Muse makes bizarre music video with AI and found footage

Artificial intelligence is all over the place these days, predicting our thoughts, protecting our crops, playing video games and even generating adorably weird pickup lines. British band Muse is getting in on the act now with a new AI-generated music video that pulls internet video footage of celebrities, politicians and artists to match the lyrics to the hit song, “Dig Down.” The result feels like even more political than the original video, which explores the consequences of technology within a media-fueled cyberpunk dystopia.

The video will update daily with newly scraped video that contains the words to the song; the AI tool then strings it all together and times the lyrics with the background music to create an oddly satisfying rendition of Muse’s tune. Each lyric is spoken by a different person, and is highlighted with subtitles to help the whole thing hang together. Today’s video includes clips from people like Donald Trump, Caitlyn Jenner and Ellen Degeneres, interspersed with a grid of cable news channels between spoken lyrics.

The project was put together by tech development agency Branger_Briz as a way to bring AI to the forefront of the artistic endeavor. “We think it’s important to have public discourse about the promise and perils of these emerging and incredibly influential technologies and it’s great to work with Muse to instigate those conversations,” said the agency in a statement.

Source: Muse

Qualcomm wants to ban iPhone imports with new Apple complaint

Qualcomm’s latest move in its rapidly escalating legal battle against Apple is bold. It filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission (ITC), saying that the import and sales of some models of iPhones is “unlawful” and is requesting that the commission “bar importation of those iPhones and other products.” According to Qualcomm, those devices “infringe one or more claims of six Qualcomm patents covering key technologies that enable important features and functions,” and constitute “unlawful and unfair use of Qualcomm’s technology.”

On top of that, Qualcomm is seeking a Cease and Desist Order to bar further sales of “infringing Apple products that have already been imported and to halt the marketing, advertising, demonstration, warehousing of inventory for distribution and use of those imported products in the United States.”

In other words, Qualcomm wants to make it impossible for Apple to sell any iPhones that it believes have used its technology without permission. It’s also seeking “damages and injunctive relief” via a complaint filed in the District Court for the Southern District of California.

According to Qualcomm, the six patents in question “enable high performance in a smartphone while extending battery life.” The company even made an infographic to show you how iPhones use these patented technologies.

It’s not yet clear which generations of the iPhone will be affected, or how the US ITC and the respective courts will rule. Just as Qualcomm countersued Apple earlier this year, it’s certain the iPhone maker will respond soon.

Via: CNBC

Source: Qualcomm

The Wirecutter’s best deals: Save $1,200 on a 55-inch LG OLED TV

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, they may earn affiliate commissions that support their work. Read their continuously updated list of deals here.

You may have already seen Engadget posting reviews from our friends at The Wirecutter. Now, from time to time, we’ll also be publishing their recommended deals on some of their top picks. Read on, and strike while the iron is hot — some of these sales could expire mighty soon.

LG C7 55-Inch OLED TV

Street price: $3500; MSRP: $3500; Deal price: $2300

While the update to our best TV guide is still in the works, this deal on our new upgrade pick is too good to pass up. This is the first and biggest sale we’ve seen on our upcoming upgrade pick, dropping it by $200 from the normal street price. Since this is the first sale, it’s hard to say how long this deal will last, but it is the best price we’ve seen so far. Stock is pretty low (15 at the time of posting) but as a high price tag item, it probably won’t sell out very quickly. Still, if you’re looking for a new TV and want the best picture quality, this is the time and price to pick it up.

The LG C7 55-Inch OLED TV is our upcoming upgrade pick in the update to our guide on the best TV. Chris Heinonen writes, “If you want the absolute best TV available regardless of price, the LG C7 OLED TV is your best bet. For people after the best image you can get, an OLED stands apart from everything else. The OLED image pops far more than an LCD and looks much better when viewed from the side.”

Apple iPad (5th Gen) 32GB

Street price: $330; MSRP: $330; Deal price: $300

Another drop on the 5th gen iPad lowers the price back to $300 for the 32GB model. This $30 off sale is also available for the 128GB size ($400 with discount). Silver, Gold, and Space Gray colors are all eligible for the discount in both storage capacities. We’ll continue to track the most recent generation of iPads for future sales, but right now this is as low as we’ve seen these models go. Shipping is free.

The 5th gen iPad is our new top pick in our Best Tablet guide. Dan Frakes and Nick Guy write, “The 2017 standard iPad—the 9.7-inch non-Pro model, officially called the “iPad (5th generation)”—is a familiar device. Its body is almost exactly the same as that of the 2014 iPad Air,2 and except for improved processors, its internals mostly match those of the iPad Air 2, the model it replaces (and our previous top pick). Yet the 2017 iPad remains the best tablet on the market for most people because of that familiarity: It shares its predecessor’s unique combination of performance, features, hardware quality, app selection, and accessory ecosystem, and improves on its value.”

Mackie CR Series CR3 Speakers

Street price: $100; MSRP: $100; Deal price: $70

While the update for the best computer speakers guide is still in the works, this is a new low price on our upcoming desktop speaker pick. This is $10 below the previous lowest price we’ve seen, and $30 below the normal street price. This is only the second time we’ve seen these speakers on sale, so it’s a great price and time to pick up these speakers. Shipping is free.

The Mackie CR Series CR3 is our upcoming pick in our guide to the best computer speakers. Brent Butterworth writes, “Our new recommended computer speaker, the Mackie CR Series CR3 speakers feature aux inputs, a headphone jack, a volume knob, plus they come with speaker wire and isolation pads. The built-in 50 watt amps give them plenty of power. They’re a clear standout for a sub-$100 speaker pair.”

Samsung Gear 360 Camera

Street price: $175; MSRP: $250; Deal price: $140

The 2016 Gear 360 continues to trend lower and lower in price. It now sits at $140, another new low price. This is no doubt due to the release of the 2017 model, which, while new, doesn’t necessarily guarantee an improvement since it takes a slightly different approach to 360 shooting. As of last month, we were still awaiting testing on that model. As a result, with the newest gen model sitting at around $50 more even on sale, this is still a great bargain on a 360 degree cam we really like for Samsung owners.

The Samsung Gear 360 is our Samsung owners pick in our guide to the best 360 degree camera. Jeff Carlson writes, “The Samsung Gear 360 would have been our top pick if not for its limited compatibility—it works with only a handful of recent Samsung phones. The Gear 360 offers better image resolution than the Ricoh Theta S in a compact two-lens design that lets you change settings and shooting modes directly without a connected smartphone. A removable battery and memory mean you can swap in spares as needed, and the included tripod/handgrip is useful and well-designed. In May, Samsung released a redesigned Gear 360 with support for iOS devices. We’ll test the new model soon.”

Because great deals don’t just happen on Thursdays, sign up for our daily deals email and we’ll send you the best deals we find every weekday. Also, deals change all the time, and some of these may have expired. To see an updated list of current deals, please go to The Wirecutter.com.

Jawbone is reportedly dead (again)

A little more than a year after rumors suggested Jawbone would shut down, it appears the company actually is. The Information reports it has begun liquidation proceedings and notices have been sent to creditors, with many employees moving on to founder Hosain Rahman’s new company Jawbone Health. According to its source, Jawbone Health will continue to service the company’s various devices while working on “health-related hardware and software services.” As far as its legal squabbling with Fitbit, that will continue.

The move lines up with a report from TechCrunch earlier this year, however it will mean a loss for many investors that contributed some $900 million to the company, which was previously valued at as much as $3 billion. Once upon a time Jawbone was known for high quality Yves Behar-designed Bluetooth headsets, and it eventually expanded to other products including speakers and fitness trackers.

Last year, the company said “Jawbone remains wholly committed to innovating in and building great wearables products. The company has never been more excited about its pipeline of technology and products and looks forward to sharing them when ready,” but it appears that plan has changed. We’ve contact Jawbone about the report, but have not received a response yet, this post will be updated if we do.

Source: The Information

Google Maps crowdsources info for wheelchair-accessible places

It’s important to know whether a restaurant or other building is accessible if you use a wheelchair. While Google already added this information to places in its Maps app a while ago, the company has just announced that it will be crowdsourcing a larger set of accessibility options to help those with wheelchairs know if places are accessible or not. Google claims it has added this valuable information to almost seven million places around the world.

According to a Google blog post, you’ll now be able to add even more accessibility details to places from Google Maps for Android. You simply open the main menu, tap “Your contributions,” then “Uncover missing info.” Sort by “Accessibility” to find places missing these details and then fill it in. We were unable to see these options in our own testing, so it’s possible the feature may roll out to users over time. Once people have added in this information, though, you’ll be able to see whether a place has wheelchair-accessible entrances, elevators, seating and parking using the desktop or mobile versions of Maps, as well as within Google Search on mobile. Google told Engadget that it has no information to share on an iOS or web-based way to add accessibility information, but reiterated that all users can see it via Maps and Search.

Source: Google

‘Halo 5’ will run in ‘true 4K’ on Xbox One X

Halo 5 is getting the “true 4K” treatment with the Xbox One X. During Halo 5’s pre-release hype cycle, Microsoft said that it was so focused on hitting 60 frames per-second with the game that there weren’t any sacred cows — including split-screen co-op, a series staple. Maybe don’t expect that to return with the Xbox One X’s more powerful innards, though.

More than that, by year’s end, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST and Halo 4 will all be backwards compatible on Xbox One. You know, if you didn’t already own the Halo: The Master Chief Collection of remasters. In a blog post, Microsoft says that every Xbox 360 add-on map pack will be made free on the Xbox Store. You’ll even be able to hook an Ethernet cord between Xbox Ones and Xbox 360s for a cross-generation LAN party if you’re so inclined.

Microsoft is easing even more for this year (2017 is Halo 3’s 10th anniversary, after all) and you can catch all the details at the source link below.

Source: Halo Waypoint

Mars is even more toxic to life than we thought

We haven’t found life on Mars yet, but the discovery of organic molecules in the soil and atmosphere have left many hoping that it’s just a matter of time before we do. However, recent experiments may have thrown some cold water on these dreams. Scientists have studied compounds within Martian soil and discovered that they are toxic when combined with Mars’ UV rays.

We’ve suspected that Mars was home to perchlorates since the Viking Lander missions four decades ago; the discovery was confirmed by more recent rovers. However, scientists were divided on what it could mean. Some have argued that the presence of perchlorates on Mars actually might increase the likelihood of finding life on the red planet. Not only do perchlorates lower the freezing point of liquid water, but these compounds could be used as an energy source for bacterial life. After all, one type of perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, is currently used as solid rocket fuel.

According to their published findings in the journal Scientific Reports, scientists took common Earth bacteria, mixed them with Martian perchlorates and then exposed them to UV rays similar to those on Mars. The results were definitive: Bacteria were wiped out twice as quickly when perchlorates were present. Upon adding in other components found in Martian soil, iron oxide and hydrogen peroxide, the results were even worse: Bacteria were killed 11 times faster than with just perchlorates. The paper states, “These data show that the combined effects of at least three components of the Martian surface, activated by surface photochemistry, render the present-day surface more uninhabitable than previously thought.”

There is one upside to this discovery, though. While it’s unlikely at this point that we’ll find life on the surface of Mars (underground is still a possibility), the results of this study alleviate concerns about Earth-based bacteria contaminating the surface of Mars. While we should continue to take care when sending anything into outer space, any microscopic Earth-based life that hitches a ride to Mars will likely be killed by Mars’ toxic conditions.

Via: The Guardian

Source: Scientific Reports

Researcher uses Game Boy Camera to capture 2-bit photos of space

The Game Boy Camera, released in 1998, wasn’t even close to the weirdest peripheral for Nintendo’s classic handheld console and even earned a Guinness World Record for the smallest digital camera in the world. Its 2-bit, 128 x 128 pixel CMOS sensor managed very grainy black-and-white shots, making it far more fun than technically impressive. And yet, a Dutch researcher and tinkerer just used one to catch some charmingly blocky photos of the moon and Jupiter.

Astrogphrapher Alexander Pietrow used a universal cell phone mount to strap one of the 29-year-old monochrome workhorses to an appropriately old telescope (built in 1838) in Leiden University’s Old Observatory and aimed at at the stellar bodies.

The resulting photos are barely detailed — Jupiter is half a dozen pixels wide — but they’re blocky in a charming throwback to the original Game Boy’s 8-bit graphical style. Pietrow even managed to pick out three of the gas giant’s moons, singular pixels in a field of star dots. (Note that the image below has been blown up 400 percent to make it visible, since the Game Boy Camera takes photos at a whopping 112 x 128 pixel resolution.)

Maybe it doesn’t do much for astronomy as a field, but it’s a lovely reminder that space still fascinates at any resolution — that we still find meaning when stretching for the cosmos with the crudest of tools.

Via: PetaPixel

Source: Alexander Pietrow

Qualcomm Seeks iPhone and iPad Import Ban in the United States

The legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple continues to escalate, with Qualcomm asking the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) to block imports of select iPhone and iPad models, reports Fortune. Qualcomm also wants to stop sales of devices that are already in the United States and has filed a new patent infringement case against Apple in the Southern District of California.

According to Qualcomm, Apple is infringing on six Qualcomm patents related to carrier aggregation and technologies that are designed to allow iPhones to save battery life while communicating. The six patents cited by Qualcomm were granted between 2013 and 2017 and are not licensed or standard-essential patents that are part of the ongoing Qualcomm v. Apple battle over royalty payments.

Qualcomm is asking the ITC to block all iPhones that are equipped with LTE chips from competing mobile communications companies, which would include AT&T and T-Mobile iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus models equipped with Intel chips, along with some iPad models. In an interview, Qualcomm lawyer Don Rosenberg said Qualcomm is pursuing another lawsuit and an import ban because Apple is not willing to pay for the technology it uses.

“If Apple was a willing licensee and Apple was someone who was, like everybody else, willing to pay for what they use, we wouldn’t be suing them on these patents,” Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm’s general counsel, said in an interview. “But they’re not, and we felt we were put in a position, given all the lawsuits they’ve brought against us around the world, of not simply having to defend ourselves but having to take some affirmative action ourselves.”

As noted in Qualcomm’s ITC request, a possible ban on the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, and future iPhones wouldn’t happen for approximately 18 months, so it would not affect the devices Apple plans to release in September of 2017. Qualcomm expects the ITC to look into the complaint in August and schedule a trial for 2018, and it believes the new patent infringement case filed today could be put on hold until the ITC makes a decision on the import ban.

The dispute between Apple and Qualcomm kicked off in January, when the FTC complained that Qualcomm had engaged in anticompetitive patent licensing practices. Apple sued Qualcomm for $1 billion shortly after, accusing the company of charging unfair royalties for “technologies they have nothing to do with” and refusing to pay quarterly rebates.

Qualcomm countersued in April, accusing Apple of breaching licensing agreements, making false statements, and encouraging regulatory attacks against Qualcomm, which prompted Apple to stop making royalty payments to Qualcomm entirely until a court can determine the proper amount due.

Since then, the two companies have been fighting a bitter public battle. Apple in late June expanded its lawsuit against Qualcomm and accused the wireless chipmaker of “double-dipping” with unfair patent licensing agreements. According to Apple, Qualcomm has overcharged it by billions of dollars, while Qualcomm says its innovations are “at the heart of every iPhone.”

Alongside its dispute with Apple, Qualcomm is also now facing an FTC lawsuit for using anticompetitive tactics to remain the dominant supplier of baseband processors for smartphones.

Tags: lawsuit, Qualcomm, Patent lawsuits
Discuss this article in our forums

Jawbone Going Out of Business as CEO Moves on to New ‘Jawbone Health Hub’ Startup

In May of last year, speaker and fitness tracker company Jawbone ended production of its fitness trackers and started seeking a buyer for its speaker business, leading to speculation that the company was going out of business.

Jawbone denied claims that it was shutting down and planned to pivot to medical products for direct sale to clinical practitioners, but that may not have panned out, as The Information reports that the business is officially shutting down.

Jawbone has reportedly started liquidation proceedings and notices have been sent out to its creditors.

Jawbone co-founder and CEO Hosain Rahman has moved on to a new company called Jawbone Health Hub that is designed to make “health-related hardware and software services.” Many existing Jawbone employees have already transitioned to the new company.

Jawbone Health will reportedly service existing Jawbone products, which may allow existing Jawbone customers to get help with their devices. Jawbone has been ignoring customer service requests for several months, making customers unhappy. Starting in January, Jawbone customers were unable to contact Jawbone support and did not receive responses to service requests for faulty products.

Tag: Jawbone
Discuss this article in our forums