Microsoft and Facebook’s massive undersea data cable is complete

Last year, we reported that Microsoft and Facebook were teaming up to build a massive undersea cable that would cross the Atlantic, connecting Virginia Beach to the northern city of Bilbao in Spain. Last week, Microsoft announced that the cable, called Marea, is complete.

Marea, which means “tide” in Spanish, lies over 17,000 feet below the Atlantic Ocean’s surface and is around 4,000 miles long. It weighs 10.25 million pounds. The data rates (which let’s face it, that’s what we’re all really interested in) are equally staggering: Marea can transmit at a rate of 160 TB/second. And it was finished in less than two years.

What’s really interesting about Marea, though, is that it has an open design. This means that Microsoft and Facebook are trying to make the cable as future proof as possible. It can evolve as technology changes and demands increase for more data and higher speeds. Its flexibility means that upgrading the cable and its equipment to be compatible with newer technology will be easier.

If you’re interested in learning more about Marea, you can watch the recorded livestream of a celebration of the cable that happened last Friday. It’s nice to see tech companies working together, and on big projects that will help them meet future demands for Internet usage.

Source: Microsoft

Levi’s Google-powered smart jacket goes on sale next week

Earlier this year, we discussed how Levi’s was working on a smart jacket in connection with the Google Advanced Technology and Products group’s Project Jacquard. Now, after much anticipation, the jacket is ready and will be available on Levi.com (and in some Levi’s stores) on October 2nd. If you’re really eager to take a look, you’ll find it in some boutiques on Wednesday. It will set you back $350.

The question is whether this jacket is really worth the cost — after all, that’s a lot for denim. The key for the Levi’s Commuter jacket lies in a snap tag on the left sleeve cuff that allows you to interact with your phone right on the jacket using gestures, LEDs and haptic feedback. It’s not fully unobtrusive — from the pictures, it appears to protrude from the sleeve quite a bit — but it’s pretty small. But if you want a low key and simple way to interact with your phone (and you love denim jackets), you may want to check it out. You can see our early review here.

The jacket is primarily aimed at bike commuters, and it would work well for this group. You can use the Jacquard app, available for iOS and Android, to customize what exactly your jacket can do. You can receive messages, send calls to voicemail, hear your next direction while biking, control your music and more. The tag charges via USB and the battery lasts for about two weeks. It’s removable, so the jacket is, presumably, washable.

You can visit jacquard.com/levi/specs on your mobile device to see if it’s compatible; generally, phones running Android 6.01 or newer will work. iOS users must have an iPhone 6 or later running iOS 10 or iOS 11. It’s likely this jacket will appeal to a very narrow set of people, especially considering its hefty price tag. But if it’s as thoughtfully made as it appears to be, it will probably attract some fans.

Via: The Verge

Source: Google

Major accounting firm Deloitte reports extensive cybersecurity breach

Deloitte, a major US and global accounting firm, revealed that it was hit with a cybersecurity breach that may have extended from October of last year through this past March, the Guardian reports. The company — one of the world’s Big Four accounting firms — which works with large banks, global firms and government agencies, among others, provides tax and auditing services, operations consulting, merger and acquisition assistance and, wait for it, cybersecurity advice.

It’s currently unclear who was behind the attack, but for the past six months, Deloitte has been investigating the breach of its email server, which exposed some five million emails. Along with emails and their sometimes sensitive attachments, the hackers may have gotten their hands on usernames, passwords, IP addresses, business information and workers’ health records. The breach apparently stemmed from an administrator’s account that was protected by a password and not two-step verification.

The Guardian reports that six of Deloitte’s clients have been notified that their information was affected. A Deloitte spokesperson told the newspaper, “In response to a cyber incident, Deloitte implemented its comprehensive security protocol and began an intensive and thorough review including mobilising a team of cybersecurity and confidentiality experts inside and outside of Deloitte.” The review of the breach is ongoing and the company is working to retrace the hacker’s steps to see exactly what information was accessed. “The review has enabled us to understand what information was at risk and what the hacker actually did, and demonstrated that no disruption has occurred to client businesses, to Deloitte’s ability to continue to serve clients, or to consumers,” said the spokesperson.

Deloitte hasn’t stated which of its clients, which include US government agencies, have been impacted, but said, “As part of the review, Deloitte has been in contact with the very few clients impacted and notified governmental authorities and regulators. We remain deeply committed to ensuring that our cybersecurity defences are best in class, to investing heavily in protecting confidential information and to continually reviewing and enhancing cybersecurity. We will continue to evaluate this matter and take additional steps as required.”

Source: The Guardian

Apple’s 2018 iPhone Lineup Said to Gain LCD Model With Screen Larger Than 6 Inches

Apple’s lineup of iPhones next year will introduce a larger-screened LCD model, measuring more than 6 inches, according to a report today by The Bell (via The Korea Herald). It’s unclear whether this size will be an additional offering to the current LCD iPhone lineup (including 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch models), or if it’s replacing these sizes completely.

In May we heard the first rumor about Apple’s 2018 iPhones, which at the time focused solely on the OLED versions and did not mention the LCD models. This rumor stated that the devices would come in 5.28-inch and 6.46-inch OLED screen sizes. A subsequent report by ETNews suggested that Apple had ditched the small 5.28-inch size and moved to focus on 5.85-inch and 6.46-inch models, and today’s report corroborates those claims.

This means that next year Apple could potentially launch the following iPhones: a 5.8-inch OLED model, a 6.46-inch “Plus” OLED model, and at least one LCD model that measures 6 inches (or larger).

Apple has decided to ditch the smallest 5.28-inch OLED iPhone next year, while adding a larger — possibly more than 6 inches — LCD model into the full lineup, according to The Bell on Sept. 25.

Citing local parts makers, the report said Apple had originally given panel orders to Samsung Display, its sole OLED supplier, under a plan to launch three OLED iPhones next year — 5.28-, 5.85-, and 6.46-inch models. But the report said the development work for the 5.28-inch model has recently been suspended possibly due to the low marketability of the smaller version.

The Bell cites local parts makers who claimed that Apple decided to scrap the 5.28-inch model of next year’s iPhone “due to the low marketability” of such a small-screened device. Apple is said to have given OLED orders to Samsung Display for the other two sizes.

Apple will continue sourcing 2018’s LCD iPhone screens from supplier Japan Display, which already includes panel orders for the new larger screen size. According to industry watchers, Apple’s decision to ditch the 5.28-inch iPhone 9 is due to the “popularity of larger-screen phones for video viewing.” A 6.46-inch iPhone would be larger than Samsung’s 6.3-inch Galaxy Note 8.

In regards to when Apple might switch to OLED-only iPhones, 2019 has been eyed as the year that Apple might finally make that transition.

Tag: iPhone 9
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iPhone X Production Supposedly Going Much Slower Than Apple Originally Planned

Apple has instructed some of its suppliers to slow down delivery of iPhone X components, according to Taiwanese website DigiTimes.

The report, citing unnamed sources from within Apple’s supply chain, claims the suppliers are now shipping only about 40 percent of the components originally planned for the initial production of the iPhone X.

Apple is allegedly waiting to see how many iPhone X pre-orders it receives, and monitoring how well the already-released iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus sell, before fully ramping up production overseas.

However, the report mentions some suppliers still need to step up production to meet the 40 percent requirement due to low yield rates at their production lines, which is the more likely reason for the slowdown.

Essentially, since some suppliers are manufacturing iPhone X parts more slowly than others, Apple could be capping shipments from all suppliers so it has an equal number of all components when the device launches in just under six weeks.

Whatever the case may be, this report provides yet another indication that the iPhone X is proving especially challenging to make.

Just one day before the device was unveiled, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said iPhone X production totaled fewer than 10,000 units per day. In a follow-up research note, Kuo said the device is unlikely to achieve complete supply-demand equilibrium until at least the first half of next year.

All signs point towards overwhelming demand for the iPhone X. Earlier today, Kuo said pre-orders may exceed 40-50 million units. Lower adoption of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, and shorter lines at Apple retail stores, also suggest that many customers may be waiting for the iPhone X, but it remains to be seen.

iPhone X pre-orders begin Friday, October 27, followed by in-store availability in limited quantities starting Friday, November 3.

Related Roundup: iPhone X
Tag: digitimes.com
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TrueDepth Camera System is Primary Reason for Slow iPhone X Production

Following a report claiming Apple’s suppliers are shipping only about 40 percent of the components originally planned for initial production of the iPhone X, a new report suggests the TrueDepth camera is the primary bottleneck.

The word comes from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who said the facial recognition system is “far more complex” than those on competing devices, which is making it challenging for Apple to achieve mass production.

An excerpt from Kuo’s research note obtained by MacRumors:

TrueDepth camera may be main production bottleneck of iPhone X ramp. The 3D sensing (TrueDepth camera) on iPhone X is composed of a structured-light system, time-of-flight system and a front-facing camera, which represents a far more complex structure than those of rivals. It will therefore be harder to achieve mass production. While we project iPhone X will see output ramp up meaningfully in mid/ late October, tight supply may only start to ease in 1H18F due to strong demand.

Kuo said shipments of iPhone X components will likely ramp up in mid to late October. Given pre-orders begin October 27, with in-store availability starting November 3, all signs point towards the iPhone X being in extremely short supply.

Kuo believes iPhone X pre-orders have the potential to exceed 40-50 million units, so it’s clear the device won’t achieve supply-chain balance for quite awhile.

Related Roundup: iPhone X
Tags: KGI Securities, Ming-Chi Kuo, TrueDepth
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Fitbit Announces October 1 Launch Date for New Ionic Smartwatch and Flyer Headphones

It’s been almost one month since Fitbit unveiled the new “Ionic” smartwatch and “Flyer” Bluetooth headphones, which at the time were given an unspecific October launch window. Today, the wearables company announced that both devices will be available in retail stores across North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America on October 1.

The Fitbit Ionic is the company’s first smartwatch and includes improved GPS, heart rate tracking, water resistance up to 50 meters, contactless payments with “Fitbit Pay,” on-board music storage, and more. The smartwatch syncs with the new Fitbit Coach personal training app coming later in October and featuring 90 video and audio workouts, priced at $7.99/month or $39.99/year.

Starting on Sunday, October 1, users will be able to purchase the Fitbit Ionic at Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Kohl’s, Macy’s, REI, Target, Verizon, and Amazon for $299.95. Fitbit said that retailers will also have a variety of accessory bands in Classic and Sport ($29.95) and a perforated Horween leather band ($59.95).

“We defined the fitness tracker market 10 years ago and look forward to doing the same with the smartwatch category, delivering what consumers want most and have not yet seen in a smartwatch. Ionic offers up to 5 days battery life for 24/7 health tracking and insights, advanced health and fitness features, enhanced heart rate and dynamic sleep tools paired with the smart functionality consumers need on the go to stay in touch and simplify their life,” said James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit. “These features, coupled with Ionic’s broad compatibility across Android, iOS and Windows platforms, means consumers around the globe never need to choose between their watch and their phone.”

The company’s first wireless headphones are also going on sale this Sunday. Called the Fitbit Flyer headphones, the device features a sweatproof design, customizable ear tips, six hours of battery life, and is meant to sync with the new Ionic smartwatch to enable truly wireless workout sessions. The company said that users will be able to buy the headphones at “major global retailers” including Best Buy, Brookstone, Nordstrom, Target, and Amazon for $129.95.

A specific launch date for the new Fitbit Aria 2 Wi-Fi Smart Scale wasn’t confirmed, but users can pre-order now on Fitbit.com for $129.95, with retailer availability “beginning Fall 2017.”

To prepare developers for the launch of the Fitbit Ionic, the company is debuting the new Fitbit SDK tomorrow, September 26, as a developer preview. The SDK will include resources that developers need to “quickly and easily” design and share apps and clock faces to Fitbit users.

Tag: Fitbit
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Companies will use AI to stamp out electricity theft

Switching to efficient artificial intelligence systems has already saved Google a ton of money on its energy bills. And, it seems machine learning may also pose monetary benefits (of a different kind) for electricity providers. With power theft costing the industry roughly $96 billion in losses per year, companies could start looking to AI to help identify pilferers.

A team from the University of Luxembourg has developed an algorithm that sifts through electricity meter data to detect abnormal usage. They put the system to work on info compiled from 3.6 million Brazilian households over the course of five years. Specifically, they honed in on around 200 million monthly readings made by professional meter readers. The algorithm managed to reveal problem cases more than 65 percent of the time, which the team believes is far better than other tools. Smart energy firm Choice Technologies now intends to incorporate the AI into commercial software to be used in Latin America, reports New Scientist.

Brazil is suffering from high rates of non-technical losses (which accounts for energy theft, fraud, billing errors, and other instances of lost revenue). To wrest control of the issue, the country’s leading power utility company Electrobras recently launched an anti-theft program, with backing from the World Bank. The firm claims that 22 percent of all Brazilian energy generated is siphoned off by thieves. But, Brazil isn’t alone — countries like the UK estimate that similar activity results in losses of £440 million ($596 million) each year. Meanwhile, India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh lost around 31 percent of its total power generated in 2016.

Source: Cornell University Library

M&S is tentatively trialling one-hour food deliveries

Marks and Spencer (M&S) is finally coming round to the idea of letting customers order food online for speedy home delivery. The upmarket retailer has confirmed it’s taking some very tentative first steps with a home delivery service in the Camden area of London, and a collection option in Woodley, near Reading. This is only being offered to “selected Sparks members” for now, though, making it a particularly limited and exclusive trial.

Participants in Camden can order ready meals, pizzas and the like for home delivery within an hour (handled by courier service Gophr). Add some more general grocery items to your virtual basket and you’re looking at waiting up to two hours for it to arrive, with the minimum order value set at £10. The situation is exactly the same in Woodley, though you have to pick your order up from the store yourself.

It would appear that M&S is toying with a few different ideas here. You could consider the one-hour option, specific to that night’s meal, a counter to UberEats, Deliveroo and other takeaway services. Two-hour delivery of other foodie items, on the other hand, is more similar to the services Sainsbury’s and Tesco have begun offering over the past year — themselves an attempt to compete with Amazon’s Prime Now one-hour deliveries.

M&S first said earlier this year it was going to launch a delivery trial right about now, admitting at the time that it hadn’t made sense previously. M&S has sold party food and alcohol online for a while now, but CEO Steve Rowe said a broader grocery delivery option wasn’t financially sound. Customers don’t tend to spend that much on food at M&S at any one time — not in the same way they might hit up Tesco for a substantial weekly shop, anyway.

That’s why these trials are so limited. M&S is just testing the waters “as we explore what works for our customers.” Angling one-hour deliveries as more of a takeaway food option is interesting, and where the retailer might find an untapped niche. Perhaps a hungry belly might want a nice ready meal from M&S instead of normal takeaway fare, especially when those seductive Christmas food adverts start making the rounds.

Via: The Independent

Source: Marks and Spencer

BBC is putting hundreds of classic TV programmes on iPlayer

Over the years, the BBC has amassed an astonishing trove of classic TV and radio programming. Accessing it all can be tricky, however, because iPlayer has always been positioned as more of a catchup service. Some series are available permanently, but most, especially older shows, are not. You have to buy them digitally, on DVD or Blu-ray, or hope they’re accessible somewhere on the BBC website. Not anymore. The BBC is launching a section on iPlayer called ‘From the Archive,’ which, as you probably guessed, will be a home for BBC classics. Roughly 450 programmes are available at launch, with more being added “in the coming years.”

The old-but-new additions includes the Louis Theroux UFOs episode from his Weird Weekend series in 1998, the gripping 2010 documentary Leaving the Cult and Killing for Love, a six-part murder-mystery series that aired earlier this year. Documentary episodes from science and philosophy series Horizon, international showcase Storyville and arts programme Imagine will be available too. The BBC is also promising content that “hasn’t been shown since first broadcast,” including the Great War Interviews, a series of conversations filmed in the 1960s with World War One veterans.

The launch follows the closure of the BBC’s own digital store. When it was launched in November 2015, the broadcaster put a heavy emphasis on classics such as Dad’s Army and Morecambe & Wise. Clearly, the move didn’t pay off. Two years later, when BBC Store closed, a spokesperson admitted there was a larger demand for its shows “on SVOD and other third party platforms.” While it’s still possible to buy BBC programming through iTunes, Google Play and physical media retailers, it’s clear the BBC is putting more focus on iPlayer. With growing competition from Netflix and Amazon, it needs a strong library to keep Brits from streaming elsewhere.

Via: BBC