Asus Zenfone AR review
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Asus Zenfone AR
Google wants to make augmented and virtual reality a little more accessible to the masses through its Android mobile operating system. It has succeeded somewhat with VR, through its Daydream VR platform. Slap phones like the Samsung Galaxy S8 or a Google Pixel into the Daydream View headset and you can be transported to different worlds in VR. With AR, Google initially had a project called Tango, which used special cameras to view digital objects in the real world, similarly to Pokémon Go. Asus and Lenovo created phones to utilize Tango technology, but so far the AR apps and features have largely been gimmicky.
Google also just announced ARCore, a platform that brings AR capabilities the company learned from Tango, to phones running Android 7.0 Nougat and higher — without the need for special hardware. As we found in our Asus Zenfone AR review, there’s no reason to opt for the phone over other Nougat-level Android devices thanks to Google’s latest initiative.
Great display, boring design
The Zenfone AR doesn’t look all that exciting, especially compared to smartphones embracing the edge-to-edge “bezel-less” screen design, like the Essential Phone, or the Galaxy Note 8.
Christian de Looper/Digital Trends
Christian de Looper/Digital Trends
Christian de Looper/Digital Trends
Christian de Looper/Digital Trends
On the front of the phone, the 5.7-inch screen is protected by Corning’s Gorilla Glass 4. The home button below the screen doubles as a fingerprint sensor, and it’s flanked by capacitive navigation buttons. On the left edge of the phone, you’ll find the power button and volume rocker, while the right edge houses the SIM card slot. There’s thankfully a headphone jack; it’s on the bottom of the phone next to a USB Type-C charging port.
On the rear, you’ll immediately see the camera module is what makes this phone unique. We’ll dive into the specs of the camera later, but as far as design goes there are three lenses and sensors for depth and motion – all of which contribute to augmented reality via the Google Tango software.
It’s not a bad-looking phone, but it’s pretty boring in the design department.
The fingerprint sensor picked up our print accurately, and while it isn’t the fastest around, it’s not slow enough to be a problem. But there are more practical issues with the phone’s design, such as how there’s no waterproofing. Waterproofing is a feature available on most flagship phones $600 and higher, and it’s disappointing when a phone at this price isn’t IP-rated at all.
The Zenfone AR doesn’t just support Tango; it’s also a Daydream-ready phone. That means the quality of the display is important for virtual reality viewing, and thankfully it delivers. The 5.7-inch AMOLED display offers a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440, with a pixel density of 515 pixels-per-inch. It looks great, with bright colors, deep blacks, and crisp images.
We’re happy with the Zenfone AR’s display, and while the phone feels good in the hand, we’re a little bored by its traditional design — triple cameras and all.
Snappy and smooth performance
Under the hood, the phone packs the aging Qualcomm Snapdragon 821. It’s the same chip that’s in the Google Pixel, and it isn’t a low-performer. For this price though, many would expect the Snapdragon 835, Qualcomm’s 2017 flagship processor. Regardless, the Zenfone AR packs 6GB or 8GB of RAM (you can choose how much you want), which is likely more than you need. The model we’re reviewing has 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and there’s even a MicroSD card slot in case you want even more storage.
Here’s how the phone performed in benchmarks.
- AnTuTu: 156,874
- Geekbench 4: 1,801 single-core, 4,322 multi-core
- 3D Mark Slingshot Extreme: 2,703
For the price, there are definitely higher performing phones. The OnePlus 5, for example, comes at $480 and hit a massive 181,599 on AnTuTu in our review. Interestingly enough, the Samsung Galaxy S8 scored 155,253 on AnTuTu, while the Google Pixel XL, which also has a Snapdragon 821 chip, scored 138,946.
Now, always take benchmark results with a grain of salt. Different phones handle benchmarks differently, and OnePlus was even recently accused of cheating on its benchmark results. In reality, what matters is how the device performs in real life, and we had very few issues with it. There were occasional stutters, but general performance was snappy and smooth, even while playing graphics-intense games and using processor-hungry apps.
Solid camera
The triple cameras on the rear all help with depth sensing for augmented reality, and it’s the highlight feature of the smartphone.
The primary sensor features 23 megapixels with optical image stabilization, which helps it shoot decent photos in low-light situations. We were impressed with the quality of the shots, especially considering the somewhat lackluster quality we saw in our last Asus phone review, the Zenfone Zoom.
What matters is how the device performs in real life, and we had very few issues with it.
But despite the unusual triple rear-facing camera, the camera app only utilizes one. The multiple sensors only work for AR capabilities and nothing else. For example, instead of using one of the cameras to measure depth to create a blur effect like on the iPhone 7 Plus, the main camera instead takes multiple photos with different points of focus to create the same effect.
Regardless, the results from the camera are solid. Photos feature plenty of dynamic range and colors look natural – even when HDR mode is on. There’s even a so-called “HDR Pro” mode, which is built to increase detail and produce richer colors. These photos look decent, but we prefer the shots taken with the standard HDR mode.
The 8-megapixel front-facing camera is just about average, capturing a good amount of detail.
Augmented and virtual reality
The whole point of this phone has nothing to do with how well-designed it is, or even how much heavy-lifting it can do under the hood – it’s how well it handles augmented and virtual reality applications.
Augmented reality lets you use the smartphone’s camera to look at the real world, with digital applications layered over. For example, point the camera at a storefront and you could see store hours as a pop up on your phone, without having to getting near the store. Think Google Glass, but in a phone. Sadly, many of these AR apps and functions aren’t as useful.
The Zenfone AR comes pre-loaded with a few AR apps, but you can also download more through the Google Tango app. Virtual objects in AR mode respond quickly to interaction, though we did encounter some stutters — a higher-powered chip may have helped here. The real problem with AR on mobile is the lack of apps. Sure, you can see what some furniture would look like in your house with the Wayfair app, but there’s only a few dozen pieces of furniture to choose from. Another example is the Wall Street Journal’s AR stock checker, which shows you a visualization of stocks in the air. Why? It’s not a very intuitive app, and it takes much longer than looking up stock prices the old fashioned way. The AR apps we’ve seen are still gimmicky; there’s absolutely no incentive to use them other than showing off the capabilities at a party.
Google’s ARCore platform will bring all these apps and services to any Android phone running Nougat 7.0 or higher, which means you don’t need the special hardware on the Zenfone AR.
Don’t forget, you can also use the Zenfone AR for VR. You’ll need a Google Daydream View headset, which you can get from Google for around $80. The Daydream experience on the phone is on par with the likes of the Google Pixel XL. There’s the VR Play Store where you can download apps and games, and the screen has a high-enough resolution that we didn’t notice any issues with image quality.
Average battery life
The battery capacity in the Zenfone AR sits in at 3,300mAh, and it should get you through a day of light to medium use. If you use your phone a little more, listening to music all day, watching videos, or using the phone for augmented or virtual reality, and you’ll see the battery suffer.
Asus Zenfone AR Compared To
Essential Phone (PH-1)
Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom
Moto Z2 Play
LG G6
Motorola Moto E4
Huawei Honor 8 Pro
HTC U Ultra
Meizu Pro 6 Plus
ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe Special…
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Huawei Nexus 6P
LG V10
LG G4
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
Thankfully, the phone is pretty good at charging quickly. We plugged the phone in with 19 percent remaining, and after 30 minutes it was charged up to 69 percent – that’s 50 percent charged in only half an hour. That’s not record-breaking, especially considering the small-ish battery, but it’s still pretty good and should help alleviate some of the issues with the battery life.
ZenUI is not zen
Software is increasingly important these days, and many manufacturers have been stripping the user interface down in favor of a pure Android approach. Asus hasn’t, sticking with its Android skin, or theme, called ZenUI. It’s not a bad experience, but it’s certainly not our favorite version of Android.
The phone is carrier unlocked, which means that there will be virtually no carrier bloatware. There are some handy features, like the ability to create folders in the app tray and the built-in file manager.
But we would have liked those features without the clunky look and feel, the oversized icons, and the overly bright colors. The interface is called “ZenUI,” but zen is the last thing we felt using the software. You can always download another Android launcher on the Play Store, which is always an out to having a frustrating interface, but most people don’t want to do that, nor should they need to.
Warranty, pricing, and availability
The Asus Zenfone AR is available from Amazon for $600 for the 6GB RAM/64GB storage version, or $700 for the 8GB RAM/128GB storage version. That’s a lot of money, especially for a phone with last year’s processor, and the added cost is likely due to the sensors used for AR. You can buy it from Amazon, or through Verizon, which will set you back $648 for the 8GB RAM model.
Asus offers a limited warranty, which will cover manufacturing defects a year from the date of purchase. It does not protect you from accidental or water damage.
Our Take
Augmented reality, at least on the Zenfone AR, largely feels like a gimmick at the moment. If you want a Daydream-ready phone for virtual reality, we recommend the Pixel or the Galaxy S8, which offer superior and more polished experiences all around.
Google has also announced ARCore, a new platform that brings AR capabilities to Android phones that run Nougat or higher, without the need for special camera set ups. It’s the culmination of what the company has learned through Tango, so we see even less of a reason to buy the Zenfone AR.
Is there a better alternative?
Yes. If you’re simply looking for a device that works well in day-to-day use, then we recommend the OnePlus 5, which boasts the latest Qualcomm processor as well as 6GB or 8GB of RAM — it starts at $480. If VR is important to you, then perhaps the Galaxy S8 or the Google Pixel are a better options.
If you’re excited for AR and can’t wait for its capabilities, we recommend waiting for Apple’s ARKit in iOS 11, and Google’s ARCore for Android Nougat devices and higher. If they can provide the same level of an AR experience as the Zenfone AR, without the need for depth-sensing cameras, then we recommend skipping Asus’ device.
To be fair, the Asus Zenfone AR is the only phone that can handle Tango AR and Daydream VR.
How long will it last?
The Asus Zenfone AR should get you through a standard two-year cycle, as long as you take care of it. It’s not waterproof, which is a bit of a thorn in the side of durability, but it should be able to withstand most drops and falls.
Should you buy it?
No. With Google’s ARCore bringing AR to Android phones Nougat and higher, there’s not much of a reason to endure the ugly ZenUI, boring design, average battery life, and a 2016 processor.
What to expect from IFA 2017, and how to watch major live-streamed announcements
IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) is a consumer tech show in Germany that’s widely considered the CES of Europe. This year, we’ll almost certainly be treated to great products including new smartphones, smart home and Internet of Things devices, laptops, and more.
The show runs from September 1 to 6, but press conferences from major manufacturers, like Samsung, begin on August 30. Here’s everything we expect from the show.
Acer
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
It’s unclear what Acer will show off at IFA 2017, but the company has scheduled a press conference for August 30 at 10:30 a.m. CEST (4:30 a.m. ET). Intel recently launched its 8th-gen Core processors, it’s possible Acer will launch a new laptop or computer line that makes use of these new chips. It could also launch a PC with Nvidia’s Max Q tech.
Watch the Acer live-stream here
Asus
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
Asus always makes a big show at IFA, and it’s likely we’ll see the full official launch of the Zenfone 4 smartphone series. These have already been announced in Taiwan, but IFA could see the global launch. What we’re really excited about, though, is Asus’ new gaming gear, monitors, and laptops. There’s also a chance the company will launch the ZenWatch 4 Android Wear smartwatch, given that it launched the ZenWatch 3 at last year’s show. The press conference is scheduled for August 30 at 1 p.m. CEST (7 a.m. ET).
Watch the Asus live-stream here
Lenovo/Motorola
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Motorola has largely kept quiet about its IFA 2017 plans, but there is a press conference by its parent company Lenovo on August 31 at 2 p.m. CEST (8 a.m. ET). From Motorola, there have been rumblings about a new device in the Moto X lineup — the Moto X4. It will likely be a flagship phone, like the Moto Z series, but without any modular features. Lenovo has already offered a sneak peak of what to expect, including refresh its Yoga line of laptops, some type of smart speaker, virtual reality headsets — potentially with some Star Wars tie-in. We’re not sure if there’s a live-stream yet, but check back on the company’s YouTube page closer to the event.
Watch the Lenovo and Motorola live-stream here
LG
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
There’s no speculation here — LG has outright confirmed it will be launching the new V30 at IFA 2017. The phone itself is tipped to be an absolute powerhouse, offering the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, along with a bezel-less design. The South Korean company will likely unveil some of its new TVs, which will pack huge 4K and 8K resolutions, as well as gaming monitors and home products. The LG IFA press conference is on August 31 at 9 a.m. CEST (3 a.m. ET).
Watch the LG live-stream here
Panasonic
Panasonic has a press conference scheduled for August 30 at 3 p.m. CEST (9 a.m. EST), but there’s no word yet on what we’ll see. It’s highly likely that we’ll see new TVs or cameras from the company, and we may see some ultra HD Blu-Ray players as well.
Watch the Panasonic live-stream here
Philips
Philips will launch a range of new products at IFA, including a new connected toothbrush, as well as some other appliances. It’s also very possible that we’ll see new additions to the Philips Hue range, adding to the growing list of connected lights. Check back on Philips’ website during IFA to see what’s new.
Philips IFA
Samsung
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Samsung recently announced the Galaxy Note 8 smartphone, but now it’s time to turn to the company’s wearables. There’s a Samsung press conference scheduled for August 30 at 6 p.m. CEST (1 p.m. ET), and the company has teased a new entry to its Gear S smartwatch line. We may also get a new fitness-focused wearable from Samsung, which could be the Gear Fit 2 Pro, as well as smart home products. Rumors suggest Samsung may also show off prototypes of its foldable phone, which is codenamed Galaxy X. There’s no live-stream available yet, but head over to the Samsung Newsroom to catch the action when it starts.
Samsung Newsroom
Sony
Sony hasn’t been too quiet about its IFA plans — it seems as though the company is preparing a few new smartphones for launch at the show, including the new Sony Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact. These are expected to be flagship-tier phones packing some pretty high-end specs. Sony will also want to show off its latest televisions, many of which will take advantage of new 4K and even 8K technology, as well as new entries in the audio space. The press conference is on August 31 at 1 p.m. CEST (8 a.m. ET).
Watch the Sony live-stream here
There are certainly far more companies with announcements we haven’t mentioned here, but we’ll keep you posted on all the latest and greatest tech from IFA. Keep an eye on this page for all IFA 2017-related coverage.
What to expect from IFA 2017, and how to watch major live-streamed announcements
IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) is a consumer tech show in Germany that’s widely considered the CES of Europe. This year, we’ll almost certainly be treated to great products including new smartphones, smart home and Internet of Things devices, laptops, and more.
The show runs from September 1 to 6, but press conferences from major manufacturers, like Samsung, begin on August 30. Here’s everything we expect from the show.
Acer
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
It’s unclear what Acer will show off at IFA 2017, but the company has scheduled a press conference for August 30 at 10:30 a.m. CEST (4:30 a.m. ET). Intel recently launched its 8th-gen Core processors, it’s possible Acer will launch a new laptop or computer line that makes use of these new chips. It could also launch a PC with Nvidia’s Max Q tech.
Watch the Acer live-stream here
Asus
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
Asus always makes a big show at IFA, and it’s likely we’ll see the full official launch of the Zenfone 4 smartphone series. These have already been announced in Taiwan, but IFA could see the global launch. What we’re really excited about, though, is Asus’ new gaming gear, monitors, and laptops. There’s also a chance the company will launch the ZenWatch 4 Android Wear smartwatch, given that it launched the ZenWatch 3 at last year’s show. The press conference is scheduled for August 30 at 1 p.m. CEST (7 a.m. ET).
Watch the Asus live-stream here
Lenovo/Motorola
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Motorola has largely kept quiet about its IFA 2017 plans, but there is a press conference by its parent company Lenovo on August 31 at 2 p.m. CEST (8 a.m. ET). From Motorola, there have been rumblings about a new device in the Moto X lineup — the Moto X4. It will likely be a flagship phone, like the Moto Z series, but without any modular features. Lenovo has already offered a sneak peak of what to expect, including refresh its Yoga line of laptops, some type of smart speaker, virtual reality headsets — potentially with some Star Wars tie-in. We’re not sure if there’s a live-stream yet, but check back on the company’s YouTube page closer to the event.
Watch the Lenovo and Motorola live-stream here
LG
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
There’s no speculation here — LG has outright confirmed it will be launching the new V30 at IFA 2017. The phone itself is tipped to be an absolute powerhouse, offering the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, along with a bezel-less design. The South Korean company will likely unveil some of its new TVs, which will pack huge 4K and 8K resolutions, as well as gaming monitors and home products. The LG IFA press conference is on August 31 at 9 a.m. CEST (3 a.m. ET).
Watch the LG live-stream here
Panasonic
Panasonic has a press conference scheduled for August 30 at 3 p.m. CEST (9 a.m. EST), but there’s no word yet on what we’ll see. It’s highly likely that we’ll see new TVs or cameras from the company, and we may see some ultra HD Blu-Ray players as well.
Watch the Panasonic live-stream here
Philips
Philips will launch a range of new products at IFA, including a new connected toothbrush, as well as some other appliances. It’s also very possible that we’ll see new additions to the Philips Hue range, adding to the growing list of connected lights. Check back on Philips’ website during IFA to see what’s new.
Philips IFA
Samsung
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Samsung recently announced the Galaxy Note 8 smartphone, but now it’s time to turn to the company’s wearables. There’s a Samsung press conference scheduled for August 30 at 6 p.m. CEST (1 p.m. ET), and the company has teased a new entry to its Gear S smartwatch line. We may also get a new fitness-focused wearable from Samsung, which could be the Gear Fit 2 Pro, as well as smart home products. Rumors suggest Samsung may also show off prototypes of its foldable phone, which is codenamed Galaxy X. There’s no live-stream available yet, but head over to the Samsung Newsroom to catch the action when it starts.
Samsung Newsroom
Sony
Sony hasn’t been too quiet about its IFA plans — it seems as though the company is preparing a few new smartphones for launch at the show, including the new Sony Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact. These are expected to be flagship-tier phones packing some pretty high-end specs. Sony will also want to show off its latest televisions, many of which will take advantage of new 4K and even 8K technology, as well as new entries in the audio space. The press conference is on August 31 at 1 p.m. CEST (8 a.m. ET).
Watch the Sony live-stream here
There are certainly far more companies with announcements we haven’t mentioned here, but we’ll keep you posted on all the latest and greatest tech from IFA. Keep an eye on this page for all IFA 2017-related coverage.
What to expect from IFA 2017, and how to watch major live-streamed announcements
IFA (Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin) is a consumer tech show in Germany that’s widely considered the CES of Europe. This year, we’ll almost certainly be treated to great products including new smartphones, smart home and Internet of Things devices, laptops, and more.
The show runs from September 1 to 6, but press conferences from major manufacturers, like Samsung, begin on August 30. Here’s everything we expect from the show.
Acer
Bill Roberson/Digital Trends
It’s unclear what Acer will show off at IFA 2017, but the company has scheduled a press conference for August 30 at 10:30 a.m. CEST (4:30 a.m. ET). Intel recently launched its 8th-gen Core processors, it’s possible Acer will launch a new laptop or computer line that makes use of these new chips. It could also launch a PC with Nvidia’s Max Q tech.
Watch the Acer live-stream here
Asus
Mark Coppock/Digital Trends
Asus always makes a big show at IFA, and it’s likely we’ll see the full official launch of the Zenfone 4 smartphone series. These have already been announced in Taiwan, but IFA could see the global launch. What we’re really excited about, though, is Asus’ new gaming gear, monitors, and laptops. There’s also a chance the company will launch the ZenWatch 4 Android Wear smartwatch, given that it launched the ZenWatch 3 at last year’s show. The press conference is scheduled for August 30 at 1 p.m. CEST (7 a.m. ET).
Watch the Asus live-stream here
Lenovo/Motorola
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Motorola has largely kept quiet about its IFA 2017 plans, but there is a press conference by its parent company Lenovo on August 31 at 2 p.m. CEST (8 a.m. ET). From Motorola, there have been rumblings about a new device in the Moto X lineup — the Moto X4. It will likely be a flagship phone, like the Moto Z series, but without any modular features. Lenovo has already offered a sneak peak of what to expect, including refresh its Yoga line of laptops, some type of smart speaker, virtual reality headsets — potentially with some Star Wars tie-in. We’re not sure if there’s a live-stream yet, but check back on the company’s YouTube page closer to the event.
Watch the Lenovo and Motorola live-stream here
LG
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends
There’s no speculation here — LG has outright confirmed it will be launching the new V30 at IFA 2017. The phone itself is tipped to be an absolute powerhouse, offering the latest and greatest Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, along with a bezel-less design. The South Korean company will likely unveil some of its new TVs, which will pack huge 4K and 8K resolutions, as well as gaming monitors and home products. The LG IFA press conference is on August 31 at 9 a.m. CEST (3 a.m. ET).
Watch the LG live-stream here
Panasonic
Panasonic has a press conference scheduled for August 30 at 3 p.m. CEST (9 a.m. EST), but there’s no word yet on what we’ll see. It’s highly likely that we’ll see new TVs or cameras from the company, and we may see some ultra HD Blu-Ray players as well.
Watch the Panasonic live-stream here
Philips
Philips will launch a range of new products at IFA, including a new connected toothbrush, as well as some other appliances. It’s also very possible that we’ll see new additions to the Philips Hue range, adding to the growing list of connected lights. Check back on Philips’ website during IFA to see what’s new.
Philips IFA
Samsung
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Samsung recently announced the Galaxy Note 8 smartphone, but now it’s time to turn to the company’s wearables. There’s a Samsung press conference scheduled for August 30 at 6 p.m. CEST (1 p.m. ET), and the company has teased a new entry to its Gear S smartwatch line. We may also get a new fitness-focused wearable from Samsung, which could be the Gear Fit 2 Pro, as well as smart home products. Rumors suggest Samsung may also show off prototypes of its foldable phone, which is codenamed Galaxy X. There’s no live-stream available yet, but head over to the Samsung Newsroom to catch the action when it starts.
Samsung Newsroom
Sony
Sony hasn’t been too quiet about its IFA plans — it seems as though the company is preparing a few new smartphones for launch at the show, including the new Sony Xperia XZ1 and Xperia XZ1 Compact. These are expected to be flagship-tier phones packing some pretty high-end specs. Sony will also want to show off its latest televisions, many of which will take advantage of new 4K and even 8K technology, as well as new entries in the audio space. The press conference is on August 31 at 1 p.m. CEST (8 a.m. ET).
Watch the Sony live-stream here
There are certainly far more companies with announcements we haven’t mentioned here, but we’ll keep you posted on all the latest and greatest tech from IFA. Keep an eye on this page for all IFA 2017-related coverage.
Koniku Kore fuses live neurons with a silicon chip to sniff out bombs
Why it matters to you
This project demonstrates how technology might be augmented with living cells to take advantage of the computational power of an organic brain.
A device that is able to recognize the smell of explosives was unveiled at the TEDGlobal conference in Tanzania. Oshi Agabi, the man behind the creation, expressed a hope that it could be used as a more effective means of airport security.
Many artificial technology projects attempt to model its systems on the human brain, hoping to take advantage of its capacity for complex analysis. The Koniku Kore goes one step further, bringing together silicon components with living neurons sourced from mice. “Biology is technology,” Agabi said. “Bio is tech. Our deep learning networks are all copying the brain.”
Agabi explained that he and his team figured out a method of giving the neurons instructions, in order to assign the system a particular task, like scoping out bomb threats in an airport. In this particular context, the devices could be placed discreetly around the building, preventing the need for the crowded security checks that we use today.
The Koniku Kore was revealed publicly at TEDGlobal, but images of the prototype device can’t be shared at the present time. However, Agabi did show a video of the system being taken out of the lab setting and confirmed that in its current form, the living neurons can be kept alive for a “couple of months” in a normal environment, according to a report from the BBC. Other research teams apparently have been able to keep neurons alive for as long as a year, so this facet of the project should improve over time.
The device could also be used to “smell” different diseases in a medical context, reading the molecules given off by a person suffering from a particular condition. However, Agabi has greater ambitions for the potential the technology has looking further forward.
“We think that the processing power that is going to run the robots of the future will be synthetic biology-based and we are laying the foundations for that today,” he said. The Koniku Kore is a rather amazing device in its own right, but the amalgam of living neurons and computer chips that underpins the project could have a profound impact as the technology matures.
Koniku Kore fuses live neurons with a silicon chip to sniff out bombs
Why it matters to you
This project demonstrates how technology might be augmented with living cells to take advantage of the computational power of an organic brain.
A device that is able to recognize the smell of explosives was unveiled at the TEDGlobal conference in Tanzania. Oshi Agabi, the man behind the creation, expressed a hope that it could be used as a more effective means of airport security.
Many artificial technology projects attempt to model its systems on the human brain, hoping to take advantage of its capacity for complex analysis. The Koniku Kore goes one step further, bringing together silicon components with living neurons sourced from mice. “Biology is technology,” Agabi said. “Bio is tech. Our deep learning networks are all copying the brain.”
Agabi explained that he and his team figured out a method of giving the neurons instructions, in order to assign the system a particular task, like scoping out bomb threats in an airport. In this particular context, the devices could be placed discreetly around the building, preventing the need for the crowded security checks that we use today.
The Koniku Kore was revealed publicly at TEDGlobal, but images of the prototype device can’t be shared at the present time. However, Agabi did show a video of the system being taken out of the lab setting and confirmed that in its current form, the living neurons can be kept alive for a “couple of months” in a normal environment, according to a report from the BBC. Other research teams apparently have been able to keep neurons alive for as long as a year, so this facet of the project should improve over time.
The device could also be used to “smell” different diseases in a medical context, reading the molecules given off by a person suffering from a particular condition. However, Agabi has greater ambitions for the potential the technology has looking further forward.
“We think that the processing power that is going to run the robots of the future will be synthetic biology-based and we are laying the foundations for that today,” he said. The Koniku Kore is a rather amazing device in its own right, but the amalgam of living neurons and computer chips that underpins the project could have a profound impact as the technology matures.
YouTube redesign rolls out complete with new logo and vertical videos
Why it matters to you
When you go to YouTube, it will now look cleaner and hopefully will even be a little easier to use.
YouTube is getting a refresh. The YouTube logo has become a famous part of the digital world, but it’s time for that logo to move on — to make room for a new, slightly more modern one.
The logo change is part of a massive, ongoing design overhaul that first began earlier this year — one that is delivering a much cleaner look and showing off a new “dark mode” that replaces light colors with dark ones. That design overhaul, however, was kept in beta — until today. Not only is it now out of beta, but some of its features are now rolling out to mobile users, and the new logo will be featured front and center.
The logo is designed to be useful across platforms. Instead of the word “tube” being emphasized, you’ll find a small “play” icon before the word YouTube. That’s good for YouTube — it means that on mobile and in small spaces, instead of having the whole word “YouTube,” the basic play icon can be shown.
Of course, the logo is a small part of the slew of design changes coming to YouTube. The desktop interface has been upgraded to make use of Google’s “material design” language, which influences the use of the so-called “hamburger” menu, and, in general, makes things a lot cleaner and easier to view. The mobile app is also getting some of the redesign. Now, the header is white and navigation buttons can be found on the bottom of the app. You’ll also get some more playback controls in the form of gestures — including the ability to swipe left or right to advance to the next or previous video.
Another cool feature is the ability for the video to change its shape depending on the video format. So, if a video is filmed vertically, it can play back on the entire screen of a smartphone rather than playing with black bars on either side. The feature isn’t unexpected — Google teased it earlier in the year.
While these major changes to YouTube are rolling out August 29, YouTube has said that the rollout may not be complete for at least a full day — so if you don’t yet see the new YouTube, you should soon.
Hurricane Harvey: Here’s how you can help those affected
The resources to learn about Hurricane Harvey and help those affected.
It’s clear that what’s happening in Texas, and Houston specifically, is going to take months, if not years, to resolve itself. The waters keep rising in America’s fourth-largest city, and people are getting displaced.
Google has taken it upon itself to create a number of resources that users both within Texas and outside the state can use to track the storm, find shelter, and donate money. Here’s what you need to know.
Google’s Crisis Map
Google has built a Crisis Map that overlays open shelters on top of a precipitation map, allowing those in the affected region to see whether it’s the right idea to try to move to a new location.
This is the worst storm since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005, and the cleanup efforts will be ongoing. Google’s Crisis Map will continue to be a resource for everything to do with Harvey.
Google also says that it is donating up to $500,000 to the American Red Cross to help with triage and, in the months to come, cleanup effort.
Hurricane Harvey Crisis Map
Carriers are waiving fees
Most of the U.S. carriers are waiving fees for prepaid and postpaid customers in the affected regions. While there are widespread power outages in most of east Texas and throughout the city of Houston, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint and AT&T have all pledged to keep their service up and running, so you can call, text and use data as much as necessary to stay safe.
U.S. carriers are waiving fees for those affected by Hurricane Harvey
Do your part
If you can, we ask you to please contribute to the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Every cent you share can make a real difference.
- Donate to the American Red Cross
- Donate to the Salvation Army
Google Maps makes it easier to find parking with your phone
It’s hard enough getting where you want to go, but parking, once you get there, can be a trial in and of itself.
Public parking near most destinations in big cities isn’t exactly easy to find, and chances are unless you put the parking as your destination, you’re probably not lined up properly to get into it once Google Maps cheerfully states You Have Arrived. Google Maps knows that’s a big frustration and it’s starting to show parking around your destination. If you’re navigating in one of select major cities, that is.
Google is debuting the ability to find parking around your destination when you’re starting your drive, so you’re navigating to where you park rather than where you’re trying to visit. This is available for destinations in 25 cities within the U.S., including New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco.
Twenty-five cities outside the U.S. will see Parking Difficulty icons when they’re setting a destination to drive to, from limited to medium to easy, but won’t have the parking locations listed to specifically navigate to. The parking difficulty is gauged by machine learning, so it might not be correct every time, but at least having a ballpark is a step in the right direction.
Google Maps: Everything you need to know
It’s way too late to bring back Google Glass
The next step for Google feels like it should be obvious, but for some reason it’s not going to happen.
I was a Day One Google Glass user. In fact, my thoughts on Google Glass were the first thing I ever published here at Android Central. I complain every now and again about how the tech got a bad rap and Google shouldn’t have backed down on a consumer model, but today there’s a lot more to talk about. Today we have faster, more efficient tech and a growing eagerness to do more with things like Augmented Reality.
Basically, what I’m saying is, I want Google Glass back.
Admit it, there was nothing wrong with Glass
Google Glass isn’t on shelves at Best Buy today because it’s ridiculously easy to scare people. The narrative painting Glass as this master creepshot spy gadget for the 1% was crafted by the same tech bloggers who willingly stood in line for hours to get their hands on Snapchat Spectacles that never get used anymore because the tech basically never worked right. It’s embarrassing to look back at how many people were able to paint Glass as this evil, ugly thing that you could only buy if you were special. Nevermind that Glass was never an actual consumer product and was clearly labeled as such, or that actual spy cameras cost a fraction of what Glass cost at the time; it was evil because people said so.
Imagine Google Glass 3.0 with the sensor from a Google Pixel.
Take a look at the other head-mounted displays that are available now, and none of them come close to how functional Glass is in its unfinished form. Glass was the first real Augmented Reality gadget for me, in that it actually augmented my reality. I didn’t have to look away from the road to see the next set of instructions on my GPS. I wasn’t pulling my phone out every 20 seconds to check my notifications. I never worried about grabbing the perfect shot when my kids were doing something cool.
Glass was clearly the start of something amazing, and instead of more advancements with processors and cameras to streamline the design and make the headset more capable, we got Android Wear watches and third-party head-mounted displays and hideous sunglasses that only take photos and videos you can enjoy on Snapchat. Yay.
I imagine Google Glass 3.0 with the sensor from a Google Pixel, a new, smaller, and more efficient processor, and wireless charging. Maybe a more advanced display with some additional information, but not much. Honestly, having spent lots of time with Hololens and other “full” glasses, I find myself preferring the single-eye display. Human beings don’t always react well to asymmetrical designs, but from a functional perspective it worked well.
ARCore would be next-level on Glass
You know what I have absolutely no desire to do when immersing myself in AR? Hold my phone up for 20 minutes and feel like I’m staring through a window into another world. Immerse me! Make me feel like I’m actually standing among the virtual creations playing out in this other world. Google’s ARCore is all about giving Tango-like Augmented Reality to everyone, and that seems so perfect for a Glass-like headset. No holding a phone up; just walk around the world and tap the touch-pad on the side of your headset to place a virtual object. Leave my hands free for something like motion controllers, so I can continue to interact with the AR world.
The display on Glass as we know it wouldn’t have been super great for ARCore because the resolution was fairly low, but if that could be improved it would create a wildly unique experience. I could get turn-by-turn directions to the can of soup I’m looking for while walking around in a grocery store. Pokémon Go could be running in the background so an Onyx could spawn and tower over me as I walk down the street. It’s so easy to imagine the possibilities by combining what I can already do with Glass with what I can already do with ARCore. How is this not a perfect match of awesome tech?
It’s probably not going to happen
Unfortunately, Google doesn’t seem focused on Glass for consumers right now. ARCore was designed to make AR accessible and to compete with the buzz Apple created earlier this year. The Virtual Positioning System Google is currently working on seems limited to the standalone Daydream headset for now and not something more AR focused.
It’ll probably be another two years before the things we’re seeing on phones are moved back to head-mounted displays, and in some ways that’s probably for the best. It’s easy for someone like me to get overly hyped about something like Glass, but making a headset that lasts someone a full day of constant AR use isn’t currently possible. That’s the next big step, making it so AR is just sort of everywhere all the time so you can always interact with it. The limits in battery tech alone would make that impossible right now.
But if Google were to re-release Glass with ARCore onboard, I’d be first in line without a moment’s hesitation.
AIVAnet 