Samsung’s ‘graphene ball’ battery could lead to fast-charging EVs

When it comes to lithium-ion batteries, you can have fast charging speeds or high capacities — take your pick. Now, Samsung researchers, working with Seoul National University, have figured out how to give batteries both qualities thanks to our old friend, graphene. By coating the electrodes with a thin, popcorn-shaped layer known as a “graphene ball,” they were able to produce a battery that could fully charge in just 12 minutes with up to 45 percent more capacity. The research, if it pans out, could lead to lighter and faster-charging electric vehicles.

The problem with current lithium-ion tech is the dreaded “side reactions” that can wear away the electrodes, especially if the battery is charged too quickly. Researchers have found that nanomaterials like graphene can reduce the wear and tear on them, while simultaneously increasing their conductivity. The problem is that coating electrodes uniformly has proven to be a challenge, and many efforts have resulted in an undesirable tradeoff by increasing charging speeds but decreasing capacity.

Samsung’s approach is to use a material assembly called a graphene ball to coat nickel-rich cathodes and lithium-based anode materials. The thin, popcorn-like substance can be coated onto the cathode evenly, making it more effective, while also giving the anode a capacity boost.

That technique increased both the stability of the battery and its conductivity, “improving the cyclability and fast charging capability of the cathode substantially,” the researchers note. What’s more, they hit energy densities of nearly 800 Wh/L, around the same as Li-ion batteries today used by Tesla (below) and others.

This isn’t just a laboratory effort, as Samsung knows a thing or two about production. Its researchers figured out how to coat the electrodes using “Nobilta” milling in a way that’s reasonably fast and accurate. The process, they say “would not require a substantial change” to current manufacturing techniques for advanced lithium-ion batteries like the ones used in EVs.

Batteries that can fully charge in 12 minutes would make EVs a hell of a lot more practical, even if capacities remain unchanged. It’s hard not to believe that our hopes won’t be dashed again, but maybe, just maybe, Samsung’s manufacturing expertise could actually turn the research into something useful.

Via: Samsung

Source: Nature

EPA confirms Tesla’s Model 3 has a range of 310 miles

Back in August, EPA documents implied that the pricier $44,000 version of Tesla’s Model 3 could have a range of 310 miles. Today, the agency confirmed that speculation: The top-tier Model 3 will indeed have a 310-mile range, while the less expensive $35,000 edition will be able to drive an estimated 220 miles before needing to recharge.

Which will make the longer-ranged Model 3 one of the most efficient consumer vehicles in the world, getting an estimated equivalent of 126 miles per gallon average across cities and highways. Whether you’ll be able to snag one of the vehicles is another story: Tesla’s third quarter earnings report revealed the company only shipped 222 Model 3s in the time period. It expects to ramp up production significantly to produce 5,000 of the vehicles per week by the end of Q1 2018, assuming Tesla can work out its bottlenecks.

Via: The Verge

Source: EPA

Facebook’s new community tools help you become a mentor

Facebook is once again hosting a Social Good Forum, and that means a new suite of tools and updates to help communities. To start, there’s a Mentorship and Support feature that helps mentors and would-be learners connect with each other to step through guided nonprofit programs. Also, the social network is eliminating fees for donations to nonprofits — you can be sure that every bit of money you contribute will go to those that need it.

Further upgrades expand fundraiser creation to more regions (including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Europe) and blood donation searches are expanding to Bangladesh. There’s a fundraiser developer toolkit to link Facebook fundraising to outside campaigns, and a community help toolkit to provide data to disaster response teams. Simultaneously, Facebook is launching a $50 million annual fund that will directly contribute to disaster relief starting in 2018.

The efforts could go some way toward helping people in need, and it’s easy to see the elimination of donation fees leading to more Facebook-based charity drives. The initiative comes at an awkward time for Facebook, mind you. Mark Zuckerberg recently had to apologize for an insensitive VR tour of Puerto Rico, and there have been protests as officials evict homeless people near a Zuckerberg/Chan-backed private school for low-income families. As much as the company is doing to help the less fortunate, it’s still grappling with its own ethical dilemmas.

Source: Facebook Newsroom

Many CarPlay Vehicles Debuting at Los Angeles Auto Show

Just a few days before the Los Angeles Auto Show opens to the public, many automakers have debuted new vehicles compatible with Apple’s CarPlay system, providing hands-free access to Maps, Messages, Phone, Music, and select third-party apps.

We’ve confirmed that CarPlay is available either as a standard option or as an upgrade in the following 2018 and 2019 vehicle makes and models:

• 2018 BMW i3
• 2018 BMW 6 Series Gran Turismo
• 2018 Hyundai Kona
• 2018 Jeep Wrangler
• 2018 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross
• 2018 Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid Sport Turismo
• 2019 Audi A8
• 2019 Genesis G70
• 2019 Lincoln MKC
• 2019 Lincoln Nautilus
• 2019 Mercedes-Benz CLS
• 2019 Porsche Cayenne
• 2019 Subaru Accent
• 2019 Volvo XC40

It’s likely that the 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line, 2019 Kia Sorento, and 2019 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 coupe and convertible also support CarPlay, although we haven’t outright confirmed this information at this time.

CarPlay is now available in hundreds of vehicle models around the world, but there are still a few notable absentees at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

The 2018 Mazda6, for example, will not support CarPlay at launch. “As a company we continue to look into implementing CarPlay into future Mazda vehicles,” a spokesperson told us, echoing comments it has made in the past.

The company behind Jaguar, Land Rover, and Range Rover is also showing off several vehicles at the auto show, but none of them are compatible with CarPlay. The same applies for the 2019 Lexus RX L and 2019 Infiniti QX50.

A recent survey indicated that an increasing number of customers consider CarPlay a must-have feature, so it may only be a matter of time before some of those automakers holding out on CarPlay reverse course.

Related Roundup: CarPlay
Discuss this article in our forums

YouTube to Introduce New ‘Reels’ Feature for Sharing Short Videos

YouTube is testing a new Community feature called Reels, which was announced today in a blog post covering a expansion of the Community tab. As explained by YouTube, Reels is YouTube’s answer to the popular “stories” format that’s available on Instagram and Snapchat.

We want to do even more to give you easy ways to express yourself and engage with fans, so today we’re also unveiling a new feature. Reels are YouTube’s spin on the popular “stories” format, but designed specifically for YouTube creators. We learned that you want the flexibility to create multiple Reels and have them not expire, so we’ll give you those options. We’re also bringing creator-focused features like linking to YouTube videos and YouTube-y stickers.

YouTube gave TechCrunch more information on Reels, and explained that it’s meant to be a way for creators to express themselves and engage fans without the need to upload an entire video.

Reels will consist of a few quick mobile videos that are up to 30 seconds in length, which can be edited with filters, music, text, stickers, and more.

Unlike the stories features on other social media networks, Reels will not expire, and instead of being featured at the top of the YouTube app, they’ll be available in a dedicated tab on the creator’s channel.

YouTube plans to roll out Reels as a beta feature to “learn and improve the product” before rolling it out to all YouTube creators.

Tag: YouTube
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Music’s Jimmy Iovine: ‘Streaming Services Have a Bad Situation’

Apple Music executive Jimmy Iovine sat down for an interview recently with Billboard to talk about The Defiant Ones, a four-part documentary series that focuses on the careers of both Iovine and his long-time partner Dr. Dre.

During the interview, Iovine commented on the state of the streaming music industry and the precarious position of companies focused solely on streaming music, like Spotify.

“The streaming services have a bad situation, there’s no margins, they’re not making any money,” he said. “Amazon sells Prime; Apple sells telephones and iPads; Spotify, they’re going to have to figure out a way to get that audience to buy something else. If tomorrow morning [Amazon CEO] Jeff Bezos wakes up and says, ‘You know what? I heard the word “$7.99″ I don’t know what it means, and someone says, ‘Why don’t we try $7.99 for music?’ Woah, guess what happens?”

Streaming music, says Iovine, is “fine” with major companies like Amazon, Apple, and Google, but it’s “not a great business” for standalone companies like Spotify. “They have to figure out a way to show the road to making this a real business,” he said.

Iovine went on to explain that the record industry doesn’t yet know “where technology is gonna go,” and that things could shift at any moment with the debut of software and hardware breakthroughs. Referencing the 8-track, cassette tape, and CD, Iovine says companies need to adapt and “figure out their role.”

According to Iovine, streaming services that offer content for free undermine the music industry and present a major problem that’s not something television providers like Netflix have to deal with. Streaming services all offer the same general content, making it difficult to convince customers to pay when content is available elsewhere at no cost.

“So Netflix has all that original stuff and it’s $11.99,” he said. “Music, everybody has everything, plus the free tiers, every song is on YouTube, so how can they charge $11.99 to a consumer? I’m like, no. I’m gonna buy this and get the music for free…. It’s a massive problem.”

Iovine’s opinion on free music is likely one of the reasons why Apple is focusing heavily on exclusive content. Apple has purchased the rights to air multiple exclusive documentaries, and the company is working on exclusive television shows much like Netflix, with the aim of drawing in customers with original content.

So far, two shows have premiered exclusively on Apple Music: Planet of the Apps and Carpool Karaoke: The Series. Apple has other television shows in the works, including an Amazing Stories reboot with Steven Spielberg and a morning talk show drama that will star Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Apple has not yet confirmed these new shows will be exclusive to Apple Music, but it’s a possibility, and it’s also possible Apple is planning on some kind of future service that offers both music and television content.

Jimmy Iovine’s full interview, which goes into further detail on streaming services and covers The Defiant Ones, can be read over at Billboard.

Tags: Jimmy Iovine, Apple Music
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Accessories You’ll Need for the Brand New iPhone X

Many would have loved to see their brand new iPhone X under the Christmas tree. They were probably disappointed when they found out that pre-orders for Apple’s 10th-anniversary handset will only begin on October 27th, with deliveries starting in November. Still, owning such a device is surely an attractive idea for many – and many have probably emptied their piggy banks to gather the necessary cash to lay their hands on one. After all, the new iPhone is not only capable to run All Jackpots casino games compatible with all the mobile devices but will probably outperform every handset that’s currently on the market.

There is one thing every Apple fan should know about the upcoming iPhone X, though – to use some of its new features, they will have to reach deeper into their pockets. Here are the accessories they will need to get.

Wireless charging

This year, Apple has finally given in to the numerous requests from its fans and released a handset with wireless charging capabilities. And it has also showcased the accessory to charge its devices wirelessly in the best way possible: the upcoming AirPower charging mat can handle multiple devices, perhaps even at once.

While most wireless chargers are designed to handle a single device at a time (mophie’s and Belkin’s devices listed at the Apple website can certainly only do that), Apple’s own AirPower will be capable of handling more than one Apple devices at the same time – basically, any combination of an iPhone, a pair of AirBuds, and an Apple Watch. Apple has even revealed that it is working with the Wireless Power Consortium to incorporate this new feature in the Qi standard.

The AirPower charging mat will be released sometime in the next year, with a rumored price tag of around $160.

Fast charging

Both Apple iPhone 8 handsets, as well as the iPhone X, support fast-charging – meaning that they will be able to charge to 50% in as little as 30 minutes. To use this feature, though, users will have to have a USB-C charger, like the ones delivered with some MacBooks and the MacBook Air. The Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter can already be purchased at the Apple webshop for a friendly price of $49.

Case

A special handset deserves a special case, too. And Apple has one for its iPhone X users – the iPhone X Leather Folio, the first folio case ever released by the Cupertino giant. The case has a leather exterior and a microfibre interior, it comes with two pockets (even though the cards people usually put in them are slowly getting obsolete), and is available in four colors: Cosmos Blue, Taupe, Black, and Berry.

The case will wake up the iPhone X once it’s opened and will send it to sleep mode when it’s closed. The case is an iPhone X exclusive, and can be purchased for $99.

Google is finally fixing its ghastly cheeseburger emoji

It might not be the most pressing issue in the world, but sometimes it’s the small victories that are the sweetest. Google is rolling out an update to its emoji package that “fixes” its cheeseburger emoji, after an internet backlash against the virtual image. What was wrong with it? It’s such a small detail that you might have never noticed, but taking moment to really look should make it obvious that the emoji is utterly and desperately wrong.

I think we need to have a discussion about how Google's burger emoji is placing the cheese underneath the burger, while Apple puts it on top pic.twitter.com/PgXmCkY3Yc

— Thomas Baekdal (@baekdal) October 28, 2017

Placing the cheese below the patty makes no sense in burger-building etiquette — you use the heat rising from the burger to melt the cheese, and since melted cheese is objectively better than normal cheese, it enhances the overall deliciousness of the burger. We’re not sure what alternate universe Google’s cheeseburger emoji dropped in from, but it’s clearly a sick and twisted place where cheese is placed underneath the hot patty, and somehow melts into the bread.

Thankfully, Google CEO Sundar Pichai noted the enormity of the situation, and promised that fixing the disgracefully built burger would be on top of his priority list after the weekend.

Will drop everything else we are doing and address on Monday:) if folks can agree on the correct way to do this! https://t.co/dXRuZnX1Ag

— Sundar Pichai (@sundarpichai) October 29, 2017

And he was as good as his word — Emojipedia reports the upcoming Android Oreo 8.1 patch changes the cheeseburger emoji, placing the cheese into a much less contentious slot above the burger patty, but beneath the salad options. While there are those who still say this isn’t the optimal position (Apple places the lettuce beneath the patty on their emoji, and this placement stops the bun from getting soggy), most appear to have been placated by Google’s revision.

Google Has Finally Fixed the Location of the Cheese in Its Cheeseburger Emoji! pic.twitter.com/nRPhpbTeFl

— Maurie Sherman (@DamnitMaurie) November 29, 2017

Hats off to #google for finally fixing the cheeseburger emoji. Now I can put the cheese on top of the patty instead of under it. Life is so much better now. @Google @googledevs

— JC Leffler (@jc_leffler) November 29, 2017

While Google seem to has learned its lesson, it didn’t stop it from torturing employees with the “Android burger” at lunchtime.

Emojipedia

The patch also changes a handful of other emoji, including the half-full beer steins that somehow had froth over empty spaces, and Swiss cheese that had lines running across holes. Never let it be said that Google didn’t always tackle the biggest and most pressing of concerns as soon as possible. Now, if it could tackle some of the other issues we’ve found in our list of Pixel issues, and Pixel 2 issues, that would be great.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nintendo Switch levels up gaming icon to billion-dollar profits
• With the Google Pixel 2, Bluetooth connectivity issues may finally be resolved
• Google hit a screen snag, but the Pixel 2 XL still tops the Android heap
• Anyone can log into your Mac without your password — here’s how to fix it
• What are you hoping to see unveiled at Google’s October 4 event?

Wirelessly charge your iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously with Funxim

Want a wireless charger for your Apple devices but don’t want to wait around for a release date or price? You may be able to find an alternative. Meet the Funxim, a new wireless charging pad on Kickstarter that claims to power both your new iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. Designed specifically with the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, and new Apple Watch in mind, this Qi standard wireless charging past promises a charging conversion rate of over 80 percent, which should lead to pretty fast charging for multiple devices. And while it features the design of an Apple device, don’t worry — the Funxim charger can also support Android devices.

The magnetic charging pad allows you to simply place your device on the surface, and take advantage of induction-charging capabilities. We should point out, however, that while the upcoming Apple wireless charging pad (known as the AirPower) allows you to place devices anywhere, the Funxim requires that you place your Apple Watch in a specific place. While this may not be a deal breaker, it does represent a notable difference between the upcoming AirPower from Apple and this third-party solution.

Nevertheless, it would still appear that the Funxim charger can get the job done. The wireless pad doesn’t require any cables or USB interface and purports to be able to charge an iPhone even through its case. So if you don’t want to constantly take your iPhone in and out of is protective skin, you shouldn’t need to do so with this particular wireless charging solution.

Weighing in at just over five ounces, the Funxim packs 10 watts of energy (as compared to Belkin’s wireless charger, which claims 7.5 watts). And while we obviously can’t make any comparisons to the still unveiled AirPower, this may be a decent substitute while we wait for the real thing to make its debut.

If nothing else, the Funxim charger is remarkably affordable, at least for Kickstarter early birds. If you choose to back the campaign, a pledge of $29 will get you one of these wireless induction chargers by January.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple finally embraces wireless charging with new iPhones, AirPower charging mat
• Everything you need to know about charging your iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus
• Charge up your iPhone or Android with the best wireless phone chargers
• Grovemade unveils a beautiful new Wireless Charging Pad
• Mophie vs. Belkin vs. RavPower: Who has the best wireless charging pad?

Don’t be left out in the cold! Plan ahead with the best weather apps for Android

Your local weatherman is always the best person to tell you what the weather’s going to be like, but what happens when you’re on the road, away from home, or can’t get to the TV? That’s where weather apps come in. Apps are a great way to get the latest forecast any time you need it.

There’s a surprising number of capable weather apps on the market, but the truth is, not all weather reports are created equal. There’s quite a bit of variation between mobile offerings, with some reveling in real-time Doppler images and others emphasizing the 10-day forecast, but each touts functionality designed to provide an all-encompassing weather forecast of your local area. After all, even a good meteorologist can only tell you so much.

Our list below looks at six of the best weather apps for Android that won’t leave you out in the rain or the cold, and why they should be the next apps installed on your Android. We’ll also tell you why we think they’re special and rise above the rest. Without further ado, here’s our list.

Did you know that you can check the weather on Facebook? And if you’re checking the weather because you’re traveling, don’t forget to check our picks for the best travel apps and how to book a last minute getaway.

RadarScope ($10 plus $10 a year optional subscription)

This app doesn’t tell you the temperature, nor is it going to give you a forecast. In fact, RadarScope is pretty one-dimensional when it comes to weather apps. It shows you the radar and that’s it, but you cannot get a better radar app from anyone else. At $10 a year, it’s one of the higher priced apps, but it’s worth it.

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, storm chaser, or even somebody that just likes up-to-the-minute weather info, this is your app. Radars refresh every six minutes, and storm warnings are placed on top of the radar images as well. You’ll also have access to other radar products, such as velocity, precipitation estimates, and nearly a dozen other products, none of which are available through your standard weather app.

While it’s an additional expense, we recommend subscribing to RadarScope Pro. You’ll get the capability to add lightning data, dual-pane radar data (to view two radars at once), and loop up to 20 frames (two hours of data). It’s $10 per year, but this app is a must-have for those most affected by storms and rain.

Download now from:

Google Play

National Weather Service

Due to certain long-held policies within the National Weather Service, our government’s top weather agency does not put an emphasis on services that could be seen as competing with the private weather industry. It has, however, started to offer its services through APIs, which can be easily integrated into third-party applications.

National Weather Service is one of them. While not an official app of the NWS, we’d imagine if they did make an app, it would look much like this. Nearly every product the NWS offers can be found in this app, and it’s speedy and easy to navigate. It even alerts you when the NWS issues warnings and advisories for your area.

The app just added NOAA Weather Radar recently to its suite of offerings, so it does just about everything the private weather apps do — so if you regularly check your local NWS forecast, try this app to get it all but straight from the source.

Download now from:

Google Play

The Weather Channel

How could The Weather Channel’s app not make our list? It’s free, comprehensive, and has just about everything you need to keep an eye on the sky. The app will automatically change based on your current location and provides current weather plus hourly weather out two days and forecasts up to fifteen days in advance.

In addition, you can set the app to automatically notify you of severe weather alerts, as well as watch exclusive web content and videos recorded from the Weather Channel’s television broadcasts. If you’re up early — check the app from 6-11 a.m. for “The Lift,” an app-first six-minute weather show detailing the day’s weather nationwide.

Android users get a dynamic home screen option that changes based on time, location, and weather (take that, iPhone users), and allergy sufferers will find the app useful and so will outdoor enthusiasts. The app tells you whether the weather’s right for a variety of outdoor activities, which change based on the seasons. Its weather maps are also fast updating, and while not as good as RadarScope Pro, lightning data is available, too.

Download now from:

Google Play

AccuWeather

AccuWeather gets high marks from us not only for its simplicity but also for its comprehensiveness. The app features something called MinuteCast, which is an attempt by AccuWeather to give you a minute-by-minute rundown of weather conditions up to two hours in advance. Hourly forecasts are available up to three days out, as well as a 15-day daily forecast.

Other features set it apart from the others, though. You’ll get information on allergies, sunrise and sunset information, as well as current weather news and videos. You can also send in your own weather reports and videos. AccuWeather might feature your videos in its news reports.

Overall, we’ve found AccuWeather’s MinuteCast to be a neat and surprisingly accurate feature.

Download now from:

Google Play

The Weather Underground

If you’re a fan of hyperlocal data, then The Weather Underground is it. The service (now owned by The Weather Channel) is the web’s largest repository of online personal weather stations, meaning you’re likely never too far away from a local weather report.

In addition to local weather data, The Weather Underground’s app is pretty data-heavy. Presented in both text and graphical form, you can find data — both current and historical — on temperature, wind speed, daily rainfall, and even data on pollutants and current UV index. Forecasts are provided only ten days in advance, a bit shorter than other apps and its parent The Weather Channel, but like we said, the focus is on data here.

We’re also fans of the webcam section, which gives you a photo look at what’s going on, and “Wunderphotos,” its crowd-sourced photo feature. Snap a photo yourself, and it might be featured in the app for others to see. Data nerds, you need to download this app right away.

Download now from:

Google Play

Weather Radar & Forecast

Sometimes simplicity matters. If you’re not that concerned with all the bells and whistles, Weather Radar & Forecast is a surprisingly good option. The interface is very clean, with the basics you need — current conditions, a five-day forecast, and even radar data.

Weather Radar & Forecast also includes an option to display data on your lock screen, and a widget to place on your desktop if you wish. Other than that, there’s not much — but it’s free and simple, and best for those that find the bigger weather apps a bit too confusing.

Download now from:

Google Play

If you’re on iOS, these are our picks for the best weather apps, and if you decide to go out in bad weather, you can pick one of these windproof umbrellas to help you out.

Update: We’ve gone through all the apps to check for accuracy and added some useful links.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The 20 best news apps that are fast and fluid on your iPhone or Android
• The best Apple Watch apps to download
• Get smart: The 25 best educational apps for iPhone and Android
• Find your fitness with our favorite health and fitness apps for Android
• 15 essential Black Friday apps you need to navigate the maelstrom