Snapchat’s AR art installations are live in select cities

It’s finally time for Snapchat’s new augmented reality art project to be revealed. The feature, leaked yesterday via the hack of a web countdown clock on art.snapchat.com, puts artist Jeff Koos’ signature giant balloon animal installations in several locations, including Champ de Mars, Paris, Central Park, New York, Hyde Park in London, Roundhouse Park in Toronto, Sydney Opera House, Millenium Park in Chicago, Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, National Mall in Washington DC and Venice Boardwalk in California. So far, it’s just Koons’ art that’s available; there’s a web form for other artists to submit their own work for consideration. The countdown ran down at 3PM ET today.

The art installation tool looks a lot like Snapchat’s world lens technology, which brings animations into the real world via your smartphone camera, much like AR app Holo does. Snap has opened up the AR system to advertisers, as well, including Warner Bros. and Bud Light. If you’re an artist, you can submit your own art for consideration. Clicking the Artists Welcome button on Snap’s art page leads to a form to fill in with your name, email, link to your art portfolio, and a spot to tell them more about yourself.

To find Koons’ artwork, you’ll need to have the latest Snapchat app update and be within 300m of the Lens location. Tap the camera screen to bring up the Lens carousel and you should see the installation easily — they’re the equivalent of three stories tall. If you’re a bit too far off, an on-screen guide will take you to the Lens. Sculptures will be available at each location for a couple of weeks, a Snap spokesperson told Engadget, and will travel to a new spot, which will show up on the art website, too.

Source: Snap

Former Equifax CEO blames breach on one IT employee

The Equifax data breach that leaked information on the now-145 million people was caused by a vulnerability in Apache’s Struts system. Trouble is, the software provider supplied a patch back in March that should have eliminated that vulnerability. But Equifax’s former CEO (who suddenly retired last week) told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that a single IT technician was at fault for the whole thing after they failed to install the patch.

While speaking to the committee (video below), former CEO Richard Smith outlined the company’s normal procedure for new patches: Have a technician install it and then scan the system for any remaining vulnerabilities. Apparently, both the human and computer steps failed.

As Smith outlines in his written testimony (PDF), the Department of Homeland Security’s Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) sent Equifax (alongside many other companies) a notice on March 8th, 2017 about the vulnerability in certain versions of Apache Struts. Equifax sent out an internal mass-email, which should have required its internal IT team to fix the vulnerability within 48 hours, but that didn’t happen. An automatic scan for vulnerabilities on March 15th also failed to indicate that Equifax was using a Struts version that had the vulnerability.

Based on Equifax’s postmortem investigations, the hacker that exploited this exact weakness likely first used it to pry into Equifax on May 13th, and then continued until July 30th, and Equifax’s security tools were none the wiser. Only suspicious traffic in and out of its system on July 29th tipped the company off to the breach. From there, the company investigated the breach.

During his testimony, Smith identified the company IT employee who should have applied the patch as responsible: “The human error was that the individual who’s responsible for communicating in the organization to apply the patch, did not.”

That didn’t stop the committee from thrashing Smith and Equifax’s failure to protect user data. Lawmakers pondered over how to prevent similar breaches in the future, but focused on the company’s failure in what might be the hearing’s iconic quote: “How does this happen when so much is at stake?” Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.) said to Smith. “I don’t think we can pass a law that fixes stupid.”

But the committee didn’t forget the ultimate consequence of the breach: The personal data genie can’t go back in the bottle.

“You can’t change your Social Security number and I can’t change my mother’s maiden name,” Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said in the hearing, according to The Los Angeles Times. “This data is out there forever.”

Via: The Verge

Source: House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Walmart bought a shipping company for same-day deliveries in NYC

Providing fast and, ideally, free delivery is a feature customers have come to expect from online retailers and it’s one that Amazon does quite well. But in its ongoing battle with the retail giant, Walmart has acquired a startup that will allow it to offer same-day delivery in New York City.

In a blog post today, Walmart announced its purchase of Parcel — an NYC-based same-day delivery service that allows customers to schedule deliveries within two-hour windows that are convenient for them. Parcel has been handling deliveries for companies like Chef’d and Martha & Marley Spoon and Walmart says it will continue to work with its existing clients. But Parcel will also begin handling same-day deliveries for both Walmart and Jet.com. Jet.com, which Walmart purchased last year, has been testing free same-day delivery for some items in NYC, but Parcel’s infrastructure will allow the company to expand those offerings.

Walmart has played with a few ideas when it comes to providing cost-effective ways to provide fast delivery. It offers grocery deliveries via Uber and Lyft in some regions. It’s also began testing a service that recruits Walmart employees to deliver packages to customers on their way home. And recently, Walmart starting testing out an option that would give delivery drivers access to a customer’s home so that groceries ordered online could be put in the fridge if the customer isn’t home.

Neither company revealed how much Walmart paid for Parcel, but a source told Recode that it was less than $10 million. While Parcel stands to boost Walmart’s same-day delivery prowess in the New York City area, it still has hefty competition from Amazon which offers same-day and two-hour delivery in a number of regions.

Via: Ars Technica

Source: Walmart

Yahoo’s 2013 hack impacted all 3 billion accounts

Last year Yahoo (now part of Oath along with AOL after its acquisition by Verizon) announced that back in 2013, hackers had stolen info covering over one billion of its accounts. Today, the combined company announced that further investigation reveals the 2013 hack affected all of its accounts that existed at the time — about three billion. The information taken “may have included names, email addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, hashed passwords (using MD5) and, in some cases, encrypted or unencrypted security questions and answers.”

Developing…

Source: Oath, Yahoo FAQ

Review: Jaybird’s New Wire-Free RUN Headphones Are Comfortable With Great Sound But Connection is Spotty

Jaybird, known for its line of headphones aimed at runners and fitness enthusiasts, recently introduced the RUN, its first wire-free headphones designed to compete with the wide range of wire-free headphones that are now on the market, like Apple’s AirPods.

I went hands-on with the RUN to see how they compare to the AirPods and other Jaybird products like the new Freedom 2 headphones, also announced at the same time. There’s no denying the convenience of wire-free earbuds, but as I learned with the RUN, there are still kinks that need to be worked out with the technology.

Design

Like Apple’s AirPods, Jaybird RUN headphones are separate standalone earbuds that have no wire connecting them to one another, for a freer, hassle-free listening experience. Design wise, the RUN headphones look more like the Bragi Dash than the AirPods, with an in-ear tip connected to a circular earbud that nestles into the outer part of the ear.

A soft silicone tip fits over the speaker portion of the RUN, while a soft, highly flexible fin secures it in the ear. White aluminum-rimmed buttons are at the top of the earbuds, embossed with the Jaybird logo, and there are small green LEDs on each one that serve as indicator lights.

The Jaybird RUN headphones are noticeably heavier and bulkier than the AirPods because all of the components sit in the ear without an elongated body. Size wise, they’re a little over a half an inch at the thickest point, and depending on the structure of your ear, they can stick out a good bit.

A selection of interchangeable tips and fins ship with the RUN, designed to allow users to get the best fit possible. All of the fins are made from the same super soft flexible silicone material, which conforms well to the ear. The tips are made from a thin, malleable silicone, with no foam option available.

Unlike AirPods, the RUN headphones look like standard earbuds in your ears and don’t attract as much attention, though they are noticeable due to the size. They are also water resistant and are able to hold up to sweat and rain exposure. I didn’t expose mine to rain, but they were fine through several days of sweaty activity during a heat wave.

Using the buttons on the headphones you can do things like pause and play music, control the volume, and/or activate Siri (customizable in app).

Charging Case and Battery Life

A small pill-shaped black case houses the RUN when they’re charging or not in use. The case is about palm-sized and it’s thicker and rounder than the case for the AirPods, so it doesn’t fit well in a pocket.

Aside from that minor detail, the charging case for the RUN is attractive, well-designed, and convenient for keeping track of the headphones. It snaps open to let you situate the headphones inside (it is a bit more complicated getting these in the case than AirPods) and then it snaps closed again to keep them protected from dust, lint, and getting lost.

The case has a built-in battery to provide extra power on the go. On their own, Jaybird says the headphones will last for four hours, but mine were lasting closer to three hours, sometimes three and a half. The case adds another eight hours of battery life, so you can go about 10 hours without needing to recharge.

Both the case and the RUN headphones can be charged with a computer or standard USB-A power adapter using an included microUSB cable that plugs into a port at the back of the case.

Fit and Sound Quality

These are not small headphones, but Jaybird has made an effort to fit a range of ears with all of the different tips and fins that ship with the RUN. With the smallest fins and the smallest tips, I can get these into my ears in such a way that they’re secure and don’t feel like they’re going to fall out if I tilt my head. Fins and tips, by the way, come in small, medium, and large.

Jaybird has designed these to be ultra secure so they’re suitable for running, but I had a little bit of a mixed experience with high activity. I have to squeeze and pull my ears to get these wedged and tucked in the right way, and sometimes they work their way out of my ear bit by bit.

That may be a combination of my small ear size and not quite putting them in the right way because of said small ear size, but no wire-free headphones are perfect. Most of the time, the RUN headphones stayed put in my ear during vigorous activity, but there was a mishap or two.

Even when not quite secure, the fit of the RUN is tighter than the fit I get with the AirPods just because of sheer size, and I feel more confident running with these on than the AirPods. If you have ears that are on the smaller side, like I do, there could be some issues with fit, but with the assortment of tips and fins, these seem like they’re going to work well for most people.

One other thing worth noting on fit — because of the way these stick out of my ears, I can easily knock them out of place accidentally if I go to tuck my hair behind an ear or something.

When it comes to comfort, it didn’t feel like there was nothing in my ear because of the size and weight, but they were comfortable to wear for a few hours at a time. Any longer than that and my ears would start to ache just a bit.

As for sound quality, I was impressed with the RUN. When properly situated, ambient noise is blocked out, and while I’m no sound expert, these sounded about as good as my AirPods, and sometimes even a little better. I thought they were somewhat tinny and less clear than the AirPods on some songs, but on others, the sound was warmer and richer. The overall sound was crisp and largely unmuddled even at high volumes. On the topic of volume, though, these don’t seem to get as loud as some other headphones, AirPods included.

Using the Jaybird app, there’s a graphical equalizer that lets the low, mid, and high range frequencies be customized to your liking for the perfect sound, which is a nice touch. There are also several presets made by athletes and for different kinds of music like R&B or bass heavy songs.

There’s a built-in microphone in the RUN for making calls, and while it wasn’t the best microphone I’ve used, it’s perfectly adequate for calls.

You can choose to use both of the earbuds at the same time or just one (the right one) if you’re running or biking and want to be able to hear the ambient sounds around you.

Setup and Connection

The W1 chip that’s in the AirPods is exclusive to Apple, so all other headphones, including the RUN, need to connect the standard way over Bluetooth. Open up the Bluetooth section of Settings app, open up the Jaybird RUN case while the headphones are inside, and then choose them from the list of Bluetooth devices.

Once they’ve been connected once, the RUN headphones will reconnect to your phone whenever you open the carrying case, which is handy.

I had few complaints about fit and sound quality with the RUN, but the connection was ultimately another story. Without direct line of sight to my iPhone 7 Plus, like when my phone was in my pocket or my purse, the left earbud had a tendency to cut out and de-sync from the right earbud. It happened over and over again, no matter how many times I tried to reset and re-pair them. Sometimes I even had connection issues when I was just sitting idle.

It’s not something that happened all of the time — sometimes I even managed to go an hour or two without connection problems, but it happened enough that it was a serious source of frustration when using the headphones.

Jaybird’s app recommends having an iPhone attached to your right arm or waist for the best Bluetooth connection while running, and it does work better that way for the most part, but requiring users to have their phones right next to their headphones feels like an unreasonable ask.

Bottom Line

Given the customizable fit and the great sound quality of the Jaybird RUN, I really want to like them and recommend them to runners who need something a little more fitted, rugged, and durable than the AirPods, but with the connection problems, they’re a tough sell, especially at the $180 price point.

Maybe there’s a firmware fix for this problem, maybe not. Either way, I’m not sure I’d risk a purchase right now unless you’re someone who has your iPhone in your hand or right nearby all of the time.

Jaybird also has some new Freedom 2 headphones coming out that I was able to test, and while they still have the wire between the left and the right earbuds, the connection is solid and it was a much better listening experience overall with none of the cut outs or syncing issues.

The Freedom 2 earbuds have the same great sound as the original Freedom, but new tips for a more customizable, tight fit and a cord management system that’s hugely improved. They’re small, stay in place, are more comfortable when working out, and can be customized using the Jaybird app.

The RUN might be something of a miss, but the Freedom 2 are high-quality headphones that are worth checking out if you need something that fits well and will hold up to more vigorous activity than AirPods can withstand. They’re my new go-to headphones for working out, and they’ve really been no less convenient than the fully wire-free RUN.

How to Buy

The Jaybird RUN earbuds can be pre-ordered from the Jaybird website for $179. The Jaybird Freedom 2 can also be pre-ordered from the Jaybird website for $150.

Tag: Jaybird
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Samsung Debuts $499 Windows Mixed Reality Headset

At an event held in San Francisco this morning, Samsung and Microsoft announced the debut of the HMD Odyssey, a headset designed to work with the Windows Mixed Reality platform.

Priced at $499, the headset offers high-resolution dual 3.5-inch AMOLED displays with a 110-degree field of view for what Samsung says is the “most immersive Windows Mixed Reality experience.” With AMOLED technology, the headset offers more vibrant colors and deeper blacks for more lifelike images, and there are built-in AKG headphones for 360 degree spatial sound.

The HMD Odyssey is equipped with a Six Degrees of Freedom sensor for “intuitive and natural movements,” while the headset itself features an adjustable control wheel for a snug fit on the head and the two motion controllers enable movement in the virtual world.

Windows Mixed Reality, despite the name, is essentially Microsoft’s virtual reality platform. Microsoft has teamed up with several PC makers like Acer, Dell, HP, and Lenovo to create a range of “Mixed Reality” headsets that work with the platform. Mixed Reality mixes augmented and virtual reality experiences to blend the real world with the digital world, but Windows Mixed Reality is a full virtual reality experience at the current time.

While Apple has delved into and embraced augmented reality with the release of ARKit in iOS 11, the company is also rumored to be exploring virtual reality concepts. There have been rumors of work on both a virtual reality headset and augmented reality smart glasses, but it’s not yet clear if those products will ever make it beyond the prototyping stage.

Apple in macOS High Sierra is planning to support eGPUs and VR content creation through Metal 2 and partnerships with Valve, Unity, and Unreal, but beyond that, ARKit is the closest thing the company has to the Windows Mixed Reality platform, and there is no comparable product to the Samsung headset.

Samsung’s Odyssey Mixed Reality Headset is priced at $499, and is available for pre-order starting today ahead of a November 6 launch. A range of other Mixed Reality headsets are also available from Microsoft at prices starting at $329.

Related Roundup: Apple VR Project
Tags: Samsung, Microsoft
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iOS 11 Now Installed on 38.5% of Devices Two Weeks After Launch

Two weeks after being released to the public, iOS 11 is installed on 38.5 percent of iOS devices, according to data collected by analytics company Mixpanel.

Since last week, iOS 11 adoption has grown by just over 10 percentage points. At the 24 hour mark, iOS 11 was installed on 10 percent of devices, and at the one week mark, iOS 11 was installed on 25.28 percent of devices.

iOS 11 adoption rates have been slower than iOS 10 adoption rates during the same time period last year. Two weeks following the release of iOS 10 in September of 2016, the update installed on 48.16 percent of devices, putting iOS 11 about 10 percent behind.

It’s not clear why iOS 11 adoption is lagging so far behind iOS 10 adoption, but it could be due to the fact that key features like peer-to-peer Apple Pay and iCloud storage for iMessages have been delayed until a later update.

Apple has already released two minor updates to iOS 11, iOS 11.0.1 and iOS 11.0.2, both addressing bugs in the operating system. The most recent iOS 11.0.2 update, for example, fixes an issue that caused some iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus models to emit a crackling sound from the earpiece during phone calls.

As iOS 11 adoption grows, the number of users on iOS 10 has been decreasing. 54.82 percent of iOS users continue to run iOS 10, while 6.69 percent run an older version of iOS.

Related Roundup: iOS 11
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Apple Employees Testing Apple Pay Cash Internally in iOS 11.1

Select corporate Apple employees are allegedly testing Apple’s upcoming person-to-person Apple Pay feature internally in the iOS 11.1 update as of today, suggesting the Apple Pay improvements could indeed be introduced in iOS 11.1.

MacRumors forum member Chuck SaaS was in touch with an Apple employee who is testing the feature using iOS 11.1 and a device certificate that was distributed internally by Apple.

He shared two screenshots, one of the setup process and one of an attempt the employee made at sending money to him on the iOS 11.1 beta. The transfer didn’t work as both devices need support for the new Apple Pay feature. Apple is encouraging employees to test the feature among themselves.

Apple Pay Cash works through the Messages app and allows for quick person-to-person money transfers, much like Square Cash and other competing services. It’s available as a built-in Messages app, with cash transferred through iMessages.

When sending cash, it can be sent from a linked debit or credit card, while received cash is stored in an Apple Pay Cash card in Wallet that can be used for purchases or sent to a bank account. Sending cash through a credit card incurs a 3% fee, while sending cash from a debit card is free.

Person-to-person Apple Pay was first announced as an iOS 11 feature at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, but it was not implemented in any of the iOS 11 betas and towards the end of the testing period, Apple confirmed it would be introduced in a future update.

There is no sign of Apple Pay Cash in the first iOS 11.1 beta that was seeded to developers last week, but if employees are testing it internally in iOS 11.1, it could be added in a future beta or simply released when iOS 11.1 is made available to the public.

Given that we’ve only had one beta of iOS 11.1 so far, it’s not clear when the update will see a public launch.

Related Roundups: Apple Pay, iOS 11
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Augmented Reality Teddy Bear From Seedling Now Available Exclusively at Apple Retail Stores

Seedling today announced the launch of Parker, which it says is the world’s first augmented reality teddy bear. Parker the bear is currently being sold exclusively at Apple’s retail stores.

Designed for children aged three and up, the teddy bear is just a plain plush bear with no electronics or batteries, but it “comes to life” with the accompanying Parker augmented reality app that’s available for iPhone and iPad.

The app uses Apple’s ARKit to allow children to interact with Parker in unique ways. Kids can become Parker’s doctor and examine his bones and address illnesses with accompanying accessories like a toy thermometer, a stethoscope, x-ray bibs, and medicine, with the app bringing Parker’s inner organs to life.

There are mini games included, like squashing stomach germs to help Parker fight a stomach bug, and there’s an augmented reality camera feature that lets children watch as Parker’s happiness grows and transforms the world with new augmented reality effects.

Kids can also help build Parker’s augmented reality world through the “magic camera,” creating an under the sea garden or a magical mushroom forest.

Parker is available from the Apple Store for $59.95. That price tag includes the bear, a backpack, a toy thermometer, a toy stethoscope, a wooden spoon, wooden medicine, felt x-ray bibs, and a letter from Parker.
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Kodak Photo Printer Dock PD-450 (Review)

If you think ‘photos’ or ‘film’, you’ll most likely think Kodak. An original pioneer in the photography marketplace and imaging industry, Kodak has a long history of providing great film, photo prints, and imaging hardware. With a public pedigree such as this, comes high expectations in product quality and usability for any of Kodak’s offerings.

One touch printing is super easy, but printing wirelessly is even easier

Thankfully here, Kodak has created a high-quality little printer that works splendidly in a handful of different situations and set-ups. The Kodak PD-450 is perfect for printing on the go or setting up a print-station at home or in a business. Teens and young adults might especially find great value in having a portable photo printer at special events, parties, or in dorm rooms where space is at a premium.

What’s inside the box?

Kodak has assured virtually anyone can use this printer with very little setup. You have everything you need to get started printing within minutes. Inside the box you’ll find the following items:

• Printer Dock
• Power Brick (24V)
• micro-USB to Lightning adapter
• Simple user manual
• 10 photo papers
• Printer ink cartridge

Print while docked and also charge your device at the same time

Impressive features

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The Kodak PD-450 has a host of impressive features that make it one of the best portable printing solutions on the market. With quick printing, one-touch capabilities, and compatibility for both Android and iOS devices, it’s hard not to recommend the PD-450 printer dock. Regardless of which device you have connected, the “one-touch” button will print the photo that’s currently viewable on screen. This makes it incredibly simple for any user to quickly print a photo from his or her smartphone.

Feature list:

• One-touch print
• Charge while docked
• Print wirelessly or while docked
• Quick print and quick dry
• Fingerprint-proof prints
• Waterproof prints
• Single ink cartridge
• Android and iOS compatibility

Kodak has also gone so far as to include 10 sheets of printer paper with the printing dock to get you started. These paper sheets are specific to Kodak’s printer dock only as they won’t easily work in a standard printer. Each individual sheet has perforated edges to allow for easy handling of the print once it has completed. Kodak advertises the photo paper to be both fingerprint proof and waterproof, but it’s nice to have the extra holding room on each sheet when the photo comes out of the printer.

The paper tray disconnects from the printer to allow easy access to reload photo sheets

Printing process

Printing from your smartphone or tablet is quick and incredibly simple. Download the Kodak Photo Printer App from the Google Play store, select your photo and any edits you want to apply and then select print. In approximately one to two minutes your photo will emerge from the PD-450.

Print from a host of different locations including Facebook, Instagram and Google Photos

Within the app, the user has access to all sorts of tweaks and print settings as well as the option to edit the look of the photos with filters, decorations and simple adjustments like brightness, contrast, and sharpness. To have these options within the app itself is a huge time saver for those photos that you want to tweak or modify with zany stickers, emojis or text bubbles. You can also save independent edits of any photos right to your device while retaining the original photo. There’s also a share button if you want to post any photo modifications to any of your favorite social media sites. Kodak really has covered just about everything here.

Overall quality

The Kodak Dock (PD-450) has a sturdy design and more heft than I would have expected. The extra weight assures that the dock will not easily fall off of a table or stand while in use or from accidental bumps from passers-by. Considering the dock is meant to be portable, the overall weight negates some of the overall portability of the device. Also, the paper loader (which detaches) sticks out a good six inches, which can also affect placement location.

On the side of the PD-450 you’ll find USB ports for even more ways to access your photos

Minor shortcomings

So the Kodak PD-450 does just about everything very well–great quality prints, portability, ease of use and a ton of features. But, it’s not perfect. My biggest complaint is paper cost. While I understand this is high-quality paper with fingerprint and smudge-proof qualities, it’s still somewhat costly. As of this writing, a 120 sheet pack of photo paper with ink is about $47.00 if purchased online. That equates to about 40 cents per print which is about double the standard 20 cents per print you’d find at other online or local shops. The main advantage with the PD-450 is that you get your photo in a minute or two instead of waiting anywhere from an hour to a few days for your photos to arrive.

The PD 450 prints each primary color separately, so until your photo is completely done with 3 passes, it won’t look quite right

My only other qualm with the printer would be that some photos turned out a little on the darker side. This is easy to fix with a little pre-editing, but without seeing the initial print, it’s impossible to know beforehand. I ended up reprinting a few pictures just because the shadows were so dark it was tough discre in normal lighting, which cost me the extra forty cents.

Docked and Loaded

Kodak has created an affordable and efficient portable printing dock that works with a handful of different devices. Simplicity is definitely key here and Kodak has hit the nail on the head with the PD-450. This little photo printer is limited to 4X6 prints, but could be a big hit at a party and is a perfect alternative to getting prints at a local or online shop. With all things considered, this is a nice all-in-one solution that works wonders with editing, sharing, importing and printing of virtually any photo that your smart-device can access.

Color reproduction is spot on here. The Kodak PD-450 can quickly print great looking photos in under two minutes