Xiaomi launches the Redmi 5A in India for just ₹4,999 ($77)

Xiaomi has launched the successor to the wildly popular Redmi 4A.

Xiaomi has been teasing the launch of a “Desh ka Smartphone” (smartphone of the country) in recent weeks, and now we have more details on the device. The phone is a successor to the Redmi 4A, which is the third best-selling device in the country this year. Dubbed the Redmi 5A, the phone has incremental upgrades and a new design, but what sets its apart from the Redmi 4A is the launch pricing of ₹4,999. That comes out to just $77, making the Redmi 5A Xiaomi’s most affordable handset to date.

The Redmi 5A shares a lot of the same internal hardware as its predecessor, including a 5.0-inch 720p screen, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a 13MP f/2.2 rear camera along with a 5MP f/2.0 front shooter. There’s now a dedicated microSD slot in addition to two SIM card slots, and the 3000mAh battery is designed to provide two days’ worth of usage from a single charge.

Like the Redmi 4A, the Redmi 5A is powered by the quad-core Snapdragon 425 chipset. On the software side of things, the Redmi 5A runs MIUI 9 out of the box.

Xiaomi VP and managing director for India Manu Kumar Jain stated that the goal with the Redmi 5A is to make smartphones accessible to everyone:

We strongly believe that the best of technology should be made accessible to as many people as possible, because technology can improve lives. With Redmi 5A we take another step in offering a great all-round experience for users looking for their first smartphone. We believe Redmi 5A is the smartphone for everyone.

Xiaomi is a community driven by fans, and to celebrate their contribution towards making Xiaomi the No.1 brand in India, we’ve taken this huge step to give back INR 500 crore back to community and offer Redmi 5A at INR 4,999 for the first five million units. This is, as far as we know, something no other brand has ever done before in India. We would like other technology brands to join us in making high-quality products while making them extremely accessible and contribute towards a digital India.

The caveat here is that the ₹4,999 pricing is limited to the fist five million units. After that, the phone will be sold at ₹5,999, the same price as the base variant of the Redmi 4A. Xiaomi is also rolling out a model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage, which will be available for ₹6,999. The phone will be going up for sale starting December 7 at Flipkart, Mi.com, Mi Home stores, and Xiaomi’s partner stores throughout the country.

Going by the sales figures of the Redmi 4A, Xiaomi should have no issues hitting the five million mark in a few quarters. What are your thoughts on the Xiaomi Redmi 5A?

See at Flipkart

This DIY Furby Echo speaker will probably give you nightmares

Furby is already a tad creepy by itself, but a new DIY mod just stepped up the spookiness: Howchoo has converted a Furby toy into a makeshift Amazon Echo. The project works its dark magic by shoehorning a Raspberry Pi Zero W mini-PC into the critter’s frame, giving it the power to run Amazon’s open source Alexa Voice Service. Add a USB mic, a speaker and a stepper motor and you get a Furby that can read the news or turn up the thermostat.

This is possible in part because Furby is so easy to hack. Its simplicity makes it trivial to replace the original processing power with the Raspberry Pi, and you can upgrade other components with relatively limited effort. It’s theoretically possible to use the toy’s infrared emitter to control your TV, although that sadly isn’t working in the current version.

You need to be handy with a soldering iron to make this work, but you can in fact build it yourself without too much expense. Howchoo’s Zach paid a total of $50 for all the materials, including the Furby in question. That’s about as much as an Echo Dot, but look at it this way: this is likely the only Alexa speaker you’ll see that could scare you senseless in a dimly-lit room.

Via: The Verge

Source: Howchoo

AliveCor ‘Kardia Band’ Medical Grade EKG Analyzer for Apple Watch Receives FDA Approval

Medical smartphone accessory company AliveCor this week received FDA-approval for its EKG Kardia Band, the first medical-grade accessory for Apple Watch. The band has been available in Europe for some months, but the product’s clearance by the FDA means it can now be sold in the United States.

The Kardia Band for Apple Watch has an integrated metallic sensor in the strap that enables it to communicate with the company’s app to take EKG readings, where it can detect abnormal heart rhythm and atrial fibrillation (AF), much like AliveCor’s existing KardiaMobile device.

However, the latter device attaches to the back of an iPhone and requires users to hold their phone with both hands for 30 seconds to register a reading, whereas the Kardia Band lets wearers take readings discreetly wherever they are and in real time.

Users need only navigate to the Apple Watch-compatible Kardia app, start a reading, place their thumb on the sensor, and wait for the 30-second analysis to finish. During this time, they can also speak into the Apple Watch’s microphone to note the presence of palpitations or shortness of breath, or any dietary habits that could be linked to heart-rate fluctuations.

Recordings are stored and viewed in the Kardia iPhone app, and can also be sent to the user’s doctor. The app also connects to Apple’s stock Health app, so users can integrate their EKG readings into other fitness data for a more comprehensive picture of their overall health.

According to TechCrunch, AliveCor is also introducing a new feature called SmartRhythm that utilizes a neural network for better insights into heart rate data. The company says SmartRhythm can potentially detect an abnormal heart beat using the Kardiaband or KardiaMobile EKG reader.

The AliveCor Kardia Band costs $199 and can be ordered directly from the company’s website or from Amazon. Readers should also note that a subscription to AliveCor’s premium service ($99 a year) is required to access all of the available features once the 30-day trial period ends.

(Thanks, Anna!)

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4Tags: health, AliveCorBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Look ma, no hands! Nikon SnapBridge 2.0 adds hands-free exposure adjustments

Shooting a Nikon remotely is about to get even simpler — on Wednesday, November 29, the imaging giant launched Nikon SnapBridge 2.0. The updated smartphone app gives photographers access to more adjustments while using the app to shoot remotely, including the ability to adjust the full range of manual exposure settings without touching the camera. The free app update works with Nikon’s Bluetooth and Wi-Fi-enabled cameras.

While the SnapBridge app has always allowed photographers to remotely trigger the shot, adjusting the exposure settings still had to be done using the camera’s physical controls. With the update, photographers can now switch between programmed auto, shutter priority, aperture priority and full manual, as well as having access to shutter speed, aperture value, exposure compensation, ISO sensitivity and white balance. The access to exposure settings does vary based on camera model, Nikon says, so not every users will have access to the expanded options.

Users with an older camera model not compatible with the expanded controls will likely still want to make that free download however — the update also helps conserve battery power. A new power-saving mode allows the photographer to make adjustments so the smartphone’s battery doesn’t drain so quickly. Another option allows users to prioritize location accuracy or preserve battery with a more general geotag.

Nikon also took all the user feedback from the 1.0 app and redesigned the user interface. The screen and menu organization has been updated — for example, the screen will now display a status bar for several tasks, such as switching from a Bluetooth to a Wi-Fi connection. More user instructions are also integrated into more locations. For photographers with several Nikons, the app update also allows users to register up to five Nikon cameras inside the app.

The updated SnapBridge still includes the option for users to automatically back-up smaller two-megapixel versions of their files to the Nikon Image Space, a form of cloud storage. A new dedicated tab inside that re-designed interface makes the tool easier to access, while users can now automatically upload images shot with the smartphone as a remote. The automatic transfers inside Nikon SnapBridge launched in 2016 as Nikon began integrating Bluetooth into more camera bodies. The connectivity first launched with the D500, but the option has since launched on entry-level DSLRs as well, including the D5600.

Nikon says it will continue enhancing the SnapBridge app to enhance usability and add new functions. SnapBridge 2.0 is rolling out now to both iOS and Android devices.

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Alexa and Echo will land in Australia and NZ in early 2018

Amazon just dropped its umpteenth Alexa skill, this time for Destiny 2 fans. Already in the tens of thousands, the digital assistant’s tricks span shopping, news, smart home controls, pop trivia, kiddie pastimes, and now video games. But while a growing number of regions have access to Amazon’s Echo family of smart speakers (including recent additions India and Japan), they’re still missing in some spots. Now, it seems Alexa’s global expansion is picking up speed, as the digital helper is (officially) heading Down Under. Amazon has announced that Alexa and Alexa-enabled devices will land in Australia and New Zealand in early 2018.

The Echo will be part of the launch, reports The Sydney Morning Herald — although, Amazon is keeping mum about precise timing and the exact Echo devices it plans to release. We’ve reached out to the company for more details.

Upon arrival, Alexa will be greeted by the Google Home Mini, which landed in Australia late last month. Meaning, the smart speaker wars will officially heat up Down Under in the new year. The move is hardly surprising, considering Amazon.com is prepping for an imminent Australia launch — although it clearly didn’t happen by Black Friday, as anticipated.

Amazon is also buddying up with Kiwi and Aussie services on local Alexa skills. The new crop will mostly be made up of news and media outlets (according to The Australian), among them Sky News Australia, Fox Sports, Qantas, Dimmi, Coastalwatch, Air New Zealand, TVNZ, Newstalk ZB, and New Zealand Herald.

Source: Amazon Alexa

‘Destiny 2’ gets a Ghost Alexa skill and replica speaker

Whether you’re a Destiny 2 newbie sampling its free trial or a hardened vet griping about player progress, one thing we can all agree on is the general awesomeness of the game’s Ghost AI. The floating intelligence is a tipster, guide, and mechanic all rolled in to one. Activision is so enamoured with the virtual assistant that it’s pairing it up with Amazon’s Echo speakers. Yes, a Ghost Alexa skill is now available for players that want to bark voice orders at a real-life version of the virtual assistant. With it, you’ll be able to ask Alexa to ask Ghost to equip load-outs, scout levels, and join a clan.

If that doesn’t sound slightly convoluted in itself, you can also pre-order a $90 Ghost replica speaker that syncs with an Amazon Echo device to carry out your bidding. The perks include responses from the Ghost himself, Nolan North (unfortunately, there’s no Peter Dinklage option for fans of the first game), with over a thousand custom responses.

The Ghost speaker will ship on December 19th (but you’ll have to be fast as the limited edition replica is only available for the next three hours), while the Alexa skill is out now. Judging by its announcement, it seems Amazon wants devs to create more video game skills, as it looks to tap into the lucrative gaming market.

Source: Amazon Alexa

Google’s new patent will automatically open, close laptops with just a touch

Chromebooks could eventually sport a lid that automatically opens and closes with the touch of a finger. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent last week filed by Google that does just that, and it could even detect the position of the users face to automatically adjust the lid/screen for the optimal viewing position. Thus, if laptop owners were to suddenly sit up straight in their chair, the lid would automatically adjust accordingly without any manual adjustments.

The patent describes a design that relies on several sensors. One would determine your proximity to the laptop, and activate the motor to raise the lid when you approach the device, such as sitting down in front of a desk where the laptop resides. Another sensor would detect the touch of a finger, and open the lid accordingly. Either way, an image sensor would be needed to determine your facial position so the motor can adjust the screen at the optimal viewing position.

The patent goes on to explain that the proximity sensor would require you to have a compatible device in possession that’s within communication range. This method is similar to using a smartphone to lock and unlock a PC via a Bluetooth connection when moving in close or away from the PC. In this case, the laptop would detect the smartphone, and automatically raise or shut the lid.

But Google’s patent goes beyond simply approaching the laptop from the front.

“Computer may include one or more sensors configured to function as a Near Field Communication (NFC) receiver, Bluetooth communication circuitry, or RFID transceiver/transponder,” the patent states. “The sensor may implement a technology capable of determining a user’s location in relation to the computer, for example, that the user is in front of the computer, or behind the computer, or to the side of the computer.”

Meanwhile, the touch-based sensor would support a specific region on the laptop’s lid. The patent’s diagrams show the area could be the size of a touchpad, and reside at the top end of the lid. This touch-sensitive area would wrap around the lip of the lid so all you would need to do is touch that edge to close the lid. Even more, this area could be configured to accept taps, full touches, swipes, and gestures.

But Google’s patent doesn’t focus on one specific list of components. The touch-sensitive surface could be based on any material that supports “a capacitive structure, surface acoustic wave, or a resistive structure.” Thus, the touch area wouldn’t necessarily be visually obvious on the lid. On the other hand, laptop makers could carve out an area on the lid to install a “dielectric surface.”

Finally, getting the lid to open and close on its own would rely on a motor residing within the base of the laptop that connects directly to the hinge. This design would be backed by “internal friction elements” to help deal with the weight of the lid as the motor opens and closes the notebook.

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Velodyne LiDAR helps self-driving cars operate at highway speeds

Have you noticed that many self-driving car tests avoid the highway? There’s a good reason for it: the LiDAR (laser pulse-based radar) cars use to navigate frequently can’t handle high-detail images at the speeds and distances needed for timely reactions. Velodyne might fix that with its newly unveiled VLS-128 LiDAR system. It has 10 times more resolving power than its predecessor and can detect objects up to 300 meters (984 feet) away, helping it spot even smaller hazards at high speeds.

As the company’s Anand Gopalan explained to The Verge, this could be crucial for the kind of dangers you see on the highway. An autonomous vehicle blasting down the road needs to very quickly determine whether or not an object is dangerous enough to require evasive action — you want the car to avoid an animal crossing the road, but you don’t want it to slam the brakes because of a paper bag.

The VLS-128’s power also promises faster reactions, as its detail could save cars from having to check their LiDAR data against cameras before making choices. It’s smaller and more efficient than Velodyne’s previous technology too, so it shouldn’t be quite so bulky as existing LiDAR systems.

The new hardware ships by the end of 2017. There’s no mention of pricing, but this is bound to be expensive when it’s Velodyne’s spare-no-expense option. Not that this is necessarily a problem. The company is pitching it as a solution for autonomous transportation services (think driverless taxis and buses) where the cost is much easier to swallow than it would be with a personal car. And when Velodyne is one of the bigger companies selling “off-the-shelf” LiDAR, this could be crucial to companies that want to offer autonomous rides but can’t afford to create hardware from scratch.

Via: The Verge

Source: BusinessWire

Porsche’s powerful hybrid is a sports car disguised as a station wagon

The Porsche Panamera is rather divisive. People either love or hate the way it looks. Regardless of your thoughts on its design, it’s hard to ignore the sports car that doubles as a station wagon. That’s especially true thanks to the new $188,400 Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo introduced at the LA Auto Show. Yeah, the name is a mouthful.

But there’s no way you’ll ever be able to spit that name out before you get the car from a standstill to 62 miles per-hour, something this Panamera can accomplish in 3.4 seconds. Additionally, the all-wheel-drive vehicle has a top speed of 192 miles per-hour in case you’re running late getting the kids to school. It accomplishes these impressive feats as a hybrid thanks to a four-liter V8 engine with an electric motor that produces a whopping 680 horsepower.

Once you get past the brute strength and Porsche styling, the Panamera is still an actual hybrid. It has an impressive pure-electric range of 30 miles powered by a 14.1kWh battery pack. More than enough for local errands or short commutes without tapping into the gas engine. The battery can be charged from 2.4 to six hours based on the type of charger you’ve hooked the car too.

So if you’re looking for a sports car that’s shaped like a station wagon and you can afford to drop almost $200,000 on a car, Porsche has got you covered.

Source: Porsche

Verizon will launch 5G home internet access in 2018

Verizon’s 5G wireless will soon become a practical reality… if not quite the way you might expect. Big Red has announced that it’s launching residential 5G broadband (that is, fixed-in-place wireless) in three to five markets starting in the second half of 2018. Most details aren’t nailed down at this point, but the rollout will begin in Sacramento, California.

It’s no shock as to why Verizon is showing its cards so early. The carrier is in fierce competition with fellow incumbent AT&T, which has also been trialing 5G and hopes to deploy it nationwide by the end of 2018. Verizon wants you to know it’s keeping pace and will have a real, publicly available 5G service ready to go within a matter of months.

No, this isn’t the cellphone access you might be looking for, it’s still an important milestone. It’s not just that 5G is extremely fast, promising hundreds of megabits per second — it’s that its latency is low enough to improve very time-sensitive tasks like action gaming and multi-user VR. How well it works in real-world commercial service is yet to be determined, but home 5G may be the first fixed wireless that’s about as responsive as a good landline connection.

Source: Verizon