iPhone 8 Camera Allows Users to Customize 3D Animated Emoji Using Facial Expressions

Following last night’s leak of the golden master version of iOS 11, further details of features Apple plans to announce next week continue to be unearthed, including more hints about the new 3D animated emoji for iMessage.

Based on information in the iOS 11 GM firmware, the new “Animoji”, as they’re called, appear to be a feature exclusive to Apple’s so-called iPhone 8 and the phone’s new 3D sensing capability, enabling users to create custom 3D animated emoji based on facial expressions picked up by the camera.

As noted by developer Steve Stroughton-Smith, several Animoji will be available for customization using the iPhone 8’s 3D sensing features, including chimps, robots, pigs, cats, poop, chickens, dogs, foxes, and several others unearthed in the software.

The range of expressions that the iPhone 8 will be able to detect are listed in a separate asset, showing off the level of detail the new camera feature is capable of reading on a human face. Animoji will be able to be customized using movement of the left and right eyebrows, cheeks, chin, eyes, jaw, lips, and mouth, with global detection for sad and happy faces.

Expect additional discoveries about the iPhone 8 and Apple Watch to be revealed soon as developers scour the iOS 11 GM code over the weekend. Apple will officially unveil the new devices at its Tuesday event set to be held at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Related Roundups: iPhone 8, iOS 11
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Volvo buys premium app-based valet service Luxe

Volvo has just acquired the app-based valet service Luxe, which let users coordinate a driver to park, wash and refuel their car. But the Swedish automaker didn’t pick it up just to convenience its customers — it wants Luxe’s technology and engineers, too.

The valet-tech company was almost bought by Uber back in June; The ridesharing titan was similarly looking to acqui-hire Luxe’s assets and staff, though CEO and cofounder Curtis Lee reportedly wouldn’t be making the jump to Uber. But today’s deal will see Lee accompany his team to Volvo, according to Luxe’s blog post on the matter. Volvo will integrate the valet tech into its own systems in its pursuit of ultimate driver service:

“Our vision is a future in which technology simplifies life so you never have to stop at a petrol station, go to a car wash or even take your car in for service ever again. The acquisition of Luxe is a step towards realising that ambition. I look forward to working closely with the highly talented team at Luxe who created its advanced technology from the ground up,” said Atif Rafiq, Chief Digital Officer at Volvo Cars, in a press release.

Luxe’s tech includes algorithms for routing, logistics planning and arrival time prediction, which will help with unspecified digital services in future Volvo connected cars. Even though most automakers are fixated on developing autonomous systems, some are likewise interested in valet convenience. Daimler recently outfitted its Mercedes-Benz museum in Stuttgart, Germany with a self-parking service as a proof-of-concept.

Source: Volvo

Roland reissues classic D-50 synth for its ‘Boutique’ line

Roland has been reissuing classic synths for a while now with its “Boutique” line based on earlier Roland keyboards like the Jupiter 8, Juno 106 and JX-3P. The company has also re-imagined the retro-tastic TR-808 and TR-909 drum machines for classic beats on the go. Now, Roland wants to commemorate the 30th anniversary of another classic, the D-50 Linear Synthesizer. Named the D-05, this compact synth will run you $350 and is available now.

The original D-50 was a popular 61-key synthesizer that came out in 1987. It’s set of sounds contributed to the sound of a diverse group of artists like Prince, Sting, Michael Jackson and Enya. The D-05 recreates the same sounds and presets of the original, and includes many of the same hardware layouts, including the D-50’s innovative joystick that made it easy to morph between different onboard tones in real time. There are a few modern touches as well, including a 64-step polyphonic sequencer and a built-in arpeggiator that can be used on its own or as a way to edit original presets.

The D-05 runs on USB power or batteries, has a built-in speaker and can be used as an audio/MIDI interface so that you can just plug it into your Mac or PC without extra hardware. It docks in the same velocity-sensitive K-25m keyboard unit that the other Boutique modules use, as well.

Source: Roland

Best Buy pulls Kaspersky’s antivirus software from its shelves

Amid growing concern/speculation/hysteria that Kaspersky Lab products could be tied to the Russian government, retailer Best Buy has stopped selling its antivirus. Minnesota’s StarTribune first reported the move, citing a source who said that the company felt there are “too many unanswered questions” after conducting its own investigation. There’s no word on what those questions are, or why Kaspersky’s offer to share its source code isn’t enough to prove there’s no backdoor, and the company hasn’t spoken about the move beyond confirming the report. In a tweet, Kaspersky noted its products are available through other retailers and said that while its relationship with Best Buy is suspended, it “may be re-evaluated in the future.”

Our statement in regards to the status of our business relationship with Best Buy. pic.twitter.com/4tcPoIu3Li

— Kaspersky Lab (@kaspersky) September 8, 2017

Via: Reuters

Source: StarTribune, Kaspersky Lab (Twitter)

Leaked iOS 11 GM Reveals iPhone 8 Features, Hints at LTE Apple Watch

The golden master version of iOS 11 appears to have leaked this evening, shedding some early light on products and features Apple plans to announce next Tuesday. The golden master software seems to have been sent to multiple sites including MacRumors and 9to5Mac.

In the Apple Watch app, there’s an image of what may be the third-generation Apple Watch with a cellular connection. The device has the same general design as the current Apple Watch, featuring a Space Gray body and matching band, but it appears to have a bright red Digital Crown. Code in the update suggests the Apple Watch will be able to make calls over LTE, sharing a phone number with the iPhone. The Apple Watch will be added to an existing phone plan, and there are hints that carriers will offer pricing promotions.

As noted by 9to5Mac, there are references to Face ID, which may be the name of the new facial recognition system in the iPhone 8, and there are images that feature the design of the iPhone 8 with slim bezels and a notch at the top of the device for the camera. The display of the device may feature True Tone support much like the iPad Pro, a feature that has been previously rumored.

Two iPhone 8 screenshots buried within the update give us a look at the new navigation bar on the iPhone 8, which will replace the Home button with a set of gestures. Pulling upwards on the bar brings up the Home screen and a longer pull brings up the App Switcher. There are also hints that the elongated sleep/sleep wake button (now called side button) will activate Siri and bring up Apple Pay cards and passes.

There appears to be a new “Portrait Lighting” feature that may work with the flash on the device, offering up Contour Light, Natural Light, Stage Light, Stage Light Mono, and Studio Light, and there are new video recording options:

– 1080p HD at 240 fps 480 MB with 1080p HD at 240 fps
– 4K at 24 fps (Footer) 270 MB with 4K at 24 fps (film style) (HEVC Footer) 135 MB with 4K at 24 fps (film style)
– 4K at 60 fps (Footer) 450 MB with 4K at 60 fps (higher resolution, smoother) (HEVC Footer) 400 MB with 4K at 60 fps (higher resolution, smoother)

There are hints of animated emoji for iMessage and references to AirPods 1,2, which may be a revised version of the wire-free headphones Apple first introduced last year.

Last but not least, there are a selection of colorful new wallpapers that are sure to look impressive on an OLED display. There are stills of the earth and moon, several floral images, a selection of retro-style rainbow wallpapers, and one wallpaper that’s plain black.

With the iOS 11 firmware released early, it’s likely there will be additional discoveries about the unreleased iPhone 8 and the third-generation Apple Watch over the weekend. Apple will officially unveil the new devices at its Tuesday event set to be held at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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Learn to set up a Chromecast and turn any TV into the ultimate streaming machine

Google has made its Chromecast so easy to use that virtually anyone with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop can learn how to stream their favorite shows or movies on their TV in a matter of seconds. It’s also pretty simple to set up a Chromecast on your home network but there are a lot of steps to the process, so we’ve created this simple guide to get you up and running. Before you get started, though, you’ll want to make sure you have a decent internet connection (at least 5 Mbps) and access to an online app store like Apple’s App Store or Google play if you want to get the most out of your Chromecast.

• Step 1: Unbox your Chromecast, and make sure the Chromecast, the micro-USB to USB power cable, and wall adapter are inside. 

• Step 2: Connect the micro-USB cable to your Chromecast, and then plug the broad end of your Chromecast into an open HDMI port on your TV.

• Step 3:  You’ll need to plug in the USB cable in order to power to the Chromecast. If your TV has a USB power port, plug in there. If the port works, you should see a little LED on your Chromecast light up. If it doesn’t light up, remove the USB from the port, plug it into the USB wall charger, and plug the charger into the nearest wall outlet.
  • If needed, you can purchase a HDMI extender cable to extend the reach of your Chromecast to your nearest outlet.

• Step 4: Turn on your TV, and switch to the corresponding HDMI source. You’ll know you’re on the right input once you see the “Set me up” screen. 

• Step 5: You can set up your Chromecast with your laptop by visiting chromecast.com/setup, or you can set it up with your tablet or smartphone by downloading the Google Home app.

• Step 6: Once you’ve downloaded the app and accepted the terms of service in the Google Home app, tap “Devices” on the top right corner of the screen.
• Step 7: After you’ve allowed the app to access your location, Google Home will find the Chromecast nearest to you. After you choose your Chromecast, tap “Set Up” and then “Continue”.

• Step 8: After the app establishes a connection to the Chromecast, tap “Continue”.
• Step 9: A code should then pop up on your phone and your TV. If they match, tap “I See the Code”.

• Step 10: Choose a name for your Chromecast (hopefully something fun and clever), and then tap “Continue”.

• Step 11: Once you’ve named it set up your Chromecast to connect to your wifi.

Once your Chromecast connects to the wifi, you’re all set up. If the device couldn’t connect, you might want to assure your computer or mobile devices are compatible with your Chromecast. If you’re still running into trouble, then visit the Chromecast Help Forum. Some phones and computers might need special instructions, depending on how old or new your software is. To personalize your Chromecast, you might want to consider signing in to your Google account on the device, but make sure you turn off email notifications, unless you’re looking to get frequent news and updates on how to best use your device. You’ll also be treated to a “How to Cast” video, which you can watch below.

Also, be sure to check out our Chromecast tips and tricks article to get the most from your new streaming companion.

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Ventev Wirelesspro dock review

Research Center:
Ventev Wirelesspro

We all understand the fear of approaching a crucial navigation point in your drive only to find your smartphone sitting at a 10 percent battery charge. You then frantically search the cabin for your phone charger, then fumble to plug it in and reattach the phone mount.

Ventev hopes that their wireless charging phone mount, the Wirelesspro Dock, will help prevent panic moments like this while on the go. Our Ventev Wirelesspro Dock review should help you decide if it is time to ditch your standard USB car charger.

Issues with USB charging

More and more vehicles have begun to ditch the old 12-volt “cigarette lighter” ports in favor of standard USB. While the dozen or so USB ports may seem like a great way to keep all of your family’s devices powered up, most don’t provide enough juice to hold a charge while in use. Aside from a few newer vehicles with USB ports capable of 2.4 amps (about 12 watts), the standard USB port will only provide around .5 amps (about 2.5 watts). This is why you will find the battery actually dropping when charging via a USB port and watching a video or running a navigation app.

Fast wireless charging

There have been attempts to ditch the charging cable, long before Apple decided to get rid of the headphone jack. Going wireless seemed like the right step through technology like the Qi standard, a global interface standard that electronic manufacturers agreed upon to make their devices compatible. The main issue with the early Qi wireless chargers is that they topped out at a meager 5 watts. To put that in perspective, the average wall charger for your phone produces around 12 watts and would charge your phone at more than double the speed.

Nolan Browning/Digital Trends

Nolan Browning/Digital Trends

Nolan Browning/Digital Trends

Nolan Browning/Digital Trends

Thankfully, charging technology has advanced and back in 2015, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) announced Qi fast charging with charging speeds up to 15 watts. The Wirelesspro Dock from Ventev, available for only $15, uses this new wireless charging technology to charge capable devices much faster than the competition. Phones that currently allow for the new fast wireless charging technology include the Samsung Galaxy S6, S7, S8, Note 5, Note 8, HTC One M9, and the LG G4. The Ventev phone dock will also charge any standard Qi wireless charging device but at the slower rate of 5 watts.

Mounted and ready to charge

The Ventev kit includes the Wirelesspro Dock itself, a 3’ Micro USB cable, and a 12-volt Ventev Dashport RQ1300 mini USB car charger with Qualcomm® Quick Charge 3.0. Should you choose to charge “wired” at times, the Dashport charger will allow you to charge via USB at up to 18 watts for newer phones that support fast charging.

The Wirelesspro Dock uses new wireless charging technology to charge capable devices much faster than the competition

The Wirelesspro Dock attaches to your dash with a rear air vent clip. Your vehicle air vent design may differ, but most cars with horizontal or vertical vents should be fine. The clip is easy to attach and has a padded support leg that can be situated flush with the dash to decrease vibration and movement while driving. The base is quality black plastic with rear venting to keep the charger cool. The Micro USB from the 12-volt charger plugs into the bottom of the amount, mere inches away from where you would plug it into your phone.

The mount uses two rubber side arms and a spring-loaded mechanism to hold your phone tightly. We tested the system with two wireless charging enabled devices, both the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Motorola Nexus 6. The Nexus 6 is not equipped with the newer fast wireless charging standard but was able to fit in the mount and charge at a level around 5 watts. The mount also had issues supporting the heavier Nexus 6 and would tilt downward while driving, even when tightened completely. However, the S6 Edge+ was able to use fast wireless charging with the Ventev Wirelesspro Dock and charged at well over three times the speed of the old wireless charging standard. The lighter and narrower body of the S6 Edge+ was easy to mount and had no issues moving while driving.

Warranty information

The Ventev Wirelesspro Dock features a Limited Lifetime warranty. The Ventev Limited Lifetime Warranty guarantees to the end user of this product that it is free from defects in material and workmanship – and that if used in accordance with any accompanying labels or instructions, it will perform as specified. The warranty is only valid in the United States and the product must have been purchased through an authorized dealer.

Ventev Wirelesspro Compared To

Insta360 One

Star Wars: Jedi Challenges

Samsung DeX Station

Oaxis InkCase i7 Plus

Ampy Move

Neo Smartpen N2

Motrr Galileo

Typo keyboard case

Moga Mobile Gaming Controller

Hasbro My3D

Iomega SuperHero

BlackBerry Presenter

Callpod Chargepod

Griffin Elan Holster

Our Take

The Ventev Wirelesspro Dock may finally deliver a good reason to ditch the cables with the help of fast wireless charging technology. However, phones with the older, slower wireless charging technology will charge at speeds that are as bad, or worse, than most USB car ports.

Is there a better alternative?

No, Ventev is one of the only trusted brands to deliver a fast wireless charger for your car at this price. Other competitors are rather unknown and their prices are double that of the Wirelesspro Dock.

How long will it last?

With a Limited Lifetime Warranty, there will be no worry about the product breaking. However, the fast wireless charging technology is only on a handful of phones and the standards are changing rapidly.

Should you buy it?

If you have a phone that is equipped with the new fast wireless charging system then absolutely buy it! But for phones with the old standard, it won’t be worth the wait to charge and you’d be better off simply buying the Ventev carport USB charger.

Equifax tries to explain its response to a massive security breach

A day after announcing that hackers stole personal information tied to 143 million people in the US, Equifax’s response to the breach has come under scrutiny. Language on the website where people could find out if they were affected seemed to say that by signing up they would waive any right to join a class action suit against the company — something New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said is “unacceptable and unenforceable.” The company has since explained it does not apply to the data breach at all, but that hasn’t stopped misinformation from spreading.

After conversations w my office, @Equifax has clarified its policy re: arbitration. We are continuing to closely review. pic.twitter.com/WcPZ9OqMcL

— Eric Schneiderman (@AGSchneiderman) September 8, 2017

Equifax:

In response to consumer inquiries, we have made it clear that the arbitration clause and class action waiver included in the Equifax and TrustedID Premier terms of use does not apply to this cybersecurity incident,

Of course, considering the extent of what has leaked and the number of people affected, a hyperbolic reaction to anything surrounding this incident is understandable. Still, there are a few steps that people can and should take, now that we know someone has stolen more than enough information to perpetrate identity theft on a massive scale.

Now that the language has been clarified, it appears legally clear to use Equifax’s website to check things out. Among Engadget staff, a few of us received notices that we aren’t among those impacted, but most weren’t so lucky. Still, there are questions about how secure the site itself is, since it requests the last six digits of each person’ social security number (and guessing first three isn’t as hard as you might think). Also, it doesn’t appear to work particularly well, responding to test and “gibberish” input with a claim that it’s part of the breach also.

The best information on how to respond is available from the FTC. The government agency lays out solid next steps, like checking your credit report for any suspicious entries, as well as placing a freeze (there’s more advice on that here) and/or fraud alert on your account with the major credit bureaus. This will make it harder for a thief to create a fake account for you and should force creditors to verify your identity. Finally, it’s important to file your taxes early, before a scammer potentially can.

Source: Equifax, FTC

Following earthquake, wireless carriers offer free calling from U.S. to Mexico

A magnitude-8.1 earthquake struck near Chiapas, Mexico at 12:49 a.m. ET on September 8, tragically killing at least 32 people and leaving hundreds more injured. The quake has been dubbed the strongest in the country for over a century, and is the cause of what is likely to be months of recovery.

As has been the case in the past, carriers have started responding to the disaster in an attempt to try and help people connect with loved ones who may be affected by the quake. Here’s what you need to know.

Verizon

Soon after the quake, Verizon announced it would be offering free wireless and landline calling from the U.S. to Mexico, allowing Verizon customers to reach out to friends and family in the region without having to pay for it. The offer will last from September 8 to September 10.

“There’s a strong connection between our customers and their families in Mexico, this is the right thing to do,” said Tami Erwin, executive vice president of Verizon Wireless Operations, in a statement. “Speed matters when providing relief that can connect people during this crisis.”

AT&T

AT&T has made a similar decision, saying it will automatically add credit and waive charges for calls and texts placed between September 8 and September 10. This applies to customers of AT&T wireless, AT&T Prepaid, and AT&T landline services.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Mexico and our customers who have friends and family there,” an AT&T spokesperson said in a statement emailed to Digital Trends. “As with any emergency, text messaging is recommended due to the possibility of network congestion in the local area.”

Sprint

We’ve reached out to Sprint but have yet to hear back. We’ll update this article if and when we do.

T-Mobile

T-Mobile One customers already have unlimited calling and texting to and from Mexico.

“U.S. customers currently in Mexico can call the U.S. for free through the same benefit,” a T-Mobile spokesperson told Digital Trends. “Customers in the U.S. with Stateside International can also make unlimited calls and texts to Mexico. There has been no announcement regarding non-T-Mobile One customers who do not have these benefits.

Stateside International is a service you can add to your T-Mobile plan, and it essentially offers unlimited calling and texting for numerous countries from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

YouTube rolls out support for HDR to the Galaxy Note 8, LG G6, and other phones

Why it matters to you

HDR may be a nascent standard, but thanks to YouTube, it’s expanding to Samsung, Sony, and LG devices.

Looking to test-drive your Galaxy S8 or Pixel’s screen with some ultra-vibrant high dynamic range (HDR) clips? You are in luck. On Friday, YouTube extended HDR support to select Samsung, HTC, and LG devices.

YouTube’s expanded mobile HDR comes in the form of an updated app. Try it by downloading or upgrading YouTube from the Google Play Store on the Google Pixel, Xperia XZ Premium, Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, Galaxy Note 8, or LG V30, and then playing an HDR-enabled video. Tap the playback settings menu and you will see new HDR options in resolutions up to 1,440p (2,560 x 1,440 pixels).

It’s not quite ready for prime time, though. Reddit users are reporting stuttering videos and battery-draining brightness levels, and some Galaxy S8 owners claim the update does away with the option to stretch videos to full screen. It also appears to be a one-way street: Once you upgrade to the HDR-enabled version of YouTube, there is no easy way to switch back.

YouTube says it is working on fixes. “We’ll continue working with partners in [the] mobile industry to bring HDR playback to more devices,” a YouTube spokesperson told Digital Trends in an email.

HDR, or high-dynamic range, is a display specification that produces higher-than-average contrast between light and dark frames. The result is a brighter, punchier, and truer-to-life image than you are likely to get on a phone that does not support HDR.

But it’s not that cut and dry. The two dominant HDR video formats, HDR10 and Dolby Vision, are not interoperable, which has already led manufacturers like Samsung to ditch one format in favor of the other. The Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus comply with HDR10, but not Dolby Vision.

Content has not been easy to come by, either. Netflix recently rolled out HDR to the LG V30, Galaxy Note 8, Xperia ZX Premium, and Xperia XZ1, but only a sliver of its library is HDR-compliant (mostly Netflix-produced series like House of Cards and Chef’s Table), and accessing it requires a subscription to Netflix’s top-tier, $12-a-month 4K streaming plan.

Amazon Prime Video and Vudu, meanwhile, both boast a growing number of HDR movies and TV shows but have yet to support mobile devices.

That seems poised to change, though, as an increasing number of smartphone makers pledge to implement HDR. In February, the Ultra HD Alliance — a group of technology companies and movie studios — announced Mobile HDR Premium, a new baseline spec for HDR-enable smartphones, tablets, and laptops. It is unlikely to be a silver bullet, but it could be just the target manufacturers need to work toward full HDR compliance.