‘Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp’ Downloaded Over 15 Million Times Since Launch

Nintendo’s latest iOS game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has been downloaded at least 15 million times since it first became available for download last week, according to new download estimates shared by Sensor Tower (via TechCrunch).

At an estimated 15 million downloads within six days, Sensor Tower says Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is Nintendo’s second most successful launch in terms of raw installation numbers. It didn’t garner as many downloads as Super Mario Run, but it did beat out Fire Emblem Heroes.

Comparatively, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp saw fewer downloads than Supercell’s Clash Royale during its first six days of release, and while it was downloaded more times than Pokémon Go at launch, Pokémon Go was initially limited to Australia, New Zealand, and the US, while Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp has been available worldwide since last Tuesday.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp is ranked number 10 on the iPhone top grossing chart in Japan, but in the United States, it’s ranked at number 72.

It’s worth noting that Sensor Tower’s data can be somewhat inaccurate. Following the release of Super Mario Run, Sensor Tower suggested it had been downloaded 25 million times in four days, but that number turned out to be incorrect.

Nintendo said Super Mario Run had actually been downloaded 40 million times over the course of four days, so it’s possible these Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp estimates are also under the actual number of downloads. Nintendo hasn’t yet shared data on the game’s success, but we’ll update this post if new information becomes available.

For those unfamiliar with the game, Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp allows players to manage and decorate a campground inhabited by animal campers. There are a range of furniture and clothing items to collect, as well as activities like fishing, catching bugs, and gathering fruit. Leveling up is done through crafting items and luring new animals to the campsite.

As shared by iMore, it appears Nintendo is already working to add new content to the game. Evidence sourced from data-mining an upcoming update suggests new characters, furniture items, and clothing will be added, and Nintendo also appears to be planning to introduce a special holiday event in December.

Tag: Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp
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Android 8.1 final preview enables the Pixel 2’s custom camera chip

The first Android 8.1 preview release opened the doors to app developers wanting to support the Pixel 2’s untapped Pixel Visual Core chip, and now the phones themselves are ready for action. Google has released the final 8.1 developer preview, which switches on the Visual Core for Pixel 2 and 2 XL users. You can now take AI-fueled HDR+ photos using apps that support the standard Android camera framework, not just Google’s own app.

The 8.1 release also includes acceleration for machine learning through TensorFlow Lite, performance improvements for Android Go phones and a host of minor tweaks. Logically, this last preview also stamps out a host of bugs from before.

If you want to experiment, the new release will roll out to Android Beta Program members over the next few days. And if you’d rather play it safe? Google is still on track to push the finished release to Pixel and Nexus owners starting in December. Yes, you’ll have had to wait up to two months to make full use of the PIxel 2’s hardware, but it’ll be hard to complain too much when this will widen access to Google’s unique image processing techniques.

Source: Android Developers Blog

High 10! This bionic prosthetic gives you an extra hand on each arm

Smart technology has given us a bunch of new ways of interacting with the world around us, but one fundamental limitation is that we only have two hands to use to get things done with. Right? Well, maybe not for too much longer, should Italian “augmented human” startup YouBionic have its way. Having previously created a functioning bionic hand for people without them, YouBionic has now developed a Double Hand prosthesis, thereby offering folks a maximum of four hands per person for … well, whatever you want to do with them really.

The 3D-printed hands are powered by Arduino, and come mounted on a sort of gauntlet worn by the operator. By moving individual fingers at different speeds, the user can control each robotic hand separately, making its fingers curl up into a fist or stretch out. This is achieved using mounted flex sensors to identify movements and translate them into actions. Due to the fact that you’re operating two hands with one, it’s not an exact case of mirroring movement, but rather learning a series of new gestures, just as you would in order to learn how to operate a new smartphone.

“This device is the first prototype, and exists to build the foundations for a future in which machines and humans will be fused together,” YouBionic founder Federico Ciccarese told Digital Trends. “The merger has already started in software, thanks to the likes of Oculus Rift or Magic Leap. But there will come a day when digital will no longer be enough, and we need to evolve with specific devices that act in the three-dimensional world. In the work I’m doing, I often wonder if our brain could potentially deal with and manage more information than is needed to move our bodies — for example, handling four arms instead of two. This is just one small example of augmenting human capabilities in this way, showing how we can improve even our native functions.”

One day, Ciccarese imagines that similar technology will either be used to help increase productivity here on Earth, or potentially to carry out telepresence robots which can be operated remotely from afar — even on other planets. For the meantime, however, if you want to get hold of your very own Double Hand prosthesis you can buy one direct from YouBionic for $2,100, or just $58 for the wrist support’s digital files.

Facebook squashes bug that let anyone delete any picture or animation

If you’re putting your life out there on Facebook, then you’re probably hoping your priceless images remain around for all posterity. At the very least, you want to be the one to remove them from the site should you decide they contradict your recent conversion to Buddhism. Fortunately for you and every other Facebook user, a bug was discovered and fixed that would have allowed anyone to easily delete your pictures and animated GIFs.

As reported by Security Week, the flaw was identified by Iranian security researcher Pouya Darobi, who was taking a look at a new Facebook polling feature and discovered a simple method for deleting any image or animation posted on Facebook. Thanks to Facebook’s generous bug bounty program, which put $10,000 in Darobi’s bank account, the bug was promptly reported and Facebook implemented a temporary fix on November 3, the day the bug was reported. A permanent fix came out on November 5.

At the heart of the program was a new polling feature that Facebook rolled out at the beginning of November. The feature allows users to create polls and add pictures and GIF animations. The poll creation process generates code that includes the unique image identification number for each picture and animation that is included with the poll.

If the poll post was subsequently deleted, then the images were deleted as well. The problem was caused by the ability to replace the image ID in the code with that of any other image on Facebook, including images owned by other users. Deleting the post deleted those images as well.

This is not the first bug that allowed users to delete Facebook materials. Other bugs have been discovered by researchers, like Darabi, that allowed the deletion of comments, videos, and photos. Like this bug, the method in many instances revolved around simply replacing the asset ID.

Darabi has made a pretty penny reporting bugs to Facebook, with a bug reported in 2015 that netted him $15,000 from the social media giant and $7,500 for another bug reported in 2016. All told, Facebook has shelled out well in excess of $5 million in its bug bounty program. It’s enough to make you want to spend some time locking down your Facebook account.

2019 iPhone to use ‘time-of-flight’ 3D image sensor in rear-facing camera

Apple plans to incorporate a 3D rear-facing camera on its 2019 iPhone according to a report from Bloomberg. The rumor is the latest in a string of augmented reality news from the world’s largest tech company.

Earlier this year, Apple introduced the iPhone X, its first phone featuring TrueDepth technology on its front-facing camera. TrueDepth uses a pattern of 30,000 infra-red dots projected on the user’s face to create a 3D image for authentication and purchases.

While the TrueDepth technology used on the iPhone X is more accurate than fingerprint authentication, Apple faced manufacturing hurdles in producing its flagship phone. The sensor array that powers TrueDepth was so difficult to manufacture at scale that Apple quietly told suppliers to reduce the accuracy of the facial recognition to overcome production delays, according to a separate report from Bloomberg.

For the rear-facing camera on the 2019 iPhone, Apple plans to use a more advanced image sensor that uses time-of-flight technology to create 3D images. Instead of creating a 3D infrared image map used as  on the iPhone X, time-of-flight technology detects subjects by calculating how long it takes for light to reflect off a surface. Since the sensors do not require the same degree of calibration as those currently used by Apple, they may be easier to manufacture at scale.

Time-of-flight sensors have been around for several years — this was the technology used to power Kinect on the Xbox. As the technology has improved, it has found its way into laser-based rangefinders on autonomous and semi-autonomous vehicles, including Teslas, as well as in military aircraft.

Apple is in talks with several prospective image-sensor suppliers including Infineon Technologies, Sony, STMicroelectronics, and Panasonic. Yusuke Toyoda, a sensors analyst at Fuji Chimera Research, believes Apple will ultimately adopt Sony’s sensors for future devices. Sony currently controls 49 percent of the image-sensor market and supplies image sensors for some iPhone models.  

The addition of a rear-facing sensor on future iPhones would enable more augmented-reality features on the devices. While the iPhone X is the first Apple product to heavily integrate AR features, Apple is said to be working on AR glasses that could also debut in late 2019.

Ultimaker 3 review

Research Center:
Ultimaker 3

Ever since 3D printing hit the mainstream, Ultimaker has been dishing out some of the best printers on the planet, and the Ultimaker 3 continues that legacy. In addition to top-tier printing specs, this new generation brings a host of high-end features and functionality to the table.

But how does this new-and-improved machine compare to previous generations — and more importantly, is it worth dishing out over $3,500 bucks for? We burned through a few spools of filament to find out.

Standout Features & Specs

At first glance, the UM3 doesn’t look much different from the UM2+ – but don’t let the looks fool you. Ultimaker basically kept all the good things about the previous generation, and added some subtle (but important!) upgrades to the new generation.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Here’s all the stuff that didn’t change. Just like the UM2+, the UM3 sports a maximum resolution of 20 microns, a max print speed of 300 millimeters per second, and a build volume of 8.5 x 8.5 x 7.9 inches. It also retains Ultimaker’s removable glass-plate heated bed, and is compatible with the same range of materials.

If we had to choose just two words to sum the UM3’s print performance, we’d have a hard time choosing between “hot damn” and “sweet Jesus.”

Now here’s what’s new. Arguably the biggest addition is the UM3’s dual extruder setup, which allows you to print with two materials at the same time. Most notably, this allows you to use one material for your main object, and Ultimaker’s water-soluble PVA material for your support structures. When soaked in water, PVA will dissolve, leaving you with a totally burr-free print that doesn’t require any cleanup.

On top of that, Ultimaker also built the UM3 with a suite of small upgrades that presumably make it more user-friendly. These include things like removable print cores for easy material swapping; automatic bed leveling functionality; WiFi and Ethernet connectivity; and a camera that lets you check up on print progress remotely.

It’s also worth mentioning that the UM3 doesn’t have swappable nozzles like the UM2+, and also has a much lower minimum resolution (200 instead of 600 microns) – so if you’re after a machine that you can use to print low-resolution prototype parts at ridiculously high speeds, then you might want to stick with the UM2+.

Setup & Configuration

Much to our delight, the UM3 was up and running almost immediately after leaving the box. Ultimaker put in some extra effort to make its latest machine more simple and approachable for beginners, and it shows. All you really need to do is insert the glass build plate, plug the machine in, and flip the power switch. The printer will take care of the rest — including all that pesky bed leveling and calibration.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

The only mildly tricky part of the entire setup process is inserting the filament, but Ultimaker has taken steps to ensure that even this step is simpler than before. The UM3 includes sensors that recognize when you’re using Ultimaker-branded materials, and will automatically identify the filament type when you place it on the spool rack.

From there, all that was left was to feed the filament into the extruder. Thankfully, this was also quite simple and straightforward, as Ultimaker’s onboard setup wizard guided us through the process, and handles all the little steps (heating up the hot end and moving the filament) automatically.

Ultimaker 3 Compared To

FormLabs Form 2

NewMatter MOD-t

M3D Micro

MakerBot Replicator (5th Gen)

Pirate3D Buccaneer

3Doodler 2.0

3D Systems Cube

Ultimaker 2

Formlabs Form 1+

All in all, Ultimaker’s new printer definitely offers one of the most painless and approachable setup processes we’ve experienced. All users, regardless of their familiarity with 3D printing, should have no trouble getting this machine up and running.

Software. Onboard & Offboard

The UM3’s interface retains the tried-and-true single knob approach that you’ll find in previous incarnations of the Ultimaker line. Not too much has changed here. Save for a few new menu items, the UM3’s onboard UI is nearly identical to that of past generations. Luckily, this interface is and has always been great. The menu trees are concise and to the point, making it nearly effortless to locate and manipulate all the printer’s features.

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

One of the features we found while exploring the onboard controls was an option to connect to your PC via WiFi. While at first this didn’t sound incredibly important, and the process to do so was a little tricky, once it was set up it was amazing. Being hooked in via WiFi enables near instant transfer of print projects from PC to printer without any hassle with SD cards or USB sticks. If that’s not your jam, you’ll be glad to hear that the Ultimaker 3 sports a USB port instead of SD slot, which is a welcome change from other printers.

When it comes time to prep an object for printing, the UM3 uses Utlimaker’s renowned Cura slicer: arguably one of the best slicers in the game. Cura’s settings and options are numerous, easy to understand, and incredibly robust. The program’s uncluttered menu system gives you control over practically every aspect of the printing process, yet somehow manages to provide such deep control without being too confusing to newcomers.

Print Performance

If we had to choose just two words to sum the UM3’s print performance, we’d have a hard time choosing between “hot damn” and “sweet Jesus.”

This thing prints like a dream, which is nice, since it also costs a small fortune.

This thing prints like a dream — which is good, because it costs a small fortune. Much like its predecessors, the third gen Ultimaker has a maximum resolution of 20 microns, which is one of the highest resolutions you can get with a filament-based printer. Most machines only go as low as 50 or 100 microns (hint: lower number = smaller layers = better detail).

But of course, resolution alone doesn’t necessarily make for a good print. Luckily, the UM3 excels in a variety of different aspects, which ultimately come together to provide top-tier print performance. A closer look at the objects in our testing suite help pinpoint the printers virtues.

As you can see in the above photos, the UM3 is extremely consistent from layer to layer. The printer suffers from almost no Z-axis wobble, which can probably be attributed to its sturdy construction and high-end components.

It also scores high marks in dimensional accuracy, as printed parts were always within a few microns of their digital versions. What you see on your screen is almost exactly what you’ll get out of the printer. This speaks not only to the quality of Ultimaker’s Cura slicing engine, but also to the precision of the machine itself.

Other things that 3D printers typically struggle with (unsupported spans, steep overhangs, and fine details, etc.) seemingly aren’t an issue for the UM3. Save for a tiny bit of noodling on certain archways, our 3DBenchy test prints always came out stunningly clean and with minimal imperfections. You won’t have to do much post-print cleanup with this printer.

UM3’s performance is off the charts good, and the fact that you can print with dissolvable PVA supports makes it even better.

Between this stunning print quality, the UM3’s expansive build envelope, and its heated buildplate, printing performance is off the charts good, and the fact that you can print with dissolvable PVA supports makes it even better. Typically, printing objects that require supports means that you’ll have to clean up the print to remove the evidence of support structures. This can sometimes be a long and tedious process, but dual-extrusion printing with PVA eliminates the need for it entirely. If there’s one feature that justifies the UM3’s exorbitant price tag, it’s definitely this one.

Overall, this UM3 offers top-tier print performance that outshines nearly every other FDM printer on the market right now – though not by a wide margin. It’s worth noting that the UM3’s performance, while undeniably good, definitely isn’t miles ahead of the competition.

Maintenance & Repairability

The Ultimaker3 is built with customization and upgrading in mind, so virtually everything on the printer is easy to access, and can be taken apart with a hex wrench. Oftentimes, you don’t even need tools, as swappable print heads and modular subsystems make investigating issues simple and intuitive to fix with your bare hands.

During our time with the machine, the only problem we really had was the magnetically attached fan on the front of the print head structure. The fan’s magnetic connection was loose and shaky, which caused the piece to swing open during printing. It was definitely a minor inconvenience, and was easily remedied with a piece of tape, but for a machine that costs $3,500, tape shouldn’t be necessary.

All things considered though, taking care of the Ultimaker3 is tremendously simple, and it has plenty of room for upgrades and expansions.

Our Take

The UM3 is a stellar 3D printer, and a standout in the filament-based printer category for its unparalleled blend of print quality, build volume, and ease of use. But the high price tag puts it in an awkward position.

Are there better options?

Yes and no. This is arguably the best FDM printer on the market right now – but it still pales in comparison to the resolution of SLA printers like the Formlabs Form 2. If what you’re after is quality and accuracy, but you don’t necessarily need a huge 8.5 x 8.5 x7.9 inch build envelope, you can get better results from a Form 2. Just keep in mind that SLA printers aren’t quite as simple to work with, maintain, and repair. Simplicity is also a factor here.

The other thing to consider is that, while the UM3 offers incredible print quality, it’s not really orders of magnitude better than other FDM printers that cost far, far less money. You can get comparable print results with a MakerGear M2, or even the Ultimaker 2+ — both of which are more than $1,000 cheaper than the UM3. It might be the top dog in performance, but it’s much closer to the bottom when it comes to value. If you’re on a budget, you can get way more bang for your buck elsewhere.

How long will it last?

The Ultimaker 3 is build to last and designed with upgrades in mind, so it’ll most likely become obsolete because its upstaged by newer, more sophisticated technology – not because its motors fail or its components wear out.

Also, considering the fact that Ultimaker still pushes regular firmware updates to its first generation printers, it’s probably a safe bet that software support for the UM3 will be available for years to come. Properly maintained, this machine could last you a decade or more.

Should I buy it?

Yes. If money is no object and you want the best possible FDM printer you can get, then you needn’t continue searching. This is the one you want.

Just keep in mind that you can get far better print quality from the Form 2 (for the same price), and there are also cheaper FDM printers that cost a lot less and provide only slightly worse print quality.

The best iPhone X battery cases to keep your $1,000 device alive

The iPhone X is the breath of fresh air that Apple fans have needed for years. The all-new OLED display is incredible, the edge-to-edge design is gorgeous, and Face ID has been ruled a success. But the battery life may not be up to scratch if you’re a heavy user. What if you’re away from the charger for a while? The iPhone X’s camera is amazing, you want to use it when you can without worrying about battery life. Why not invest in a battery case for when you need the power most?

We’ve scoured the internet for the best iPhone X battery cases that you can currently buy, and narrowed down the list to the ones you can find below. Don’t worry about power again!

ZeroLemon Extended Battery Case — 4,000mAh ($40)

Battery cases are bound to add some bulk to your slim phone, because adding extra battery also means extra mass. This battery case from ZeroLemon adds an extra 12 hours of talk time to your iPhone X, and thanks to the slim profile, doesn’t add too much bulk. It’s easy to attach, with a slide-and-lock design, and a series of four LEDs that let you know the case’s charge level. Charging the case and syncing your phone to your PC is possible with a USB-C cable, so you won’t need to remove the case to charge it. The downsides? The additional chin at the bottom of the case ruins your phone’s edgeless display, it blocks wireless charging, and there’s no audio via wired headphones — Bluetooth only. Still, for $40, this provides a lot of extra juice.

Buy one now from:

Amazon ZeroLemon

Betteck Ultra Slim Backup Battery — 5,200mAh ($31)

Betteck has gone for a more unique style with its battery case. “Ultra” slim might be a stretch, but the case is slim enough that it doesn’t add too much bulk. It slides onto the outside of the phone, eschewing the more usual TPU or slide-and-lock style. A series of four LEDs show the case’s charge level, and it’s chargeable via Lightning cable. In terms of power, you’re looking at a good amount of extra oomph, with a whole day’s worth of extra talk time added on. On the downside, this won’t provide any real protection to your phone at all, it blocks wireless charging, and you’re again limited to Bluetooth headphones. But if you’re the sort of person who goes without a case anyway (seriously, check out the protection these iPhone cases offer!), then the option to simply slide this case on when needed might be appealing.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

AllClap Rechargeable Battery Case — 6,000mAh ($40)

This battery case has the largest capacity on this list, and we’re frankly amazed at how well it manages to pack all that power away. AllClap’s battery case doesn’t add an unsightly chin to your phone, keeping your edgeless display mostly intact, and it doesn’t add much bulk to the phone at all — adding about 0.41-inches of thickness. It’s pure wizardry. Slipping the TPU case onto your iPhone should add around 30 hours onto your call time, and you can charge and sync your phone with a Lightning cable. On the downside, it blocks wireless charging and forces you to use Bluetooth headphones only. Still, it’s hard to argue against this amount of power for this price.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Himino Lightning Headphone Compatible Battery Case — 3,200mAh ($33)

If you’re fully bought into a pair of expensive Lightning headphones, then the fact that many battery cases don’t support Lightning audio might be a serious turn off. Thankfully, Himino is offering this case with full Lightning audio capabilities. It might not be the biggest in terms of battery power, but it still adds twice your usual capacity, and the hard-shell design should add some protection to your fragile phone. Charge-and-sync via your Lightning cable is supported, making this even more convenient for the Lightning purist, and the charge level is again indicated with a series of LEDs. Perfect for the Lightning audio lover, or anyone who’s stuck with their EarPods (Seriously? There are loads of better headphones out there). Like the other cases, this battery case also blocks wireless charging.

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Alpatronix BXX Qi-Enabled Battery Case — 4,200mAh ($60)

This case is the most expensive on the list, but with good reason. It’s the only battery case we’ve been able to find that supports wireless charging. Specially programmed to charge the phone first and the case second, it’s perfect for anyone who can’t bear to give up their new wireless charger for extra battery capacity. The 4,200mAh-rated battery should provide at least 12 extra hours of talk time, and the design should provide some protection against drops and bumps. The downsides? The case charges by Micro USB connection, and while you can still connect to your PC with that, that means no Lightning headphones. It’s also fairly bulky, adding a sizeable chin to the bottom of the device. Still, this is a solid battery case that offers what no one else does at the moment. Oh, and it comes with a free iPhone X tempered glass screen protector too!

Buy one now from:

Amazon

Benchmark spills the Intel Coffee Lake beans, including a Core i9 laptop CPU

The details of Intel’s remaining eighth-generation rollout are now a little clearer thanks to the diagnostics and benchmarking tool Aida64. The latest beta lists the names of eighth-generation processors that may possibly launch in early 2018, and even lists a Core i9 chip built for laptops. This branding was last used on Intel’s most recent “X-Series” high-dollar performance processors for desktops reaching up into an 18-core model with a $2,000 price tag.

Intel’s eighth-generation rollout began in the late summer with “U” processors for laptops. These chips are based on a refreshed seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” architecture, and were followed by Intel’s first desktop processors in late September based on its eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” design. The batch slated to arrive early next year appear to be a mixture of desktop and laptop processors using the Coffee Lake design.

First up to bat are mobile chips shoved under the Coffee Lake-H banner. The “H” designation used in Intel’s code name typically signifies high performance, thus you’ll see these processors in mobile workstations and high-dollar gaming laptops. The leaked list consists of the Core i5-8000H Series, the i7-8000H Series, and the Core i9-8000H Series. Here they are:

• Core i9-8950HK
• Core i7-8850H
• Core i7-8750H
• Core i5-8400H
• Core i5-8300H

But the list doesn’t stop there. Here are all the other unreleased eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” Intel processors revealed in the benchmark’s release notes:

Celeron
Pentium
Gold
Core i3
Core i5
Core i7
G4900
G4900T
G4920
G4930
G4930T
G4950
G5400
G5400T
G5420
G5420T
G5500
G5500T
G5600
G5600T
G5620
8000
8000T
8020
8020T
8100T
8120
8120T
8300T
8320
8320T
8400B
8400T
8420
8420T
8500
8500B
8500T
8550
8650
8650K
8670
8670T
8700B
8700T

The release notes also reveal processors that fall under Intel’s ninth-generation rollout slated for the back half of 2018. These could be based on a refresh of the current Coffee Lake design using 10nm+ process technology, or Intel’s true ninth-generation design dubbed as “Ice Lake.” They will likely not be a part of Intel’s “Cannon Lake” eighth-generation rollout slated for the end of 2017 that’s based on Intel’s first use of 10nm process technology.

Core i3
Core i5
9000
9000T
9100
9100T
9300
9300T
9400
9400T
9500
9600
9600K

To this date, Intel officially sells 10 eighth-generation processors spanning Core i7, Core i5, and Core i3 parts for desktop and mobile. To better understand all the suffixes in Intel’s processor naming, here’s a brief explanation for each:

B = ?
H = High performance
K = Unlocked
M = Mobile
Q = Quad-core
S = Mainstream performance
T = Lower speed, lower power requirement
U = Ultra-low power
X = Extreme performance
Y = Extreme low power

We won’t officially know Intel’s remaining Coffee Lake processor rollout until sometime after January, so everything listed above must be filed under rumor. Right now, the company is currently locked and loaded to deliver CPUs based on its 10nm Cannonlake architecture before the end of 2017, but we don’t expect to see the resulting products until just before the CES 2018 technology show at the beginning of January.

Benchmark spills the Intel Coffee Lake beans, including a Core i9 laptop CPU

The details of Intel’s remaining eighth-generation rollout are now a little clearer thanks to the diagnostics and benchmarking tool Aida64. The latest beta lists the names of eighth-generation processors that may possibly launch in early 2018, and even lists a Core i9 chip built for laptops. This branding was last used on Intel’s most recent “X-Series” high-dollar performance processors for desktops reaching up into an 18-core model with a $2,000 price tag.

Intel’s eighth-generation rollout began in the late summer with “U” processors for laptops. These chips are based on a refreshed seventh-generation “Kaby Lake” architecture, and were followed by Intel’s first desktop processors in late September based on its eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” design. The batch slated to arrive early next year appear to be a mixture of desktop and laptop processors using the Coffee Lake design.

First up to bat are mobile chips shoved under the Coffee Lake-H banner. The “H” designation used in Intel’s code name typically signifies high performance, thus you’ll see these processors in mobile workstations and high-dollar gaming laptops. The leaked list consists of the Core i5-8000H Series, the i7-8000H Series, and the Core i9-8000H Series. Here they are:

• Core i9-8950HK
• Core i7-8850H
• Core i7-8750H
• Core i5-8400H
• Core i5-8300H

But the list doesn’t stop there. Here are all the other unreleased eighth-generation “Coffee Lake” Intel processors revealed in the benchmark’s release notes:

Celeron
Pentium
Gold
Core i3
Core i5
Core i7
G4900
G4900T
G4920
G4930
G4930T
G4950
G5400
G5400T
G5420
G5420T
G5500
G5500T
G5600
G5600T
G5620
8000
8000T
8020
8020T
8100T
8120
8120T
8300T
8320
8320T
8400B
8400T
8420
8420T
8500
8500B
8500T
8550
8650
8650K
8670
8670T
8700B
8700T

The release notes also reveal processors that fall under Intel’s ninth-generation rollout slated for the back half of 2018. These could be based on a refresh of the current Coffee Lake design using 10nm+ process technology, or Intel’s true ninth-generation design dubbed as “Ice Lake.” They will likely not be a part of Intel’s “Cannon Lake” eighth-generation rollout slated for the end of 2017 that’s based on Intel’s first use of 10nm process technology.

Core i3
Core i5
9000
9000T
9100
9100T
9300
9300T
9400
9400T
9500
9600
9600K

To this date, Intel officially sells 10 eighth-generation processors spanning Core i7, Core i5, and Core i3 parts for desktop and mobile. To better understand all the suffixes in Intel’s processor naming, here’s a brief explanation for each:

B = ?
H = High performance
K = Unlocked
M = Mobile
Q = Quad-core
S = Mainstream performance
T = Lower speed, lower power requirement
U = Ultra-low power
X = Extreme performance
Y = Extreme low power

We won’t officially know Intel’s remaining Coffee Lake processor rollout until sometime after January, so everything listed above must be filed under rumor. Right now, the company is currently locked and loaded to deliver CPUs based on its 10nm Cannonlake architecture before the end of 2017, but we don’t expect to see the resulting products until just before the CES 2018 technology show at the beginning of January.

Forget Face ID, VoiceGesture reads your lips with sonar to unlock your phone

Voice-recognition technology is getting better and better, but if you’re using it for security applications such as spoken passwords, it is not infallible. A team of researchers at Florida State University in Tallahassee may have a solution for spoofing attacks on voice biometrics, however — and it involves sonar.

Called VoiceGesture, the system developed by the team reappropriates your smartphone as a Doppler radar, transmitting a high-frequency sound from the device’s speaker and then listening to the reflections on the microphone when a person says their passcode. Compared to some of the weaknesses involved in regular voice biometric systems, such as the risk of someone impersonating your voice or using a recorded sample, it’s far more effective.

“Our system evaluation involves 21 users with thousands of passphrases and three types of smartphones: Samsung Note 5, Note 3, and Galaxy S5,” Jie Yang, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science, told Digital Trends. “Experimental results show that VoiceGesture achieves over 99 percent spoofing attack detection accuracy at around one percent equal error rate (EER).”

Florida State isn’t the only research institute currently investigating ways to make voice biometrics more secure. Recently, we covered a research project from the University of Michigan, which utilizes an accelerometer-based wearable accessory — currently a necklace, earbuds, or glasses attachment — to measure the unique skin vibrations in a person’s face, throat, or chest when they talk.

But what makes VoiceGesture stand out is the fact that it requires no additional hardware in order to work. Yang says that it can be integrated with existing smartphone operating systems and mobile apps for more secure device login, without having to change the physical devices themselves. He told us that the team has already approached Google, who are reviewing the proposed technique. “We also plan to reach out to other smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei,” Yang said. Should it prove as secure as the team claims, let us hope this turns up on a next-generation smartphone in the near future.

A paper describing the work, titled “Hearing Your Voice is Not Enough: An Articulatory Gesture Based Liveness Detection for Voice Authentication,” is available to read here.