MIT makes it easy for beginners to design robots

It’s not easy building robots if you don’t have the education and the training. A team of researchers from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), however, have developed a tool that allows even beginners to design machines. CSAIL’s Interactive Robogami system makes it possible to conjure up a robot design in minutes and to put it together in an hour or two. You begin the process by mixing and matching parts from a catalogue on a computer, including the robot’s body and its means of locomotion.

Since the researchers want even those with zero prior experience to be able to use the system, the program can simulate your design’s movements on screen to see if it works. If there’s something wrong with it, say it’s too top-heavy or the wheels you chose won’t work out, the program can make suggestions.

Once you’re done creating the blueprint, the next step is 3D-printing your robot’s parts as flat, foldable components — there’s a reason why the system is called Interactive Robogami. Inspired by the art of paper folding or origami, you’ll have to fold the components and connect their joints to make a whole machine. This print-and-fold method apparently reduces the amount of materials needed by 70 percent and the printing time by 73 percent.

It still took 3 to 7 hours to print all the components needed for each robot during the team’s tests, but the whole process still didn’t take a lot of time overall. Their subjects, all of whom only went through 20 minutes of training, were able to design robotic cars within 10 to 15 minutes and assemble their creations within half an hour to an hour-and-a-half.

Team co-leader Cynthia Sung said the system is “lowering the barrier to have everyone design and create their own robots.” They believe that Interactive Robogami could give people the power to create robots on demand based on the task they need help with and could enable large-scale production of customized machines.

Source: MIT CSAIL

EE is also suing Ofcom to mould 5G spectrum auction as it sees fit

It seems a couple of UK carriers would rather tie the impending 5G spectrum auction up in litigation than let any of their competitors get their own way. Following in the footsteps of Three, EE is launching its own legal challenge against Ofcom in an attempt to get the regulator to release more spectrum earmarked for 5G services this time around, rather than holding separate auctions for different slices of the airwaves further down the road.

The way the auction is currently structured, BT/EE will be banned from bidding on 4G spectrum in the 2.3GHz band, on account of the provider controlling a dominant portion of 4G frequencies already. Ofcom has also introduced a 37 percent cap on “all the mobile spectrum expected to be useable by 2020,” which applies to all networks. This means that EE and Vodafone will be limited in how much spectrum they can acquire in the 3.4GHz band that’ll be used for future 5G services.

Three doesn’t think these limitations go far enough, believing a 30 percent cap would be fairer. And in order to stop the auction from going ahead under the proposed structure, Three began legal proceedings earlier this month.

EE’s issue with the auction is slightly different. Instead of releasing spectrum solely in the 3.4GHz band, EE’s legal challenge argues Ofcom should add 3.6GHz and 700MHz bands into the mix. EE CEO Marc Allera writes that one bigger auction “will allow far more effective planning for all operators and result in a stronger 5G platform for the UK.”

“With the early bands for 5G all in one auction, there would be enough spectrum for four operators to get a sizable chunk that will enable delivery of high quality 5G networks, and we wouldn’t need to argue over unnecessary and inappropriate competition measures.”

The ‘let’s get it over with in one hit’ approach makes sense, in that all operators will know what 5G spectrum they’re working with long before they’re expected to actually deploy next-gen networks. But let’s also not forget that a 37 percent cap doesn’t look so limiting when there’s a shedload more spectrum on offer in the first place. BT/EE may also be in a better financial position than other carriers too, allowing it to take full advantage of a broader auction.

This isn’t a wholly altruistic move on EE’s part, that’s for sure. “We cannot allow a competitor to opportunistically seek to further constrain our ability to invest in spectrum,” Allera says, which is a delicate way of throwing shade at Three for its exhausting campaign to shape the auction as it sees fit.

Three’s legal action has already stalled the auction, and EE believes its challenge shouldn’t delay things any further since Ofcom should be able to deal with both auction-related issues in tandem. We are years behind schedule already, mind, after the auction was put on the back-burner while O2 and Three pursued an ultimately doomed merger.

O2 chief Mark Evans seems just as weary as us about the whole thing. Speaking to the Financial Times, he said “Legal action will inevitably cause delay to the auction and gives no thought to the impact and harm this will have to UK customers, companies and economic growth. This country desperately needs more mobile airwaves.”

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that all carriers now seem happy (enough) for the 4G, 2.3GHz auction to go ahead as soon as possible. Of all the operators, Vodafone has been the least vocal throughout this extended period of industry bickering. Like an affectless parent, it’s letting the kids have it out until they’re too tired to continue — all the while daydreaming (possibly) about building its own fibre broadband network.

Source: EE (CEO Marc Allera on LinkedIn)

Alexa’s mood-matching music suggestions come to the UK

For Amazon Echo owners in the UK, the arrival of Music Unlimited provided the likes of Apple and Spotify with some music needed competition. The company immediately made it the default music service on the smart speaker, allowing users to instantly queue music using their voice once they’d signed up. Understandably, Amazon is keen to differentiate its service from its more popular rivals, so it’s banking on Alexa “activities,” which have today arrived in the UK.

Activities are basically Amazon-built voice controls that make it easier to find music for a specific event or setting. Users have apparently requested ways to find a perfect meditation playlist, or music that matches the theme of a party or a workout and the company is only too keen to oblige. Examples include “Alexa, play jazz for dinner,” “Alexa, play pop for cooking,” or our favourite “Alexa, play baby making jazz music.”

Amazon says Alexa supports “over 500 activity utterances,” the most popular of which are related to sleep or relaxation, partying, meditation and working out. The company will continue to add more over time, giving its Music Unlimited platform a slight edge over the competition (at least on the Echo and other smart Alexa devices).

Chinese Mobile Makers Set to Ride Wave of ‘iPhone 8’ Fever With All-Screen Models

China-based smartphone vendors are set to follow Apple lockstep into the all-screen handset era as competition in the Chinese smartphone market heats up in the second half of 2017 (via DigiTimes).

With much of the media attention focused on the imminent launch of Apple’s “iPhone 8” with edge-to-edge OLED display this September, rival mobile makers including Huawei, Xiaomi, and Gionee have been quietly pushing ahead with their own all-screen alternatives.

Mi Mix 2 concept by Benjamin Geskin
Following a successful comeback in the Chinese smartphone market in the first half of 2017 after a setback the previous year, Xiaomi plans to further enhance its position with the upcoming release of its Mi Mix 2, according to industry sources.

MacRumors readers may recall the company’s first Mi Mix which raised eyebrows in October 2016 for its almost bezel-free design, despite largely being considered a “concept phone” rather than a mass market device. The second-generation model aims to change that perception, with Xiaomi set to boost supply in order to grab more market share.

Meanwhile, Huawei has reportedly stepped up its purchases from component suppliers since the beginning of the third quarter for a planned rollout of its next-generation flagship model, the Huawei Mate 10. The device is said to feature a 6-inch 18:9 (2:1) all-screen AMOLED display from Japan Display.

Elsewhere, Gionee will continue its aggressive strategy – which began with the release of the world’s first four camera (dual front and back camera) phone, the Gionee 10 – by rolling out all-screen models of its flagship devices in time for the second half of 2017, according to sources.

Even smaller mobile vendors have gotten in on the act, with Japan-based Sharp making a return to China’s smartphone market recently with the launch of its all-screen model, the Aquos S2, priced at CNY2,499 ($375), targeting the mid-tier segment.

Last year Apple experienced its first ever year-over-year decline in the Chinese smartphone market, with the company’s phones continuing to be outpaced by cheaper alternatives and the iPhone 7 failing to kick up a frenzy among consumers compared to previous launches, according to analysts.

Apple faced a similar story at the beginning of the current year. Despite recording record results, Apple’s Q1 2017 earnings call revealed revenue was down 8 percent in China, but CEO Tim Cook claimed half of that decline was down to currency devaluation.

Apple currently stands in fifth place in China’s booming smartphone market, where combined sales reached 131.6 million units in the fourth quarter of 2016, accounting for nearly a third of worldwide shipments.

It remains to be seen whether the iterative “S” cycle updates to its iPhone 7 range due this fall, combined with the appeal of a premium alternative in the form of the so-called “iPhone 8”, will help to boost its success in these booming Sino markets, which are typically dominated by cheaper-priced, high-spec handsets.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tags: Huawei, Xiaomi
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Latest ARKit Demo Showcases Virtual Cosmetics Boutique

Ahead of the launch of iOS 11, developers have been busy experimenting with ARKit, Apple’s upcoming augmented reality platform, to see how it could be used in various everyday scenarios and contexts.

The latest demo to catch the eye comes courtesy of ModiFace (via 9to5Mac), which specializes in creating augmented reality apps for the beauty industry. The company recently uploaded a video showcasing a lipstick previewer and virtual “beauty gallery” in a cosmetics store.

The video demonstrates a person looking into the front-facing camera of their iPhone and trying out various shades of lipstick, minus the faff of having to actually apply it, enabling the user to quickly choose their preferred color.

Later in the video, the woman browses a virtual aisle of images of herself with various cosmetics digitally applied, making her selection a much simpler process than the traditional hassle of physical application.

ModiFace envisions further uses for ARKit in the cosmetic space, some of which it demonstrated in a second video that showcases a “virtual beauty counter”.

“Users start with trying on different beauty products on their own video through ModiFace’s iOS app. From there, once a selection of products have been made, they can then instantly see their products, product reviews, and product simulations on their own photo rendered as a virtual beauty counter. Users can walk close to the counter to zoom and view specific product visualizations or features. For example, to see the details of a lipstick, they simple walk closer to their photo and move their devices closer to a virtual lip.”

ModiFace says it will be testing virtual beauty counters with a variety of different partners over the coming weeks, but the first apps with ARKit won’t be available until iOS 11 is officially available to the public in September.

So far, developers have demonstrate everything from live filter applications in a recreation of A-ha’s Take On Me video to live measurements of furniture and room spaces, and we can surely expect many more to come. Check out the links below for more ARKit demos.

– ARKit Roundup: Turn-by-Turn Directions, Precise Room Measurements, and Pac-Man
– Apple’s ARKit Used to Recreate Classic A-ha ‘Take On Me’ Video
– Apple Users’ Mixed Reality Future Teased in Latest ARKit Demo
– Latest Apps to Showcase Apple’s ARKit Include Simple Measuring Tape and Minecraft
– Developers Share First Augmented Reality Creations Using Apple’s ARKit

Related Roundup: iOS 11
Tag: ARKit
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‘iPhone 8’ Said to Come in 64, 256, and 512GB Storage Capacities, All With 3GB of RAM

Apple’s upcoming “iPhone 8” will be available to order in three storage capacities and with the same amount of working memory as the current iPhone 7 Plus, according to a new post on Chinese microblogging site Weibo (via Techtastic.nl).

The minimum storage capacity for Apple’s OLED iPhone is said to be 64GB, with a 256GB option offered as the mid-tier capacity and a 512GB option at the highest tier, while 3GB of RAM is claimed to be included across the board.

Weibo poster GeekBar included the above image of an alleged iPhone 8 NAND flash 64GB memory module manufactured by SanDisk, which will also supply some 256GB modules, according to the source. Toshiba is also referenced as a supplier of both capacities, while Samsung and Hynix are said to be making the 512GB modules.

This is the first time SanDisk has been referenced as a NAND supplier for Apple’s OLED iPhone, while Toshiba, Samsung, and SK Hynix have all been cited previously as suppliers of NAND flash chips. Earlier rumors have suggested the iPhone 8 will include increased storage space, making the device more expensive than previous-generation models, although previous additional reports claimed only that the phone would be available in 64 and 256GB capacities.

Reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also put the iPhone 8’s memory at 3GB of RAM, while the larger iPhone 7s Plus is expected to remain at 3GB RAM and the smaller iPhone 7s will continue to offer 2GB RAM. Kuo claimed the DRAM transfer speed of the three new models will be faster than the iPhone 7 by 10 to 15 percent for better augmented reality performance.

Today’s alleged photo leak follows several others in the last couple of weeks. They have included a 3D sensing camera module, an A11 processor, wireless charging pad components, and an OLED display assembly and flex power cables. Apple is expected to debut its “premium” redesigned 5.8-inch iPhone in the first half of September alongside upgraded (but standard) 4.7 and 5.5-inch iPhones.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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Blizzard’s making ‘Overwatch’ competitive seasons short and sweet

By now, Overwatch gamers are accustomed to getting updates. Blizzard keeps spoiling us with new characters, modes, and events. They in turn keep the game fresh for returning players 14 months down the line. Judging by its latest announcement, the developer will keep tightening the screws on its well-oiled blockbuster. For its sixth competitive season, Overwatch is receiving a decent shake-up.

The biggest change is that Blizzard is shortening competitive seasons to last two months instead of three. According to VP Jeff Kaplan, this will make the experience more fun and rewarding, while preventing it from stagnating. He added that despite the smaller seasons, you should still “roughly” get the same amount of competitive points for the year.

That’s not all. Additional tweaks to the upcoming competitive season target skill rating decay. In the future, you’ll only need to play five games per week at diamond and above to curb decay. And, if you do get hit by it, you’ll only lose 25 skill rating instead of 50.

Blizzard’s also changing how control maps work. Right now, an “inordinate” amount of these matches are going into overtime, which is resulting in “very long match times,” explains Kaplan. To solve this, in season six control maps will be best out of three. This will make losing a control map “sting less.” Placement matches are set to work differently too. In the past, Overwatch players were placed lower than where their skill rating should have been to give them more of a sense of progression. Next time round, your placement will more accurately reflect your skill level from the get go.

To further level the playing field, higher tiered matches will also be more balanced going forward. As a result, players won’t find themselves in as many matches where they end up demolishing the opposition. This will result in more skill rating gains, but could also affect queues. “Hopefully it’s not super noticeable to most of us,” said Kaplan. “And hopefully it’s a lot of fun, despite the fact that you might have to wait for a long time.”

Kaplan is reassuring players that these changes will be closely monitored, in case they don’t work as planned. In order to keep you hooked, Blizzard is already working on more tweaks for seasons seven and eight.

Source: Overwatch (YouTube)

You’ll soon be able to buy Walmart products on your Google Home

Walmart is bringing its huge catalog of products to the Google Home.

Google Home is great at answering queries as it hooks into Google’s vast trove of information, but if you’re looking to make purchases with your voice, Amazon’s Echo reigns supreme. Google has been working on improving the voice shopping experience on the Google Home, and to that effect the company has announced that it is partnering with Walmart.

Starting in late September, Walmart will make hundreds of thousands of items available for voice shopping via Google Assistant. You’ll be able to link your Walmart account with Google to get personalized shopping results from your past purchases at the retailer via its Easy Reorder feature.

Walmart is also joining the likes of Target and Costco on Google Express, and the delivery service is getting an overhaul. Google is getting rid of the $95 annual membership fee for Express, instead offering free delivery as long as you meet a store’s minimum requirement. For Walmart, that threshold is $35.

By making its products available on Google Assistant, Walmart is opening up a new avenue for sales, one that could be a major growth driver for the retailer in the future. Starting next year, Walmart will leverage its robust retail store network to enable experiences “that don’t currently exist within voice shopping anywhere else,” including the ability to buy fresh groceries across the country.

And siding with Google allows Walmart to compete in a segment where Amazon has built a considerable head start:

When it comes to voice shopping, we want to make it as easy as possible for our customers. That’s why it makes sense for us to team up with Google. They’ve made significant investments in natural language processing and artificial intelligence to deliver a powerful voice shopping experience. We know this means being compared side-by-side with other retailers, and we think that’s the way it should be.

The Walmart integration will go live in around a month’s time, and you can sign up to be notified on Express.

Galaxy Note 8 will cost a gazillion pounds in the UK

Buying a Note 8 outright? Be prepared to part with a crap-ton of cash.

Today is Samsung Galaxy Note 8 day, so of course at least one retailer has jumped the gun and prematurely published its product page. British mobile giant Carphone Warehouse has let slip a full spec sheet for the device (largely confirming what we’ve known for some time through other leaks), along with the first UK pricing details. According to the now-pulled product listing, spotted by The Inquirer, a SIM-free Note 8 will set you back a cool £869. On-contract prices will apparently start at £49 per month and £59.99 upfront for a 5GB plan.

Both numbers are expectedly steep, the SIM-free cost being around £100 north of the Galaxy S8+’s launch price, and contract prices also beginning a tier above that device. As for other markets, a UK price around that level would equate to a euro price around the €900 point, with U.S. prices possibly approaching an eye-watering $1000 for anyone buying outright. That’s a lot of cash, however you break it down — through broadly in line with the rumors.

We’ll learn more about the Galaxy Note 8 at today’s launch event in New York City — stay tuned for full coverage.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

• Galaxy Note 8: Everything we know so far
• Rumored Galaxy Note 8 specs
• All Galaxy Note 8 news
• Should you buy the Galaxy S8+ or wait for the Note 8?
• The buttonless future of Samsung phones
• Join our Galaxy Note 8 forums

Amazon’s latest Twitch Prime giveaway eyes ‘Madden 18’ fans

Amazon’s well and truly got football fever. It seems securing the rights to select NFL games for Prime Video wasn’t enough, it’s now also got the hook-up for Madden 18. The latest instalment in the long-running sports franchise just dropped. And, Twitch Prime members who own a copy will receive in-game goodies that could prove handy to their Ultimate Team. As part of the latest offer, you’ll get an 83-rated Madden Legend and a Collectible per week throughout the season (25 in total). To kick things off, your first freebie will be an 85-rated Reggie White and five Collectibles — combine the two and you’ve got a 90-rated Legend straight off the bat. Just link your Twitch account with Amazon Prime to reap the benefits.

Twitch Prime (which comes bundled with an Amazon Prime subscription) has been offering free items since its launch. In the past, members have received Overwatch loot crates, NBA2K17 currency, and apparel for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. All those along with its existing perks, which include ad-free streams, a free channel subscription, and game deals. For Amazon, the latest offer is another way to lure more Twitch fans to its fold. This time it’s targeting Madden gamers, with the hopes that they’ll also tune into its NFL livestreams.

Source: Twitch blog