaging. Oddly enough, the better known brands like Samsung and Ricoh are missing here.

As for software, Facebook has certified the following for 360 video publishing: Assimilate SCRATCH VR, Groovy Gecko, LiveScale, Teradek, Voysys, Wowza and Z CAM WonderLive.

By finally bumping the quality of its live 360 videos and also helping creators pick the right tools, Facebook is now headed in the right direction. That said, we’re still waiting for the next wave of VR headsets packing 4K display resolution, so that we can go deeper into the immersive content. Hopefully this is something that Facebook and others are already working hard on.

Source: Facebook

Google SOS Alerts can guide you during a crisis

When you’re in the midst of a crisis, your internet search priorities are clearly different than usual: am I in danger? Where can I go for safety? And who do I talk to for help? Google clearly recognizes this, as it’s rolling out SOS Alerts in both its web search results and in Maps. Look for a relevant search term or location and you’ll get official updates, contact information, a map of the affected area, top stories and translations for useful phrases. If you’re browsing the Maps app, you’ll see an icon on the map that you can tap to get vital info. And if you’re in a perilous location, you may get a notification pointing you to this help.

You don’t have to be in harm’s way for these alerts to be useful. You’ll still get an overview of the situation, and there are opportunities to donate if you want to help.

This isn’t the first time Google has incorporated public alerts into its search tools, but the SOS Alerts reflect the mounting importance of the internet in emergency situations. Even a few years ago, you might have turned to radio or TV to get crucial info. Now, the internet may be the first place you go — even in situations where you’re facing very real danger. Google still can’t replace government agencies in a crisis, but it can point you in the right direction.

Source: Google

Google expects 11 Daydream-ready phones by the end of 2017

Right now, it’s slim pickings if you want a smartphone that supports Daydream VR headsets. Outside of Google’s own Pixel line, you’re looking at just a handful of devices from ASUS, Huawei, Motorola and ZTE. Your choices should get better soon, though. While discussing Google’s financial results, Sundar Pichai revealed that there should be 11 Daydream-capable Android phones by the end of 2017. The Galaxy S8 is the first out of the gate (that update is arriving now, in fact), but that still leaves a few other handsets.

As to what those could be? Google’s next Pixel phones are a lock, but third-party brands are a tougher call. A Daydream-ready phone has to meet specific display and speed requirements, such as a 60Hz refresh rate while in VR and sustained processor performance. Those targets are becoming easier to hit over time, but they still limit potential Daydream support to higher-end phones. It could take a long while before a budget phone can immerse you in virtual worlds.

Via: The Verge

Source: Google (YouTube)

Engadget giveaway: Win a 55-inch TCL P-Series 4K Roku TV!

TV prices are dropping and quality is on the rise, at least compared to my initial foray into HD over a decade ago. Now, you can pick up a set with 4K, HDR and a built-in streaming platform for well under a grand, like this $650 55-inch P-Series from TCL. This unit is in our Back to School guide for its bang-for-buck value, but it’s also a good deal for anyone who wants to upgrade from an aging display and still save a few bucks. The P-Series offers 4K resolution paired with support for Dolby Vision HDR, along with 72 contrast zones and a wide color gamut for your viewing pleasure. On top of that, this TCL set is a Roku smart TV with access to over 4,000 streaming channels and includes a built-in tuner so you can pluck HD content from the air if you pick up an antenna. The price for this 55-inch set with these features is a pretty good deal, but thanks to TCL, one lucky winner will get one for free. All you need to do is head to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning this 4K HDR Roku Smart TV from TCL!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
• Contest is open to all residents of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winners will be chosen randomly. One (1) winner will receive one (1) TCL 55-inch P-Series 4K HDR TV 55P607 ($650 value).
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• Entries can be submitted until July 26th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

Adobe Accidentally Leaks Cloud-Native Editing Software ‘Project Nimbus’ Ahead of Beta

Last November, Adobe previewed its next-generation photo editor, Project Nimbus, which boasts a focus on cloud storage and simplified editing controls, telling users to expect a beta sometime in 2017. Although that beta has yet to arrive, some users of Adobe’s Creative Cloud recently had access to an “internal only” download of Project Nimbus on both Mac and Windows devices.

Since a few Creative Cloud users were able to download Project Nimbus, Adobe quickly fixed the leak and confirmed it as an accident: “That morning, we shared Project Nimbus by mistake with a small group of Creative Cloud customers.” French site MacGeneration [Google Translate] had a chance to browse Project Nimbus, and shared its thoughts earlier today.

Image via DPReview forums member trenzterra
The site described Project Nimbus as a complement to Lightroom, not a replacement, and ultimately said that the interface is “actually much closer to Lightroom for iPad than Lightroom for Mac / Windows.” Thanks to half a dozen simplified and “general” editing tools and the ability to transfer edits in the cloud, MacGeneration also compared Project Nimbus closely with Apple’s iCloud photo library.

Compared to Lightroom, which Nimbus does not replace but complete, the interface is less loaded and there is no segmentation in modules (library, development, printing …). The editing tools are not all stacked in the right column, there is a palette of tools to the Photoshop which includes half a dozen general tools: Basic tools (light, color, effects, details, optics, geometry); Refraction; Correct; Brush; Linear gradient; Radial gradient; and Options (copy / paste settings, view original, return to original, display histogram, single panel mode, edit in Photoshop).

In the end, Project Nimbus is not a substitute for Lightroom, which should continue to evolve on its own, but an iCloud photo library in Adobe sauce. It remains to be seen whether this new service will be adopted by the usual users of Lightroom and whether it will attract new customers.

The leak provided information on cloud storage included with Project Nimbus, which will give users 1TB of storage in the cloud to facilitate the software’s goal of cross-platform editing. During the announcement, Adobe specifically described Project Nimbus as “cloud-native,” with non-destructive image edits that are saved across all platforms that the software is available on and that users are signed into.

Last week, Adobe updated Lightroom for iOS, bringing a new selective brush, a details tab, a refreshed interface for the iPad, and enhanced support for features like the Apple Pencil and 3D Touch.

Tag: Adobe
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Apple Watch Series 3 Expected to Debut in Fall 2017, Boosting Manufacturing Partner Quanta’s Revenue

Apple has sourced Quanta Computer as the primary manufacturer of the Apple Watch since the original wearable device began a production ramp-up in late 2014/early 2015 for its official launch in the spring of 2015.

The supplier was again the sole source of Apple Watch manufacturing for the Series 2 models in 2016, and a new article out today by Chinese-language site Economic Daily News has echoed previous reports that stated Apple will yet again keep Quanta as its main Apple Watch supplier for the so-called “Apple Watch Series 3.” The move is expected to lead Quanta into a “strong” second half of 2017, further cementing the next-generation Apple Watch’s debut this upcoming fall (via DigiTimes).

Additionally, Quanta’s income towards the end of the year is poised to rise thanks to the manufacturer’s supply of notebooks and servers, but the Apple Watch Series 3 is described as one of the company’s biggest assets. Secondary to Quanta, EDN’s report today cited market watchers who believe Compal will also be sourced as an Apple Watch supplier this year, but with a focus on older-generation models and not including Series 3.

Quanta Computer is expected to enjoy a strong second-half 2017 thanks to rising demand for notebooks, growing server sales and the release of the next-generation Apple Watch, according to a Chinese-language Economic Daily News (EDN) report.

Apple is reportedly planning to launch its third-generation Apple Watch in 2017 and the wearable is likely to help Quanta’s Apple Watch product line turn profitable. Although Compal Electronics reportedly has joined the supply chain of the Apple Watch, the market watchers believe Apple is likely to let Compal mainly handle older-generation models, the paper added.

While rumors leading into the fall of 2017 have largely focused on the iPhone 8, it is believed that Apple will launch an all-new Apple Watch device this year, perhaps at the same iPhone debut event expected in September. The company used that strategy last fall when it announced and launched the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and Apple Watch Series 2 within the same September timeframe.

Besides the expected new-generation bumps to processing speeds and a longer battery life, Apple Watch Series 3 has been rumored to include cellular connectivity so users could make phone calls, send iMessages, and stream Apple Music without needing to be tethered to their iPhone, with the caveat of an added data plan likely. The Series 3 device is also said to not include any major visual overhauls to the Apple Watch design, keeping the same case and band form factor that Apple has used since 2015.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3, watchOS 4
Tags: digitimes.com, Economic Daily News, Quanta
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Malware Discovered That Can Control a Mac’s Webcam and Keyboard, But It’s Old and Possibly Abandoned

Earlier this year, researchers from security firm Malwarebytes discovered a piece of Mac malware called Fruitfly that reportedly spied on computers in medical research centers for years before being detected. Apple has since updated macOS to automatically detect the malware, safeguarding users.

However, a new variant of the Fruitfly malware has recently been discovered by Patrick Wardle, a researcher with security firm Synack. Wardle said the malware has been targeting Macs for at least five years, with the number of infected Macs totaling nearly 400 and possibly much higher, reports Ars Technica.

The malware can supposedly capture screenshots, keystrokes, webcam images, and other info about each infected Mac. The Fruitfly variant also collects information about devices connected to the same network, according to the report.

Wardle said the method of infection remains unknown, but he suspects it involves tricking users into clicking on malicious links, as opposed to exploiting vulnerabilities in apps or in macOS. He added that the primary command-and-control server used by the malware’s creators has since been shut down.

Many of the affected Macs have never been disinfected, however, allowing Wardle to create his own custom command-and-control server for the malware and witness the close to 400 infected machines connect to it.

After analyzing the new variant, Wardle was able to decrypt several backup domains that were hardcoded into the malware. To his surprise, the domains remained available. Within two days of registering one of the addresses, close to 400 infected Macs connected to the server, mostly from homes located in the United States. Although Wardle did nothing more than observe the IP address and user names of Macs that connected to his server, he had the ability to use the malware to spy on the users who were unwittingly infected.

Wardle will provide a briefing about his custom command-and-control server tactics on Wednesday at the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas.

Since the method of infection is unknown, there aren’t many specific steps users can take to ensure they’re protected. But, given all domains known to be associated with the malware are no longer available, and the limited number of Macs infected beforehand, most users shouldn’t be too worried about this malware.

One option Mac users have is to install OverSight, a free software tool that monitors a Mac’s microphone and webcam, alerting the user when the internal microphone is activated, or whenever a process accesses the webcam.

Wardle has reported all of his findings to law enforcement officials, and the threat is likely neutralized, according to the report.

Tag: malware
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HP hopes its new all-in-one PCs are style icons

With certain exceptions, HP’s all-in-ones aren’t what you’d call eye-catching. They’re not ugly, but they aren’t exactly conversation pieces. HP thinks it can change that: it’s introducing revamped reversions of the Pavilion 24 and Pavilion 27 that actually look (dare we say it) pretty. Their edge-to-edge 1080p touchscreens, slimmer designs (as thin as 0.33 inches), distinctive stands and fabric-covered chins give them a slick minimalist look that would feel entirely at home alongside modern decor. The overhaul isn’t as dramatic on the inside, but there are some definite improvements that could make them worth a look.

Both models mark the return of HP’s privacy cameras, which tuck away when you aren’t using them. If you’re worried about your kids getting into sketchy video chats (or just want to make life difficult for spies), you just have to tuck the cam out of the way. Logically, there’s an optional infrared camera to sign you in using Windows Hello’s face recognition. The roster also touts 7th-generation Core or AMD A12 chips depending on your trim level, and you can spring for dedicated Radeon 530 graphics if you need more power for light gaming.

The new Pavilions start at $750. That’s not a trivial outlay, especially since these aren’t high-end rigs, but HP is clearly betting that style goes a long way. And it’s not an outlandish idea — style and ergonomics are crucial to all-in-ones, and it could be worth a small premium to get a PC that you’d be happy to see on your desk.

Source: HP (1), (2)

Alexa will now order you a Domino’s pizza in the UK

There are many ways to order a pipin’ hot Domino’s pizza. You can use your smartphone, smash a tiny pizza button or even tweet an emoji to the company’s official Twitter account. Now, finally, it’s possible to buy a Texas BBQ or two by shouting at your Amazon Echo speaker in the UK. The voice-controlled ordering system has been available in the US for some time now — quite why it’s taken so long to reach Britain is a mystery. Still, it’s a welcome addition that could prove useful while you’re watching the game or hosting a sweet Mario Kart 8 Deluxe tournament with friends.

To get started, you’ll first need an Easy Order account, which is set up through the Domino’s website. Next, you’ll have to enable the Domino’s skill through the Alexa app and link your Domino’s and Alexa accounts. The skill supports a few different commands, including “Alexa, ask Domino’s to feed me,” which instantly requests your favorite order. There’s also “Alexa, ask Domino’s to track my order,” which will explain if your pizza is the oven or out for delivery. Finally, with select stores, you can ask for an ETA using the line: “Alex, ask Domino’s where my pizza is.”

Is it a little lazy? Absolutely, but then so is ordering pizza. And who wants to get up when you’re partway through the latest Game of Thrones episode?