2017 July | AIVAnet

Jul

Japan reveals its plans to send a manned mission to the moon

Why it matters to you

We may be decades past the Cold War, but that doesn’t mean that countries’ interest in space has waned in the slightest.

The space race may have begun with two major participants in the form of the United States and the Soviet Union (since reduced to Russia), but now, decades later, there are many more contenders for the title of top dog in the extraterrestrial regions. According to a new report from CNN, Japan is looking to put a man on the moon by 2030, perhaps putting the nation in direct competition with its nearby Asian neighbor, China.

The plans for lunar travel were revealed by a new and ambitious proposal by the government’s Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The proposal was submitted by a panel at Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, CNN reported, which oversees the goals and missions of Japan’s space exploration program.

However, Japan isn’t necessarily looking to take all the glory for itself. Rather, according to a JAXA spokesperson, the hope is for a multinational manned lunar probe to reach the moon sometime in the next several years. After all, having several countries bear the cost of what would likely be an expensive mission is an economical way to advance science without depleting the coffers.

Japan would contribute the technology needed to send the spacecraft to the moon, and preparations for such a mission would be slated to begin in 2025. A more detailed plan for the future of Japan’s goals beyond this planet are set to be released before Japan’s International Space Exploration Forum in March 2018.

This marks the first time that JAXA has made public any plans to have Japanese astronauts explore space beyond the International Space Station. But it’s just one of several far-reaching plans Asian countries have recently set forth.

For example, in December of last year, China announced its own intentions to send a rover to Mars by 2020, and a manned moon mission in the coming years, too.

And India has plans of its own, too — after becoming the fourth country to visit the moon in 2008, it hopes to send a second unmanned mission to the moon in the first half of 2018.

So buckle up, friends. It looks like we’re in for quite an exciting ride to space in the near future.

Jul

In-car service Cargo provides you with snacks you didn’t know you needed

Why it matters to you

If you use Uber or Lyft often, you might soon find Cargo in your ride. You’ll be able to purchase a variety of different products like snacks, phone chargers, and personal care items all through your mobile device.

What’s better than a vending machine filled with anything you might possibly need while on the go? An Uber or Lyft that includes a mini version of exactly that. Cargo is a new in-car service that connects riders with a variety of products, all packed neatly into a clear box resting on the center console of the car.

Founded by former Birchbox employees last year, the company recently launched in Boston and New York and has thousands of signups in over 40 states. Its mission is to not only provide riders with essential items while traveling but to also help drivers earn extra money and higher ratings.

Drivers earn money for each product they sell along with bonuses for hitting sales goals. On average, a Cargo driver can earn anywhere between $100-150 per month, with some earning almost $300. It might also be the incentive Uber needs to keep the firm from losing more drivers.

We tried CarGo out for ourselves and the experience was pretty seamless. Upon entering the Uber, you’re greeted with a box of goodies placed conveniently in the middle of the vehicle. There were tons of different things to choose from like Skittles and Rice Krispies treats for hungry passengers, along with Advil and 5-hour Energy shots for anyone in a slump.

Considering it all started by pairing up with Uber drivers, purchasing a few clear containers, a card reader, and some sign-making — Cargo has definitely seen some major upgrades since its early stages, Jeff Cripe the company’s co-founder and CEO, told Digital Trends. Now, it is one of the few startups granted access to Uber’s API.

The process to purchase an item is simple. You type in the URL and code listed on the Cargo box into the web browser on your phone, and the menu of items will appear on your screen along with the price. After you choose what you’d like and type in your credit card information, your driver will receive a confirmation text message with the specific items you chose to then hand off to you.

There are also some complimentary items available to add to your purchases, to encourage passengers to try new products they’ve yet to discover. Although they’re still in their early stages, they include exclusive rideshare offerings from familiar names like Mars and Kellogg’s.

While some may wonder why there’s no actual app in place, going through a web browser won’t take up space on your phone. Not to mention, the company’s goal is to ultimately integrate with Uber in the future — that way, it’ll conveniently be available in the Uber app.

It’s definitely not something we expected to be a necessity, but experiencing it first-hand proved otherwise. In a city like New York everyone is always in a hurry and the subways are almost always running on delays, so the next best option is a Lyft or an Uber. Having items like granola bars, phone chargers, and even beauty products on hand — along with USB charge ports connected to the box — is a great way to boost your stamina during those long work day or nights.

Jul

Are you seeing the ‘jelly scrolling’ effect on your OnePlus 5?

oneplus-5-android-central-app.jpg?itok=n

People always hone in on something with each new phone.

Now that we’re past the initial launch and fascination with the OnePlus 5, and many people have them in their hands, we’re all starting to focus in on the finer points of how the phone operates. Throughout multiple launch-day OTAs, and talk about the cameras, one thing has cropped up consistently: so-called “jelly scrolling.”

The effect refers to how the screen is responding to touch when scrolling. Some say it’s most noticeable in the home screen, while others see it when scrolling through long pages in the browser or other apps. We’re seeing mixed reports in our OnePlus 5 forum.

dannyar11
06-28-2017 10:10 AM

“

I did indeed get that jelly effect on my app launcher and thought it was just me being picky. This concludes that it wasn’t in my head. I even tried playing with the nova settings to get it to smooth out to no avail. Sent my phone back for unrelated issue but this reassures my decision to send back this overpriced “flagship killer”

Reply

The toughest thing about diagnosing the “jelly scrolling” is that only some people are seeing it — and further to that point, those who do see it often find it’s intermittent.

J R Mtz
06-30-2017 12:09 AM

“

Definitely not in my phone. Screen work great. See ya!!

Reply

For it’s part, this is the official statement from OnePlus on the situation:

The OnePlus 5 uses the same level of high-quality components as all OnePlus devices, including the AMOLED display. We’ve received feedback from a small number of users saying that at times they notice a subtle visual effect when scrolling. This is natural and there’s no variance in screens between devices.

Confirmation from the company that all OnePlus 5s are using the same display gives one less thing to point to when trying to figure out why some people see this effect while scrolling and others do not.

Speaking with the few people here at AC who have the OnePlus 5, it hasn’t been an issue for us. Looking back at the hundreds of phones we’ve used, there has always been some kind of characteristic or behavior in the screen or software of each phone that’s a little different from others. It’s to be expected — the only question is whether or not the OnePlus 5’s characteristics bother you to the point of turning you away.

So, are you noticing any weird behavior in scrolling on your OnePlus 5? Let us know in the comments below, and join the discussion in the OnePlus 5 forum!

OnePlus 5

Complete OnePlus 5 review
OnePlus 5 specs
Which OnePlus 5 model should you buy?
Camera comparison: OnePlus 5 vs. Galaxy S8
The latest OnePlus 5 news
Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus

Jul

Your Apple Pay purchases can help preserve national parks

If you’re buying anything from any Apple Store, Apple.com or the App Store in the US, you may want to consider paying with the company’s mobile wallet. For every Apple Pay transaction at its official outlets, Cupertino will donate $1 to the National Park Foundation. Sure, that’s a such a tiny fraction of a MacBook Pro’s retail price, but if you’re buying one anyway, might as well help preserve America’s National Parks. The foundation will use your contribution for conservation projects and other initiatives, including programs encouraging the youth to help with its efforts.

In a statement released by the company, Apple chief Tim Cook said “America’s national parks are an inspiration to [them] at Apple.” He added that the their “goal is to leave the world better than [they] found it, so this July [they’re] making it easier for anyone to help preserve the beauty of our natural, cultural and historical treasures.” Considering Apple named the 11th OS X “Yosemite,” we think it’s only right that the company is trying to give back.

You can participate in the event whatever version of Apple Pay you use, whether you pay via iPhone, Apple Watch or a MacBook running Sierra. However, Cupertino will only donate $1 on your behalf if you make your purchase from July 1st until the 15th.

Via: CNET

Source: Apple

Jul

The Morning After: Weekend Edition

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to the weekend. The feds have made an arrest following the Fyre Festival debacle, and no, it’s not Ja Rule or any Instagram influencer. We’ll also dig into this week’s retro gaming news with a look at StarCraft Remastered and the SNES Classic Edition.

Who didn’t see this coming?Fyre Festival founder arrested, charged with wire fraud

Remember Fyre Festival? The Instagram influencer-pushed, millennial-targeting Bahamas disaster from April? The FBI does, and now it has arrested the man behind it, Fyre Media founder Billy McFarland. He’s facing a charge of wire fraud for allegedly lying to potential investors about how much money the company was making and his financial resources.

Zerg rush in 4K‘StarCraft: Remastered’ arrives August 14th

Blizzard has announced the release date and price ($15) for its upcoming StarCraft re-release. The remastered version will include the original game and its Brood War expansion, retouched with new graphics and audio (that can be toggled on/off at the press of a button) in Ultra HD, as well as a modernized multiplayer setup with matchmaking and leaderboards. Pre-orders are open now.

Newsflash: Nintendo likes making moneyThe SNES Classic is real and will launch September 29th

In another bit of nostalgia-fueled gaming news, Nintendo announced that it would follow up last year’s NEC Classic Edition with this SNES version. The SNES Classic Edition will be another closed system, however for $80 you can expect controllers with longer cords this time. In the US, it will not only include hit games like Super Mario World, Super Mario Kart, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Donkey Kong Country, F-Zero, Super Metroid, Mega Man X and Yoshi’s Island, but also the never-released Star Fox 2 game. It’s mostly good news — unless you’re hoping for an N64 Classic.

Every day is the same dayBad Password: The hot new cyberattack that’s sweeping the nation

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It’s hard to tell which infection was worse: Tuesday’s cyberattack itself or the race to write and publish something (anything!) about it, framing it just like the last “massive” cyberattack explosion to hit the whole world. Outside of Ukraine, columnist Violet Blue notes that Petya/NotPetya’s next biggest hit was infosec Twitter. Take a look for some advice on how to interpret headlines during the (inevitable) next outbreak.

Its first iteration lasted from 1958 to 1973Revived National Space Council will guide Trump admin policy

As President Trump said to Buzz Aldrin yesterday, “This is infinity here. It could be infinity. We don’t really know. But it could be. It has to be something — but it could be infinity, right? Okay.”

Just in time for the holiday weekend‘GTA Online’ update brings new multiplayer mode and patriotic swag

Don’t get left off of the new Dewbauchee Vagner supercar.

But wait, there’s more…

Vivo beats Apple to an under-display fingerprint scanner
The rise of electric cars will kill the gas station
‘Rocket League’ is the latest X Games eSport on ESPN
Amazon Echo Show review: Seeing is believing
‘Silicon Valley’s’ ridiculous Not Hotdog app hits Android

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you’ll miss if you don’t subscribe.

Jul

Espin Sport Electric Bike Review

EsDear Espin: Sorry about crashing your very nice pedal-assist ebike, the new Espin Sport. But thanks for making a tough bike that was still rideable after the crash! More on all that later in our eSpin Sport ebike review.

Digital Trends has several daily bike commuters, and we see more and more people with electric bikes — the majority of them being “pedal-assist” types. That’s great news, and there’s good reason for it: Prices have come down, integration of the electrical components keeps improving, and once you get a taste of the hill-flattening potential of that electric motor, it’s hard to go back to huffing your way up yonder rise under pure pedal power.

So it is with the Espin Sport, ($1,888 MSRP but available for much less) a commuting tool sporting a 418 watt-hour battery wired up to a 350-watt in-hub electric motor in the back wheel. Espin sent us the Sport just in time for the Portland area to get walloped by consecutive snow and ice storms earlier this year, but at long last, nature relented and dialed up some warmer, drier weather to field test their machine. And test it we did.

The Espin Sport setup

The matte black Espin Sport we received (it also comes in white) features numerous commuter-friendly bits, including dual cable-actuated Tektron disc brakes, wide bars with ergo grips, a Suntour suspension fork, 8-speed Shimano Acera rear cassette (the crank sports a single main chainring), a large battery that cleanly integrates into the front downtube, phat beach-cruiser style tires, a very bright LED headlight mounted above the front wheel and a rear rack for loading up baggage.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The only thing lacking out of the box was a rear tail light, which I simply borrowed from my regular commuter bike — and fenders, which Espin said were an option. They promptly sent along a pair after we requested them because: Oregon.

As mentioned, the Espin Sport is a pedal-assist bike, meaning power only flows to the rear wheel while you are pedaling; there’s no throttle on the bars to operate it like an electric motorcycle. Pedal-assist ebikes are the most common type of electric bike on the market today.

The rear wheel’s electrical power is controlled by a small pod on the left handlebar, and includes 5 levels of power assist (six if you count “none”). A motion detector on the front chainring prods the motor into action after about two rotations of the crank, and the power is applied somewhat abruptly, especially if you’ve got it set at level 3 or above (5 being maximum power).

A good ebike’s advantage over an old-school pedal-only bicicletta is the ability to flatten hills, and the Espin shined in this most important metric.

But let’s be clear: The bike won’t buck you off or shoot out into traffic. Yet it can surprise you a bit at upper assistance levels while riding at very low speeds, especially when you’re just getting used to the bike. After a few miles of riding, it became second nature to expect the push from the rear tire and to set power levels as needed while riding.

We quickly learned to use the motor’s convenient thumb controller like a front derailleur shifter, keying both the motor and rear gears up and down as we navigated Portland’s bike-clogged streets. The 2 setting was ideal for powering away from a stop or operating at low speed, but once underway, we clicked through the clean-shifting rear gears while upping power output for brisk acceleration that left other riders eating our dust. In top gear (8th) and with assist at 5 (maximum), it was easy to power along at 25mph in perpetuity, flying by stopped car traffic and other cyclists on our 8-mile commute. The assist does sign off at 25mph or so however, and that was about the max we could muster on level ground. Trust us: On a bicycle, 25mph is a solid clip, especially on gravel-strewn bike lanes. In the rain. At night.

Seat time

Some immediate shortcomings of the bike include the seat, which Espin calls a “comfort saddle.” It was anything but, to gauge by our aching butts. Simple fix: we swapped out the stock saddle for a more familiar one from our regular ride, along with the pedals (we use toeclips), and were good to go.

A not-comfy seat isn’t really a big negative: The saddle may be a perfect fit for other riders, and anyone settling into a bicycle commuting routine should expect to customize their bike so it fits just right. That can mean a different seat, pedals, bars, grips, panniers, tires and so on. Bikes aren’t cars; even the best electric bikes require tweaking.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Meanwhile, zooming up to intersections at speeds more common to cars highlighted an issue with the Espin: lackluster brakes. Despite cable-pulled discs on both wheels, initial performance was poor — so poor that we couldn’t lock the rear wheel, a glaring shortcoming for any disc brake setup.

As we continued to ride and use the binders, they began to bed in, and after a few days of riding, bite was much better and leaving skidmarks was no longer an issue. Still, we’ll call them average compared to the top-quality (and much more spendy) hydraulic discs on a Bosch-equipped Felt ebike. A longer period of riding would see continued performance improvement, one hopes, but Espin buyers should be aware of the break-in period. And again, they’re upgradeable through any competent bike shop.

Kicked by a curb

The eye-opening advantage of a good electric bike over a pedal-only bicicletta is its ability to flatten hills, and the Espin shined in this most important metric.

I never saw the curb, but did hit it at full speed. Bike, rider and cargo went spinning ass over teakettle in a crash quite worthy of the “yard sale” cliche.

Gearing down to climb the “optional really steep hill” on our homeward commute, the Espin fairly sprinted up the grade while we sat on the seat and grinned, pedaling with some decent resolve but not much else. The digital speedo on the LCD panel showing 17mph as we crested the top. As anyone who has ground out a steep hill in granny gear at walking speed can tell you, doing 17mph up a hill on a bike is a nearly superhuman feat; the Espin made it easy.

But one ride home would add a whole new dimension to our Espin Sport review.

Hustling home one night down a busy street at car-traffic speeds (25 or so), we adjusted course to connect with a commuter train. The intersection is usually clogged with pedestrians and vehicles, but since it was later in the evening, the area was clear. We headed straight for the gentle ramp up to the train platform. Bad idea.

Just in front of the ramp, a 6-inch concrete curb lay in wait, unpainted and blending perfectly with the concrete around it. Even with the retina-burning glare from the excellent headlight, we never saw the curb and hit it full on, never touching the brakes. Bike, rider, and cargo went spinning ass over teakettle.

Kind folks waiting for the train came rushing over to help, while a not-so-kind person pocketed a new iPhone that skittered across the platform. Yes, there are bad people in this world.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

As we felt for broken bones and glasses and gathered our detritus, we grimaced at a mental picture of the Espin after that hammering. A young man approached with a long object in his hands — the bike’s battery — and helped get the bike off the train tracks where it had come to rest. We expected the worst: Taco’d rim? Bent front forks? Cracked frame? All of the above?

But a quick inspection only revealed some scrapes, and the battery clicked right back into the frame. A busted plastic mount for the LCD panel was the sole broken bit on the bike.

Wits returning (and ribs hurting), we powered up the bike, which responded immediately. We rode the final mile home without incident. That’s one tough bike.

(That stolen iPhone? With an assist from Find My iPhone and the Portland Police, it was back that night. Crime doesn’t pay, fool.)

Charge it

Juicing the large battery that slips into the Espin’s lower frame spar is simple enough. A small key unlocks the battery and the included A/C adapter plugs right into it. A green light means it’s charged.

The battery clicks back into the frame in a few seconds, no key needed. The A/C adapter is similar to modern laptop chargers, so it’s small enough to pop into a bag or pannier for the trip, allowing you to recharge the battery anywhere. Allow several hours to recharge the pack if it’s totally dead; a useable partial charge can be had over a lunch break.

Espin also included a fair amount of gear with the bike, including a Kryptonite U-lock/cable lock kit and a bike multi-tool. We only lacked for a pedal wrench and a few other common tools. And while the Espin includes a very bright headlight, there was no taillight in the box, which seems like an oversight.

Warranty

Espin pedal-assist eBikes come with a 12-month warranty for all components and a 3-year warranty for the frame.

Our Take

Espin integrates the electrical systems beautifully, and from a distance, it’s tough to tell this is even an ebike at all. There are no obvious motors and the battery fairly disappears into the fat lower frame. Plus there are no apps to connect with, no complicated setup, and no weirdness to deal with; integration, simplicity, and flexibility are the future of the genre, and Espin is ahead of the game in many regards. Add to that the toughness of the bike as tested and you’ve got a solid product, especially at the $1,500 price point. If the price tag smarts, Espin recently announced a financing program to get you riding.

Is there a better alternative?

Bosch has partnered with numerous bike makers to add their motor pod and battery system to bikes of every stripe, but that system is typically double or nearly triple in cost depending on the bike and isn’t nearly as well integrated as the eSpin setup. Indeed, many other bikes in this category costs several thousand dollars, such as the Specialized Turbo Vado, which goes for about $4,500.

We recommend the Strommer ST2 S for commuters, but its $10,000 price tag may make your hands sweatier than a downhill trailride. The $1,888 price tag of the Espin puts it in a category you might frankly be wary of, but don’t be. The integration, performance, toughness and price of the eSpin make it a solid value. You can spend a whole lot more, but why?

How long will it last?

Maintenance is key to making a bike last. The eSpin is a bicycle first, so expect to deal with drive train tuneups, brake pads and bearing play as the miles pile up — usual bike stuff. Some attention to the battery is also needed, but with proper care, the eSpin should give riders many years of faithful service. The biggest question mark is the battery’s life span: will eSpin be around in 5 or 10 years to sell you a replacement?

Should you buy it?

Yes. the Espin Sport is a great value and a solid performer. Want to get exercise and maybe shave a few (or many?) minutes off your commute? Hills got you scared? Espin’s Sport is a great choice for both long-time roadies and those looking to finally escape the costs and wasted time of sitting in automobile traffic.

Jul

OnePlus is once again misleading customers in India

A phone that went on sale three days ago cannot be the “highest-grossing phone ever.”

The OnePlus 5 went on sale in India and other global markets earlier this week, and the brand promptly announced two days after sales kicked off that the device was the highest-grossing phone on Amazon India during a launch week.

As a result, Amazon announced that it was extending its SBI cashback offer — which sees SBI credit and debit card holders receiving a ₹1,500 cashback on the phone — until July 2. OnePlus is now touting the extension of the cashback offer via a text message that’s going to everyone who registered an interest in its latest phone, which according to Amazon is over 1 million people. Conveniently, the company removed the “at launch” reference from the message, making it seem like the OnePlus 5 is the highest-grossing phone ever.

oneplus-5-india.jpg?itok=hkgs70Wt

The text in its entirety reads, “Thanks for making OnePlus 5 the highest-grossing phone ever! Avail Rs 1500 cashback on SBI cards till 2nd July. Shop now! https://oneplusstore.in/5.” If you’re looking to compare, here’s the tweet the company sent out a few days ago:

The #OnePlus5 is now the highest grossing phone in the launch week on @amazonIN! A huge thanks to our community who made this feat possible pic.twitter.com/IodKYsFBpy

— OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) June 29, 2017

OnePlus removed the Amazon India reference, as well as the bit about the phone being the highest-grossing during the first week of launch. This isn’t the first time the company misled customers — earlier this year, it rolled out a huge advertising campaign starring Amitabh Bachchan in which it said that the OnePlus 3T was the “highest-rated smartphone” in the country, pitting it against the S7 edge, Pixel, and the iPhone 7 Plus.

The ad was based on the Kaun Banega Crorepati format (India’s version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire), to which Sony owns the rights. Citing copyright infringement and “unfair competition,” Sony requested the Delhi High Court to get the ad off the air, and it succeeded:

We put the defendants on notice hoping that they will stop this brazen and illegal act. We were forced to go to court when we failed to get a response. What made the need for legal action even more necessary is that the defendants were actually glorifying the approach towards this type of advertising, even after receipt of the notice.

OnePlus scaled back on dubious marketing tactics in other regions over the course of the last year, but the same cannot be said of its Indian unit.