800,000 low-income UK homes to benefit from free solar panels

One of the biggest ever green energy schemes in the UK is set to provide clean energy for as many as 800,000 low-income homes over the next five years, renewable energy provider Solarplicity has revealed. As part of a £160 million investment from Netherlands-based Maas Capital (part of the ABN AMRO Bank), the company will provide 100,000 households with free solar panels over the next 18 months and hopes to reach its target within five years.

The aim of the £1 billion project is to help individuals and families living in social housing by saving them an average of £240 a year. The harvested energy won’t be free, but offered at a significantly reduced rate. If it meets its potential, the scheme could save tenants up to £192 million in total.

Already, 40 “social landlords” — including many local authorities — are on board, with the majority of them located in the North West. Over 290,000 homes in towns like Oldham and Bradford will benefit from the project, followed by the North East and the Midlands.

The deal is set to create over 1,000 new jobs for people who will be tasked with installing and maintaining the panels. Solarplicity says that many of the positions will be offered to military veterans, who will be retrained for new maintenance careers.

The companies involved will profit from the scheme by way of the government’s feed-in tariff, which pays households that generate their own electricity via renewable methods. Tenants will also contribute towards the cost, but they’ll also be given low-energy LED bulbs and smart meter in order to better manage their energy consumption.

Via: HuffPo UK

Source: Solarplicity

Alleged ‘iPhone 8’ Sim Tray Images Again Depict Copper-Like Gold Color

New photos of an alleged iPhone part leak appeared online this morning offering another possible indication that Apple’s upcoming 2017 range of iPhones will be available in just three colors. The images were shared by Benjamin Geskin and depict two iPhone SIM card trays in gold and silver, purportedly destined for Apple’s so-called “iPhone 8”.

#iPhone8 SIM Card Tray

“Blush” Gold
Silver
Black pic.twitter.com/TuCXeh4sby

— Benjamin Geskin (@VenyaGeskin1) September 5, 2017

Geskin’s tweet refers to previous rumors suggesting Apple will offer the “iPhone 8” – as well its companion devices, the iPhone 7s and the iPhone 7s Plus – in silver, gold, and black (not shown).

The three colors were first mentioned in early August by notable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and appeared to line up with dummy model images that were circulating at the time, albeit with a question mark remaining over the copper-tinged appearance of the gold model, described by the dummy leaker as “champagne gold”.

A couple of weeks later, Geskin claimed the internal name for the unusual-looking color was “Blush Gold” and offered his own OLED iPhone render to give an idea of its appearance.

Following today’s emergence of sim tray photos, Geskin later shared another comped image comparing the three colors side by side, offering a better example of how the copper-like tint differs to previous gold iPhone options.

The new color has divided observers, with some calling it the “Zune option”, referring to Microsoft’s much-maligned brown music player. Still, it’s hard to know for sure how the so-called “Blush Gold” color will appear in natural light, if indeed Apple plans to offer it instead of its traditional Rose Gold or Gold colors.

Apple is expected to offer the new iPhones in 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities at $999, $1099, and $1199 price points, respectively. To find out if the rumors are accurate, be sure to follow our coverage of Apple’s September 12 media event on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
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Pixelmator Announces New ‘Pixelmator Pro’ Software Coming This Fall

The team behind the popular Pixelmator photo editing app for iOS and Mac today announced plans to unveil an all new pro-level app, Pixelmator Pro.

According to the Pixelmator Pro teaser site, the new software features a reimagined editing workflow, simplified editing tools, and intelligent image editing features powered by machine learning.

Pixelmator Pro is a powerful, beautiful, and easy to use image editor. Featuring an elegant and streamlined single-window interface, it puts all the focus on the images you edit, rather than what’s around them. And with a design that is totally and completely Mac, it feels instantly familiar from the moment you first open the app. So image editing becomes simpler and more enjoyable than ever.

Pixelmator Pro takes advantage of the new Core ML framework built into macOS High Sierra to provide features like automatic layer naming based on layer content, automatic horizon detection, an improved repair tool for removing objects from photos effortlessly, and a quick selection tool that’s better than ever.

The interface includes tools designed to make it easy to resize and rearrange layers, with a nondestructive Arrange Tool, smart spacing guides, and advanced alignment tools for aligning several objects with a click, plus there’s a new painting engine powered by Metal 2 and dynamic paint blending technology.

Nondestructive color adjustment tools let you edit the colors in photos, there are a selection of effects that can be added to each layer and combined in Recipes, and there are shape tools, drawing tools, layer styles, and more. All in all, Pixelmator Pro includes more than 40 tools to work with.

Pixelmator Pro will be available sometime this fall. Prospective customers can sign up to get an email when the software launches on the Pixelmator Pro website.

Tag: Pixelmator
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Gigabyte made the tiniest GeForce GTX 1080 card yet

NVIDIA has been shrinking gaming laptops with its Max-Q graphics initiative, but what about desktop users who want high-end graphics in a discreet, portable case? Gigabyte has come up with the GeForce GTX 1080 Mini ITX 8G, an unwieldy name for the world’s smallest GTX 1080 graphics card. At just 16.9 cm (6.7 inches), it’s nearly four inches shorter than a regular model, so it can be tucked into a Mini-ITX case (6.7 x 6.7 inches), as the name implies. Yet, it packs the same power as any other GTX 1080 desktop card, letting you do 4K video, gaming and VR with ease.

In a card that size, the main trick is cooling, so Gigabyte used copper composite heat pipes and a 90mm fan with a custom blade design. Despite the compact size, you’ll hear nary a decibel when the system is running under a light load, thanks to 3D Active fan tech. Gigabyte also supplies software for one-click overclocking so you don’t have to futz around with that much.

There’s no mention of availability or pricing, but don’t expect a discount just because it’s smaller — it might even cost more because of the engineering required to shrink it. Hopefully, that’ll be offset by the lower cost of ITX components, and should be worth it for a portable machine that (for now) can still blow away any laptop.

Xiaomi teams up with Google to launch its first Android One phone, the $230 Mi A1

Android One reboot kicks off with the Xiaomi Mi A1.

Late last week, Xiaomi said that it would launch a phone in a brand-new series, and that the device would make its debut in India. At a media event in New Delhi, Xiaomi unveiled the Mi A1, its first Android One phone. The device is a variant of the Mi 5X, which was unveiled in China back in July. What makes the Mi A1 particularly interesting is the fact that it runs stock Android out of the box.

Before we discuss the software, a quick look at the specs on offer: the Mi A1 has a 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage, dual 12MP cameras with a primary wide-angle lens and a secondary telephoto lens, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, and a 3080mAh battery. Like all Xiaomi phones sold in India, the Mi A1 will be assembled locally in the country.

• Xiaomi Mi A1 specs
• Xiaomi Mi A1 preview: Android One at its best

The phone doesn’t come with Oreo out of the box — it is running Android 7.1.2 Nougat with the August security patch, but Google says that the Oreo update will be rolled out before the end of the year. Google also says that the Mi A1 will be one of the first devices to pick up the Android P update next year.

And unlike previous Android One devices, which received updates directly from Google, Xiaomi will be rolling out the updates to the Mi A1.

That’s because of the dual camera setup at the back — to take full advantage of the dual imaging sensors, Xiaomi bundled its own camera app with the phone, and that means any new update will have to go through Xiaomi to make sure it doesn’t break the camera. Xiaomi is also offering an IR blaster on the Mi A1, and has bundled its Mi Remote utility as well. Aside from that, you’ll get a clean software experience.

The Mi A1 will be available on Mi.com as well as Flipkart for ₹14,999 ($230), and will be up for purchase at Mi Home stores as well as Xiaomi’s retail partner network. The phone will go up for sale on September 12 and will be heading to over 25 global markets shortly.

Xiaomi Mi A1 specs: Snapdragon 625, dual cameras, and stock Android for $230

The Mi 5X is Xiaomi’s first Android One phone.

Xiaomi unveiled the Mi A1 earlier today in New Delhi, and the phone marks a shift in strategy for the manufacturer. While all Xiaomi phones thus far have featured MIUI, the Mi A1 offers stock Android. The phone is the first in a new lineup of Android One devices, with Google looking to aggressively target the budget segment in emerging markets.

There’s a lot to like about the phone — you get a Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 3080mAh battery, and Android 7.1.2 Nougat out of the box with the August security patch. The highlight is the dual 12MP cameras at the back, with Xiaomi offering a similar configuration as the flagship Mi 6. Here’s a detailed look at the hardware:

The Mi A1 will be sold exclusively on Flipkart online, and will also be available at Mi Home stores as well as through Xiaomi’s partner stores throughout the country. Interested in knowing more about the device? Head here:

Xiaomi Mi A1 preview: The Android One phone we’ve been waiting for

Xiaomi Mi A1 preview: This is the Android One phone we deserve

This is what Android One should have been from the beginning.

Google launched the Android One initiative back in 2014, partnering with local manufacturers to build $100 phones that received updates directly from the search giant. That premise made a lot of sense considering most budget phones don’t even see a single platform update, but the execution was far from faultless. At a time when offline sales outnumbered online retail three to one, Google decided to offer Android One devices exclusively online.

The company didn’t do enough to promote Android One, which meant that a majority of customers the program was targeting never even knew it existed. Thankfully, that’s all changing with the Xiaomi Mi A1.

Whereas the first batch of Android One phones debuted at the $100 figure, Google is now aiming for the $200-$250 price point. The Mi A1 will retail initially in India for ₹14,999 ($230), and will make its way to other Asian markets before the end of the month. The phone will be available in Russia, Ukraine, Greece, and Mexico by the end of the year.

Now onto the phone itself — the Mi A1 is a rebranded edition of the Mi 5X, which made its debut in China in July. The phone sports an aluminum unibody chassis, with the antenna bands tucked away at the top and bottom of the device. The back is fairly busy thanks to the Android One logo, the Mi logo, and all the regulatory signage.

The highlight of the phone is the dual cameras at the back — a primary 12MP wide-angle camera augmented by a secondary 12MP telephoto lens. The camera configuration is the same as that of the Mi 6, but Xiaomi is using different sensors this time around, and there’s no OIS in the primary camera. And as the Mi A1 is 0.2mm thinner than the Mi 6, there’s a camera hump at the back.

The phone is unmistakably premium, and Xiaomi has done a fantastic job refining its design aesthetic over the last 12 months. There are chunky bezels at the front, but the overall in-hand feel is excellent. Xiaomi also got the placement of the fingerprint sensor just right — it’s located at the exact spot where your index finger rests at the back of the device. The sensor itself is quick to authenticate and didn’t have any issues recognizing my fingerprints.

The power and volume buttons are located on the left, there’s a 3.5mm jack at the bottom, along with a USB-C charging port and a single speaker. The speaker gets sufficiently loud, but the sound is distorted at higher frequencies. There’s also an IR blaster located up top, and you get Mi Remote bundled with the phone.

The only issue I have on the hardware front is the button layout for the navigation keys — the Mi A1 has the back key to the right of the home key, with the recents pane taking up the leftmost button. Aside from that design faux pas, the Mi A1 is the most feature-rich budget phones available today.

Xiaomi Mi A1 specs

Xiaomi didn’t cut any corners when it comes to the internal hardware as well. The Mi A1 features a 5.5-inch Full HD display, Snapdragon 625, 4GB of RAM, 64GB storage, microSD slot, dual 12MP cameras, 5MP front camera, Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, LTE with VoLTE, and a 3080mAh battery.

After three years of using MIUI, it’s bizarre to see stock Android running on a Xiaomi phone. It’s certainly a welcome change, as the addition of stock Android makes the Mi A1 one of the best devices in this segment. You’re not going to notice any lags or slowdowns.

I don’t see how budget phones can get any better.

If there’s a defining trend in the handset segment in 2017, it’s dual cameras. Xiaomi rolled out dual rear cameras last year with the Mi 5s Plus, but changed out the configuration in this year’s Mi 6, opting to go with a telephoto lens for the secondary camera instead of a monochrome sensor.

With the Mi 5X, Xiaomi is looking to bring that same experience to the budget segment. With a secondary telephoto lens, Xiaomi is able to offer 2x optical zoom. The primary sensor by itself does a great job when it comes to taking photos in daylight conditions, and the secondary lens lets you zoom into subjects without losing out on quality.

The phone comes with Android 7.1.2 Nougat out of the box, and Xiaomi says it’ll deliver the Oreo update before the end of the year. Although the Mi A1 is a part of the Android One initiative, Xiaomi will be handling the updates. The phone features Xiaomi’s own camera app and not Google Camera, and as such Xiaomi needs to test the camera’s compatibility with new updates.

The Mi A1 has top-notch build quality, decent internal specs, and a dual camera that’s head and shoulders above anything available in this segment. Combine a clean software experience with the promise of quick updates and Xiaomi’s hardware chops, and it’s easy to see that the Mi A1 is the most uncompromising budget phone in the market today.

The phone will be available in black and gold color options at launch, with the rose gold variant making its debut at a later date. The phone will go up for sale at Mi.com and Flipkart next week for ₹14,999 ($230), and will be heading to Mi Home stores along with thousands of “Mi Preferred Partner” retail stores across the country.

Xiaomi will be in charge of after-sales service for the Mi A1, and going by Google’s non-existent support for Nexus and Pixel devices in the country, that’s a good thing. Xiaomi now has over 500 service centers across India, and is regularly adding more in tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

Xiaomi has a clear winner in the Mi A1, and now it’s time to see if the company can meet the demand for the phone. If it can do so successfully, it is well on its way to solidifying its place as the second-largest smartphone manufacturer in India.

‘Secret of Mana’ remake gameplay video delivers throwback fun

Less than two weeks since it was announced, Square Enix is offering the first look at gameplay from the Secret of Mana remake. The clip is from the demo unveiled as part of the developer’s Pax West showcase, which was captured in a Twitch livestream. It boasts almost ten minutes of in-game footage from the highly anticipated remaster of the classic RPG.

As you can see from the vid, the game is as close to a remake as we’re going to get — with 3D visuals to boot. It retains the characters (only with actual voices), enemies (rabites), objects (treasure chests are back), and items (candy and chocolate bars) that fans fondly remember from the original.

The clip starts from the game’s opening sequence, and follows protagonist Randi as he slashes his way through those bouncing rabites, concluding with the first boss fight against Mantis Ant. All the while you can hear that iconic original score (with some slight modifications) in the background. And, there’s even a cool mini map – – which as some keen observers have already pointed out — is a replica of the original 2D game.

Although the announcement trailer gave us a good look at the characters and style of the game, it also left us with a bunch of questions. Thankfully, the livestream cleared some of those up. Firstly, the game will include a local co-op mode for up to three players (who will assume the roles of Randi, Primm, and Popoi). Aside from the outfits DLC that’s available with pre-orders, more updates are also planned for the future. And, arguably the most exciting tidbit: It seems Square Enix may even be considering a remake of the Secret of Mana follow-up Seiken Densetsu 3. The third in the Mana series was only released in Japan (although an english translation is available as a ROM), so the thought of it making it to these shores is good news indeed.

Before then, you’ll be able to get your hands on the Secret of Mana 3D remake for Playstation 4, PS Vita, and PC on 15 February 2018.

Source: WoWo Game (YouTube)

Apple Takes Early Step Towards iPhones With ‘Above 12-Megapixel’ Rear Cameras

Apple reportedly has booked production capacity for “above 12-megapixel” camera lens modules at a new factory being built by smartphone lens maker Largan Precision in Taichung, Taiwan, according to DigiTimes.

The report, citing “market rumors,” claims Largan is the only supplier that can meet Apple’s minimum yield rate. The new factory is reportedly designed to accommodate monthly production of 600 million lens modules.

Largan will allegedly start production in October 2017, suggesting the camera lens modules could be destined for future iPhone models released in 2018 or later, rather than the so-called iPhone 8 this fall.

It is widely rumored that the iPhone 8 will have a vertically-aligned dual-lens rear camera, with optical image stabilization for both the wide-angle and telephoto lenses, but no credible rumors have surfaced about its quality.

Apple improves its iPhone cameras each year, so an increased megapixel count of some kind is certainly still possible this year.

Apple’s latest iPhone and iPad models, including the iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, 10.5-inch iPad Pro, and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, are all equipped with 12-megapixel rear-facing cameras and 7-megapixel front-facing cameras.

Keep in mind that megapixels don’t always matter, as even a TV or monitor with 4K Ultra HD resolution of 3,840×2,160 pixels only has roughly 8.3 megapixels, which isn’t enough to display a 12-megapixel photo at full resolution.

Nevertheless, if this rumor is accurate, then perhaps we’ll see an iPhone with a 16- or 18-megapixel rear camera or higher in the future.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tags: digitimes.com, Largan
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America’s longest-orbiting female astronaut has safely returned home

After spending 665 days whizzing 254 miles above the surface of Earth aboard the International Space Station, Astronaut Peggy Whitson has successfully reentered the atmosphere and set down safely in Kazakhstan. That’s the longest time spent on the ISS for any woman astronaut in history — or any American astronaut for that matter.

After the 9:21pm ET landing, @AstroPeggy has a total of 665 days in space, the U.S. record and places 8th on all-time space endurance list pic.twitter.com/grVIRo3SmX

— NASA (@NASA) September 3, 2017

Whitson arrived on the ISS on November 18th, 2016, her third time aboard the ISS since her initial stay during Expedition 5 in 2002. She had racked up more than 375 days in space during her two previous missions and had already set the record for longest time in orbit during a single flight, spending 288 consecutive days at LEO. Amazingly, Whitson broke the duration record back in April. But she stayed on for an extra three months just because she felt like it.

“This is great news,” Whitson said in a statement. “I love being up here. Living and working aboard the space station is where I feel like I make the greatest contribution, so I am constantly trying to squeeze every drop out of my time here. Having three more months to squeeze is just what I would wish for.”

While she was in orbit this last time, at age 56, Whitson became the oldest woman astronaut to complete a spacewalk. It was also her tenth extra-vehicular activity, marking another astronautical record to go along with her other record for most time spent outside the ISS: 60-plus hours of space-walkabouts.

But she did more than just spend time in zero-G, Whitson commanded the ISS during her second mission in 2008. And, when she returned to command for a second time in 2016, she became the only woman to do so more than once.

What’s more, her scientific contributions can’t be overlooked. During the 4,623 orbits she completed around the planet, Whitson helped investigate everything from the effects of microgravity on the human eye to antibody experiments “that could increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment, and the study of plant physiology and growth in space using an advanced plant habitat.” You know, just in case anybody was still looking for alternative statue subjects.

Source: NASA