The Morning After: Wednesday, October 18th 2017

Welcome to the mid-week Morning After. There’s no lack of hardware today, with new Microsoft laptops, Pixel 2 reviews, a smart Sonos speaker and much more. And robot battles.

So long, wobbly fulcrum hinge. Hello, 15-inch beauty.
Surface Book 2 hands-on: The sequel we’ve been waiting for

The Surface Book 2 sounds like it may fix all of the issues we had with the original model (as well as last year’s refresh). It has a stronger hinge, so no more screen-wobble as you’re typing, and it’s (predictably) more powerful than before. Microsoft also added a 15-inch model, making the Surface Book 2 even more of a competitor to Apple’s MacBook Pro line.

The company says the updated model will ship on November 16th but is still being coy about pricing. The Surface Book 2 starts at $1,499 for the Core i5 13-inch model with integrated graphics and $2,499 for the 15-inch model. If you want a Core i7 and a dedicated GPU, be prepared to shell out much more.

Second time’s the charm.
Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: Google’s best phones get even better

Here’s our verdict on Google’s second attempt at home-made smartphones. Rather than build two identical Pixels this year, Google decided to make its new small smartphone a little more conservative. But make no mistake: the Pixel 2 is still an incredibly fast phone, and a clean build of Android 8.0 Oreo combined with Google’s intelligent features make the device incredibly capable. And its camera? Just fantastic. Because of its more traditional design and smaller battery, though, the Pixel 2 doesn’t make as strong an impression as the Pixel XL. Still, if you’re looking for a first-rate Android phone that won’t make your hands cramp, you’d do well to start your search here.

That gap, though.
ZTE Axon M hands-on: a new hope for dual-screen phones

ZTE is still trying to make dual-screen folding smartphones a thing. However, now that Android supports multi-window apps, the company expects it will get enough buy-in from developers to create a phone that people will actually find useful. The Axon M will be an AT&T exclusive when it arrives in the US next month for 30 monthly payments of $24.17. Reviews Editor Cherlynn Low tried out the Axon M and while she wasn’t completely won over, it was at least a little compelling.

If you want clearer music than other smart speakers…
Sonos One review: The best-sounding smart speaker you can buy

According to Nathan Ingraham, the Sonos One offers significantly better music quality than your average Bluetooth or smart speaker without breaking the bank and includes the full Alexa experience. That means it’s the first Sonos you can control with your voice. It’s also a great first step into a multi-speaker setup for your home. The voice controls may have a few bugs to work out, and Spotify isn’t available with full voice control just yet, but more services and features will be added over time — there’s no reason not to dive in now.

The “world’s most powerful detachable.”
HP ZBook X2 hands-on

HP’s latest convertible has a 14-inch 4K display, texturized screen and a stylus that doesn’t need a battery. If you need it in laptop form, there’s a full-size keyboard to snap on, but that makes it heavier than a MacBook Pro. The ZBook X2 is made for Adobe-suite-using professionals; however our limited hands-on time didn’t quite prove its worth as an alternative to devices like a Wacom, iPad Pro or Surface Pro — even if it is more powerful. Still, those interested can check out the $1,749 ruggedized device when it starts shipping in December.

Instead of portability or power — why not have both?
Razer upgrades the Blade Stealth laptop with a quad-core processor

Razer has released a version of its 13-inch ultraportable with a quad-core eighth-generation Core i7 processor (namely, the 1.8GHz i7-8550U) inside rather than the usual seventh-gen dual-core chip. There’s also a new Core V2 external GPU housing that’s better at managing device bandwidth and different types of graphics cards. The quad-core Blade Stealth is available now for $1,700, while its Core V2 partner will go on sale “soon” for $500.

It’s all math.
Intel aims to conquer AI with the Nervana processor

Thanks to its purchase of Nervana, the deep learning chipmaker, Intel will ship its first purpose-built AI chips by the end of 2017. The Nervana Neural Processor family (NNP) is ASICS designed to do the matrix multiplication and convolutions necessary for deep learning programs instead of general CPU tasks. Of course, others like NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Google and IBM are already off and running in the artificial-intelligence hardware field, so we’ll see if this purchase pays off well enough for Intel to take the lead.

But wait, there’s more…

• Google’s second-gen Daydream VR headset is all subtle improvements
• Niantic CEO: AR will reach full potential ‘when we get the glasses’
• Google Calendar for web gets a much-needed makeover
• Volvo’s performance brand launches a 600HP plug-in hybrid

Sainsbury’s gets serious about one-hour deliveries in London

For more than a year, Sainsbury’s has offered customers in a small section of London access to “Chop Chop,” its one-hour grocery delivery app. Shoppers in Wandsworth helped develop the service, before it was rolled out between Wimbledon and the West End. Trials at its Pimlico and Wandsworth stores appear to have proved successful, because today the company has extended deliveries to five more London boroughs, ranging across Zones 1 and 2.

Sainsbury’s says it has added 70,000 more London postcodes to its catchment area, allowing it to reach over 1.7 million people. Customers in Barnet, Camden, City of London, Ealing, Hackney, Hammersmith & Fulham, Islington, Kensington & Chelsea, Lambeth, Southwark, Tower Hamlets and Westminster can now plug their postcode into either the iOS or Android app to order up to 25 items.

Like Amazon’s Prime Now, Sainsbury’s charges a flat fee for each delivery made. For £4.99, the supermarket will deploy a motorcycle or bicycle rider, similar to Deliveroo, who will ensure those 25 items are delivered within 60 minutes (if there’s an available slot).

Via: Sainsbury’s

Source: Chop Chop

Gmail on iOS trials third-party email accounts

One of the worst things about Gmail for iOS is that unlike its Android counterpart, it doesn’t support third-party accounts. If you also use Outlook or other providers for any reason, you’ll still have to depend on one of its rival apps. Now, it looks like Google is at least thinking of letting you use the app for all your email needs — it’s now accepting applications for beta testers willing to brave crashes and bugs for the chance to add their non-Gmail accounts to their Gmail app.

To be able to join, you’ll have to already be using the Gmail app, have a non-Gmail address to add and have iOS 10 or later installed on your phone. Take note that Google has to share whatever info you give it with Apple, since this is a TestFlight program. You can sign up through the beta testing page Google set up for the feature: if you get accepted, you’ll receive instructions from Apple on how to proceed. There’s no telling when and whether the feature will ever be widely available, so this could be your only chance to take it for a spin.

Source: Google

Microsoft Claims Upcoming ARM-Powered Laptops Offer Multi-Day Battery Life

Microsoft and Qualcomm have revealed they hope to release ARM-powered laptops by the end of the year, with the two companies promising multi-day battery life from the new machines (via Trusted Reviews).

At its annual 5G summit in Hong Kong, Qualcomm revealed new details about the PCs it is developing in partnership with Microsoft. Known as “Always Connected PCs”, the laptops are powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor and rely on an ARM emulation layer to run x86 Windows 10 desktop applications.

ARM processors require fewer transistors, which enables a smaller die size for the integrated circuitry. Their smaller size and lower power consumption are two reasons why they can be found in iPhones and iPads, but the increasing performance and efficiency of the chips is making the step up to laptops a realistic proposition.

Microsoft said it is already testing “hundreds” of the ARM-powered laptops internally on a daily basis, with battery life in particular exceeding expectations.

“To be frank, it’s actually beyond our expectations. We set a high bar for [our developers], and we’re now beyond that. It’s the kind of battery life where I use it on a daily basis. I don’t take my charger with me. I may charge it every couple of days or so. It’s that kind of battery life.”

Bernard added: “I would consider it a game-changer in terms of the way people have experienced PCs in the past.”

The first round of Always Connected PCs are said to be coming from the likes of Asus, HP, and Lenovo, but they aren’t expected to be cheap. Qualcomm said more affordable Windows 10 Always Connected PCs should become available once the portfolio expands.

Apple is reportedly looking into using ARM-based core processor chips for future MacBooks, which would reduce the company’s dependence on Intel. Industry sources claim that Apple would instead build its notebook chips using ARM Holding’s technology, a British company that designs ARM architecture and licenses it out to other companies.

Tags: ARM, Microsoft, Qualcomm
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macOS High Sierra Users Report Significant Delays Receiving iMessages and SMS Texts

A bug in macOS High Sierra is causing users to receive iMessages and SMS texts on Macs and other iCloud-connected devices long after they were originally sent, according to reports that have been gradually building up over the last week or so.

First spotted by AppleInsider, a growing number of complaints on Apple’s support forums detail the issue, which is affecting Mac owners with iPads, iPhones, and Apple Watches. The issue has also been picked up on MacRumors’ forums, while at least one MacRumors staff member has experienced the same problem.

On updating to macOS High Sierra, some users report that iMessages only appear on their Mac after a long delay compared to their iPads and iPhones. Others have noticed that notifications are not coming through at all on other devices connected to the same iCloud account.

Some contributors to Apple’s support forum and the MacRumors forum have suggested a couple of temporary fixes, including disabling and re-enabling messages, or sending messages on a Mac instead of an iOS device. Recent beta versions of macOS High Sierra don’t appear to solve the problem, making reverting to macOS Sierra the only persistent workaround. Meanwhile, a community bug report has been created to alert Apple to the issue.

There’s some speculation that the bug could be related to changes to the way iMessages function behind the scenes. Apple is working to bring iCloud syncing to iMessage in macOS High Sierra and iOS 11, so that deleting a message on one device removes it from all devices linked to the same account, for example. The advertised feature was pulled when the two operating systems were launched, but Apple hopes to introduce it later this fall.

Related Roundup: macOS High SierraTag: iMessage
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iTunes U App Update Completes Migration of Course Collections to Apple Podcasts

Apple pushed an update to users of its iTunes U iOS app on Tuesday, bringing the education-focused service up to speed with recent changes introduced in iTunes 12.7 last month.

Apple launched iTunes U in 2007 as a free repository of educational content through the iTunes Store, allowing educators to create course collections comprising audio, media, handouts, ebooks, and other bundled content. In 2012, Apple introduced the iTunes U iOS app, enabling users to access their collections within an app container.

However, September’s iTunes update completely removed the App Store, and with it the section for managing iTunes U Collections. Apple previously notified educational institutions using iTunes U that it would be migrating their collections to Apple Podcasts.

iTunes U collections can now be found in the Podcasts section of iTunes on Mac or PC, or in the Podcasts app on iOS devices or Apple TV. After the iTunes U iOS app is updated to version 3.6, it will only include courses, not collections. The app version history also indicates performance improvements for accounts with a large number of courses.

Tag: iTunes U
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Apple Pay in Spain Now Supported by CaixaBank and ImaginBank

Apple Pay support in Spain has been extended to CaixaBank and ImaginBank, according to reports out of the country this morning.

Spanish tech blog AppleSfera first reported that cards issued by the banks were working with Apple’s mobile payment system as of Tuesday, and CaixaBank has now officially confirmed the support.

Apple Pay integration with Caixabank had been promised “before the end of the year”. Previously the biggest financial entities in Spain to support Apple Pay were American Express and Banco Santander (Mastercard cards), so the addition of CaixaBank and ImaginBank (CaixaBank’s mobile arm) should see the digital payment platform get a lot more coverage in the country.

Apple Pay is expected to be introduced in the near future to several more countries including Sweden, Finland, and Denmark.

(Thanks, Eduardo!)

Tags: Apple Pay, Spain
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USA and Japan’s giant robot battle was a slow, brilliant mess

The oft-delayed giant robot fight has finally taken place. On Tuesday, Team USA’s mechs scrapped it out with Japan’s behemoth in an abandoned steel mill for the world to watch. There could only be one victor, and it proved to be the red, white, and blue. Yes, the MegaBots team representing America came out on top, but not before three gruelling rounds of robopocalypse.

Those who tuned into Twitch to view the action, saw Team USA’s Iron Glory get knocked down by Japan’s Kuratas bot straight out the gate. Its paintball canon clearly no match for its 13-foot rival’s half-ton fist. In the second round, the MegaBots pilots came back with the newer Eagle Prime machine, itself decked out with a mechanical claw and gattling gun. But, they still struggled to land a deadly blow, instead getting stuck to their foe — with Kuratas’ drone sidekick making life that much harder. Then, in the final round, things got grizzly. Eagle Prime whipped out a chainsaw to dismember Suidobashi Heavy Industry’s juggernaut and end the carnage.

Okay, so Team USA had the unfair advantage of using two bots, and the entire event may have been as choreographed as a WWE match, but it was strangely watchable regardless.

With a win under its belt, the MegaBots team now wants to start a full-blown giant robots sports league. And, there’s at least one contender waiting in the wings.

Source: MegaBots

Using drones to charge your EV while you’re driving is Amazon’s latest idea

Why it matters to you

We’re sure someone will eventually find a solution to banish range anxiety, but we’re not sure this is it.

Whether or not Amazon’s R&D team comes up with most of its ideas during Friday night drinks is immaterial. The reality is that, possibly on a Monday morning, it files those ideas with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and, after a period of time, the USPTO grants Amazon the patent.

Some of those patents will be forgotten by the Seattle-based company over time and therefore never see the light of day, but as technology develops, others may eventually come to fruition.

It’s hard to believe Amazon’s “floating warehouse” will ever get off the ground, though this remarkable “beehive” drone tower seems a little more feasible. As for the tiny “assistant drones” to help cops in their work, well, the jury’s still out on that one.

The latest Amazon patent to be granted by the USPTO describes a drone-based system for delivering energy to electric vehicles as they’re driving along. Put simply, the method would involve a drone flying to an electric vehicle, landing on it, and charging before flying back to base. The drone would identify the car from a code on its roof, and then dock to begin the process of topping up the battery.

The idea tackles the issue of electric vehicles running low on power during long journeys, though Amazon could end up ditching the idea as technology for such vehicles continues to develop at a rapid pace. Indeed, Amazon filed its patent in 2014, a time when the car-battery issue was more pressing. The USPTO granted the patent just this month.

There’s also the small matter of charging the drones with enough energy to get to the car that’s running low on power, though another Amazon patent from a few years ago suggests it could use church steeples and other landing spots as recharging stations to increase a drone’s reach.

And for how long would the drone have to stay perched on the car? At the current time, Tesla’s Supercharger stations can offer a decent charge in as little as 30 minutes, though other systems take longer. Amazon’s drone would have to pack some pretty powerful technology.

Another more challenging obstacle is the fact that many kinds of commercial drone operations are still strictly limited in the U.S., so even if Amazon develops the technology, someone from the Federal Aviation Administration is likely to be standing there wagging their finger disapprovingly.

It’s always interesting to see what tech firms are cooking up with their patent ideas. The technology they describe can change over time and be used in different ways later on, but if we’re ever going to see cars hurtling down the highway with a power-giving drone perched on top, well, it certainly won’t be happening anytime soon.

Drones are delivering burritos direct to the homes of rural Australians

Why it matters to you

The early indications are that delivery drones will one day be particularly popular with fast food outlets and medical facilities.

Google parent Alphabet has been developing its Project Wing delivery drone for several years. Striving for perfection, it even ditched the entirety of its work at one stage in order to start over.

This week the company revealed it’s been testing its latest design in the real world — as opposed to highly regulated test areas — ferrying burritos and medicine to folks living in rural communities in Australia.

It’s an interesting mix of items, for sure, but fast food and medical supplies are are two types of delivery that have so far proved popular among those looking to make use of the technology.

Alphabet’s drone incorporates both propellers and wings, the former enabling it to hover for dropping off deliveries via a tether, and the latter giving it more speed and stability in flight to and from its destination.

The current tests involve flying Alphabet’s drone to partners’ loading sites before taking the requested items to customers living in isolated areas in the south-east of the country.

In an update on its progress, James Ryan Burgess, co-lead of Project Wing, said his team is working to “transform transportation [and] make it easy, cheaper, [and] more environmentally friendly to receive packages and items, whatever you may need.”

Burgess noted in a blog post how those living in rural areas were keen to make use of drone technology in their day-to-day lives.

“Our testers, including young families, busy professionals, and retirees, had many suggestions for how our technology could address this fundamental inconvenience,” Burgess wrote. “They wanted fresh meals delivered at dinner time. Some who run small businesses at home wanted to be able to send customer orders from their doorstep. A few with farms wanted supplies to arrive at their paddocks, or spare parts delivered to the ailing vehicle on their property. Almost all said that they’d value having medicine delivered to their door, especially when they’re unwell.”

Fewer regulations

Burgess explained that while Alphabet was able to test its delivery drone with students at Virginia Tech in 2016, strict safety regulations meant its drone could only land in open fields. But with the rules governing drone testing a little more relaxed in Australia, they’ve been able to trial deliveries to residential addresses. The different layouts of people’s yards and the surrounding area — think trees, sheds, fences, and power lines — has meant that “in addition to learning what people want delivered, we also have to learn how to best deliver items to people,” the Project Wing co-lead wrote.  This is helping the team to refine the drone’s mapping and sensor technology to help it avoid those obstacles as it approaches a property.

“The more test deliveries we do, exposing the sensors on our aircraft to new delivery locations, the smarter our aircraft’s algorithms will one day become at picking a safe spot for deliveries,” Burgess explained.

He doesn’t offer a timeframe for when Alphabet might have a fully fledged drone delivery system up and running, but at least the project seems now to be moving in the right direction.

“We know the weeks and months ahead will be filled with unexpected challenges as we undertake these new tests,” Burgess said in the post. “We’re grateful to the communities … who’ve let us into their yards, so we can learn even more about building a delivery network ready to fly in the open skies.”