Volvo’s New VNL Series Semi Trucks Include CarPlay Support

Volvo Trucks today unveiled its new line of VNL long-haul semi trucks, which come equipped with CarPlay and several other comfort-oriented technologies.

Designed for professional drivers who travel over long distances, the VNL series trucks include what Volvo says is an “all-new” dashboard with a 5-inch color display that offers up trip and diagnostic data plus a 7-inch color touchscreen that supports CarPlay, a backup camera, and navigation features.

With CarPlay support, drivers are able to access their music, incoming phone calls, messages, and other content safely through a direct connection with the iPhone. Along with the touchscreen, CarPlay controls can be accessed through a smart steering wheel that puts controls for nearly all interface functions right at a driver’s fingertips.

CarPlay is just one of the many driver perks built into the truck, which also includes an adjustable steering column, ergonomic seats with heating and ventilation, and sleeper cabs with a reclining bunk.

The VNL trucks come in a range of configurations, including a new 70-inch sleeper in Volvo VNL 760 and 740 models.

Though CarPlay was first officially unveiled in March of 2014, wide availability of the feature didn’t come until mid-2015. Since then, hundreds of manufacturers have built CarPlay support into their vehicles, and many aftermarket solutions have been made available. Apple maintains a list of vehicles that support CarPlay on its website.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
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Intel Unveils ‘Purley’ Xeon Chip Lineup, but None are Appropriate for High-End iMac Pro

Intel today unveiled its full lineup of “Purley” Xeon processors, most of which have already launched or are launching soon, but none of the chips in the lineup appear to be appropriate for Apple’s upcoming iMac Pro at the high end.

When the iMac Pro was announced, Apple said it would use Intel’s Xeon processors, with 8, 10, and 18 core chips available as optional configurations with up to 42MB cache and maximum Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz.

Despite rumors suggesting Apple will use Purley processors in the machines, the currently available chips do not match those specifications. The chips max out at 4.2GHz Turbo Boost, so at least some of the processors Apple plans to use are not yet available from Intel.

With none of the chips lining up with Apple’s promised high-end specifications, the most likely explanation is that Intel has additional Purley chips on the horizon that have yet to be announced. Next-generation Xeon chips, codenamed Cascade Lake, won’t be available until 2018, and thus won’t be ready in time for Apple’s promised December release date.

In late June, Pike’s Universum dug up firmware files from the macOS High Sierra beta suggesting the iMac Pro will use Intel’s server-class LGA3647 socket rather than the desktop-class LGA2066 socket, pointing towards the use of server-grade “Purley” Skylake-SP processors.

Those same firmware files suggest the new iMac Pro will feature a Secure Enclave with an ARM coprocessor like the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, but it’s unclear what that functionality will be used for. Touch ID is, however, a possibility.

Apple’s iMac Pro is expected to be available for purchase this December, with pricing starting at $4,999 in the United States. Along with server-grade processors, the machines are expected to feature Radeon Pro Vega graphics, up to 128GB of ECC RAM, and up to 4TB of SSD storage.

Related Roundup: iMac Pro
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Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate makes managing video files a breeze (Review)

Overview:

Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate is video management software for Windows PC and Mac that allows you to edit, download, convert and manage video files from all different sources including Android and mobile devices. It has a ton of features and tools to help you get your videos how and where you’d like them using a simple and easy to use interface.

Developer: Wondershare

Cost: Starts at $39.95 for 1 year (Free trial available)

Impressions:

I was surprised by all the features on offer from Wondershare. They have the standard DVD burn and file conversion tools but also allow you to rip videos from the web including YouTube and save them locally, rip audio, or convert them to a new format for your needs. My favorite feature has to be the VR conversion, however. It allows you to take any video and convert it into a VR compatible video for playback on your HMD of choice. It’s an amazing way to convert your movies to VR for use in your Daydream headset or Samsung Gear VR, and I can see myself using it on flights to enjoy a movie in privacy. Other tools include cast support, metadata correction, video transfer and a screen recorder tool.

Wondershare supports almost any video format you can imagine and lets you convert for specific device support if you want to take a video and make it playable on your phone or tablet. I was floored by the amount of options for upscaling, editing, and conversion of my video files. I wish I had heard of this software sooner, as it would have made my switch to Android from years ago much easier.

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Using Wondershare Video Converter is surprisingly easy, as most of the options are just simple menus and in a few clicks you can download a video, convert it, edit it and reupload it to whatever device you need. Render times are reasonable, even better if you have a beefy machine like mine. Nothing ever got so complicated that I got lost in the menus like some other software out there. Set up was simple as well, a short download and no sign-in required.

Conclusion:

Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate has so many features that I feel like it would be impossible for me to list them all here in detail, but know that if there’s something you need done with a video file. this program can probably handle it. Reviewing PC software on a Android site seems kind of out of place, but the applications of this software in relation to your phone or tablet are clear, and if you’re a heavy phone user who loves to take videos or a vlogger whose primary camera is your mobile device, this software can be a real life saver. I’d definitely recommend checking it out, as there’s a free version that doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, but gives you a taste of the potential of the software without a monetary commitment. The price for the full license is reasonable, and even without it, you can do a lot. Definitely a recommended program from me.

Download Wondershare Video Converter Ultimate here

You can score the powerful Portal Wi-Fi router for $108, but you better hurry

If you use Wi-Fi in a heavily populated residential area, you are very likely not getting the speeds you are paying for. Network congestion, caused by too many neighboring connections near the same data channels, can slow your wireless internet down considerably. The Portal Wi-Fi router, on sale from Amazon today only for just six hours, is a simple and elegant solution to boost your wireless speeds by making sure that nearby networks and devices aren’t crowding you out.

To solve the problem of signal congestion, the Portal Wi-Fi router features patented FastLane technology, which creates four unused data streams on the 5GHz spectrum that are reserved for you and your devices. This highly effective FastLanes feature and its super-simple setup are two of the main reasons the Portal earned an 8.0 rating from our review team and was named one of the best routers on the market today.

Nine powerful internal antennas provide blanket coverage of up to 3,000 square feet, and the portal is Mesh 2.0-compatible in case want to integrate it into a larger mesh Wi-Fi network. The router utilizes dual-band AC2400 connectivity for a throughput of 2,400 Mbps. MU-MIMO technology allows multiple clients to connect to and use your network without their devices fighting each other for bandwidth, a feature that is particularly important for homes with users who frequently perform data-heavy tasks such as 4K streaming or online gaming.

The Portal Wi-Fi router normally costs $200, but a limited-time Prime Day promotion brings the price of this simple, sleek, and powerful router down to just $108 on Amazon exclusively for Prime members. This $92 discount will only last from 12 to 6 p.m. PT today, July 11. You can also score a two-pack for $269. If network congestion is affecting your internet speeds, then now is a great time to pick up one of our favorite home routers so you can enjoy faster, congestion-free Wi-Fi.

Buy it for $108 on Amazon

More Deals

• Best Prime Day Deals
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And don’t forget to check out our DT Deals for the latest tech deals.

Prime Day deals will only last until 11:59 p.m. (PT) on Tuesday, July 11, or until the product is sold out. Prices reflect the discount at time of posting but are subject to change.

Internet Archive project preserves AOL free-trial CDs from the 1990s

Why it matters to you

Every letterbox in the U.S. was a prime target for AOL’s promotional efforts in the 1990s and early 2000s, and this project is looking to document the disks that were distributed.

Back in the 1990s, America Online, Inc. (AOL) needed to spread the good word about the benefits of a home internet connection, and the company accomplished that task by distributing free trial CD-ROMs far and wide. Now, these relics of the early online age are being documented and preserved on the Internet Archive.

AOL trial CDs were something of an annoyance for recipients — and indeed, many households in the U.S. likely have one or two disks lying around in a home office or computer room. However, it was an undeniably successful endeavor for the company, helping to swell its user base from 200,000 accounts to over 22 million.

At the peak of production, it’s thought that 50 percent of all CDs being manufactured worldwide were free trials for AOL internet service. Countless different variations were created to keep the marketing effort up to date, and the preservation project aims to archive as many unique examples as possible.

The collection is being spearheaded by Jason Scott, but as with many Internet Archive projects, a communal effort will be required if the goal of documenting every AOL CD out there is to be completed. If you know that you have a couple of disks on hand, you might want to contribute to the project.

Each entry in the collection is comprised of a high quality scan of the CD itself and any accompanying artwork, as well as a disk image that allows anyone who downloads it to access its contents. Of course, the software will likely run into compatibility issues with modern systems, but the idea here is preservation, rather than practical use.

Just looking through the gallery of scans will be a blast from the past for anybody who was subjected to a barrage of AOL CDs in years gone by. Most of them simply offer a number of hours of internet access for free, but others have more unique sweeteners like content from MAD Magazine or an audiobook version of Prince Caspian.

It’s easy to feel a sense of nostalgia looking back at these internet artifacts — but don’t be fooled by rose-tinted glasses, we’ve come a long way since 56K, and going back to AOL dial-up isn’t much fun.

Google looking to give Android users ‘panic button’ for shady apps and sites

Why it matters to you

Android users could soon have a way to immediately return to the safety of their home screen if their phone locks up for any reason.

We’ve all been there. Perhaps you’ve downloaded a shady app or come across a particularly persistent pop-up, and when you try to back out, your phone becomes unresponsive. In these situations, it would be nice to have some kind of “panic button,” where you could instantly close the offending software and safely return to your home screen. Fortunately, this is exactly what Google has begun testing in the latest release of Android version 7.1.

The feature is quite simple in practice. Apparently, the default action to trigger the panic response is four presses of the back button, however XDA Developers notes that the number of presses can be modified in Android’s SystemUI APK, one of the operating system’s core services. SystemUI controls the notification shade, status bar, and navigation buttons, so it makes sense that it would be involved in this process.

Once the system determines four presses have been made in quick succession, you exit the app. It’s that simple — though, as Bleeping Computer notes, although the feature exists in the code, it seems that it hasn’t been enabled for any devices yet. Developers and those familiar with tinkering with Android can switch it on for themselves if they’d like, though it’s unclear how reliable the feature is at this stage. Google has not formally announced it — either for the simple fact that it’s not ready yet, or because the company is trying to conceal security measures from malicious parties.

Either way, the fact that such an option exists is good news for Android users. While Google has made significant strides in stamping out malware in the Play Store, the relatively open nature of the Android ecosystem means there will always be a certain inherent risk. The company has pushed out patches with increasing frequency over the last several years and built a new front page for Android’s built-in security suite in the form of Google Play Protect.

Over the last few months, we’ve seen increasingly advanced methods of mobile data theft crop up, so it’s quite possible hackers will find their way around this in time as well. Such is the nature of computer security — there will always be new threats to guard against. Still, just knowing there’s an escape hatch built into Android is sure to give users additional peace of mind.

You can now drink cannabis in your coffee, thanks to Brewbudz

Why it matters to you

Not only are these Keurig pods good for a buzz, but they’re good for the Earth, too.

You knew it was only a matter of time before it happened. Not only is marijuana available in edible form in states where it is legal, it’s now available in drinkable form, too. That’s right, thanks to San Diego, California-based company Cannabiniers, you can drink your cannabis with a beverage dispensed from a Keurig. It’s called Brewbudz, and it’s heralded as a “natural, safe, and chemical-free way to consume cannabis’ natural compounds.”

“What we are aspiring to create is the normalization of cannabis consumption in a way that integrates with consumers’ already established habits and lifestyles,” said Timothy Walters, president of Cannabiniers. Indeed, with more than 600 million cups of coffee consumed on a daily basis in the U.S. (and that doesn’t even include daily tea or cocoa rituals), there’s quite a market to be tapped.

So how exactly do you get cannabis in your coffee? According to Cannabiniers, the company has the exclusive license to a patented technology that combines a 100-percent compostable pod, compatible with all Keurig coffee brewers, with a cannabinoid extraction process promising the benefits from the complete profile of cannabis. And while traditional Keurig pods have been criticized for being quite ecologically unfriendly, Cannabiniers notes that its Brewbudz “can reverse the negative ecological impact that traditional Keurig single-serve pods currently have on our environment.”

Or at the very least, after you’ve had a cup of their coffee, you may think that is the case. In all seriousness, however, the ring of each Brewbudz pod comes from the skin of roasted coffee beans, whereas the lids combine compostable materials and inks. And when composted, these pods can break down in just weeks, leaving behind a fertilizer that leaves no toxic residue.

Brewbudz promises to work with all Keurig and Keurig 2.0 brewers, and because it contains a flower-based edible, its pods will not release oils that could otherwise clog a brewer. The pods also come in different dosage options, and customers are encouraged to choose from a number of dosing strengths infused with either sativa cannabis or indica, depending on whether they need a pick-me-up or a relaxer. Available beverages include West Coast Roast coffee; black, green, and herbal teas; and Decadent Dark Chocolate cocoa.

Brewbudz is now available in dispensaries throughout Nevada, and will soon come to Colorado and California.

Experience the bizarre reality of ‘Legion’ at Comic-Con’s Hololens demo

Why it matters to you

San Diego Comic-Con will play host to more than the usual exciting shows this year. You can get the most personal look at Legion yet, with this Hololens experience.

Fans of FX’s Legion TV series will get a feel of what it is like to not be able to trust reality itself at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, where a mixed reality experience will be available to demo using Microsoft’s Hololens headset. The idea is to put fans in the shoes of protagonist David Haller, where they can play out various scenes from the first season of the show, as well as giving them a sneak peek at season 2, RoadtoVR reports.

Over the past few years, as virtual and augmented reality platforms and software have blossomed into the growing industries that they are today, media properties have leveraged various technologies to augment shows and movies at various public events. Game of Thrones famously took fans atop the Wall in early versions of the Oculus Rift and now the Hololens is going to give Legion fans a better look at the mind of its main character.

It could be a perfect fit too, considering Haller’s grasp on reality is not exactly stable but leveraging augmented reality to show off the protagonist — and by extension, the player’s — powers to affect the real world, should also be a lot of fun.

The experience is being produced by Here Be Dragons, previously known for producing VR experiences for Mr. Robot, Ghost in the Shell, and a number of unaffiliated projects. It will let fans experience the world shown on the FX show, as well as give them a look at what they can expect in its second season — though for now, producers are remaining tight-lipped about how much they will actually see.

If you would like to try it yourself, you need to have access to the San Diego Comic-Con which takes place between July 20 and 23, though the experience won’t be located on the main show floor. You will find it at the companion FXHibition 2017, which will run alongside it at the Hilton Bayfront hotel.

You will need to make an advanced reservation, too, so make sure you get in there early if you want a chance to experience what it is like to step into the shoes of a supremely powerful mutant.

Close to the Metal Ep. 48: A breaking point for Bitcoin

Everyone’s been talking about Cryptocurrency for the last few weeks, and it’s not hard to see why. Bitcoin is reaching new value heights, while side projects like Lightcoin and Ethereum are beginning to gather steam and build hype. But a turning point is coming soon, and it’s going to rattle the cryptocurrency community.

Before we get to that, we’ll talk about how mining for Bitcoin has created a supply shortage of mid-range GPUs, something we saw a few years ago with AMD cards as well. Miners are buying them up for their power efficiency and high hash rate, as well as their appealing sub-$200 price point. That means AIB partners have completely run out of stock, and individual users have been taking to eBay and other secondary markets to sell their GPUs for well over face price.

Part of this newfound enthusiasm comes from a totally new cryptocurrency, Ethereum. It provides smart contracts that allow code to be executed when certain conditions are met. That makes transactions way easier than they would be by exchanging wallet codes and manually checking to see if the funds have arrived. Its value has stabilized since its split, something that Bitcoin may be about to experience as well.

August 1st is an important date for the Bitcoin community, as transactions have become so slow, there needs to be a change in how the system works to encourage continued market permeation. It represents the next evolution of the coin, and it could take Bitcoin in several different directions. Some parties are hoping for a split that would create New Bitcoin and Bitcoin Classic, although probably not with those names. Others hope for a solution that will keep Bitcoin in one piece. Either way, it will be exciting to watch, or a nail-biting experience if you’re invested.

Close to the Metal is a podcast from Digital Trends that takes a deep dive into computing and PC gaming topics. Each show, we’ll focus in on one topic, and leave no stone unturned as we show off the latest in hardware and software. Whether it’s the latest GPU, supercomputers, or which 2-in-1 you should buy, we break down the complicated jargon and talk about how user experience is affected in the real world. Please subscribe, share, and send your questions to podcast@digitaltrends.com. We broadcast the show live on YouTube every Tuesday at 1pm EST/10am PST.

Google opens submissions for the second annual Indie Games Festival

Why it matters to you

If you’re a mobile games developer who published an Android app in the past year, good news: You have a shot at winning Google’s second annual Indie Games Festival.

Last year, Google hosted the inaugural Indie Games Festival in San Francisco, a developer competition that highlighted “high-quality […] innovative and fun” Android games released in the preceding year. Now, in preparation for the second annual festival on September 23, it is opening submissions for developers based in the United States and Canada.

The terms are the same as last year’s contest. Prospective applicants must have 15 or fewer team members to qualify and games submitted must have been released at some point in the past year. Google will announce the winners in late September, ahead of October’s Indiecade conference in Los Angeles.

The festival’s 20 finalists will have the opportunity to demo their game at the event and compete for a chance at the top three grand prize spots. Google has not announced the prizes of this year’s Indie Game Festival, but last year’s haul included depth-sensing Tango hardware, tickets to this year’s Google I/O, and ad space in the Google Play Store.

The submission period ends on August 6 at 12 a.m. (PT).

The Indie Games Festival may be the most visible of Google’s game developer overtures but it is not the only one.

In March, the Mountain View, California-based company announced Indie Corner, a new section of the Play Store app store featuring a new, regularly updated collection of hand-picked titles.

And at its 2017 I/O Developer Conference in May, Google announced a slew of new tools aimed at boosting the visibility of apps in the Play Store, including a discoverability algorithm that surfaces titles based on user engagement and new Play Store pages curated by Google editors. Google said that one new feature — strike-through price promotions on paid apps and games that let developers temporarily list apps for free — generated “3x-20x lift in installs during […] promotions [and] maintained a nice lift once the sale ended.”

The reason behind Google’s aggressive developer recruitment boils down to competition. iOS apps tend to make more money than Android apps, and the iOS App Store brings in as much as 75 percent more revenue than the Play Store. Analytics firm App Annie projects that through 2021, the Play Store will generate less than half of the iOS App Store’s overall revenue.

But there is hope on the horizon for Android developers. In an analysis of foreign app stores by Tencent, Baidu, Xiaomi, Huawei, and others, collective Android app revenue is expected to eclipse iOS as soon as 2021.