Sayonara, Siri? Apple’s virtual assistant may soon slip from the top spot

Why it matters to you

A consumer trend favoring smart home assistants over phone-based ones is creating a headwind for the Apple Siri.

Siri may still be the most sought-after virtual assistant on the market, but if trends continue, her reign as queen could be nearing its end. As per a new report from Verto Analytics, Siri has experienced a 15-percent decline in monthly users since last year. While 41.4 million people in the U.S. still turn to Apple’s AI assistant, this number is 7.3 million fewer than 2016. Perhaps more worrisome still, Verto found that engagement with Siri declined by nearly 50 percent over the same period, down to 11 percent from 21 percent.

However, it certainly isn’t the case that interest in virtual assistants as a whole has taken a dip. Indeed, Amazon Alexa has enjoyed burgeoning interest among users, with an increase of a whopping 325 percent in monthly active users. In hard numbers, that’s a jump from 0.8 million to 2.6 million monthly users, and contrary to Apple’s engagement numbers, Alexa’s engagement has also gone up, from 10 to 22 percent, in the same time period.

And it’s not just Amazon that is doing well with its virtual assistant. Microsoft’s Cortana (though admittedly less popular than its competitors) is also on the rise — its monthly user base has grown 350 percent from 0.2 million to 0.7 million, and its engagement has grown by a factor of three, from 19 to 60 percent.

Savvy readers might notice that the main difference between Siri and Alexa or Google Now is that the former is a phone-based assistant, whereas the other two are meant for the smart home. Verto did, in fact, find that this trend away from phone use remained true across the board — as a whole, virtual assistants that live on your phone saw a decrease in popularity (Samsung’s S-Voice also experienced a drop in users) while those used in connected home hubs saw an increase.

But who is actually using these assistants? The research firm found that women are slightly more likely to use the technology than men (with women comprising 54 percent of the user base), and older demographics are particularly partial to smart assistants, too. According to Verto, the average smart assistant “superuser,” defined as one who dedicates twice as much time to these assistants per month as the average, is a 52-year-old woman.

So if you find yourself constantly posing questions to Alexa or Siri, know that you’re far from alone.

Mighty Audio’s tiny music player is like an iPod Shuffle for Spotify

Why it matters to you

The first Spotify-playing music player lets you take your favorite playlists anywhere, without a cell signal.

Ever since the iPod-shuffle resembling device smashed its $250,000 Kickstarter goal last year, workout-loving Spotify subscribers have been anticipating the release of Mighty Audio’s offline music player. On Wednesday, the company officially launches its playlist-saving device — originally slated to hit the market in November 2016 — allowing Spotify listeners to store more than 1,000 songs for playback during their off-the-grid hours.

The new device could prove useful for those who are tired of strapping a bulky cellphone to their arm during workouts or hikes, or manually adding and removing songs from their iPod shuffle via iTunes. Using the Might Audio player just requires a Spotify premium membership — the company is the first to partner with Spotify for the explicit purpose of offline listening.

“Mighty represents a new way to enjoy streaming music offline, and delivers an experience that our users have been asking for,” Ian Geller, Spotify’s Head of Global Hardware Partnerships, said in a statement. “We’re proud to partner with an innovative company like Mighty to deliver a new experience for our joint users.”

The Mighty music streamer comes in three colors, is water- and drop-resistant, features five hours of battery life, and is available for playback on both a built in 3.5 mm and Bluetooth connection for headphones or speakers. It is also easy on listeners’ data plan and cell phone storage space because it syncs and downloads all songs via Wi-Fi, and does not store tracks on both devices; songs that are paired with the Mighty Audio player only store on its own memory.

Connecting and storing music requires Bluetooth and Wi-Fi pairing within the company’s mobile app, which is available on both iOS and Android. Once the app is connected to your Spotify premium account, playlists can be synced, and as soon as songs are downloaded on the device, they are instantly available for offline listening.

We spent a brief amount of time checking out a Mighty Audio review unit in our office and found everything from syncing to playback to be extremely easy and intuitive via the app and physical interface on the device (which really does look just like an iPod shuffle). Syncing two 50-song playlists took us about five minutes and occupied nine percent of the devices’ storage, and the songs came through sounding just as good as they do via our cell phone’s 3.5 mm port. Bluetooth pairing to a JBL Flip 4 speaker was quick and painless, and playback was stable, even when moving around the room.

One small caveat that potential buyers should be aware of is that all playlists have to be public for the Mighty Audio device to be able to save them for offline playback. Representatives from the company say that they hope to make private and collaborative playlists available for storage soon.

The Mighty Audio device is currently available for sale on the company’s website for $86, which is about $40 more than an iPod Shuffle. Buyers who drop the dough now will have to wait until July 30 for it to ship.

In the meantime, if you are looking for content for your new device, be sure to check out our list of the best Spotify playlists.

KFC’s ketchup-colored smartphone has an etching of Colonel Sanders

Why it matters to you

If you can’t get enough of the Colonel’s fried Chicken, KFC’s limited edition smartphone might just be the one for you.

Can a smartphone come close to the finger-lickin’ goodness of a Bucket O’ Chicken? Thanks to Huawei and Kentucky Fried Chicken China, there’s no need to wonder any longer. The fast food behemoth announced a limited edition, KFC- branded handset to commemorate its 30th anniversary of operations in China.

The Colonel’s custom “Huawei 7 Plus” phone may not be breaded and deep fried, but it packs exclusives you won’t find on any iPhone or Google Pixel. There’s a KFC delivery app and access to K-music, a new jukebox function that lets KFC patrons pick and share a restaurant’s playlist. Another is 100,000 in “K Dollars,” KFC’s virtual rewards currency.

That’s not to mention the KFC phone’s distinctive design, which features a laser etching of Colonel Sanders as well as a deep red, ketchup-colored casing that curves around all four of its edges.

How does it perform? It sports Qualcomm’s mid-range Snapdragon 425 processor paired with 3GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage (expandable to 128GB with a microSD card), and a 5-inch 720p screen. There’s a 13MP rear camera and a fingerprint sensor on the rear, and a 3,020mAh batter under the hood.

The bad news: If you really wanted to get one, you’re out of luck. KFC’s phone, which launched exclusively in China, won’t be shipping internationally anytime soon. Customers in the mainland can purchase it through the KFC app or from a flagship Alibaba Tmall store for 1,099 yuan ($162), and KFC says it’ll sell a total of 5,000 units.

Why China? The country’s well-established love affair with the Colonel’s biscuits and breasts began in November 1987, when the first KFC restaurant opened not far from Tienanmen Square in Beijing. Earnings of Yum China, its corporate parent, grew to more than $2 billion over subsequent decades, which analysts attribute to KFC’s aggressive localization. It offered menu items like Peking duck burritos, and clean, upscale interiors that became common gathering spots for Chinese, rather than simple take-out places in the U.S.

Recent controversies like an Avian flu virus and suppliers’ excessive use of hormones hurt the brand’s bottom line in the early 2000s, but business is today is on an upward trajectory. In 2014, Yum owned 4,200 KFC restaurants in China and holds about 40 percent of the fast food market, according to Quartz.

That’s all the light KFC was willing to shed on its 30th anniversary smartphone, but here’s hoping it packs plenty of oleophobic coating. As anyone who’s brought a smartphone to a chicken fry can tell you, grease is a recipe for apocalyptic smudging.

Catch ’em all this summer with Pokémon Go’s Safari Zone events

Why it matters to you

If you live near Chicago or not, the summer is going have lots of exciting developments for Pokémon Go fans.

Pokémon Go is nearing its one-year anniversary and to celebrate, developer Niantic has announced that it’s bringing the Safari Zone to the augmented reality mobile title. This one won’t have you throwing rocks at Pokémon though, but instead working together with all players of all teams around the world to unlock special events and bonuses for all players to enjoy.

Although a massive cultural phenomenon when it was released and a continually strong earner since then, Pokémon Go has drawn a number of complaints for not having many of the multiplayer features of its RPG inspiration. Niantic has gone to some effort to address that over the past few months and Pokémon Go Fest and the Safari Zone events are going one step further in this effort to bring players together.

Beginning in Chicago’s Grant Park on July 22, trainers within the park will be challenged to catch certain types of Pokémon to unlock perks which affect every player around the world. Catching lots of fire Pokémon will lead to increased candy rewards, while electric Pokémon will reduce the distance required for eggs to hatch.

Trainers around the world can contribute to this effort, though their catches will instead lengthen the duration of the bonus by additional margins. Better yet, should they catch enough to reach the gold level, it will unlock a new “mystery challenge” in Grant Park. And if the trainers there complete it, it will lead to a global reward for all trainers everywhere.

This event is just one of many that Niantic has planned for the next couple of months. Running alongside Pokémon Go Fest in Chicago is the Big Heritage Festival taking place in Chester, England. Anyone visiting the festival or the town over the weekend of July 22 will find a number of unique Pokémon Go bonuses and events to join.

These events will be followed by a number of Safari Zone events at different Unibail-Rodamco shopping centers around Europe through August and September, where trainers will have a chance to catch special Pokémon, including a number never before made available in the EU region.

Closing out this summer of Pokémon Go events is a Pikachu Outbreak in Yokohama, Japan to take place between August 9 and 15, though what that entails remains to be seen.

Microsoft issues its first HoloLens security patch in July’s Patch Tuesday

Why it matters to you

If you’re using a Microsoft HoloLens, then be extra sure you apply this month’s Microsoft Patch Tuesday update because there is a fix in there just for you.

Recent malware attacks such as the WannaCry and Petya ransomware epidemics have highlighted the need to keep our PCs fully updated if we want to remain even remotely safe from attack. It doesn’t matter if you’re running Windows 10 or MacOS, there are threats popping up all the time that companies are responding to with security patches. But it is not just your PC — ancillary devices like the HoloLens augmented reality headset can also be vulnerable.

Tuesday was Microsoft’s usual Patch Tuesday, its time of the month when it issues its main security update for Windows systems. This time around, as Trend Micro points on in its security blog, it was not just the core Windows components that were inoculated against potential threats — HoloLens also received its very first security patch.

According to Microsoft’s security advisory, CVE-2017-8584 is a vulnerability involving remote code execution that was identified in HoloLens, whereby the device does not correctly handle a specific kind of attack that is delivered via Wi-Fi. Trend Micro reports that HoloLens use is not very widespread compared to PCs and other more popular devices, but this particular patch is notable for being the first reminder that such systems can represent yet another vector of attack.

In fact, HoloLens is particularly interesting from a security perspective because it is an entirely stand-alone device that does not use a PC or other device such as a smartphone to do its computing. Systems like Oculus Rift and the HTC Vive rely on PCs and their software is continuously being updated to fix potential security vulnerabilities. But this Patch Tuesday could very well be the first time a stand-alone AR system has received a security patch.

July’s Patch Tuesday was not all about HoloLens, of course. Internet Explorer also got the usual round of fixes, as did Microsoft’s Edge browser that is meant to succeed the older application. A fix for Windows Search, CVE-2017-8589, was also released to ward off attacks that could allow a nefarious party to take over an infected system.

While the HoloLens patch is applicable to far fewer people, the rest of Patch Tuesday’s fixes are — as always — vital and we recommend users keep automatic updates turned on so these and other fixes are applied immediately. The vulnerability behind both WannaCry and Petya was fixed in March for actively supported systems, and so anyone running Windows 10 and was fully patched did not have to worry about infection. However, running an obsolete and unsupported version of Windows or turning updates off was an easy way to see that horrifying ransomware notice pop up.

Brilliant Danish physician wants to fight cardiac arrest deaths with Neurescue

Why it matters to you

Sudden cardiac death is one of the big killers worldwide. This small, computer-controlled balloon catheter could help save lives.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world, with around half of these being the result of sudden cardiac death. Treatment for this usually consists of chest compressions and defibrillation, although these methods only save around one out of 10 people when treated.

Step forward a new device, which was created by Danish doctor-turned-entrepreneur Habib Frost when he was 23 years old. When we say this could be a lifesaver, we are not kidding!

Called the Neurescue device, it’s a small, computer-controlled balloon catheter designed to be used during CPR or during a critical bleeding.

“The device is inserted into a blood vessel in the leg, the femoral artery, and occludes the biggest blood vessel in the body, the aorta, in order to redistribute the blood flow generated by chest compressions to the two most sensitive organs, the heart and brain,” Frost told Digital Trends. “The increase in blood supply to the heart ensures that many more hearts can be resuscitated early. The increased blood supply to the brain protects against brain damage, allowing for more time to treat the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest. This approach can greatly improve the current low survival. The controller includes a fault protection architecture that allows for the safe, correct placement of the catheter in a bedside or out-of-hospital setting without X-ray or CT imaging, and an intelligent filling system that prevents over- and under-filling.”

According to Frost, Neurescue can have a significant impact on the length of time it takes for a patient’s brain to be damaged during cardiac arrest before the definitive treatment can be delivered. This happens after just 15 to 30 minutes if the heart stops beating with current chest compressions, but Neurescue can reportedly extend this to a maximum of two hours. In turn, this expands the time window in which advanced therapies can be performed and the life of patients are saved.

“We also intend for Neurescue to be used in the treatment of hemorrhage both inside and outside of hospitals, where we can expand the time window to stop the bleeding with definitive surgery, in the same fashion as we increase the vital blood supply in a cardiac arrest,” Frost said. “After the introduction of the device inside hospitals, we intend to move the use of the device out of the hospital and then deliver solutions that can be used by paramedics, nurses and — in time with a fully automated solution — the general population as well.”

At present, Frost and his team are working toward piloting the device in select European hospitals in 2018. After that, provided all goes according to plan, hopefully it won’t be too much longer before this smart solution heads to the U.S.

Microsoft updates Paint 3D with new and enhanced creation tools

Why it matters to you

If you haven’t already had a chance to tinker with Paint 3D, the handy new tools introduced by the app’s latest update make now a great time to do so.

Earlier this year, Microsoft revamped one of the most recognizable pieces of Windows software around when it launched Paint 3D as part of the Creators Update for Windows 10. Now, the company has detailed some new features that have been added to the app via a new update.

As its name suggests, Paint 3D attempts to merge the ease of use associated with previous versions of Microsoft Paint with brand-new functionality that allows users to create 3D imagery. It’s fair to say that the software is more of a tech demo than a professional-grade creative suite, but it’s still an interesting app to doodle with.

The latest update makes some improvements to the way that the Magic Select feature operates, according to a post published to the Windows blog. This particular tool is intended to make it easy for users to single out one particular element from a picture, which can be very useful when you’re creating a layered 3D image.

Now, it’s possible to Magic Select content directly into a scene that’s partially composed, which should make this process even more straightforward. Previously, it was necessary to move objects off the canvas before an image was to be inserted in this fashion.

The other big addition in this update is the reintroduction of a tool that can draw straight lines and curves. This has long been a standard feature in previous versions of Paint, and offers a reliable way of producing lines that meet your exact specifications without requiring a perfectly steady hand. These drawing tools can be found among the existing selection of 2D shapes in the app’s Stickers menu.

The latest version of Paint 3D also adds support for GLB, a new open standard for sharing 3D files which is a component of the GL Transmission Format. The standard makes transferring files quicker and more efficient by outputting all assets with only one container, which helps improve compatibility with other programs and keeps file sizes to a minimum.

You can update to the new version of Paint 3D by opening the app — if you haven’t downloaded it yet, it’s available via the Windows Store.

Vinpok Bolt USB Type-C magnetic cable boosts charging for MacBook Pros

Why it matters to you

It’s not available yet, but this magnetic USB Type-C charging cable could be your one-stop shop for powering your devices.

Vinpok’s new Bolt USB Type-C magnetic cable is designed to be a one-stop shop for charging smart devices like laptops, tablets, and mobile handsets, by boosting the available power and connecting easily to the charge port. It makes use of a “snap and charge” design, and ups the ante over other magnetic Micro USB cables by offering up to 87-watt charging for 15-inch MacBook Pros. While its claims to being the first to offer such functionality in a magnetic cable could be debated, its ease of use is a significant feature.

Each cable comes with a USB Type-C plug that fits into the charge port of your laptop or smartphone and then the cable connects magnetically to that to enable charging. The magnetic grip is designed to keep it in place, without the need for plugging in and out, which can cause abrasion over time.

Currently available to pre-order for $30 — though said to be typically priced at $60 — the Vinpok Bolt comes in two color options: Black and silver. It’s compatible with all USB Type-C devices, though new MacBooks and MacBook Pros are specifically cited in the product listing.

The magnetic connection itself is said to make use of gold-plated needles for a durable and efficient charging with neodymium magnets binding the cable to the adapter, for a strong but easy-to-remove connection. As with other USB Type-C cables, it’s entirely reversible, meaning the age-old search for the correct orientation of traditional USB connections is a thing of the past.

Vinpok hasn’t made it clear when the Bolt cables will begin shipping out, though its PR push would suggest it’s not too far off. We’ve reached out to the company to confirm a launch date and details and will update this post as we hear back.

If you can’t wait for this one, Vinpok does sell other cables, like a 3-in-1 connector that combines Micro USB and lightning connectors to make a charger that is compatible with both iPhone and Android devices, though it’s not magnetized.

Of course make sure to check your device actually has a USB Type-C port before buying a cable such as this. If you’re running something like a Microsoft Surface, it won’t have one.

Vinpok Bolt USB Type-C magnetic cable boosts charging for MacBook Pros

Why it matters to you

It’s not available yet, but this magnetic USB Type-C charging cable could be your one-stop shop for powering your devices.

Vinpok’s new Bolt USB Type-C magnetic cable is designed to be a one-stop shop for charging smart devices like laptops, tablets, and mobile handsets, by boosting the available power and connecting easily to the charge port. It makes use of a “snap and charge” design, and ups the ante over other magnetic Micro USB cables by offering up to 87-watt charging for 15-inch MacBook Pros. While its claims to being the first to offer such functionality in a magnetic cable could be debated, its ease of use is a significant feature.

Each cable comes with a USB Type-C plug that fits into the charge port of your laptop or smartphone and then the cable connects magnetically to that to enable charging. The magnetic grip is designed to keep it in place, without the need for plugging in and out, which can cause abrasion over time.

Currently available to pre-order for $30 — though said to be typically priced at $60 — the Vinpok Bolt comes in two color options: Black and silver. It’s compatible with all USB Type-C devices, though new MacBooks and MacBook Pros are specifically cited in the product listing.

The magnetic connection itself is said to make use of gold-plated needles for a durable and efficient charging with neodymium magnets binding the cable to the adapter, for a strong but easy-to-remove connection. As with other USB Type-C cables, it’s entirely reversible, meaning the age-old search for the correct orientation of traditional USB connections is a thing of the past.

Vinpok hasn’t made it clear when the Bolt cables will begin shipping out, though its PR push would suggest it’s not too far off. We’ve reached out to the company to confirm a launch date and details and will update this post as we hear back.

If you can’t wait for this one, Vinpok does sell other cables, like a 3-in-1 connector that combines Micro USB and lightning connectors to make a charger that is compatible with both iPhone and Android devices, though it’s not magnetized.

Of course make sure to check your device actually has a USB Type-C port before buying a cable such as this. If you’re running something like a Microsoft Surface, it won’t have one.

Best Shooters For VR

What are the best shooters for VR?

One of the biggest genres in console and PC gaming is the shooter – an instantly recognizable concept with wide appeal. This appeal has also extended to virtual reality, putting players right into the center of the battle zone.

There are plenty of shooters on all VR platforms, but here are the ones we think are best suited for your library!

Read more at VR Heads!