Chrome plays nicely with your MacBook Pro’s Touch Bar

If you have one of the more recent MacBook Pro laptops with a Touch Bar, Google Chrome has long played second fiddle. Despite early hints of support, you’ve had to spend months surfing the old-fashioned way where Safari had the fancy (if sometimes gimmicky) context-specific commands. At last, Chrome is receiving equal treatment. Google has released Chrome 60, which officially introduces Touch Bar support. It’s a familiar experience with navigation buttons and a hybrid address/search bar, but that’s all you need if you just want to open a new tab without touching the trackpad or a keyboard shortcut.

Not that the update is solely geared toward the Apple crowd. Fire up Android and you can add an extra-quick web search widget and pick recently copied links from the Omnibox drop-down. Under the hood, you’ll find frameworks for auto-filling store checkout forms and managing passwords. Exciting, right? Even if you’re not a Mac or Android user, though, you’ll want to upgrade to get the usual round of security updates and bug fixes.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: Chrome Releases, Google

Nanobots can swim your bloodstream faster by doing the front crawl

With invasive surgery sometimes being a literal pain in the ass, it’s no surprise that scientists are working tirelessly to minimize the need for such procedures. Now, however, China’s Harbin Institute of Techonology is hoping to bypass fiddly surgery completely, thanks to its new tiny, swimming robots. Inspired by the fastest human method of swimming, the front crawl, these nanobots travel in a similar fashion, with their magnetic arms rotating and propelling them forward as the researchers apply a magnetic field to the bot’s arms.

This cleverly designed bot is pretty swift too, able to swim the front crawl at an impressive 10 micrometers per second. Thanks to its hefty arms and impressive speed, the bots have a momentum strong enough that they can even pass through thick liquids like blood in order to administer medicine from inside your veins.

As you’d expect, bodily fluids are far more difficult for the nanobots to swim through than water, thanks to the increased density. In a bid to prepare their tiny little machines for all manner of disgusting human fluids, the researchers also tested the nano-swimmers’ movement speed by dunking them in serum. Unsurprisingly, their movement speed almost halved, with the bots only able to swim 5.5 micrometers per second through the fluid.

This test is crucial, as it measures how effectively swimmers could be used if coated in medicine and then injected directly into the bloodstream. Despite moving significantly slower through fluid than water, these little bots are actually far swifter in serum than other rival nano-swimmers, which makes them a good candidate for future nanobot medical research.

“It’s exciting due to its speed and its really small size, just about the same size as a blood vessel,” says Eric Diller, a microbot researcher at the University of Toronto. “It’s small enough basically to go anywhere within the body.”

While these swimmers are certainly impressive, the next generation of these nanobots will have to be built from biodegradable materials before they can be safely sent into the bloodstream. Diller goes on to say, however, that in the next five to 10 years, clinical trials could begin that test these bots on less difficult areas in the body, like the eyeballs or urinary tract.

Via: New Scientist

Source: Nano Letters

Modular robotic eel hunts for sources of water pollution

We already have ways to measure the levels of pollution in bodies of water, but an eel-inspired robot can do the job faster and more effectively. The researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and other institutions have created a modular robotic eel that can swim through contaminated water to pinpoint sources of pollution. Each module is equipped with a different type of sensor, including biological ones, like fish cells, live crustaceans and modified bacteria. Scientists can customize the eel for different locations by choosing the modules they need and leaving the others out of the configuration.

Some of the modules the researchers made have physical and chemical sensors that can test for water conductivity and temperature. Others rely on living organisms. One type is filled with bacteria the team developed to generate light when exposed to mercury. Another uses fish cells grown on electrodes that refuse to touch each other when toxins are present. The scientists also placed tiny crustaceans called Daphnia in one module, since their movements can indicate water toxicity.

The swimming machine can take data all these sensors collect and send them to a remote computer in real time. And since it moves like a real eel does unlike robots with propellers that kick up mud and disturb aquatic life, it can gather the most accurate data possible. EPFL says the machine can either follow a preprogrammed path or use the info it gathers to track down the source of pollution on its own. It can, for instance, swim towards more and more toxic waters

The researchers have only tested the physical and chemical sensors in the field thus far, since the biological ones are harder to deploy. They’re planning to test the biological modules outside the lab this summer, though, so they’ll figure out how effective they are in real-life situations soon enough.

Source: EPFL

BMW’s updated EV plans include a 3-door Mini

BMW’s plans to electrify the Mini go well beyond an early experiment and a plug-in hybrid. The Bavarian brand has unveiled the next steps of its EV strategy, and the highlight is an all-electric version of the 3-door Mini due in 2019. In theory, you won’t have to splurge to avoid a gas-guzzler. The automaker is saying precious little about what the Mini EV will entail, but it’ll be built in Britain (of course) using a German powerplant. Want something bigger? Don’t worry — it’s just the tip of the spear.

The company has revealed that all of its models “can be electrified” thanks to a flexible manufacturing system that will let it build plug-in hybrids or full EVs for any of its cars. This doesn’t mean they will make the leap in the near future (we can imagine M-series cars running solely on gas for a while), but this hints at a future where you won’t have to spring for an i3 or another niche model just to reduce your fuel dependency.

It’s going to be a long time before most BMWs plug in rather than fill up. Outside of the Mini, its roadmap focuses on just a few vehicles, including the i8 Roadster (2018), X3 crossover (2020) and iNext (2021). Even by 2025, the car giant only expects 15 to 25 percent of its cars to have some kind of electric motor. Consider this, though: by making a 3-door Mini EV, BMW is at least committed to making electric power relatively accessible.

Source: BMW

Uber will charge $15 to return your lost bag

The next time you take an Uber car across town, be thorough when you check the seat for your belongings — it could prove costly to leave something behind. Uber has quietly updated its policies to let drivers charge a $15 fee when they successfully return a lost item. The policy only affects Boston and Chicago for now, but Uber tells us it will apply across the US by the end of August. It may sound like a stiff penalty, but Uber stresses that this is to “compensate [drivers] for their time.” They no longer have to hope you’ll strike an informal deal to pay them for their trouble. And for Uber, covering that time off matters more than you might think.

The ridesharing outfit has faced longstanding complaints that it doesn’t pay drivers enough, and efforts like support for tips only solve part of the problem. Drivers have argued that they often have to take de facto pay cuts for factors that are out of their control, whether it’s returning a phone or trying to find an obscure pickup spot. This still might not be enough (it could be costly if the driver is across town), but it’ll at least soften the blow.

Lyft doesn’t have a lost item fee as of this writing, but it encourages you to tip the driver and doesn’t leave drivers empty-handed. However, Uber’s move could prompt a change if it lures drivers who’ve had too many forgetful customers. As it is, this might have an indirect benefit whether or not you remember your gear. The more likely drivers are to stay on, the more likely it is that you’ll get an experienced driver who knows how to treat you well.

Via: Select All, The Verge

Source: Uber (Help), (Letter to Drivers)

Toyota’s future EV battery tech could enable much longer trips

The switchover to an electric vehicle (EV) future is bound to happen, with increased sales and companies like Volvo committing to hybrid models in the next couple of years. One of the things still holding back widespread adoption of the technology, however, is the low range the current crop of EV batteries represent. We’re not going to put all of our hopes into cars that can only travel so far, especially as the infrastructure to recharge such vehicles is thin on the ground.

Toyota is looking to change that, however, with a new solid electrolyte battery technology that would make for smaller, lighter lithium-ion batteries, which could then combine into higher-range charges for electric cars. Toyota told The Wall Street Journal that the batteries are in “production engineering” now, and that we might be able to buy cars with the new batteries by the early 2020s.

These newer batteries could also have a longer shelf life than current damp electrolyte batteries, and have been designed to avoid the fire hazards represented by some current lithium-ion batteries like the ones in Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7. Toyota isn’t the only company looking at making better batteries, either, with researchers and companies alike chasing production versions of the new tech.

If nothing else, it’s nice to see Toyota take a step back from its previous stance that all-electric vehicles are inferior to hybrid cars like the Prius.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Trump says Apple CEO promised to build three factories in US

President Donald Trump told the Wall Street Journal that Apple CEO Tim Cook promised him the tech titan would build “three big plants, beautiful plants” in the US. He didn’t elaborate on potential locations or construction dates for the manufacturing facilities, and Apple declined to comment on the subject to the Wall Street Journal.

As The Wall Street Journal reports:

“I spoke to [Mr. Cook], he’s promised me three big plants—big, big, big,” Mr. Trump said as part of a discussion about business-tax reform and business investment. “I said you know, Tim, unless you start building your plants in this country, I won’t consider my administration an economic success. He called me, and he said they are going forward.”

Trump’s efforts to make good on his campaign promise to revive American manufacturing hasn’t been terribly successful: The Carrier plant he visited to crow about the jobs he saved will cut 632 of them next month. Shortly before his inauguration, Trump told an audience at Liberty University that he’d get Apple to build computers in America — not that there’s any legal framework to force a tech company to relocate the bulk of its manufacturing.

On its own back in May, Apple pledged $1 billion to support retaining manufacturing jobs in the US, but didn’t vow to move any of its own production stateside. If CEO Cook told Trump otherwise, this is the first we’re hearing about it — and it’s something we’d expect Apple to announce on its own.

Engadget has reached out to Apple for comment and will report back if the company responds.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Asus ROG Strix GD30CI gaming desktop review

Research Center:
Asus ROG Strix GD30CI

The newly introduced Asus ROG Strix GD30CI brings something a little different to the gaming PC scene – or at least it’s trying to. With an Intel Core i7-7700, 32GB of RAM, and a reference GTX 1080, the Strix hits a lot of the right notes – on paper, at least.

The Republic of Gamers line of computers and components from Asus has long stood at the forefront of the PC gaming market, often numbering among the best gaming PCs. The products defined the red and black gamer aesthetic that’s become ubiquitous, although recently ROG has tried to stray from that cliche. The Strix line embodies that change, with GPU shrouds and motherboards that are dark, matte gray, a toned-down look from the bombastic early days of the ROG brand.

But producing solid internal components doesn’t always translate into building systems. The Strix GL553VD laptop suffered from heat issues, and while its design was certainly attractive, its durability didn’t hold up to scrutiny. We’ve now had a chance to spend time with a Strix desktop, the GD30CI, and it’s much the same story.

Who built this thing?

A lot of the GD30CI feels like Asus finding ways to check off boxes on the gaming-desktop feature list. Everyone wants RGB LEDs, right? Slap five tiny lights near the stock CPU cooler and call it done. Advanced cooling? A single 120mm fan with a bright red LED will do. People like case windows? Thrown in a bit of transparent plastic and then, for a bonus, add some metal that claims to protect from electromagnetic interference. Job done.

Under the jaunty white plastic coverings, which are easy enough to pry off that Asus advertises removing them as a “customization option,” lies the one interesting piece of the GD30CI. Several crossing black straps of plastic meant to look like a futuristic fabric weave diagonally across the chassis. It’s a unique, original look, but not without its problems. The front façade must be removed to see this, and holes it clips into mar the front of the case when the façade is removed.

There’s no accounting for taste, but the GD30CI’s design doesn’t scream premium or sleek, and those are key words in the PC building community nowadays. Tempered glass and RGB fans with several zones are in, even at price points well under $2,000. The Strix desktop just feels like leftovers from the ROG cutting floor.

Enough plugs

Despite the custom motherboard, there’s an average selection of connection options for a gaming desktop.

Unlike custom built systems, where choice of motherboard and GPU will determine connectivity, the Asus has one set of connections regardless of configuration. It sports two USB 2.0, four USB 3.1 Type-A, a 3.1 Type-C port, Ethernet, and 6-port audio. Despite the custom motherboard, that’s an average selection of connection options for a gaming desktop.

Video connections will vary based on graphics card, but most options are going to include three DisplayPort, one HDMI, and a DVI-D. That was the case with our review unit, which contained a GTX 1080. There are GTX 1050 and 1060 options as well, and those may have less ports than the high-end option.

No performance surprises

As with any gaming desktop, performance varies greatly depending on configuration. Our Asus ROG Strix GD30CI review unit was outfitted with an Intel Core i7-7700, a quad-core chip with Hyper-Threading, a 3.6GHz base clock, and a 4.2GHz boost block, paired up with 32GB of RAM. We’re more used to seeing the Core i7-7700K in gaming rigs. Not only is it faster, at 4.2GHz base and 4.5GHz boost, but it also allows the user to overclock the chip, pushing its clock speeds higher, typically with the help of a third-party CPU cooler.

The extra RAM is a nice touch, and its 3,000MHz clock speed is higher than most, but 32GB is more than our benchmarks can easily take advantage of in a meaningful way.

The biggest pains for the Asus came from the fact the Intel Core i7-7700K has become the standard among other system builders, and the overclocking process is well refined, as seen by the monstrous 5.1GHz overclock on the Origin Neuron. Without the unlocked chip, the Asus fell behind in raw CPU tests.

Its stock cooler didn’t do it any favors, as it hit the thermal threshold set by Asus out of the box – 77 Celsius — shortly into our Handbrake 4K conversion. With third-party coolers and closed-loop liquid options so common, the Asus’ already paltry thermal solutions had actual performance consequences.

It’s a hard drive

At least Asus had the good sense to include decent storage options. Our review unit was outfitted with a 256GB SATA SSD. That’s an increasingly common setup, even at the price point, although occasionally PCIe drives show up in the highest-end systems.

The SSD is a fine option for most users, that still falls short of the high-end PCIe options sneaking into its neighbors. Our review unit also includes an unbranded 1TB data drive, which should give users some room to grow, while still keeping an operating system and game drive ready to roll.

Game time

There are a variety of GPU options, starting at the GTX 1060, but our review unit was packing an Asus reference model GTX 1080 with a single blower fan. It’s not exactly a luxurious card, and it isn’t overclocked as far as we can tell, but at least it won’t be blowing a lot of hot air into the case.

While these results may look terrible for the Strix, the system Asus sent us is less powerful, and less expensive, than most of the others we’ve recently tested. That should be kept in mind when considering the performance results.

The Strix produces playable frame rates in all our titles at 1440p, and only Deus Ex: Mankind Divided drops the average below 60 FPS. Performance will vary greatly depending on configuration, and above $1,500 or so, users have their pick of high-end cards.

The GTX 1080 is a nice compromise, with solid performance that doesn’t break the bank. It also shows that we’re already well over the point where most users need to spend for optimal performance. The GTX 1080 can power smooth 1440p, or extra smooth 1080p gaming. That said, performance isn’t everything, particularly when anyone can use the same parts.

Warranty

Asus offers a variety of warranties on its gaming desktops; our review unit had only the one-year option. That’s limited for the category and the price point, and falls a lot closer to regular, (and less expensive) consumer desktops. It also won’t cover the parts if you break them during maintenance or cleaning, and Asus encourages you not to even open the case by putting a sticker across the back of it. That alone is a huge limitation — and unfortunately similar to ones we’ve seen from Acer and other system builders.

Asus ROG Strix GD30CI Compared To

Velocity Micro Raptor M60

Origin Neuron

Alienware Area 51 (2017)

MSI Trident 9S6-B90611-02S

Digital Storm Velox (Kaby Lake)

Cybertron CLX Ra

Acer Predator G1

Origin Millennium (2016)

Falcon Northwest Mach V (2016)

Digital Storm Aventum 3

AVADirect Avant gaming desktop

Digital Storm Velox

Falcon Northwest Talon (2015)

Gateway FX6800-01e

HP Blackbird 002

Our Take

At our Asus ROG Strix GD30CI review unit’s $1,900 price point, we expect a nice rig. Instead, it feels like Asus has made the same mistakes first-time home system builders make. There isn’t enough cooling, even for the locked-down Core i7-7700, the case is gaudy, and there’s more RAM than most users will need while skimping elsewhere. The GTX 1080 in our review unit was a redeeming quality, but wasn’t overclocked, and came out slower than other systems with the same GPU.

Is there a better alternative?

There are many. Performance is going to depend mostly on the CPU and GPU the user chooses, but those choices are limited in the Strix. The space is filled with offerings from every company from the Alienware Aurora to the Acer Predator G6. The Asus is reasonable priced, but not affordable enough for a system you can’t open without voiding the warranty, which only has one fan.

Meanwhile, the iBuyPower Chimera is available at publish in a name-brand case with a full tempered glass side panel, liquid-cooled Intel Core i7-7700K, a 2TB data drive, a GTX 1080, and a 144Hz curved 1080p panel, for almost exactly the same price. It’s worth spending more on a nicer system, or spending less and getting a good deal.

How long will it last?

Like most mid-to-high end gaming PCs, the Strix should last several years without need for upgrades. That said, it’s important to open and clean systems, and the Strix’s limiting warranty discourages that. With just one exhaust fan, and no dust filters, it’s likely the system will grow dirty sooner than later.

Should you buy it?

No. Performance isn’t everything, particularly when it comes to gaming computers, which all operate on a basically level playing field for CPU and GPU. The pre-built Asus Strix GD30CI has too little cooling and no overclocking. That caused the system to fall behind others with the same components.

Gaming desktops are a dime a dozen, and any number of them are a better choice than the GD30CI. Cheaper systems offer aggressive pricing with more attractive off-the-shelf enclosures. Slightly more expensive systems include premium features, and encourage overclocking and regular maintenance. The Asus falls somewhere in between, and falls through the cracks.

Here’s where to buy the Lenovo Moto Z2 Force, and how much it’ll cost you

Lenovo’s Moto Z2 Force is finally here, and it’s just as impressive as rumored. The flagship follow-up to last year’s Moto Z Force packs a powerful processor, a dual rear camera, a shatter-resistant screen, and support for Lenovo’s burgeoning Moto Mods ecosystem. Better still, it’s easier than ever to snag one — this year, Motorola has made the smartphone available across all four major carriers in the United States: Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint.

But with more options comes greater potential for confusion. That’s why we’ve rounded up every retail and carrier listing in one convenient place.

Here’s how to buy the Moto Z2 Force, and where you can get it the cheapest.

Free Insta-Share Projector Mod

For a limited time, Lenovo is throwing in a bonus with every Moto Z2 Force order: An Insta-Share Projector Mod, which normally retails for $300. It’s a pico projector that snaps onto the back of the device and supplies a 70-inch WVGA (854 x 480 pixels) screen onto walls, floors, and ceilings. It packs a 1,100mAh battery that adds up to an hour of screen time to the phone, and a USB Type-C charger, and other accouterments like a carrying pouch and tilt adjuster.

The Insta-Share Projector Mod won’t ship with every purchase, though. Lenovo describes it as a “limited-time offer,” and says that qualified buyers will get a projector in the mail after purchase time.

Carriers

T-Mobile

T-Mobile has an exclusive Moto Z2 Force variant for sale: Lunar gray. It’s a different color from the other variants on the market, but identical in terms of specs.

It’s also offering a buy one, get one free deal on the new phone. For a limited time, new and existing T-Mobile customers can get two units for the price of one.

• The Moto Z2 Force costs $750, or $30 down and $30 a month for 24 months.
• On T-Mobile Jump! On Demand, it costs $34 a month for 18 months.

Verizon

Verizon, a close partner of Lenovo’s, will sell the Moto Z2 Force online and in stores starting July 26 and ship them August 10.

Subscribers with unlimited data plans get an extra-special deal: Financing for $15 a month, or $360 in total (over the course of two years). If you’re an existing Verizon customer, it’s the cheapest way to pick one up.

• The Moto Z2 Force costs $756, or $15 per month for customers with unlimited data plans.

Sprint

Sprint, the fourth-largest carrier in the U.S., says the Moto Z2 Force will be the first gigabit-speed phone on its network. To celebrate, it’s offering a free Moto Z2 Force to customers who lease two phones at purchase time.

• The Moto Z2 Force costs $792, or $33 a month for 24 months.

AT&T

AT&T has the Moto Z2 Force available for pre-order for new and existing customers. At $810, though, AT&T’s sticker price is by far the highest of any U.S. carrier.

It will begin selling the phone in stores on August 11.

• The Moto Z2 Force costs $810, or $27 per month for 30 months.

US Cellular

US Cellular will offer the Moto Z2 Force beginning July 26, with retail availability to follow in early August. The carrier hasn’t provided pricing information yet.

Stores

Unlike last year’s Moto Z Force, which was sold exclusively through Verizon’s retail channels, Lenovo is selling the Moto Z2 Force unlocked. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay a premium for the privilege.

Here is a list of retailers selling the device.

Motorola

Why not buy your shiny new Moto Z2 Force straight from the manufacturer? Motorola is selling the Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular variants through its website. They’re available for pre-order beginning July 26, and start shipping on August 10.

A factory unlocked version will be available soon, but the company hasn’t finalized pricing.

• The Moto Z2 Force costs $800, or $30 per month for 24 months with a down payment.

Best Buy

If you don’t want to go through a carrier, you can get the Moto Z2 Force straight from Best Buy.

For a limited time, Best Buy is offering the smartphone for $24.66 a month for 24 months, which adds up to $591.84. It’s normally $33 a month for 24 months.

• The Moto Z2 Force is available unlocked for $850.

Adobe is finally pulling the plug on its Flash software, but not anytime soon

Why it matters to you

With Adobe Flash out of the picture, there will be one less major attack vector used by hackers on the internet.

On Tuesday, Adobe provided a roadmap for terminating its Flash software for good.  The death will not be swift and quick like it was on Android, as the company does not plan to cease updating and distributing Flash Player until the end of 2020. This will provide enough time for content creators to migrate their existing Flash-based content to newer, more secure platforms like HTML5.

“Several industries and businesses have been built around Flash technology — including gaming, education, and video — and we remain committed to supporting Flash through 2020, as customers and partners put their migration plans into place,” the company said.

Adobe’s Flash software transformed the internet from flat, boring pages with static images and animated GIFs to interactive experiences. For some websites, Flash was even the primary interface, requiring lengthy page loads. But as the spotlight on Flash increased, so did its use by hackers as they studied and exploited every flaw in the code to attack unsuspecting web surfers.

Part of the problem stems from the use of browser plugins, which are separate pieces of software that plug into a web browser. They disrupt the secure environment created by the parent browser, cause browser instability issues, and are highly susceptible to hacking.

To solve this ongoing problem, utilities, services, and content are now pushed into the web code itself as seen with HTML5. Graphics rendering can be handled by WebGL while YouTube playback is enabled using simple web-based code, not a stand-alone player. However, if utilities and services are not served up in web-based “apps,” then they’re likely integrated into the actual browser, eliminating the need for plugins.

That said, HTML5’s maturity has seemingly pushed Adobe into a corner. Flash on the internet has essentially become obsolete. It is a huge, consistent attack vector and the only means of viewing Flash content is through the Flash Player plugin. Browser vendors are moving away from plugins, halting Flash content playback automatically and will eventually block Flash content altogether. With Adobe Flash now pushed into the corner, the only answer is to leave the dance altogether.

Until the end of 2020, Adobe will remain committed to its Flash software. That means dishing out security patches and maintaining its compatibility with web browsers and operating systems. Adobe also plans to add capabilities and features “when needed.” More importantly, Adobe will work to terminate Flash early in “certain geographies” that distribute an unlicensed, outdated version of Flash Player.

“Adobe will also remain at the forefront of leading the development of new web standards and actively participate in their advancement,” the company said. “This includes continuing to contribute to the HTML5 standard and participating in the WebAssembly Community Group.”

Adobe is still in the web-based content creation business despite pulling the plug on Flash. Animate CC is a tool for interactive animations that can be published on multiple platforms including HTML5 Canvas, WebGL, and more. Premier Pro CC is a tool for editing videos that can be played on websites that support the HTML5 standard.