Lyft auto-expenses your work rides

Ride-hailing apps aren’t just convenient for consumers — companies have embraced the services, too. Lyft enabled business profiles back in April 2016 to help customers differentiate between work and personal trips, but the onus was on the individual to file their rides. Today, Lyft is making it easier for individual clients to square rides with their companies by enabling auto-invoicing through Expensify.

Lyft clients using a business profile can set up this integration by selecting “Expensify” in the app’s settings, which adds the rides automatically to expense reports. Poof — no more forwarding receipts.

GoPro is testing its 360 VR camera with select broadcasters

It may not be out yet, but GoPro’s Fusion 360 VR camera will soon be used to capture UFC fights, news footage, and awards ceremonies. To showcase the device’s 5k resolution capabilities, GoPro is trialling the Fusion with partners such as Fox Sports, the Golden State Warriors, and USA Today.

The complete list of Fusion broadcasters also includes AccuWeather, Digital Domain, Getty Images, Legend 3D, Rapid VR, travel blogger Louis Cole, and RYOT (which is owned by Oath, Engadget’s parent company). GoPro claims it handpicked the first batch of pilot program partners based on their experiences with 360-degree storytelling.

It also probably helps that the likes of Fox Sports and the Golden State Warriors have massive online followings. This would essentially let them test out GoPro’s QuikStories smart editing software, which seems custom-built for distributing short-form video (like sports clips) on Facebook and Twitter. Although, Zuckerberg and co. would probably prefer broadcasters to use their 360 hardware instead.

When we tried out the Fusion last month, we concluded its success hinged on GoPro’s ability to combine the camera’s hardware with its editing apps. The pilot program may not answer that question, at least in regards to the Fusion’s appeal beyond media networks. However, it will give you some cool footage to look at while you wait for the camera to drop.

LiquidSky 2.0 beta puts any video game on any Android device

The LiquidSky 2.0 beta is live today in the Google Play Store, promising to let you play any game on any Android device via the magic of cloud streaming. Want to cruise around Grand Theft Auto 5 on your Pixel XL? Or maybe you’d rather wreck some fools in Overwatch on your Galaxy Tab S2? That’s what this update is all about.

LiquidSky gives each user a unique, virtual PC where they’re able to download new games and access their existing libraries via any storefront, including Steam, Humble Bundle, GOG, Origin, Blizzard and the ‘net. This unique PC shows up on any supported device (no Apple love for now), allowing folks to play everything from 8-bit adventures to AAA blockbusters on otherwise underpowered platforms.

Today’s LiquidSky 2.0 update brings the Android version on par with the ongoing Windows beta.

LiquidSky takes advantage of IBM’s public cloud infrastructure, tapping into data centers around the globe and scaling in real-time alongside demand. This approach addresses the scalability problem that crippled cloud-gaming companies like OnLive in the early 2010s: Without global cloud systems, OnLive had to purchase and install servers around the world as each new user logged on. It was an unsustainable approach and OnLive shut down in 2015.

“You have a million users flood in, you buy all these servers with massive capital up front, and those users are in different locations. There’s too much latency, and the only games you can play are Lego Batman and Lego Star Wars,” LiquidSky CEO Ian McLoughlin told Engadget in January. “So you’re left with this massive data center that you can’t do anything with, so they started essentially giving things away for free. Even then, they couldn’t get the users to enjoy the catalog. It was too soon before its time.”

LiquidSky has another advantage over game-streaming companies of yore: It’s free to access. Users have the option to watch ads (that’s the “free” version), purchase credits as they go (bundles start at $10), or pay monthly (at least $20 a month).

LiquidSky is, essentially, a streaming service, and the company recommends users stick to ethernet when possible. But, that completely misses the point of an Android version. So, if you’re going mobile, LiquidSky suggests 5Ghz WiFi or 4G — assuming your data plan can handle it.

Elon Musk buys his old X.com domain from PayPal

The most famous single-letter domain owner is without a doubt Elon Musk, whose company X.com eventually became PayPal. Unfortunately, when Musk was pushed out, the domain (with its aught-tastic logo, above) stayed behind with PayPal. However, the SpaceX and Tesla CEO has bought it back for an unknown sum, according to Domain Investing and a tweet by Musk. Nobody’s saying how much he paid, but as a term of reference, Z.com sold for around $6.8 million three years ago.

Whatever the price, the transaction seems to have been done on friendly terms. Musk’s tweet says “Thanks PayPal for allowing me to buy back X.com! No plans right now, but it has great sentimental value to me.” I’d be sentimental too — the $165 million he earned from PayPal, though it seems quaint nowadays, helped him launch SpaceX and Tesla, companies now valued at around $15 billion and $50 billion, respectively.

Thanks PayPal for allowing me to buy back https://t.co/bOUOejO16Y! No plans right now, but it has great sentimental value to me.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 11, 2017

X.com has been inactive, but Domain Investing noticed that the Whois had switched from PayPal to “private,” and the domain moved from MarkMonitor to GoDaddy. After the site reached out to PayPal, it eventually replied that “we are delighted to sell the domain X.com back to its previous owner, Elon Musk.”

The purchase price could come up in an SEC filing if it’s in the high seven or even eight figures, since both PayPal and Tesla are public companies. As for what Musk will do with it, he’s not saying, but this is a guy who dreams up things like Hyperloop in his spare time, so expect something from beyond left field.

Source: Domain Investing, Elon Musk (Twitter)

Apple Has ‘Just Weeks’ to Solve iPhone 8 Touch ID Dilemma

For all the rumors we’ve seen recently surrounding Apple’s upcoming “iPhone 8”, one of the most inconsistent remains the fate of its Touch ID fingerprint recognition technology in the redesigned flagship device, which is expected to launch in September.

In late May, supply chain sources suggested that Apple had overcome technical hurdles and that the OLED iPhone will have Touch ID integrated into the display. However, according to a report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo earlier this month, Apple plans to replace Touch ID in the iPhone 8 with a facial recognition security system – a prediction echoed by both JP Morgan analyst Rod Hall and Bloomberg.

In the latest throw of the dice, a report from investment publication Barron’s concludes that Apple is still struggling to put a fingerprint sensor under the glass of its next iPhone, and that the company has “just a couple of weeks” to solve the matter before its earnings estimates are at risk.

According to KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Andy Hargreaves, who contributed to the report, Apple has until August to either place orders for chips to run a fingerprint sensor, or miss that window and not have a fingerprint ID at all, or delay more significantly the release of the iPhone.

We believe it would typically take 12 weeks from placement of fingerprint IC orders to full volume production of iPhones. Consequently, if Apple is able to solve its fingerprint problems and place orders for fingerprint ICs before August, it would likely be able to reach volume production in late October or early November. We believe this remains Apple’s preferred path, and expect it would be acceptable to both consumers and investors. It is entirely unclear if Apple will be able to fix the problem in this time frame.

Hargreaves considers the possibility that Apple will replace Touch ID with facial recognition “increasingly likely” as time passes, but “far from ideal”. Echoing the thoughts of many observers, Hargreaves goes on to highlight the challenges a supposed replacement facial recognition security system would need to overcome to meet the standard of existing Touch ID, particularly with regard to authenticating Apple Pay.

We believe Apple’s facial recognition system solution should work from many angles and in low-light environments. However, it would not work without clear line of sight to the user’s face. Even if this encompassed just 5% of login scenarios, it would mean that several times a day the new iPhone would perform worse at an elemental feature than older iPhones, which would risk pushback from consumers. Further, we do not believe facial recognition would be initially qualified as an acceptable verification method for Apple Pay. While Apple could achieve this over time, the likelihood for an initial lack of Apple Pay could adversely affect demand.

Hargreaves concludes that if Apple thinks facial recognition isn’t sufficient by itself for login and authentication, then a delay in the retail availability of the OLED iPhone is “very unlikely, but possible”. But while the analyst believes a delay up until mid-November would not have an impact on investor expectations for the cycle, anything beyond that timeframe could have negative repercussions.

Alleged leaked ‘iPhone 8’ glass back panel via Weibo
Meanwhile, alleged leaks continue to trickle out into the social media sphere, the most recent coming today via Chinese microblogging service Weibo claiming to show an “iPhone 8” production glass panel back that has no cutout for a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Early rumors suggested Apple would relocate the sensor to the rear of the handset, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8.

Apple is thought to have incorporated 3D sensing technology in the forward-facing camera of its “iPhone 8”, which may perform a function in the purported facial scanning feature. Alongside the redesigned OLED iPhone, Apple is also expected to announce incremental updates to the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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Apple Offering Free Repairs of First-Generation Apple Watches With Detached Back Covers

If you have a first-generation Apple Watch with a separated back cover, Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will repair it free of charge, according to an internal service policy obtained by MacRumors.

Apple Watch with separated back cover via Reddit user PoorSpanaway
Apple recently extended the service policy’s coverage period to up to three years after the original purchase date. If you bought an Apple Watch in April 2015, for example, it is eligible for a free repair until April 2018.

Apple has determined that under certain conditions on some first-generation Apple Watch devices the back cover may separate from the watch case. Apple will service eligible devices free of charge. Apple will authorize coverage for three years from the date of purchase.

The service policy has been in effect since last year and applies to any first-generation Apple Watch, including Sport, Edition, and Hermès models, even if the device’s limited one-year warranty or extended AppleCare coverage has elapsed.

Affected customers can call an Apple Store and schedule a Genius Bar appointment, or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider, to initiate the repair process. Or, customers can call Apple Support to arrange shipment of the damaged Apple Watch to an Apple Repair Center in a postage paid box.

Apple advises customers inquiring about a refund for a previous Apple Watch back cover repair to contact Apple Support.

Several users have shared pictures of their first-generation Apple Watch with the back cover falling off on the Apple Support Communities, MacRumors discussion forums, Twitter, and elsewhere on the web. In many cases, the back cover detaches when the Apple Watch is removed from its magnetic charger.

Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, for example, shared a picture of his wife’s stainless steel Apple Watch with a detached back cover last October. He said the Apple Watch, purchased in May 2015, was providing erratic workout readings before coming apart after it was taken off of its magnetic charger.

I sure hope Apple uses better glue for their cars than they do for their watches. pic.twitter.com/JkIThwC5B7

— John Gruber (@gruber) October 3, 2016

While many customers report that Apple repaired their Apple Watch free of charge, some have been forced to pay out of pocket. Since the service policy has not been publicly announced, some Apple support representatives may be unaware of its existence. Escalating your request to a senior advisor may help.

Apple appears to have fixed the issue with its newer Series 1 and Series 2 models, perhaps by using a stronger adhesive.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch Series 2, watchOS 3, watchOS 4
Tag: AASP
Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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The LG Q6 has the G6’s beautiful wide screen, but won’t have its high price

Why it matters to you

Love the LG G6’s wide, almost bezel-less screen? The new LG Q6 features one very similar, but with a lower internal specification for a more affordable price.

Despite rumors that hinted otherwise, the LG G6 Mini doesn’t exist, and instead LG has launched the LG Q6, a smaller version of the excellent LG G6 released earlier this year. It is, in all but name, exactly what we would have expected an LG G6 Mini to be. That means a smaller screen, lower specs, and we’re guessing a more affordable price, too. LG has made three different versions of the LG Q6, all split by the amount of internal storage space and RAM they offer. Here’s everything you need to know about the Q6.

It’s the screen that will make you want to buy the Q6. Like the G6, it minimizes the bezels around it for a sleek, really modern style that LG calls FullVision. On the Q6 it measures 5.5-inches and has an unusual 2160 x 1080 pixel resolution — described as FHD+ — that’s longer than the standard 1920 x 1080 pixels we’re used to seeing on a midrange phone screen. The reason is the elongated 18:9 aspect ratio of the Q6’s screen, just like on the G6.

This makes watching some videos a really immersive, full-screen experience. Check out some of Netflix’s most recent original shows, such as Daredevil, for evidence, as there are no black bars around the screen. We love it on the G6, and the prospect of a cheaper phone providing a comparable experience is really enticing. The aspect ratio also means the screen can be split into two perfect squares, which LG uses to its advantage in the LG UX 6.0 user interface, particularly in its Square Camera widget.

Square Camera previews pictures while shooting them, makes cool collages, and perfectly crops pictures for sharing them on Instagram. It’s paired with a 13-megapixel rear camera, and a 5-megapixel wide-angle selfie camera. The G6’s wide-angle rear camera isn’t featured on the G6, but selfie fans will get to enjoy a 100-degree lens on the front, for fitting more people into the final image.

The Q6 has an 8.1mm thick aluminum chassis and a brushed metal effect, curved-edge rear panel, with an overall weight of 149 grams. However, it’s the dimensions of the phone that impress. It’s 142mm long and 69mm wide, with a 5.5-inch screen. The OnePlus 5 has the same size display, yet is 155mm long and 74mm wide. The Q6 is very compact, even with a large screen. A Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 processor powers the phone, and a 3,000mAh battery is inside, with Android 7.1.1 hidden underneath the LG UX 6.0 interface. Google Assistant is on board, along with NFC for Android Pay. LG’s also pushing a face recognition unlock feature on the Q6, but doesn’t go into detail on how it operates.

There are three Q6 models from which to choose. The regular Q6 comes with 32GB of storage space and 3GB of RAM, and will be sold in black, white, ice platinum, or terra gold. It’s joined by the Q6+ with 64GB/4GB, and the Q6ɑ (making it the Q6 alpha, rather than the Q6 A) with 16GB/2GB. The Q6+ comes in black, ice platinum, or marine blue, while the Q6ɑ substitutes the blue for terra gold. Asia will be first to see the Q6 on sale, starting in August, with Europe, Latin America, and North America following later on. Prices haven’t been announced yet, but the Q6 will inevitably cost less than the $650 G6.

LG says the Q6 is the first device in its Q series, so we should look out for more models in the future.

Microsoft HoloLens and Google Tango create a lifelike WWII tank experience

Why it matters to you

Here’s an awesome example of how augmented reality technology can be used to create enhanced educational experiences.

A key concept that’s described by the term augmented reality (AR) is the idea that technology can be used to create an enhanced version of the reality that we experience every day. AR solutions like Microsoft’s HoloLens, therefore, promise to let us experience reality — actual reality, not the fictional environments of virtual reality (VR) — in different and often incredibly helpful ways.

All kinds of different applications for AR have popped up since the technology was first introduced, from incredibly popular games like Pokémon Go to a host of scientific and medical uses for AR. Now, World of Tanks developer Wargaming is showing off a solution that it created for the TankFest 2017 event at the Bovington Tank Museum, as DualShockers reports.

The event was held at the end of June and entertained over 20,000 visitors with live demonstrations of some of the most important and impressive historical fighting vehicles. The museum is host to 300 tanks, and Wargaming is a natural sponsor for the event given the popularity of the World of Tanks game.

The company used HoloLens and Google Project Tango technology to create a life-sized virtual representation of an extremely rare World War II tank. Specifically, the technology models the German tank Sturmmörserwagen 606/4 mit 38 cm RW 61, also known as the “Sturmtiger.” The AR experience provides not only a static view of the Sturmtiger tank, but also shows it sliding into place next to real tanks while demonstrating in a 3D explosive effect how the rocket-assisted shells were fired out of the massive gun barrel.

Although the TankFest event is an active one, participants aren’t actually allowed to go inside the tanks that are on display. The AR solution, however, allowed just that, letting visitors gain a literal inside look at the Sturmtiger and therefore providing a vastly superior educational experience.

AR solutions continue to make their way into the mainstream, and the technology is likely to get a boost given Apple’s announcement of its own ARKit AR solution. The TankFest 2017 exhibit, therefore, is likely to become the norm sooner rather than later, as more organizations and companies embrace AR to make their own events more interactive.

Xiaomi allegedly readying a new smartphone lineup to go after OPPO and Vivo

Xiaomi is rolling out a third sub-brand targeted at the offline segment.

Late last year, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun outlined his vision for the brand in 2017, which included increasing its focus on the offline market. While Xiaomi’s online-only business model has worked in the past, the likes of OPPO and Vivo have made huge strides by focusing on the lucrative offline segment by creating a robust distribution network in tier 2 and tier 3 cities in China and India.

And it looks like Xiaomi is doing exactly that. According to Chinese publication MyDrivers, Xiaomi is launching a new smartphone lineup that will be aimed at the offline segment, with the company taking on OPPO and Vivo. The manufacturer has 137 Mi Home stores throughout China, and launching a device that will primarily be sold offline gives it a better chance to compete in this segment.

The third sub-brand will co-exist with the Mi and Redmi devices, and the first phone in the series is rumored to make its debut sometime before the end of July. MyDrivers also obtained a render of the upcoming phone, highlighting a dual camera setup and antenna lines that look eerily similar to that of the OnePlus 5. Not much else is known about the device, but it is likely to sport the same sensors as the Mi 6.

Selling a phone via a retail distribution network creates a lot of overhead, so the upcoming device may not offer the same value for money as the Mi 6 or the entry-level Redmi phones. Xiaomi is instead said to be prioritizing the design over the internal hardware, emulating what OPPO and Vivo have done to great effect in this category. We should know more about the sub-brand in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

How to get Google Home to softly lull you to sleep

Google Home acts as a white noise machine for when you’re having trouble drifting off into slumber.

Finding it hard to fall asleep with the blaring summer heat? Google Home is good for more than turning off the lights or playing back your favorite podcast. You can use it as a noise machine of sorts for when the current environment just isn’t your vibe. If you’re in the U.S., you can use these quick tricks to get the Assistant-enabled speaker to drown out the noise of the trains, planes, and automobiles outside your window and instead transport you to a serene nature scene — or whatever else you need to be to fall asleep.

Start by asking it nicely

It’s straightforward: All you have to do is utter Ok Google and then ask it to play ambient noise. If you’d rather listen to a particular sound, ask it to play river sounds, for instance, or play white noise if you’re simply in need of a little background ambiance. Google Home will play the audio for an hour if it isn’t manually turned off, and since it typically takes 10-20 minutes for the average person to fall asleep, that should be plenty of time for you to get settled into slumberland.

Sometimes, if you shout out the command, Google Home doesn’t seem to budge or understand where you’re getting at, and it can become frustrating and thus keep you from working on getting to sleep. If you’re finding yourself there, ask Google, What other ambient sounds do you know? Google Assistant will give you a rundown of what it can do. Or, you can peep this list from the official Google Home support page:

Relaxing sounds

Nature sounds

Water sounds

Running water sounds

Outdoor sounds

Babbling brook sounds

Country night sounds

Oscillating fan sounds

Fireplace sounds

Forest sounds

Ocean sounds

Rain sounds

River sounds

Thunderstorm sounds

White noise

What’s your favorite sound?

What do you like to fall asleep to at night? Let us know in the comments below!