Acer’s all-in-one 360 camera has an LTE connection

Acer has introduced two new cameras at the IFA trade show in Berlin, and while both are 360-degree LTE-connected devices, they serve different purposes. The Holo360 is an all-in-one device that you can use to shoot, edit and share spherical 6.9K photos and 4K videos. Its Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 mobile processor gives it the power to stitch videos in real time, and its three-inch touchscreen display gives you a way to edit your creations without having to use a phone or a computer. In addition, you can livestream and upload finished products directly from the device, since it runs Android Nougat. No need to bring a laptop anymore if you want to share videos and photos of vacations and events on the go.

While Holo360 was made for social media enthusiasts and professionals, photographers and the like, Acer’s Vision360 was made for anyone who wants an in-car dash cam that can capture everything going on during commute. Vision360 is equipped with two cameras to be able to capture everything happening around your vehicle — in 4K, even — as you travel. If you experience a collision on the road, Acer says it will add GPS coordinates to its recording and automatically upload the file to the cloud to preserve evidence. It also has built-in location tracking, provides remote viewing and doubles as an action cam for when you want to record your road trips and outings but can’t be bothered to bring out the GoPro.

Unfortunately, Acer didn’t say when it will start shipping the Vision360, but it revealed that the Holo360 will be available in North America by November. It’ll set you back $429 bundled with a water-resistant case. The device will also come out in Europe, Middle East and Africa sometime in the fourth quarter with prices starting at €349.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Polar unveils an affordable heart rate tracking armband

These days fitness trackers tend to multi-task as standard. The likes of the Fitbit Alta HR and the upcoming Gear Fit 2 Pro offer everything from sleep monitoring to calorie-counting — with Samsung’s wearable also reportedly boasting swim tracking. But, all those features can prove a turn-off for buyers looking to hone in on one specific task. If, for example, you just want to focus on your heart rate, why would you fork out $150 for a bunch of tricks you don’t need? That’s where Polar’s new OH1 optical heart rate sensor comes in. The $79.95 wearable trims out the fat to focus on your ticker, and little else. And (seeing as Polar’s been making top-notch activity trackers for years) you can probably bet it does that well.

The OH1 boasts an internal memory capable of storing up to 200 hours of heart rate training. Its 12 hour battery life also means it can accompany you on multiple workouts. Additionally, it’s waterproof up to 30 metres and lets you follow your real-time heart rate data via the Polar Beat app, and third-party fitness software. If you’re after an even more thorough breakdown of your activity, you can hook it up to the Polar Flow web service for extensive training guidance.

Most heart rate sensors are discrete in terms of appearance — even if they’re designed to be worn on your head. The same goes for the all-black OH1, which offers an adjustable strap, allowing you to position it on your forearm or upper arm. The heart rate sensor is available for pre-order right now, and will begin shipping in mid-September.

The Morning After: Wednesday, August 30th 2017

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

We’re only at the halfway mark of this week, and Google is taking on Apple for AR dominance and Uber officially named its new CEO.

The next battleground.Google unveils its answer to Apple’s ARKit: ARCore

Old and tired: AI. New and wired: augmented reality. After a few months of Apple developers wowing us with augmented reality demos using iOS 11’s new ARKit features, Google is striking back. It revealed a new augmented reality SDK for Android phones called ARCore, which helps developers blend real and virtual worlds using just a device’s sensors and camera. There are three key features available now: motion tracking (it uses the phone’s camera to detect your position in the room), environmental understanding (so it can find horizontal surfaces) and light estimation (so the lighting and shadow of virtual objects match your surroundings).

That’s where it differs from Project Tango, Google’s other AR project, which relied on extra hardware for increased precision. Plus, while we’re still waiting for iOS 11’s public release, these features are available to developers now and will work on any device running Android N or above.

Good riddance.Google pulls 300 Android apps used for DDoS attacks

A cross-company alliance of security researchers teamed up to take down the WireX botnet, which turned out to be powered by malware-laden Android apps. Google has removed those apps from the Play Store and is in the process of pulling them from infected devices. The programs (pretending to function as basic apps like ringtone makers or storage managers) would run normally, then later download a program that ran in the background to attack its creator’s targeted websites.

And Google Assistant voice controlDeezer HiFi adds Chromecast streaming

For those who require the absolute best audio quality, Deezer is expanding the reach of its high-fidelity streams. Previously a Sonos-only feature, Deezer Elite has been renamed Deezer HiFi, and will work with any device that has Google’s Cast support built-in. Plus, if the device uses Google Assistant, then users can access their music library by voice control.

Acoustic Informatics.Reprogramming the piano

Every time jazz pianist Dan Tepfer hits a note, the Yamaha Disklavier — his digital player piano — sends the information via MIDI to his laptop, which instantly shoots back an algorithmic response that causes other keys to play themselves. The effect makes it seem as if he has four hands playing simultaneously, all of them in sync.

IRL.What we’re using: Qapital, Mighty and the Switch Pro controller

This month’s In Real Life focuses on self-improvement: taking your Spotify playlists to the gym minus your phone, getting some app-powered help on your savings and, er, being a better gamer on the Nintendo Switch.

A not-so-dystopian robot future.Robot caregivers are saving the elderly from lives of loneliness

Growing older alone can be bad for your health, but support robots springing up around Japan are proving surprisingly adept at keeping retirees engaged.

But wait, there’s more…

• Cummins unveils an electric big rig weeks before Tesla
• Uber officially names its new CEO: Dara Khosrowshahi
• Apple TV 4K movies could cost $20, but studios want more
• IFA 2017: Intel’s 18-core Xeon CPU may be destined for the iMac Pro
• Tinder’s Gold subscription launches worldwide to reveal who likes you
• Amazon adds multi-room audio control to Echo devices

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.

Alexa and Cortana will soon work with each other

Amazon and Microsoft are integrating their digital assistants. Alexa and Cortana will soon be able to communicate with each other, allowing users of one AI to benefit from the other’s skills. In the near future, summoning the AI helpers will be as easy as saying “Alexa, open Cortana,” or “Cortana, open Alexa.” That may sound like an odd fit now, but both Amazon and Microsoft are convinced of its perks.

The cross-platform benefits for owners of Amazon’s smart speakers is access to Cortana’s deep integration with Office Suite. You’ll be able to book a meeting, access calendars, set reminders, or just read work emails. Microsoft’s AI, on the other hand, will be able to open the floodgates to Alexa’s 20,000 skills. And, you’ll also be able to do your shopping through Amazon.com. The two will start chatting to each other later this year. Alexa on Cortana will initially be available through Windows 10 PCs, followed by its Android and iOS apps in the future.

“The world is big and so multifaceted. There are going to be multiple successful intelligent agents, each with access to different sets of data and with different specialized skill areas,” said Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. “Together, their strengths will complement each other and provide customers with a richer and even more helpful experience.”

The partnership between the tech titans began in earnest around a year ago, reports The New York Times. Bezos first raised the idea with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, who was receptive to it. Of course, the move could be viewed as a way for the two firms to gain an advantage over their closest competitors: Google and Apple. But, both Bezos and Nadella claim they are open to working with the competition. They even envision a future where a Siri or Google Assistant skill could pop up on their respective digital butlers. That may be a bit of a leap, however, as their rivals seem quite protective of their software and the popular mobile operating systems (iOS and Android) that house them.

Source: Business Wire (press release), Microsoft

We’re live from IFA 2017 in Berlin!

Part of the Engadget crew may have just wrapped up Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, but another set of staffers has arrived in a different part of the country to start IFA 2017. This year, at Europe’s biggest tradeshow in Berlin, we’re expecting to see products from a handful of major tech companies. That includes Acer, LG, Samsung and Sony, which are all expected to unveil products ranging from brand new smartphones to wearables and smart appliances. Sony, for one, is said to be preparing to launch the XZ1 and XZ1 Compact, while Samsung could show us the next iteration of its Gear wearable lineup. Whatever it may be, we’ll be bringing you the action live from the event, so be sure to stay tuned and don’t miss a beat.

Even though the IFA show floor doesn’t officially open until September 1st, and runs through September 6th, you can expect to see stories from us starting today. Hopefully you’ll like what you see.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

ASUS’ latest 2-in-1 has NVIDIA graphics and weighs 3 pounds

If you need a very light convertible or laptop and still want to do some light gaming or video editing, the latest ASUS ZenBook Flip and VivoBook models may do the trick. Just a few months ago, ASUS unveiled the thinnest 2-in1 ever, the ZenBook Flip S. Now, the new ZenBook Flip 14 is the “world’s thinnest 2-in-1 laptop with discreet graphics,” it says, at just 13.9 mm thick and a svelt 1.4 kg (3.08 pounds). Yes, those graphics are entry-level NVIDIA GeForce MX150 (the mobile GeForce GT 1030), but they will let you do content creation chores and some light gaming.

For other work, it should perform like a champ, thanks to 8th-generation Intel Core i7 quad-core CPUs, 16GB of RAM, a 512GB PCIe x4 SSD, and a 14-inch “NanoEdge” 1080p display. The bezel on that model is so thin, “[it has] the same compact size as traditional 13-inch laptops,” ASUS says. You also get up to 13 hours of battery life, a fingerprint sensor and Windows 10. Remember, it’s a convertible laptop, so it’ll make a pretty powerful tablet, too.

The 15.6-inch Zenbook Flip 15 follows most of the same themes, but ups the ante, performance-wise. ASUS calls it “the most powerful Zenbook Flip ever,” thanks to 8th-gen quadcore Intel Core-i7 chips, NVIDIA GTX1050 graphics, an optional 4K display and up to a 2TB HDD and 512GB SSD. It’s also got precision stylus support and Harmon Kardon speakers, along with Thunderbolt 3 and USB Type-C ports, making it ideal “for design and creative work,” ASUS says.

Zenbook also has a very thin, light and powerful laptop for your consideration, the VivoBook S14. It has the same specs as the ZenBook Flip 14, ie, an 8th-generation quad-core Intel Core i7-8550U chip, up 16GB DDR4 RAM and NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics. This one tips the scale at 1.3 kg or 2.87 pounds, with an 18.8mm profile and 7.8mm bezels.

The company has yet to reveal the price or availability for any of the devices, but we’ve reached out for some more information. All told, ASUS is squeezing some incredible performance into very small devices, which is a good sign for the many folks who need edit videos, game and do other chores on the go.

ASUS’ new ROG Strix gaming laptop is built for FPS players

ASUS’ IFA welcome mat is scattered with laptops, and it’s not just more slender ZenBooks. The company’s gaming arm, ROG, has recast its Strix gaming laptop in two different editions, each dedicated to a different type of game. First up, the SCAR edition, which was built for first-person shooter gamers “looking for a competitive edge”. That edge involves the newest eighth-generation Intel Core i7 processors, and NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 10 in the way of graphical might. You’ll be staring into either a 15-inch or 17-inch screen, with a 5ms response time and smooth 120Hz refresh rates. ROG says this will eliminate motion blur, while also contradicting itself and teasing an even smoother 144Hz, 7ms display option also in the works.

With fast-twitch games like FPS, motion blur isn’t all you need to deliver on: the Strix SCAR Edition also has desktop-style keyboard with fast-actuation keys, as well as an N-key rollover — that’s for precision, apparently. However, if you like your games with League and Legends, then you might want to take a closer look at the Strix Hero Edition, which swaps FPS specifications for MOBA expertise.

The Strix Hero Edition has the same Intel Core i7 processors, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 10 Series graphics and Windows 10 Pro of the Scar, but pairs that power with a wide-view display with 100% sRGB color gamut for improved contrast and color accuracy. Naturally, a wider screen will benefit games when you have to keep tabs on everything going on. ASUS ROG is also promising a 20 million key-press lifecycle on its desktop style keyboard too, so you can keep gaming for a long time to come. Or, at least until you need to upgrade your graphics again.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!

Apple Pay Support Comes to Popular ‘Citi Bike’ NYC Bicycle Sharing Service

Bicycle sharing service Citi Bike released version 6 of its iOS app on Tuesday to bring Apple Pay support to customers in New York City and New Jersey.

Now that Apple’s mobile payment system is supported by the service, riders using the app are able to purchase a single pass or Citi Bike membership using their digital wallet instead of plastic.

The app includes a color-coded map of New York City and New Jersey which help users discover nearby bicycle stations including live information on bike and dock availability, with the option to reserve a bike supported in selected locations.

In addition to Citi Bike’s core service features, the app also includes recent ride stats such as start and stop location, ride time, distance, and calories burned, while push notifications alert customers to their ride time and when they have securely docked their bike.

Citi Bikes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Jersey City. The Citi Bike app is a free download for iOS from the App Store. [Direct Link]

(Via AppleInsider.)
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iOS 11 Dock and Gesture Controls to Replace ‘iPhone 8’ Home Button Entirely

Apple’s upcoming “iPhone 8” could rely entirely on gesture controls for carrying out tasks like navigating to the home screen and opening the new multitasking App Switcher in iOS 11, a new report on Wednesday claimed.

Apple has tested the complete removal of the home button – including even a virtual one – in favor of touch-based gestures, according to images of the new OLED iPhone viewed by Bloomberg and people familiar with the device.

Across the bottom of the screen there’s a thin, software bar in lieu of the home button. A user can drag it up to the middle of the screen to open the phone. When inside an app, a similar gesture starts multitasking. From here, users can continue to flick upwards to close the app and go back to the home screen. An animation in testing sucks the app back into its icon. The multitasking interface has been redesigned to appear like a series of standalone cards that can be swiped through, versus the stack of cards on current iPhones, the images show. 

In addition to the software-based changes, some of which are alluded to in beta releases of iOS 11 on iPad, Bloomberg reports that the new OLED screen on Apple’s “premium” handset is rounded on the corners, whereas current iPhone screens have square corners. The power button on the right side of the phone is also reportedly longer so that it’s easier to press while holding the device in one hand, according to images.

Elsewhere, in perhaps a more contentious move, Apple has reportedly opted not to hide the notch area at the top of the OLED screen, so a definite cutout area will be visible when using apps with non-black backgrounds.

The cutout is noticeable during app usage in the middle of the very top of the screen, where the status bar (the area that shows cellular reception, the time, and battery life) would normally be placed, according to the images. Instead, the status bar will be split into left and right sides, which some Apple employees call “ears” internally. In images of recent test devices, the left side shows the time while the area on the right side of the notch displays cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity and remaining battery life. Because of limited space, the status bar could change based on the task at hand, according to a person familiar with the testing.

Bloomberg also claims that when the display shows black, the superior color reproduction of the OLED screen ensures that it “blends in perfectly” with the notch and thin edges on the front. The screen is also reportedly flat like previous iPhones, in contrast to the fully curved displays found on Samsung’s latest smartphones.

Lastly, the report adds that Apple plans to include a stainless steel band around the phone which the glass curves into. According to images seen by Bloomberg, the steel band “has small antenna cuts on the corners like past iPhones to improve reception”.

While Apple often tests different designs of its products, the hardware details covered here will have been finalized long ago, although the software interface could still change before iOS 11 gets its official public release. Apple is expected to debut the redesigned OLED iPhone at a September 12 launch event alongside iterative updates to its current smartphone line-up, as well as a new upgraded Apple TV with 4K support and Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE capability.

Related Roundups: iPhone 8, iOS 11
Tag: bloomberg.com
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Deezer now streams high-quality audio to more than just Sonos

Deezer Elite brought high-quality music streaming to Sonos speakers back in 2014, but until now, the service wasn’t available on audio gear from other companies. Starting today, you can access the renamed Deezer HiFi tier from Chromecast Audio or any speaker that has Chromecast built-in. That opens up the options to devices from the likes of Sony, Samsung, Bang & Olufsen, Onkyo and Pioneer — just to name a few.

If you’re not familiar, Deezer Elite, er… HiFi offers lossless audio (FLAC) with original analog quality for $20 a month or twice as much as the normal subscription. Of course, Deezer’s library includes more than just music. It also features podcasts, live sports events audiobooks and more, similar to what Spotify and other services showcase in addition to their music collections.

Deezer says if a speaker maker opts to include Google Assistant voice features, you’ll be able to control the HiFi service just by speaking. In fact, the company claims this is the first high-resolution audio streaming option to enable voice control. Sure, the number of speakers that employ Google Assistant is limited to Google Home, but Google paved the way for more voice-controlled gear back at I/O when it released an SDK for developers. With IFA just getting started, perhaps we’re going to see a lot of new devices powered by Google’s virtual assistant this week.

Follow all the latest news from IFA 2017 here!