The Essential Phone is finally shipping next week

Ex-Android boss Andy Rubin’s Essential Phone will start shipping next week, at least in one color, according to an email spotted by 9 to 5 Google. “As shipment of your Pure White device is still a couple of weeks away, we want to give you the option to change your order from a Pure White to a Black Moon device, which will ship within seven days,” it reads. That should be a relief to folks who placed pre-orders, as the device was originally supposed to ship in June.

The Essential Phone has top-tier specs, including a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM and an amazing, nearly edge-to-edge screen. With a cutout on the display for the selfie camera, it could be a preview for Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8, which has a similar, but larger cutout, judging by leaked renders.

Sprint has an exclusive on the Essential Phone at launch, and will supposedly start selling it on Friday, August 18th. However, it’s only a carrier exclusive — you can also buy it from Essential’s site, and it should work on any other carrier (“unlocked phone, all carriers, no traps,” the marketing says). Amazon’s Alexa fund is an investor, so it may come to that site and other retailers later.

At $699, or $749 with a 360-degree camera, it’s not exactly a budget device like the $499 OnePlus 5 (which has slightly better specs), so we imagine you’ll want some more info about what it’s like. Luckily, Essential is holding a “First Look” event next week, on August 25th, and with the Sprint release ahead of that, we should know more about it very soon.

Source: 9 to 5 Google

Optical laser uses shockwaves to peer inside distant planets

Scientists at SLAC’s National Accelerator Laboratory are able to peer even further into space thanks to an improved optical laser. The laser uses shockwaves to create high pressure conditions in materials, and the material’s response is then captured by an ultra-bright X-ray laser, revealing what’s going on inside planets and meteors. Upgrades to the optical laser means it’s now three times more powerful, with the equivalent power of 17 Teslas discharging their 100 kilowatt-hour batteries in a single second.

Using this technology researchers have already investigated the effects of meteor impacts on minerals within the Earth’s crust, but the increased range and power of the laser means scientists can now begin exploring higher pressure material much further away. Shaughnessy Brennan Brown, a doctoral student in mechanical engineering, said the upgrade enables researchers “to generate exciting, previously-unexplored regimes of exotic matter — such as those found on Mars, our next planetary stepping stone — with crucial reliability and repeatability”.

Source: SLAC

ESPN’s New Apple TV App Lets You Watch Up to Four Live Sporting Events Simultaneously

ESPN is releasing a new tvOS app for the fourth-generation Apple TV that allows viewers to watch up to four live sporting events simultaneously.

The multicast feature means a sports fan could, for example, watch two NFL games, an MLB postseason game, and an NBA game on a Sunday in October all at once, with each stream taking up an equally-sized quadrant of the TV.

There are multiple viewing modes to select from, including one with a large stream on the left alongside three smaller streams on the right.

The idea isn’t new—there’s a similar two-stream feature in the MLB.TV app for Apple TV—but ESPN says its implementation offers up to four streams and has a streamlined user interface, according to Recode.

The new ESPN app should be rolling out as a free update on the tvOS App Store today in the United States.

Tag: ESPN
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iDevices Announces New HomeKit-Compatible Dimmer Switch

iDevices, the company behind several HomeKit-enabled light switches and outlets, today announced the debut of its latest product, the Dimmer Switch. iDevices’ new Dimmer Switch, like its wall switches, is an in-wall product designed to replace a traditional light switch.

The Dimmer Switch includes customizable dimming capabilities that can be controlled via the iDevices app, the Home app, or using Siri thanks to built-in HomeKit integration (for Echo users, it also has Alexa support). In-app dim range settings prevent low-level bulb flicker, and it remembers the last brightness state.

It fits into any standard rocker faceplate to integrate with an existing lighting system with no extra wiring required, and it’s installed like any standard wall switch with support for single pole, 3- and 4-way setups.

Along with serving as a way to dim lights, the Dimmer Switch features a built-in LED night light that keeps it well-lit in the dark, with users able to set the night light to any color.

“The iDevices Dimmer Switch enhances our extensive line of premium smart home solutions and brings us closer to our goal of creating products that seamlessly integrate into the walls of any home,” says Chris Allen, iDevices President. “With Hubbell’s long history in the electrical industry, and our expertise in the IoT marketplace, we have the combined strength to continue our evolution towards flexible, ‘invisible’ products that fit any home, new or old. The iDevices Dimmer Switch is one of many innovations to come, forever changing the smart home as we know it.”

iDevices is selling the Dimmer Switch starting today for $99.95. It can be purchased from the iDevices website.

Tag: iDevices
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iPhone 7 Remained World’s Most Popular Smartphone Model in June Quarter

iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus remained the world’s most popular smartphones in the second quarter, ahead of Samsung’s newer Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+, according to market research firm Strategy Analytics.

Apple shipped an estimated 16.9 million iPhone 7 units and 15.1 million iPhone 7 Plus units worldwide in the quarter, which corresponds with April through June, according to the firm’s latest Smartphone Model Tracker report.

“iPhone 7 remains the world’s most popular smartphone model overall, due to a compelling blend of user-friendly design, extensive supporting apps, and widespread retail presence for the device,” said Juha Winter, Senior Analyst at Strategy Analytics.

Strategy Analytics estimates Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ shipments totaled 10.2 million and 9 million respectively in the quarter. The smartphones, released in April, were the world’s third and fourth most popular during the period.

“Samsung’s Galaxy S8 has instantly become the world’s most popular Android smartphone model, due to its attractive curved-screen design, a rich portfolio of software apps, and best-in-class retail distribution across dozens of countries,” said Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics.

Rounding off the top five was Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi’s budget Redmi 4A handset with an estimated 5.5 million quarterly shipments.

Apple reported it sold 41 million iPhones last quarter, but it doesn’t break down the number on a model-by-model basis. Apple CEO Tim Cook did note the iPhone 7 remained its most popular iPhone.

iPhone results were impressive, with especially strong demand at the high end of our lineup. iPhone 7 was our most popular iPhone, and sales of iPhone 7 Plus were up dramatically compared to 6s Plus in the June quarter of last year. The combined iPhone 7 and 7 Plus family was up strong double digits year over year. One decade after the initial iPhone launch, we have now passed 1.2 billion cumulative iPhones sold.

Android still remains the world’s most widely adopted mobile operating system by a significant margin given the hundreds of smartphone models running that platform. Android accounted for 67 percent of U.S. smartphone activations in the second quarter, according to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners.

iPhone 6s was similarly the world’s most popular smartphone model last year, according to market research firm IHS Markit.

Related Roundup: iPhone 7
Tag: Strategy Analytics
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Facebook Will Now Let You Raise Money for Nonprofits on Your Birthday

Facebook today announced an update coming to its iOS and Android mobile apps, as well as its main website, that is aimed to make birthdays more “meaningful” for users based in the United States.

Two weeks ahead of your birthday, Facebook said it will now send you a message in your News Feed with the option of creating a fundraiser. If you opt-in, you can choose from any of the 750,000 U.S. nonprofit organizations on Facebook and set a funding goal. Then on your actual birthday, all of your friends will get the usual notification to send you a happy birthday message, which will also include a prompt to donate to your organization of choice.

Facebook said the update is a way to streamline a popular birthday tradition, which sees people dedicating the day to a specific cause instead of asking for gifts of their own.

People often dedicate their birthday to support a cause, and we’ve seen people using Facebook to raise money for causes they care about. For those in the US, we’re now making it easier to do this by giving you the opportunity to create a fundraiser for your birthday directly on Facebook.

Birthdays have always been a part of Facebook, and we hope to continue providing you with a variety of experiences that make celebrating on the platform fun and meaningful for you and your friends.

The company has supported user-generated fundraisers in the past, earlier this year allowing each Facebook user to create fundraisers for six specific categories: education, medical, pet medical, crisis relief, personal emergency, and funeral and loss. With those fundraisers, and presumably the new birthday-focused fundraisers, users were able to make a donation to the cause directly within the Facebook app.

The birthday announcement also included a new celebratory video that will appear whenever a birthday of a close friend is coming up. Similar to the social network’s previous anniversary videos, it combines pictures and status updates that include both you and your friend.

Yesterday, Facebook announced a few design changes also coming to its mobile apps, including circular profile pictures, easier to tap buttons, revamped comment sections, and more. The company said that the changes should make the Facebook app “more conversational and easier to read and navigate.”

Facebook is available to download for free on the iOS App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: Facebook
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AMC wants to opt out of MoviePass’ one-movie-a-day deal

You and your friends might be thrilled at MoviePass’ new $10-a-month subscription service, but AMC sure isn’t. According to Variety and Deadline, the theater chain is trying to find a way to block the service’s users from using their subscription at its cinemas. MoviePass’ revamped plan allows subscribers to watch one 2D flick a day in participating theaters, which the company says covers 91 percent of all theaters in the US. The service previously cost between $15 to $21 per month, depending on location, for only two movies a month.

The company buys tickets from theaters at full price, so AMC is finding it hard to see how it can sustain its renewed business model. “[I]t is not yet known how to turn lead into gold,” AMC said in a statement. “In AMC’s view, that price level is unsustainable and only sets up consumers for ultimate disappointment down the road if or when the product can no longer be fulfilled.”

MoviePass explained that it’s funding the venture with the $27 million it’s getting by selling a 51 percent stake to data firm Helios and Matheson Analytics. It knows that it will lose money from subsidizing tickets, but it’s hoping that theaters and studios will eventually sell them at discounted rates once viewers pour in — it aims to gain 80,000 new subscribers — and concession sales go up. That might be why AMC is opposed to the idea.

Deadline says the theater chain’s value dropped 35 percent this month, and it’s worried about losing money from MoviePass’ offerings in the long run:

“From what we can tell, by definition and absent some other form of other compensation, MoviePass will be losing money on every subscriber seeing two movies or more in a month…

While AMC is not opposed to subscription programs generally, the one envisioned by MoviePass is not one AMC can embrace. We are actively working now to determine whether it may be feasible to opt out and not participate in this shaky and unsustainable program.”

Netflix cofounder and MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe doesn’t think AMC’s reaction would affect the deal his company is closing with Helios and Matheson. However, he’s worried that people would think that they can’t use the service for AMC’s theaters from the get-go. He likened the chain’s reaction to video rental services’ when Redbox and streaming services started popping up. “It’s the big guy being afraid of the little guy offering better value to consumers,” he added. Ultimately, though, he believes MoviePass can work with studios and theaters “in a constructive manner so that everybody makes more money.”

Via: AV Club

Source: Variety

Intel’s self-driving supergroup brings Fiat Chrysler into the fold

Intel’s self-driving supergroup has added another member to the team: Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA). The partnership, which already includes BMW, Intel and Mobileye, has ambitious plans to get autonomous vehicles on the road by 2021, and FCA’s inclusion is likely to make that goal more achievable.

FCA already has a decent chunk of autonomous expertise under its belt — it partnered with Waymo (formerly Google) in 2016, adding 100 self-driving Pacifica minivans to the Waymo fleet — but compared to its rivals the group lags behind. The new partnership gives the company access to the research and resources it needs to keep pace in the field.

But FCA brings something useful to the table, too. Scalability remains an issue for autonomous vehicles — that is, making the technology work with different makes and models. FCA owns a number of very different brands, including Chrysler, Fiat and Jeep, so the partnership can now work towards autonomy across the board, from Jeeps used off-road to Fiats designed for zooming around cities.

The partnership aims to have 40 self-driving test vehicles on public roads by the end of 2017 — a small step towards its grander plans to have Level 3 and Level 4/5 self-driving cars in production by 2021. FCA made a smart move getting involved at this stage — no doubt other manufacturers will soon be looking for a piece of the action as well.

Via: The Verge

Amazon’s Alexa can now steer exoskeletons

Exoskeletons don’t come cheap and they’re not one size fits all, making them a daunting prospect for the average buyer. But, some companies are working towards changing that. In December, Hyundai promised to make the suits cheaper. And, researchers are using machine learning to make them more accessible for people with mobility issues. That’s where Bionik Laboratories comes in. The startup is adding Amazon’s Alexa to its Arke lower-body exoskeleton, allowing wearers to control it with their voice. The exoskeleton is mainly aimed at those who have suffered spinal injuries. Although, its lower-body support mechanism could also aid stroke and traumatic brain injury victims, claims the company.

With Alexa integration, users will be able to bark orders at the suit — such as “Alexa, I’m ready to stand” or “Alexa, I’m ready to walk.” This will activate the sensors in Arke’s feet and joints, allowing it to carry out the actions. However, there is a slight niggle: Currently the functionality only works if you’re within range of an Amazon Echo. Additionally, this version is just a prototype — it still has to pass clinical trials and FDA approvals before a public launch.

Alexa is proving a versatile AI, but pairing it with an exoskeleton is a bold move. After all, people currently use their Amazon Echo to skip Charlie Puth tracks or order toilet roll. Whether or not it will make for a reliable assistant for those with physical impairments (where every command becomes critical), remains to be seen.

Bionik Laboratories’ co-founder Michal Prywata recently told Fortune that the exoskeleton could hit the market by 2019.

Google offers Lunar Xprize finalists an extra $4.75 million

It’s been almost 10 years since Google and Xprize launched their lunar spacecraft challenge, and they’re giving the final contenders more incentive to cross the finish line. The partners are fattening up their Milestone Prize purse with an extra $4.75 million “to recognize the full gravity of these bold technological feats taking place in the race to the moon.”

The five remaining contenders will now compete for two near-end-goal prizes: the Lunar Arrival and the Soft Landing Milestone Prize. To win Lunar Arrival and its $1.75 million reward, the team’s spacecraft has to complete one orbit around the moon or enter a direct descent approach to the moon’s surface. In order to win Soft Landing’s $3 million reward, though, the team’s spacecraft must be able to beam data back to Earth to prove that it has landed on the lunar surface.

The Google Lunar Xprize challenged teams from all over the globe to develop a privately funded spacecraft that can land on Earth’s faithful companion. It must also be able to travel 500 meters on the moon and send back high-res images and videos. The five final contenders announced in January have until March 31st, 2018 to reach the project’s ultimate goals and win the Grand Prize that’s worth a cool $20 mil.

Source: Xprize