The first new ‘Age of Empires’ game in over a decade is in the works

It’s been over a decade since Age of Empires III came out in 2005, but fans of the lauded RTS franchise will once again be subject to Gandhi’s merciless wrath: Age of Empires IV is officially in development. At Gamescom today, Microsoft announced the next title in the much-loved series — and that we’d be getting remastered versions of each of the previous games.

The trailer for the fourth game is scant with details, so let’s hope you’re satisfied with its existence for now. We knew the original Age of Empires was getting re-released in a “definitive version” — which is coming out on October 19th, Microsoft also announced today — but redux editions of the second and third game are news. Both of those will get the same treatment to look pretty on current fancy screens: 4K resolution support, higher-detail textures, a remastered soundtrack and quality-of-life improvements.

Neither of those have release dates yet, so you’ll just to have to enjoy reliving your glory days of empire conquest in the distant past before the more recent games’ remasters come out.

Follow all the latest news live from Gamescom here!

Source: Microsoft (YouTube)

Apple Drops Price of HomeKit-Enabled D-Link Omna Camera to $149.95

Apple recently dropped the price of the HomeKit-enabled D-Link Omna 180 Cam HD camera from $199.95 to $149.95 in the United States, a $50 discount off of the launch price. Apple’s website doesn’t mention a discount, suggesting the base price of the accessory has been lowered.

The price has also been lowered in Canada from $269.95 CAD to $199.95 CAD, and it’s also been discounted in several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, and more. It appears the price cut went live a few weeks ago.

The D-Link Omna 180 Cam HD was the first camera to include support for HomeKit, but other products have been released since then, including Logitech’s Circle 2.

The Omna is a quality in-home security camera with a wide angle lens, night vision support, and an accompanying app, but it records all content to a microSD card and does not include support for uploading to the cloud, a feature that may keep some users from wanting to buy it.

For a more complete picture of the D-Link Omna, make sure to check out our review.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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IRS warns that tax-related phishing scams are on the rise

According to the IRS, the amount of phishing scams targeting W-2 forms rose sharply this year compared to last. In 2016, around 50 companies and organizations fell victim to such scams while during this year’s tax season, that number increased to around 200. They were aimed at businesses, public schools, universities and nonprofits among others and several hundred thousand employees’ data were stolen.

Most of the scams work by sending a fake email that looks like it’s coming from a company executive to someone in the organization that has access to W-2s — payroll, human resources or financial department employees, for example. The email typically asks for an employee list and W-2s and sometimes requests a wire transfer as well. Since the beginning of 2015, the FBI reports that the amount of confirmed losses from business email scams has increased by 1,300 percent and now totals over $3 billion.

The IRS is asking businesses that have been victimized by these sorts of scams to report them via email through dataloss@irs.gov. Those that may have been targeted by a W-2 phishing scam but didn’t expose any data should email phishing@irs.gov. In both cases, “W-2 scam” should be used as the subject line. Businesses and organizations should also report the scams to the FBI through its Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Via: AP

Source: IRS

Qualcomm’s 3D Sensing Technology Two Years Behind Apple’s

Apple’s progress in 3D sensing design and mass production is 1.5 to 2 years ahead of Qualcomm’s, according to a new investor’s note released today by KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Kuo believes that Qualcomm is behind in both software and hardware development for 3D sensing, and won’t be able to ship the technology until 2019. As Qualcomm is the “most engaged” company when it comes to 3D sensing components for Android devices, Android smartphones could lag behind Apple devices for some time.

An iPhone 8 dummy depicting the location of the front-facing camera and 3D sensors

While Qualcomm has excelled in designing advanced application processors and baseband solutions, it lags behind in other crucial aspects of smartphone applications like dual-camera (many Android phones have instead adopted solutions used to simulate optical zoom from third-party vendors such as Arcsoft (US)) and ultrasonic fingerprint scanner (while a new reference design has been released, there is no visibility on mass production). So while Qualcomm is the most engaged company in the R&D of 3D sensing for the Android camp, we are conservative as regards progress toward significant shipments and don’t see it happening until 2019F.

According to Kuo, Qualcomm is dealing with immature algorithms and an unfavorable hardware reference design for smartphones due to form factor design and thermal issues. Qualcomm may also be impacted by Apple’s choice of suppliers. Many key component suppliers have already allocated resources to Apple, so Qualcomm has to find different suppliers in order to obtain sufficient resources. Kuo also outlines the suppliers each company is using:

In general, Kuo says the “Android camp” appears to be taking a wait-and-see approach to 3D sensing, which also does not bode well for Qualcomm’s 3D sensing technology. Android manufacturers are said to be waiting to see how Apple will use 3D sensing and whether it will offer an “innovative user experience” with features like facial recognition.

Xiaomi’s 2018 flagship device is said to be the only potential adopter of Qualcomm’s 3D sensing technology, and if the OLED iPhone doesn’t see positive feedback following launch, Kuo believes Xiaomi may drop the project.

Apple is rumored to be introducing a front-facing camera with 3D sensing functionality that will enable a new facial recognition system to replace Touch ID, which the company could not build under the display of the device due to production issues. Apple’s “iPhone 8” with 3D sensors is expected to debut in just a couple of weeks.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tag: Qualcomm
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Lifesaving smart fabric can detect and neutralize deadly nerve gas

Why it matters to you

Smart fabric could help keep both civilians and soldiers safe from deadly nerve gas attacks.

As part of the fight against deadly chemical weapon attacks, researchers at the City College of New York have developed a new smart fabric that is capable of not only rapidly detecting nerve gas, but also of neutralizing it.

“We have modified cotton fabrics by attaching to them a very active catalytic phase,” researcher Teresa Bandosz, professor of chemistry and chemical engineering, told Digital Trends. “The prepared fabrics are able not only to protect well against the surrogate of a nerve agent by adsorbing and decomposing it to benign products but also — by a visible color change — to inform the user about the duration of the protection they provide.”

The textile is made from cotton that has been infused with carbon nitride. According to Bandosz, the material could be used to fabricate a range of items, from suits to gloves to blankets. While she notes that it would probably be most likely to find a home in military clothing, it could also be used to create clothing aimed at the civilian population — as a possible defense against terrorist activity or similar.

This is not the first time that we covered material that is able to change color when it’s exposed to external materials. Last year, we wrote about three designer shirts which gradually change color in response to either carbon monoxide, pollution, or radioactivity. In the case of Bandosz’s material, the color change is also visible and gradual — but, unlike those other smart clothes, it can help dispel the effects of the thing it is designed to sense, rather than just alerting you to it. Further trials need to be done, but the results could be life-saving.

“The research leading to this development was supported by U.S. Army Research Office,” Bandosz said. “Unfortunately, the grant expired in March so right now to continue the research our first priority is to look, and eventually to secure financial support to go further with our efforts. Of course, we have ideas how to develop even better protection [materials]. It involves development of a new kind of an active phase, usage of optimal fabrics as a support, multi-functionality, and durability. All of these contribute to the ‘smartness’ of these materials.”

A journal describing this work was recently published in the journal Nanoscale Horizons.

Here is everything announced at Nvidia’s Gamescom 2017 presentation

Nvidia’s presentation at Gamescom 2017 was light on major announcements — no new hardware or architecture to speak of — but it was nevertheless heavy with enthusiasm for the state of PC gaming. GeForce Senior Vice President Jeff Fisher emceed the event, starting the show with a victory lap of impressive statistics about the industry (2 billion people playing games worldwide, more than 200 million on GeForce alone), before leading into a series of developers talking about the exciting ways they are integrating GeForce-specific features into their upcoming releases, with a particular focus on sharing social content. Below is our roundup of everything announced during the presentation.

Destiny 2

Community manager David “DeeJ” Dague took to the stage to update us about Destiny 2‘s highly anticipated PC release. Features for the PC version include: A fully-configurable mouse and keyboard settings, adjustable field of view, multisample anti-aliasing, an in-game framerate counter (to show off the uncapped framerates up to 4K resolution). Embracing the specs of as many machines as possible, Destiny 2 will support multiple GPUs and multiple monitors. DeeJ announced for the first time that Destiny 2 will support high dynamic range (HDR) lighting on PC as well.

He then elaborated a bit on the integration of Blizzard’s Battle.net service, which will include voice and text chat in-game, as well as whispers. Your friend list from other Blizzard games like Overwatch will slot right in, with the addition of your clan, which you can form with your friends and allies for cooperative play and manage them in-game or on Bungie’s website. In anticipation of the upcoming PC beta, NVIDIA will release a game-ready driver for Destiny 2 on Thursday. Also now available, GTX 1080 and 1080 TI graphics cards can be bought in a bundle with Destiny 2, which will include early access to the beta.

Ansel

One feature of GeForce Experience that Fisher particularly highlighted was Ansel, its in-game photography engine, which basically provides players with a virtual SLR to take high-quality pictures of their favorite gaming moments. Ansel allows players to pause the action and move the camera around freely within the game to get the perfect shots and apply filters. Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 and Middle-earth: Shadow of War were highlighted as upcoming titles that will lend themselves particularly well to the platform.

One new and particularly interesting feature announced for Ansel is AI Style Transfer, which lets you choose a reference image from a favorite artist, then apply its style to your screenshot, making it look like, for instance, an impressionist painting. They demonstrated the feature with ARK: Survival Evolved to good effect. As in-game photography becomes a growing field of its own, Nvidia is committed to remaining on the cutting edge of player creativity.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has been one of the biggest surprise hits of the year and has certainly been popular among our writers. Bluehole lead community manager Sammie “poopiequeen” Kang took to the stage to announced the integration of ShadowPlay Highlights into the game. That means your GeForce Experience will automatically record highlights (such as anytime you knock out or kill someone, or when you win that sweet, sweet chicken dinner), and then let you immediately share them to the social platform of your choice. Streaming has been a massive part of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds success, so this will be a big boon to content creators, and will no doubt add fuel to the game’s viral fire. Be sure to tag Nvidia when you tweet out your highlights for the next month because they will be choosing the best in order to hand out prizes like GTX 1080 TIs and other hardware.

Final Fantasy XV

Lastly, Fisher brought out Final Fantasy XV game director Hajime Tabata to announce the Windows PC port of Final Fantasy XV. Tabata promises that this will be the most beautiful and definitive edition of the game yet. It is built on a new version of Square Enix’s Luminous Engine, which integrates features from Nvidia GameWorks such as advanced fire, hair, and shadow simulations, as well as Ansel for sharing those lush new visuals. It will natively support 4K and 8K resolutions and HDR10. There will also be a brand-new first-person gameplay mode, which was built from the ground up to be a fun and coherent way to play the game. Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition comes to PC in early 2018, including all DLC and updates from the console versions (as well as the upcoming multiplayer mode, expanded even further).

Millennials are not the most loyal when it comes to apps, Nielsen finds

Why it matters to you

Millennials may not be the most loyal of app users, but that doesn’t mean they’re not valuable.

They are the most coveted demographic for marketers, advertisers, and what seems to be most businesses today, but alas, millennials are proving to be a fickle group. Per Nielsen’s latest volume of its “Millennials on Millennials” report, it would appear that millennials are not exactly the most loyal of customers and this trend applies even in the realm of digital services.

In the second volume of the Nielsen study, researchers examined how those between the ages of 18 and 34 use communication and streaming music apps. While we certainly appear to be addicted to these sorts of tools, there is not a consistent preference toward a single app. And that, as one might expect, could present a problem for companies who hope to lock down a loyal user base.

Nielsen found that around 60 percent of millennials do not stick to a single music service, but rather switch between at least two apps. In contrast, those older than 35 tend to be a bit more singular in their tastes, with just 39 percent reporting to use more than one app on a regular basis.

Similarly, 70 percent of millennials depend on two or more messaging apps to stay in touch with their friends. However, just 42 percent of users over the age of 35 report doing the same. Perhaps part of the reason for the diversified app usage among younger generations is the need to send more than just text — Nielsen reports that millennials are often sending photos and videos in addition to words, whereas the older generations simply use text messages.

Curiously enough, however, millennials are not necessarily spending the most time on their smartphones. Nielsen estimates that those between 18 and 34 spent around 78 billion minutes a week using their smartphones in the first three months of the year. That works out to around 1,062 minutes per person. On the other hand, those between 35 and 49 spent 73 billion minutes a week on their smartphones during the same period, which works out to slightly more time per person at 1,196 minutes.

Ultimately, Nielsen concluded, “It’s abundantly clear that millennials approach digital content consumption differently from the rest of the population. More specifically, millennials are an unfocused audience, not particularly loyal to just one digital music or communication service. But this doesn’t mean millennials are consuming less content.”

Essential Phone vs. Galaxy S8: Can a newcomer beat the reigning champ?

The Essential Phone, the top-of-the-line smartphone spearheaded by Android creator Andy Rubin, is finally here. It’s got an edge-to-edge screen with a unique cutout around the front camera, a durable titanium frame, and a snap-on accessory system that supports a 360-degree camera module.

But there’s plenty of competition. The Essential Phone is going up against Samsung’s Galaxy S8, one of the best smartphones on the market. So just how does it fare? Read on for a full Essential Phone vs. Galaxy S8 comparison.

Specs

Essential Phone

Samsung Galaxy S8

Size
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8 mm (5.57 x 2.80 x 0.31 inches)
148.9 × 68.1 × 8.0 mm (5.86 × 2.68 × 0.31 in)
Weight
6.53 ounces (185 grams)
5.46 ounces (155 grams)
Screen
5.71-inch LCD
5.8-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED
Resolution
 2,560 x 1,312 pixels
2,960 × 1,440 pixels
OS
 Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat
Storage
 128GB
64 (U.S.) 128GB (International)
SD Card Slot
 No
Yes
NFC support
 Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM
 4GB
4GB
Connectivity
 GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
Camera
 Dual 13MP rear, 8MP front
Rear 12MP with OIS, front 8MP,
Video
 4K
4K
Bluetooth
 Yes, version 5
Yes, version 5
Fingerprint sensor
 Yes
Yes
Other sensors
 Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer
Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, heart rate, proximity sensor, iris scanner
Water Resistant
 No
Yes, IP68
Battery
 3,040mAh
3,000mAh
Charger
 USB-C
USB-C
Quick Charging
 Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
 No
Yes, Qi and PMA
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Stellar Gray, Ocean Depths, Black Moon, Pure White
Black, silver, gray, blue, gold
Availability
 Unlocked, Sprint

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

DT Review
 Coming soon
4 out of 5 stars

In terms of raw hardware, the Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 are evenly matched.

Both phones sport Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor paired with 4GB of RAM, but storage is a different story. The Galaxy S8 has 64GB of internal memory and a MicroSD Card slot that can accommodate cards up to 2TB in size, while the Essential Phone comes with 128GB of internal storage and no MicroSD Card slot.

Essential’s decision to ditch the MicroSD Card slot might upset folks who’ve invested in removable storage, but you get double the base storage from the S8. Plus, it’s rare to find a 128GB smartphone at the Essential’s price point in the U.S., so we’re giving it the win here. If a MicroSD card slot is important to you, then the S8 is for you.

Winner: Essential Phone

Design, display, and durability

The Essential Phone has a titanium body that’s shielded with ceramic. The screen, a 5.71-inch LCD with a 19:10 aspect ratio, stretches the entire length of the front, and has distinctive cutout near the top that curves around the selfie camera. There aren’t any physical buttons on the front or back, and just a tiny chin on the bottom.

The glass-and-metal Galaxy S8 is a lot curvier. Samsung’s Infinity Display tapers off around the phone’s edges, maximizing screen real estate. There aren’t any physical buttons on the front either. The two embrace the bezel-less trend in smartphones, and since design is largely subjective, we’re not awarding a win here.

But the Galaxy S8 is the more durable of the two on paper. It’s IP68 certified for water- and dust-resistance, which means it can survive a five-foot pool of water for up to half an hour. The Essential Phone isn’t, but in fairness, its titanium frame will likely hold up well against sidewalks and hardwood floors.

The Galaxy S8 takes the cake in terms of display technology. The Essential Phone’s LCD screen has good viewing angles and brightness, but it doesn’t match the vibrancy of the Galaxy S8’s Super AMOLED. It’s also less sharp: The Essential Phone has a 2,560 x 1,312-pixel resolution, compared to the Galaxy S8’s Quad HD+ 2,960 x 1,440.

Winner: Galaxy S8

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

On paper, there’s not a huge difference between the Galaxy S8 and the Essential Phone in the battery department. The Galaxy S8 has a 3,000mAh battery, and the Essential Phone has a slightly bigger 3,040mAh battery. Both have the same power-efficient Snapdragon processor, but the S8’s screen likely draws a little more power.

The Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 support different flavors of fast charging. The S8 has Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charge, which takes about an hour to fully juice. But the Galaxy S8 also supports wireless charging (in the Qi and PMA format), which the Essential Phone doesn’t, so we’re giving it the win.

Winner: Galaxy S8

Camera

The Essential Phone has dual rear cameras on the back, one 13-megapixel monochrome sensor and one 13-megapixel full-color sensor. Custom camera software combines the data to boost color accuracy and improve low-light performance, and Essential says that in a future software update, the phone will gain the ability to shoot in HDR (high-dynamic range) and a DSLR-like bokeh mode (think the iPhone 7’s Portrait Mode).

The S8 makes do with a single 12-megapixel rear camera, but offers a software setting, Selective Focus, that approximates the bokeh effect.

Samsung’s camera is great, but there’s something to be said for the Essential Phone’s forthcoming features. Selective Focus does a decent job artificially blurring backgrounds most of the time, but capturing true depth of field requires the Essential’s camera hardware.

When it comes to the front camera, the Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 are neck-and-neck — both have an 8-megapixel selfie cam that can shoot video in 2K.

Winner: Essential Phone

Software

The Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 both run Android, but the former has a version that’s extremely close to Google’s pure Android. There isn’t much customization to speak of, and it’s pre-loaded with mostly Google apps. It’s about as close as you can get a Pixel without buying a Pixel.

The Galaxy S8, on the other hand, runs the latest version of Samsung’s TouchWiz skin. It’s chock full of features like Bixby, Samsung’s digital assistant, and Activity Zone, which puts handy utilities like a stopwatch, barometer, compass, and flashlight at your fingertips.

So which offers the better experience? It’s a matter of personal preference, really. Some people might find the S8’s TouchWiz more obnoxious than helpful, while others find the Essential Phone’s software a little too bare bones. Personally, we’re fans of the latter. The Essential Phone might not have all the S8’s bells and whistles, but it’s not overstuffed with features you’ll never use.

Winner: Essential Phone

Accessories

One of the Essential Phone’s biggest draws is its fancy accessory system. On the back of the phone are magnetic pins that snap to modular add-ons like cameras, batteries, and more. It’s like your computer’s USB port, but far more powerful.

So far, there’s only one accessory available for the Essential Phone: A 360-degree camera. It can capture video in resolutions up to 4K at 30FPS, and weighs just 35 grams. Essential says it will release a new accessory “every few months,” but it remains to be seen whether or not third parties will support it.

The Galaxy S8 doesn’t have that problem — Samsung’s flagship has an abundance of accessories. One is the Dex Dock, a hockey puck-like device that transforms the Galaxy S8 into a full-blown desktop. Another is Samsung’s Wireless Charging Pad, which can rapidly charge the Galaxy S8 in minutes flat. Samsung also has the Gear 360 camera, as well as the Gear VR for mobile virtual reality.

Winner: Galaxy S8

Price and availability

At $700 for the Essential Phone and $750 for the Galaxy S8, the two phones are pretty close in pricing. But availability is a different story.

The Essential Phone is only available from Essential’s website, Best Buy, and one carrier, Sprint, though Essential says that the phone supports every major carrier in the U.S. Contrast that with the Galaxy S8, which is available from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile.

Essential Phone
Samsung Galaxy S8
AT&T
 N/A
$750 or $25 per month for 30 months
Sprint
$29.16 per month for 18 months
$750 or $31.25 per month for 24 months
T-Mobile
N/A
$750 or $30 per month for 24 months with a $30 down payment
Verizon
N/A
$720 or $30 per month for 24 months

If you order from Essential, for a limited time you can get both the phone and 360-degree camera for $750.

Sprint’s offering a substantial leasing discount on the Essential Phone too — as long as you don’t mind the black model. Customers pay only $14.58 a month for a year and half, which amounts to a $260 savings. You’ll have to pay the remaining balance on the phone’s $700 if you want to keep it at the end of the lease, though.

Overall winner: Tie

The Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 may share similar internals, but they are two very different devices. The former boasts a durable (albeit not waterproof) titanium design with great cameras, a novel accessory system, and close-to-stock Android software. The latter offers one of the best screens and cameras on the market, Samsung’s TouchWiz software, and a bevy of accessories. It’s a tough choice, and that’s why this contest is a tie.

Versius is the world’s smallest robot arm for keyhole surgery

Why it matters to you

A lower-cost, more adaptable robot arm will make keyhole surgery safer and more efficient.

U.K. engineers have developed a miniature keyhole surgery robot arm, which is able to carry out a range of minimally invasive laparoscopic operations including hernia repairs, colorectal operations, prostate surgery, and more. While robots are already used for keyhole surgery, the Versius is a third the size of the robots which are currently used — and significantly cheaper, too.

“Versius is CMR’s first surgical robot and will be the smallest the world has ever seen,” Martin Frost, CEO of manufacturer Cambridge Medical Robotics, told Digital Trends. “The robot’s remarkable dexterity, flexibility, and reach means that it can carry out more procedures more easily than any existing robot on the market. Its flexibility, together with its portability, means Versius is designed to be kept constantly busy, improving outcomes for patients and offering a more cost effective solution for health systems.”

Versius is around 2-foot-by-2-foot in size and its creators claim will cost less than half the price of the $2.6 million robots currently used to carry out keyhole surgery.

The robot is modelled after a human arm, with the arm and wrist articulations necessary to provide maximum flexibility to surgeons during a procedure. It is controlled by a surgeon, who can guide the robot during an operation on a separate 3D high-resolution display, located in the operating theater. The resulting ease of use means a reduction in the physical and mental strain placed on the surgeon, allowing them to more quickly and safely carry out procedures on patients.

“Versius will launch in Europe next year, following in other markets around the world shortly after,” Frost continued. “Five years from now, we hope to be one of the largest surgical robot companies internationally with a robot in every major hospital.” Global annual revenue for robot-assisted minimal access surgery is currently approximately $4 billion. It is expected to hit $20 billion by 2025.

Between this surgical robot, robotic cleaners in hospitals, and miniature injectable robots designed to carry out complex internal surgery, it is enough to get you pondering whether there are going to be any humans left in the hospital of 2030! With the exception of patients, of course.

Hacked smart devices double as surveillance tools, new research finds

Why it matters to you

The research suggests that smart devices can be exploited as surveillance tool, so it’s wise to be more cognizant about the sounds coming out of your speakers.

Hackers can turn smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs into surveillance tools by exploiting their built-in microphones, according to a new study out of the University of Washington. With the device hijacked, the attacker can detect body position and movement of people within its vicinity, raising additional concern about the security of smart devices, which made the news earlier this year with revelations about the ease with which they can be comprised.

“We were curious about the privacy threats that these devices can expose users to,” Shyam Gollakota, senior author of the study and UW associate professor of computer science and engineering, told Digital Trends. “So we asked the question, ‘How about a simple task of playing music on these devices? Can we use music to achieve surveillance on people?’”

Gollakota and his team used software called CovertBand, which allows a smart device to double as a remote-controlled sonar system, by taking advantage of a device’s built-in speaker and microphone. The researchers manipulated the devices to play modified music and the software could then analyze reflected sounds to track body movements and position.

“The way this works is that we embed a chirp signal in the music and hide it using the beats of the music,” Gollakota explained. “These signals get reflected off the human body and can be observed by the microphones in these devices. We can analyze these reflections and can figure a whole host of things about the person.”

The UW team hid the subtle chirp in songs by artists like 2Pac and Michael Jackson, which you can hear here. The chirps are slight but not always indistinguishable. In the study, listeners could identify the edited songs 58 percent of the time.

Using CovertBand the researchers were able to detect multiple individuals within the same room as the device and even behind barriers, such as thin walls. Without barriers they could detect a walking individual about twenty feet away with an error of around seven inches. Through a thin wall that distance decreased by about half.

Though the idea is unsettling, this isn’t the most secretive surveillance technique — an attacker has to literally play music for it to work. If someone tried this on your home smart TV, you’d surely notice. It nonetheless demonstrates the potential for such devices to be exploited in private or public spaces.

“Be careful about what kind of audio can be played on your device,”Gollakota advised. “Strictly control what kind of apps can use both your speaker and microphones and ensure that only the most trusted apps can do so.”

The researchers will present their report next month at the Ubicomp 2017 conference.