A bad look for Google and the Pixel 2 XL [#acpodcast]

Writer and analyst Daniel Matte from techspecs.blog joins Daniel Bader, Alex Dobie, and Russell Holly to discuss the issues, real and perceived, with the display used on Google’s Pixel 2 XL. They also talk about the software changes Google has promised to help address problems with the device.

To wrap things up, the crew chats about the Pixelbook, OnePlus 5T rumors, and the Android 8.1 beta!

Show Notes and Links:

• Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL review

• Google to address Pixel 2 XL screen issues with several software changes

• Google extending manufacturer warranty for Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 XL screen burn-in is real, Google working on software fixes to mitigate issues

• Assessing the Pixel 2 displays

• Google has a software fix for the Pixel 2 speaker ‘clicking’ problem

• Google Pixelbook review

Podcast MP3 URL: http://traffic.libsyn.com/androidcentral/androidcentral358.mp3

Now T-Mobile is working with Project Loon in Puerto Rico

Last week AT&T announced it was the first carrier working with Alphabet’s balloon-distributed wireless setup in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, and now T-Mobile customers have access too. Project Loon started off in the X Labs at Google — which are now a part of its parent company Alphabet — and uses balloons floating 20km high in the stratosphere that beam internet to people below. T-Mobile didn’t specify which phones are compatible so far, but this should provide daytime access to limited internet service (text messaging, basic web access and email) in areas where the towers are still out.

The Team at X tweeted that Project Loon has already delivered access to “tens of thousands” of people in Puerto Rico, and this should add many more to that number. Residents who use it won’t necessarily know they’re on Project Loon however, since the team says it appears on their just like any other LTE connection.

.@TMobile has joined #ProjectLoon to deliver emergency internet service in Puerto Rico pic.twitter.com/Il0e2sOGgj

— The Team at X (@Theteamatx) October 28, 2017

Very proud of @TMobile’s dedication to restore service & help customers, employees & all affected by the hurricanes. https://t.co/LZfpbUk98p

— Neville (@NevilleRay) October 28, 2017

Source: T-Mobile, X company (Medium)

Final Cut Pro X 10.4 Coming Later This Year With Improved Color Tools, HEVC and VR Support

At the Final Cut Pro X Creative Summit, which includes a visit to Apple’s Cupertino Campus. At the event, Apple today announced the next version of its video editing software aimed at professionals, Final Cut Pro X 10.4. Details about the announcement were shared on Twitter by FCPX experts Peter Wiggins, Alex Gollner, and Richard Taylor, giving us a hint of what’s coming later this year.

Image via Richard Taylor
The update will include new color tools, like and color wheels and a white balance picker, with new controls for the color board. It will include support for HEVC, the new video format introduced in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra, and direct import of iOS for iMovie timelines. The new version of the software will support VR and HDR workflows.

Apple gave a sneak peek of #VR video features in next versions of Motion 5 and Final Cut Pro X at 1 Infinite Loop today pic.twitter.com/vAtZeeuY4o

— Alex Gollner (@Alex4D) October 28, 2017

Apple shared several demos of the new version of Final Cut Pro X in action, including an 8K timeline on the new iMac Pro.

No specific release date for Final Cut Pro X 10.4 was announced, but Apple did say that it’s coming before the end of 2017. Final Cut Pro X can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $299.99. [Direct Link]

(Thanks, Olivier!)

Tag: Final Cut Pro X
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Apple releases new leather sleeve for the 12-inch MacBook

Why it matters to you

Protective cases can sometimes detract from the refined design of a computer like the MacBook, but that’s not the case with this official sleeve by Apple.

If you’re buying a MacBook, you probably want a case that’s going to live up to Apple’s high standards for design. To cater to these needs, the company has released a stylish new sleeve that will keep your laptop protected without impinging on its good looks.

The leather sleeve for the 12-inch MacBook is broadly similar to the leather sleeve for the iPad Pro that’s offered by Apple. However, unlike that product, it features a slit across the horizontal edge of its perimeter to ease the insertion and removal of a laptop, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

The product page for the sleeve on the Apple website states that the material is high-quality European leather, and that the inside of the case is lined with a soft microfiber covering to ensure that the outer surface of your MacBook isn’t scuffed or scratched during use.

Its design also allows for users to charge their laptop while it’s inserted into the case. The sleeve really is quite aesthetically pleasing, with its sleek leather surface only interrupted by a few indentations to cater to the MacBook’s feet, and an understated embossed Apple logo on the top.

Apple doesn’t sell a wide range of protective cases for its laptops – most of those stocked on its official web store are produced by other manufacturers like Incase and Decoded. It remains to be seen whether the release of this sleeve will be followed by similar products for the other sizes of MacBook that the company produces.

Many users will perhaps prefer to opt for a slightly cheaper option that isn’t an official Apple product, as it has to be said that this sleeve does carry the high price tag you might expect from the company. Still, devotees will be glad to have the choice.

The leather sleeve for the 12-inch MacBook costs $149, and is available in the same two color schemes as the sleeve for the iPad Pro; Saddle Brown and Midnight Blue. It’s available online from Apple right now, and it will be available in the company’s brick and mortar locations from November 1.

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Outlook.com now knows where you live, and will move your data accordingly

Why it matters to you

Microsoft eliminates the step of manually changing your settings in Outlook.com when you permanently move from one region to another.

In an effort to improve the responsiveness of Microsoft’s Outlook-branded email service, the company updated the backend to automatically determine your physical location, and store your emails and attachments in a nearby data center. But don’t get creeped out just yet: The disclosure simply means that if you move to a different country, Outlook.com will eventually realize what happened and migrate your account to a nearby data center for better performance.

“Historically, we have determined locations based on the country you selected as your place of residence when you created the account,” the company said. “But in a world where migration is increasingly common, relying on you to manually keep that place of residence information up to date doesn’t make sense.”

In other words, when users previously created an Outlook account, they manually provided their current regional location. The only way Outlook could move your data to a different region was after you manually changed the information within the Outlook account. Now Outlook streamlines the process by determining your location automatically, so you don’t have to lift a finger (or digital suitcase).

What you won’t see with this backend “upgrade” is the Outlook service moving your account between data centers every time you travel from region to region. If you live in the United States and take a trip to Paris, France, the account will remain in the data center located in the U.S. If you actually move to Paris at some point, the account will eventually shift overseas with you as well.

But this update doesn’t just focus on moving data from one continent to another. Microsoft’s is referring to specific areas across the globe, such as eight regions within the U.S., two in Canada, two in Germany, two in the U.K., and so on. Thus, if you move from North Carolina (East US 2) to Washington (West US 2), your account will move to that region’s datacenter as well.

“Our data center capacity is also increasing, providing more opportunities to host your data closer to where you are located,” the company added. “Accordingly, we made updates that improve our ability to maintain your Outlook.com data closer to you with greater accuracy.”

According to Microsoft, the company is still working on six data centers for central and southern France, the northern and western parts of South Africa, and two locations in central Australia. Currently, Microsoft’s data centers cover 29 regions across the globe.

Microsoft’s Outlook email service started out as Hotmail in 1996, but was acquired by the company in 1997 for $400 million, and immediately renamed as MSN Hotmail. Eventually, Microsoft rebranded the service as Windows Live Hotmail until finally landing on the Outlook.com name in 2013. The online version copies the interface of the offline Outlook client, and crams in other services such as Skype, OneDrive, Outlook Calendar, and the online versions of the Office 365 suite.

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T-Mobile will reportedly carry HTC’s U11 Life

According to a T-Mobile store manager, the HTC U11 Life will be available through everyone’s favorite Un-Carrier.

Google’s Android One program is all about offering quality, affordable devices with clean builds of Android and speedy software updates. The Moto X4 is the first Android One phone to make its way to the United States, and at some point in the near future, we’re expecting the HTC U11 Life to make its debut as the program’s second entry.

A previous rumor already gave us a pretty clear idea of what specifications to expect from the U11 Life, but availability for the phone has remained a mystery. However, according to a store manager over on Reddit, the U11 Life will be making an appearance on T-Mobile when it is eventually released.

Tylerjames09 (the Redditor that shared this info) reportedly got a shipment notification indicating that the blue variant of the U11 Life and a lot of accessories for it were on the way to his store. Tylerjames09 also uploaded an image of the notification he received, and sure enough, the description of “HTC U11 LIFE BLU DEMO” can be seen clear as day.

We’re still taking this with a grain of salt as this is the first time we’ve heard any report of the U11 Life coming to T-Mobile, but it’d certainly be a welcome addition to the Un-Carrier’s lineup if it did. We aren’t expecting the phone to cost any more than $400, and for that price, we’ll likely see a 5.2-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 630 processor, 2600 mAh battery, Edge Sense, IP67 dust/water resistance, and Android 8.0 Oreo.

HTC U11 Life rumored to have Android Oreo, Edge Sense, IP67 rating around $400

Mid-range Sony Xperia R1 and R1 Plus now available in India

The Xperia R1 costs INR 13,990, while the R1 Plus is slightly more expensive at INR 15,990.

The market for budget Android phones has been really strong for a while now, and Sony’s latest handsets are targeted at Indian customers looking to upgrade their current device without handing over a ton of money. The two new phones are the Xperia R1 and R1 Plus, and they’re both packing a solid punch for their asking price.

There are more similarities than differences between the R1 and R1 Plus, so let’s first talk about what sets the two phones apart. The R1 comes equipped with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage, but the R1 Plus kicks things up a notch with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage that’s also expandable.

Both phones come equipped with the same 5.2-inch TFT LCD display, each with a resolution of 1280 x 720, and because this is a Sony Xperia phone, you’ll find sizeable bezels on all sides. Unfortunately, unlike some of Sony’s more expensive devices, there aren’t any front-facing speakers to be seen here.

You’ll find a 13MP camera on the back and an 8MP shooter up front for taking all of your selfies, while under the hood of the two phones lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 2,620 mAh battery, and Android 7.1 Nougat. Also included is dual-SIM support, FM radio, USB Type-C, and Bluetooth 4.2.

The Xperia R1 and R1 Plus are available in India starting today, featuring price tags of INR 13,990 and INR 15,990 respectively (around $215 and $245 USD)

See at Sony

Honda’s cutesy robot cooler keeps drinks within reach

Honda didn’t just unveil a slick-looking EV coupe concept at the Tokyo Motor Show. It also had a robot… though it’s definitely not the kind of robot you’d expect from the company. Its RoboCas Concept is a super-cute cargo bot that can follow you around while hauling whatever you like in its large, customizable carrying space. Basically, it’s an autonomous cooler with giant eyes. Honda imagines people using it to open pop-up curry shops or haul pumpkins home from the farm. We could see this being incredibly helpful if you don’t have a car, or if you’d rather not drive just to haul some food and drinks to the park for a picnic. There’s just one problem: it’s not clear that RoboCas will move past the concept stage.

The transportation giant hasn’t said whether or not RoboCas will go into production, and The Verge notes that the prototype shown at the Tokyo Motor Show was stationary and had a Windows tablet unceremoniously stuck to its back. We don’t know the full capabilities of the robo-cooler, let alone whether or not it would be affordable as a production model. All the same, the idea is intriguing. Honda isn’t just planning for a transition to self-driving cars — it’s arguing that robotics can eliminate the need for any car in certain situations.

Source: Honda

India passes US to become second largest smartphone market

The US is now the third largest smartphone market in the world, according to a new report by global technology market analyst firm Canalys. The number of smartphone shipments to India grew 23 percent in the third quarter of this year, reaching just over 40 million units shipped. That makes India the second largest smartphone market, just behind number one China. Sorry, US, but you’re in third place now.

The brands selling the most in India? Samsung and Xiaomi, which sent 9.4 million and 9.2 million smartphones to India, respectively, account for almost half of the entire Indian smartphone market in the country. “This growth comes as a relief to the smartphone industry. Doubts about India’s market potential are clearly dispelled by this result,” said Canalys’ Ishan Dutt. “There are close to 100 mobile device brands sold in India, with more vendors arriving every quarter. In addition, India has one of the most complex channel landscapes, but with low barriers to entry. Growth will continue. Low smartphone penetration and the explosion of LTE are the main drivers.”

The top five vendors in India, including Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo and Lenovo, account for 75 percent of the total shipments in India, according to the report. While Samsung is a top seller, Canalys Analyst Rushabh Doshi believes that inexpensive smartphone maker Xiaomi will soon over take the Korean company “within a couple of quarters.” Still, it’s not just low-end phones making inroads in the country. Apple only started local production in India this year, and iPhone shipments have more than doubled to 900,000 units in the third quarter.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: Canalys

NASA and Germany are about to refresh their climate science satellites

Cassini might have gotten a very emotional send-off at the close of its 20-year journey, but it’s not the only long-term space mission being retired this season. Today, the joint NASA-German Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) has ended operations after 15 years, three times longer than expected. Its mission: Precisely measure Earth’s gravitational field from a pair of satellites.

Both satellites were needed for GRACE to perform its mission, so when yet another of GRACE-2’s batteries failed and contact was lost in September, the writing seemed to be on the wall. The mission team worked heroically to bring it back online for one final data transmission, but it wasn’t enough power to operate the scientific instruments onboard.

Without fuel, GRACE-2 will dip Earthward and reenter the atmosphere in mid-to-late November, with some burning up and other parts plummeting to the ground with minimal risk. The team will eke all the data they can from GRACE-1 to close out the mission before it, too, sinks into the atmosphere in early 2018.

“We look back with pride and gratitude on the GRACE mission” said Prof. Dr. Reinhard Hüttl, Scientific Executive Director and Chairman of the Board at the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), in a statement. “During the 15 years of the mission operation, the satellite tandem has measured the gravity field of the Earth and its variations in a highly precise manner, which helps us, for example, to accurately document changes in groundwater storage or in glacial retreat. Furthermore, the resulting influence on sea level rise can be detected thanks to the GRACE measurements. The mission has, thus, substantially contributed to a better understanding of the system Earth.”

But don’t get too broken up over spilled satellites. The successor mission, aptly named GRACE Follow-On, will begin in early 2018 with a pair of replacements riding a Falcon 9 to take over for the old GRACE spacecrafts.

Source: Phys.org