Swim support and Spotify streaming rumored for Samsung’s Gear Fit 2 Pro

Why it matters to you

The Gear Fit 2 Pro set to become a more comprehensive fitness tracker than its predecessor with the addition of swim support.

Samsung may be focusing most of its efforts on the Galaxy Note 8, but rumors are gathering the company may have a new wearable device to announce alongside the big-screen phone. It’s called the Gear Fit 2 Pro, and it’s rumored to be an evolution of the Gear Fit 2, one of our favorite fitness tracking wristbands.

If the leaks are correct, it’s clear why the Gear Fit 2 Pro doesn’t really deserve the name Gear Fit 3. Its design is very similar to the Gear Fit 2, and the features are general updates over the existing model. The alterations made to the original Gear Fit to create the Gear Fit 2 were far greater. The gently curved screen stays on, and is snugly integrated with a silicone body with a plastic underside, presumably where a heart rate monitor will live.

There is one difference between the Gear Fit 2 and Fit 2 Pro that the leaked images highlight: The end of the press-stud fixing, and the introduction of a watch-like clasp. This makes the Gear Fit 2 Pro look more mature, and should make it more secure on the wrist. The leak shows a black and red Gear Fit 2, but we’d expect to see different colors offered at launch.

What’s new? The Gear Fit 2 Pro will be swim-proof, and water-resistant to 5 ATM, unlike the IP68 rated Gear Fit 2. Additionally, Samsung has apparently integrated support for a Speedo app, which we assume is the Speedo Fit platform. Aside from the swimming aspect, no other changes to the fitness tracking side have been rumored for the Gear Fit 2 Pro, though it may come with a subscription to Under Armour’s premium Record fitness management platform.

Samsung wants you to wear the Gear Fit 2 Pro and not have to carry your phone. In addition to introducing GPS on the new wearable, it’s expected to add offline Spotify music playback. This should mean you can download playlists directly to the band, and then listen using a Bluetooth headset when out running, without the need to carry your phone. Handy. Whether any other streaming music services will be supported is unknown. Like the Gear Fit 2, the Fit 2 Pro should work with Android and iOS devices.

While a launch date of August 23 is being rumored, it’s not known when the Gear Fit 2 Pro will be released. We’ll keep you updated here.

Qualcomm depth-sensing tech could turn your phone into an AR powerhouse

Why it matters to you

Your phone will soon not only take better photos, but will also be able to handle high-tech augmented reality applications.

Rumors are gaining steam that the next iPhone will boast an impressive depth-sensing camera that will be able to map the room in front of you in 3D. Well, seems as though Qualcomm is beating Apple to the punch — the company just announced its new depth-sensing tech in the form of an upgrade to Spectra.

So what’s the point of depth-sensing technology? There are some pretty neat applications for it — one of which is augmented reality. Depth-sensing is, for example, a big part of the camera module used in Google Tango phones, which are built for augmented reality use. That could be pretty important going forward — especially as AR and VR continue to become important aspects of future smartphones.

Having better depth-sensing technology has applications beyond AR — in fact, it could seriously improve our simple photographs. For example, it could improve the quality of the bokeh effect we’re seeing available on newer smartphones. In fact, it could allow users to change the focus in the picture even after taking a photo — that’s made possible through a so-called “depth map,” which stores all the depth-related information with the image itself.

There are a few things that make Qualcomm’s new tech so impressive. For starters, the company told us that its camera module captures a hefty 10,000 points of depth — and even that number is apparently conservative. In the highest resolution, that represents 0.1mm in between each point, which, according to Qualcomm, makes it the most accurate depth-sensing technology on the market.

First launched last year, the Qualcomm Spectra camera module made it easier for manufacturers to implement dual-sensor cameras in smartphones. The new module takes things to the next level — and will require three camera sensors to take advantage of active depth sensing.

Of course, it may be at least a few months before we start seeing this tech in the real world. Qualcomm says it will be available as part of the company’s next flagship processor — which will be the Snapdragon 836. Some reports indicate that the Google Pixel 2 will be among the first phones to feature the new chip — so it’s possible we could see the new camera tech on the upcoming Pixel, though only time will tell.

Deal: Get 2 lines of unlimited data with Cricket for $80

Cricket Wireless is introducing a new special offer: 2 Lines of unlimited data for $80 out-the-door!

Cricket Wireless has a great deal for new customers looking to get unlimited data. Right now, you can get two lines of unlimited data for just $80 — get the first line for $55/month and the second line is just $25/month ($30 discount!). And that’s not all — you can also get a $50 bill credit when you bring your current number to Cricket (credit will be received within 60 days). Cricket supports any GSM-compatible phone.

And don’t forget the $80 pricing for 2 lines with unlimited data is the sweet, out-the-door price; the all-in pricing includes all taxes, surcharges, and fees. This deal is not eligible for autopay or GroupSave discounts.

Here’s what you’ll get with Cricket Unlimited data plan:

• Unlimited talk, text to/from US, Canada, and Mexico
• Unlimited data running on AT&T’s network
• Video streaming at SD quality (480p)

Shop Plans at Cricket

Qualcomm announces new depth-sensing technology for Android cameras

Second generation Spectra Module Program brings 3D depth-sensing and improved biometric authentication to Android devices.

Qualcomm introduced the Spectra ISP powered Clear Sight dual-camera system in 2016 with the promise of “astonishing results that mimic human vision.” Today it is upping the ante with the second generation Spectra Module Program that brings 3D computer vision to Android products using the Qualcomm Snapdragon Platform.

That’s the sort of news that gets futurists and engineers excited, but everyone benefits here, and not in a small way. What Qualcomm is promising amounts to a two-camera setup that can sense physical depth and motion in real time, using off-the-shelf parts. Manufacturers can use these products for AR and biometric security on phones, tablets, and stand-alone Head-Mounted displays like the coming LG and HTC Daydream models.

While our first instincts will be to compare this to Google’s Tango product, which Qualcomm also supports through its optimized Snapdragon 835’s ISP, we shouldn’t make that leap. Where Tango uses specialized equipment complete with sensors and cameras specialized for specific AR applications, the new Spectra Modules are replacements for the existing camera hardware used on “regular” phones.

This new hardware will be able to bridge the gap between existing hardware and something more specialized like Google’s Tango.

Using the new system on rear-mounted camera setups, apps can track motion and determine distance using the depth-sensing properties. Developers will be able to use this to create applications that incorporate alternate reality on a per-app level. And they should be able to take some really great photos, too.

When used in a front-facing camera, biometric security through Iris scanning or 3D facial recognition will be greatly increased. Collecting data and processing it in “real-time” bridges the gap between existing systems and the specialized Tango platform.

Qualcomm hasn’t yet announced any partners who plan to incorporate the new Spectra Module system, but we imagine those will follow as companies develop and announce new products.

You can read the full press release below and find out more information at Qualcomm.com

Qualcomm First to Announce Depth-Sensing Camera Technology Designed For Android Ecosystem

— Unveils next-generation Qualcomm Spectra ISP for computer vision, extended reality and computational photography technologies—

SAN DIEGO — August 15, 2017 — Today Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM), through its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies Inc., announced an expansion to the Qualcomm® Spectra™ Module Program, capable of improved biometric authentication and high-resolution depth sensing, designed to meet growing demands of photo and video for a broad range of mobile devices and head mounted displays (HMD). This module program is built on the cutting-edge technology behind the Qualcomm® SpectraTM embedded image signal processors (ISP) family. Engineered by Qualcomm Technologies from the ground up, Qualcomm Spectra paves the way for future image quality and computer vision innovations in upcoming Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM Mobile Platforms.

“Whether used for computational photography, video recording, or for computer vision applications that require accurate motion tracking, it’s clear that power efficient camera image signal processing has become more important for the next generation of mobile user experiences,” said Tim Leland, vice president of product management, Qualcomm TechnologiesInc. “Our breakthrough advancements in visual quality and computer vision, combined with our family of integrated Spectra ISPs for Snapdragon, are designed to support an ecosystem of cutting edge mobile applications for our customers.”

Together, the new ISPs and camera modules are engineered to support superior image quality and new computer vision use cases that utilize deep learning techniques and bokeh quality image experiences with a faster time to market for smartphone and HMD devices. The next-generation ISPs feature a new camera architecture designed for advancements in computer vision, image
quality and power efficiency for the next Snapdragon mobile and VR platforms. The camera module program additions consist of a trio of camera modules, including an iris authentication
module, a passive depth sensing module and an active depth sensing module.

Qualcomm Spectra Module Program

Launched last year, the Qualcomm Spectra Module Program was designed to help customers accelerate time to market for devices with stunning image quality and advanced camera technology. Last year’s offerings provided customers with optimized, dual-camera module solutions that make it easy for manufacturers to produce smartphone cameras with improved low light photography and video recording with smooth zoom. Now, the camera module program is
being expanded to include new camera modules capable of utilizing active sensing for superior biometric authentication, and structured light for a variety of computer vision applications that require real-time, dense depth map generation and segmentation.

Second-generation Qualcomm Spectra ISP

The second-generation Qualcomm Spectra ISP is the next family of integrated ISPs that utilizes new hardware and software architecture designed specifically for advancements in computer vision, image quality, and power efficiency in future Snapdragon platforms. It features multiframe noise reduction for superior photographic quality, along with hardware-accelerated motion compensated temporal filtering (MCTF), and inline electronic image stabilization (EIS) for
superior camcorder-like video quality.

The low-power, high-performance motion tracking capabilities of the Qualcomm Spectra ISP, in addition to optimized simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms, are designed to support new extended reality (XR) use cases for virtual and augmented reality applications that require SLAM.

The Qualcomm Spectra family of ISPs and new Qualcomm Spectra camera modules are expected to be part of the next flagship Snapdragon Mobile Platform.

About Qualcomm

Qualcomm’s technologies powered the smartphone revolution and connected billions of people. We pioneered 3G and 4G – and now we are leading the way to 5G and a new era of intelligent, connected devices. Our products are revolutionizing industries, including automotive, computing, IoT, healthcare and data center, and are allowing millions of devices to connect with each other in ways never before imagined. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing
business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, all of our engineering, research and development functions, and all of our products and services businesses, including, our QCT semiconductor business. For more information, visit Qualcomm’s website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.

How to replace Bixby Voice with Google Assistant on your Galaxy S8

Replace Bixby with Google Assistant in a jiffy!

When it comes to having a pocket assistant for your Galaxy S8 not everyone is sold on using Bixby Voice. If you prefer using Google Assistant, or you want to give a different assistant a try, then there are a few things you’ll need to do. The Galaxy S8 has a dedicated button to map Bixby, along with voice commands. However, there are a few things you can do to replace Bixby Voice with Google Assistant.

• How to disable Bixby Voice
• How to remap the Bixby button

Disable Bixby Voice

Launch the Bixby app on your phone.
Tap the menu button in the upper right corner of your screen. (It looks like three vertical dots.)

Tap on Settings.

Tap the toggle next to Bixby Voice.

Tap Turn Off.

Remap Bixby button with an app

The big hurdle in replacing Bixby with Google Assistant is that Bixby button. While you can’t remap the button by just using your phone, apps like BxActions, or BixRemap can get the job done. It is, however, worth noting that in the past few months, Samsung updates have wreaked havoc with certain remapping apps. At the time of this writing, BixRemap is the app we suggest for remapping your Bixby button.

Keep in mind you’ll still see Bixby flash before Google Assistant launches, but it only lasts a moment.

Install BixRemap.
Open BixRemap.

Tap Enable.

Tap BixRemap
Tap the toggle to Allow usage tracking.

Tap the arrow to go back.

Tap the arrow to go back.

Tap the Play button in the lower right corner of the screen (It is blue).

Questions?

Do you still have questions about replacing Bixby Voice with Google Assistant? Is there another method that we should have included here? Be sure to drop us a line in the comments and let us know!

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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The Morning After: Tuesday, August 15th 2017

Hey, good morning! What happened? DeLorean’s making a flying car, that’s what. Well, it has a render and plans. There’s also a ready-for-swimming wearable for Samsung and Mewtwo wants to fight.

Where we’re going, we won’t need roads, but we will need sophisticated air-traffic control.
DeLorean’s next car is a flying one

Didn’t the DeLorean always fly? Oh wait…

It can also play your offline Spotify songs.
Samsung’s next Gear Fit will track your swimming

The Gear Fit 2 Pro appears to look much like its predecessor, complete with a tall, curved display, but with some big design upgrades. Most notably, it would add 5 ATM water resistance and that hoped-for swim tracking. It may just be a leak for now, but if you’ve missed aquatic-fitness metric tracking — this could be the (niche) wearable for you.

Buyers can see how much they’ll save with solar panels and a Powerwall battery.
Tesla’s Tiny House roadshow demystifies its energy tech

Renewable energy is good for the planet, but it can be great for consumers — depending on your location, you can actually make a profit using solar panels and backup battery storage. Those benefits can be hard for consumers to grok, however, so Tesla has launched the Tiny House tour in Australia with all of its latest technology in tow (literally).

I’m glad I walked away from it.
A break from Twitter showed me how broken it is

Senior Editor Daniel Cooper decided to take a week-long break from the platform to see if, like all those other quitters, he’d find life is happier on the other side.

The psychic cat for only the very best.
Fighting Mewtwo in ‘Pokémon Go’ is invite-only

Mewtwo finally made an appearance in Pokémon Go today in Japan. The legendary pocket monster helped show off the new Exclusive Raid Battle system in Japan, and soon will be making its way to domestic shores.

But wait, there’s more…

• Intel CEO Brian Krzanich drops out of Trump council
• Get Google’s own contacts app on any Android phone
• Softlab transforms ’empty’ space with light and mirrors
• What we’re playing: ‘Tacoma,’ ‘Final Fantasy’ and ‘A Dark Room’

Qualcomm’s new depth-sensing camera is surprisingly effective

Dual cameras are so passé. Qualcomm is getting ready to define the next generation of cameras for the Android ecosystem. It’s adding three new camera modules to its Spectra Module Program, which lets device manufacturers select ready-made parts for their products. The additions are an iris-authentication front-facing option, an “Entry-Level Computer Vision” setup and a “Premium Computer Vision” kit. The latter two carry out passive and active depth-sensing respectively, using Qualcomm’s newly revamped image signal processing (ISP) architecture.

Of the three new modules, the most intriguing is the premium computer vision kit. That option is capable of active depth sensing, using an infrared illuminator, IR camera and a 16-megapixel (or 20-MP, depending on configuration) RGB camera. The illuminator fires a light that creates a dot pattern (using a filter), and the IR camera searches for and reads the pattern. By calculating how the dots warp over a subject and the distance between points, the system can tell how far away something is. And since this technology uses infrared light, it can also work in the dark.

During a recent briefing in New York, Qualcomm representatives also showed us a video (embedded above) of the setup in action. What was truly remarkable was how the system was able to accurately display the profile or a person’s hands playing the piano, despite only shooting from above. We’ll have to wait and see it in action for ourselves before knowing if it’ll be effective in the real world, but so far the technology is impressive.

The module can get very detailed, since it uses more than 10,000 points of depth and can discern up to 0.125mm between the dots. This precision is important. “Depth-sensing is going to be mission critical going forward,” Qualcomm’s product marketing lead for camera and computer vision Philip-James Jacobowitz told Engadget.

There are plenty of useful applications for depth-sensing — one of the most widespread being creating artificial depth of field in images. It can also help in face detection, recognition and authentication, 3D object reconstruction and localization and mapping, according to Qualcomm.

If this is all starting to sound very familiar, you might be thinking of Intel’s RealSense. It’s used more commonly in laptops for facial or iris authentication via Windows Hello, although it has made its way to a few phones (and even drones) recently. But Qualcomm said that according to its understanding, the thermal overhead on Intel RealSense is a barrier to entry for smartphones. That means it most likely runs too hot to work well in a handset. Regardless of the differences in equipment, it’s clear depth-sensing has a wide variety of useful applications, and Qualcomm working on a competing option could help improve performance across the board.

That’s not to say the two other modules Qualcomm announced today aren’t useful. The entry-level computer vision option, for instance, allows for similar (albeit less-precise) features at a lower price. But it consumes more power than the premium kit. And according to Qualcomm, its iris authentication module can read your eyes even when you have sunglasses on — something the company’s representatives demonstrated effectively at the briefing.

No word yet on exactly when we can expect the new cameras to arrive in devices we can play with, but Qualcomm says the new modules and ISPs “are expected to be part of the next flagship Snapdragon Mobile Platform.” Smartphone makers have to incorporate the components into their products first, too, meaning we’ll probably have to wait for next year’s phones.

DJI drones are getting an offline mode for secret flights

Chinese manufacturer DJI is adding a local data mode to its drones. Once enabled, the new feature will stop the company’s apps from collecting user data (such as photos, videos, and flight logs). Although, DJI claims the update is in response to public demand, it’s hard to ignore the security concerns recently raised by the US army. Less than two weeks ago, the military ordered staff to halt use of all DJI hardware and applications, citing “operational risks.”

Although the army did not elaborate on its memo, it’s thought the decision may have been spurred by DJI’s data collection. You see, the company’s DJI GO 4 app reportedly uploads details of flight records by default — including telemetry, video and audio — to its servers in the US, China and Hong Kong. It also doesn’t help that hackers have previously shown they can break into the app and fiddle with the drones’ flight elevation restrictions.

For its part, DJI told The NY Times it hasn’t been in touch with the military. And, its press release suggests the new mode has been in the works for months — further emphasizing it has nothing to do with the army’s decision. However, a company VP has revealed that the news may have raised alarm bells among consumers. “The Army memo caused customers to express renewed concern about data security,” DJI’s Brendan Schulman told the Times. The statements may seem at odds, but there’s reason to believe the company is looking to service its wider user base.

For proof, look no further than DJI’s integration of 3DR’s business-oriented tools with its UAVs. Ultimately, the drone-maker’s customers now span multiple industries. That’s something it acknowledges in its press release.

“[Local data mode] will provide an enhanced level of data assurance for sensitive flights,” writes the company. “Such as those involving critical infrastructure, commercial trade secrets, governmental functions or other similar operations.”

The update will start rolling out over the coming weeks, the company said. Keep in mind, enabling offline mode will block the app from updating maps or geofencing info. It will also stop notifications about new flight restrictions and software updates.

Source: DJI (press release)

Riot Games loses ‘League of Legends’ lawsuit to retired soccer star

A Dutch court has ruled that developer Riot Games must pay former Netherlands midfielder Edgar Davids for using his likeness in League of Legends. According to the ruling, a championship skin used in the game infringed on his personal image rights.

The skin in question is that of Striker Lucian — an athletic soccer player, who sports dreadlocks and goggles. As it turns out, Davids too was a soccer player whose orange-tinted goggles and dreads helped distinguish him on the pitch — alongside his skills, of course. Throughout the ’90s and ’00s, the midfielder played for a number of top-tier clubs in Spain, Italy, England, and his native Netherlands. He also represented the Dutch international side at both the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship. (As an aside, I once saw Davids in a London department store, his iconic look making him all the easier to spot.)

Despite arguing that League gamers would primarily recognize the skin as Lucian and not Davids, Riot Games still lost out. The court’s decision means the developer must fork out a percentage of the money generated by the skin (which was created before the 2014 World Cup) as compensation to Davids. Oddly, the soccer star famously tweeted his appreciation for the skin — noting its resemblance — back when it landed.

Thank youRT @GY4TSO @riotgames @LeagueOfLegends I think @esdavids noticed the resemblance!

— edgar davids (@esdavids) June 6, 2014

This isn’t the first time a public figure has taken legal action against a developer over the unauthorized use of their image. Just last year, a Manhattan court dismissed Lindsay Lohan’s suit accusing Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive for using her likeness in GTA V. Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega also saw his lawsuit against Call of Duty: Black Ops II publisher Activision chucked out by an LA court in 2014.

In this case, Davids has won his legal battle. But, seeing as Riot Games netted $1.6 billion in revenue in 2015 (and its parent company Tencent raked in a whopping $21.9 billion last year), the compensation may just be small change for the developer.

Source: Het Parool (Dutch)

Snapchat’s New ‘Crowd Surf’ Feature Stitches Together Users’ Concert Videos

Snapchat is currently trialling a new concert-related feature on the platform that stitches together individual video clips from different users to create one seamless video.

Called Crowd Surf, the feature uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to work out when multiple users are actively recording the same event.

By combining the two technologies, Crowd Surf is able to match clips from various users filming at different angles in close proximity, and then overlay the environmental audio seamlessly, creating what’s essentially a multi-camera video clip.

Users who later watch the video can then tap a button in the lower right of the clip to switch between angles, or simply sit back and let the transitions take place automatically as the action unfolds.

According to TechCrunch, the feature made its debut on the platform during a Lorde concert in San Francisco on Monday, the results of which can be viewed in the Featured section below the list of stories.

Snapchat says the Crowd Surf feature is still being tested, but will gradually be rolled out to coincide with more high profile events such as concerts and public speeches going forward.

Snapchat can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

Tag: Snapchat
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