You can now hail Uber rides for friends who don’t have accounts

If you use Uber often enough, you’ve probably had those moments where you wanted to hail a ride for someone else, such as a friend heading home from the bar. It isn’t always easy to arrange a guest trip, however, which is why Uber has just introduced a feature that lets you order a ride on someone else’s behalf, whether or not they have an account. You just have to specify the traveler’s name, phone number and location — you don’t have to serve as a proxy, and the passenger doesn’t need a smartphone app. This could be particularly helpful if you’re hailing a ride for someone who may only have a basic cellphone.

And if your would-be passengers do use Uber? You can help them, too. Uber now lets you gift credit in-app. You no longer have to buy a physical gift card. While there probably aren’t many people eagerly anticipating Uber credit for the holidays, this could be helpful if you owe a ride to a friend.

The company is making the pickup process easier at the same time. You now have a live location sharing feature (thankfully optional) that can tell your driver exactly where you are, which could help you avoid a cancellation if your street address and physical location don’t quite line up. Also, the drivers themselves will be more conspicuous: Uber’s color-coded Beacons are expanding to Chicago, New York City and San Francisco, making it easier to spot your car.

The upgrades should be available starting today.

Via: Mashable

Source: Mashable, Uber Newsroom

Apple Reportedly Working Towards Mass Production of Thinner and Brighter Micro-LED Displays

Apple is collaborating with its Taiwanese supplier TSMC to solve manufacturing issues preventing volume production of micro-LED display panels, according to DigiTimes.

Apple is reportedly collaborating with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) to develop applications based on silicon-based backplanes (silicon wafers) aiming to sidestep the bottleneck that entails with the mass transfer of LED chips, indicated the sources.

Once micro-LED displays can be mass produced both reliably and affordably, the panels could be used in future Apple devices. Apple’s use of micro-LED would likely begin in 2019 at the earliest, possibly starting with the Apple Watch, should it choose to proceed with the technology after trial production.

In the meantime, the report claims Apple has downsized its micro-LED research and development team at its laboratory in northern Taiwan.

The downsizing doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple has delayed or given up development of the next-generation display technology. In addition to its work with TSMC, it’s possible that Apple has shifted the bulk of its micro-LED research back to its headquarters in the United States.

Apple’s interest in micro-LED was first reported in late 2015, when it was discovered that the iPhone maker opened a secretive laboratory in Taoyuan, Taiwan to research display technologies like OLED and micro-LED for future devices. OLED is currently used in the Apple Watch and iPhone X.

Apple acquired micro-LED display maker LuxVue Technology in 2014, and some of its employees may be part of Apple’s micro-LED research team, in addition to former employees of AU Optronics and Qualcomm subsidiary SolLink.

Micro-LED displays have many of the same advantages as OLED displays have over LCDs, including improved color accuracy, improved contrast ratio, faster response times, and true blacks given both have self-lit pixels, but they can be even thinner, much brighter, and more energy efficient than OLED.

Micro-LED displays also have inorganic gallium nitride-based LEDs, which have a longer lifespan than the organic compound used in OLED displays.

Tags: digitimes.com, Micro-LED
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Spotify Launches Holiday Sale: New Users Can Get Three Months of Premium for $0.99

Spotify today launched its holiday discounts, giving new users three months of Spotify Premium for $0.99, after which they’ll need to pay the traditional $9.99/month subscription cost or cancel their account beforehand. The sale is similar to discounts launched in years past, with Spotify encouraging new users to sign up to the music streaming service over the holidays.

This year, there’s an additional deal for those who have signed up for Spotify Premium, but then left the service at one point in the past. Specifically, if you didn’t have an active Spotify Premium account as of October 21, 2017 — meaning you canceled your account before that date — you can return to Spotify and get three months of the service for $9.99. Unfortunately, there isn’t a deal for paid subscribers who have stayed with Spotify.

Three months of Spotify Premium that gives you access to millions of songs on demand, ad free, and high quality audio, for less than a dollar? That is what music fans can expect this season as Spotify announces two of its biggest deals of the year. Whether you are curating a list of your favorite holiday-themed tracks or compiling a playlist of the hottest songs of the year for an upcoming Holiday party, these offers will undoubtedly warm up your mood this season.

– First-time Spotify Premium users can receive three months for just $0.99 if they have not previously provided credit card information or used a 30-day trial.
– Spotify Premium users that did not have an active account as of October 21, 2017 can receive three months for the price of one: $9.99.

If you’re interested you can sign up for Spotify Premium on the company’s website, and you have until December 31, 2017 to take advantage of the offers. For new users, Spotify said it will check to see that you have not previously provided credit card information or used a 30-day trial of Spotify Premium in order to grant the three month price at $0.99.

For more of the latest sales going on this week, be sure to check out our Deals Roundup and Black Friday Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple DealsTag: Spotify
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Apple Maps Lane Guidance Expanding to Five More Countries

Apple Maps now offers lane guidance in five additional countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Apple Maps lane guidance on CarPlay in UK (Photo: Drew Post via Twitter)
While navigating with Apple Maps via iPhone or CarPlay in those countries, a set of directional arrows will now appear at the top of the screen that indicate which lane your vehicle should be in to exit a freeway or complete a turn.

Apple Maps lane guidance has been available in the United States and China since iOS 11. The feature began rolling out in additional regions alongside the iOS 11.2 beta, and the countries are now reflected on Apple’s iOS feature availability page.

Apple Maps still shows speed limits in the United States and United Kingdom only.

(Thanks, David!)

Tag: Apple Maps
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‘Valkyria Chronicles’ sequel will go back to its strategy roots

Sega is finally making a proper sequel to Valkyria Chronicles. The original, which came out in 2008, was a refreshing blend of top-down strategy and third-person warfare. You led rookie officer Welkin Gunther and his makeshift squad through a fantasy-infused version of World War II. The tactical combat and watercolor artwork made it a cult hit, however Sega (until now, anyway) didn’t seem interested in a console follow-up. Instead, the publisher released two sequels for the PlayStation Portable and a panned spin-off, Valkyria Revolution, for the PS4 and Vita earlier this year.

Enter Valkyria Chronicles 4. As Kotaku reports, the game will revive the strategy formula of the PS3 classic. You’ll take control of Commander Claude Wallace and a new group of soldiers as they battle through an icy nation. It’s set during the events of the first Valkyria Chronicles, so the vehicles, weapons and solider types should be fairly similar. The frozen setting, however, will provide new challenges for players who have mastered the original’s woodland and desert-themed skirmishes. Intrigued? It’s out next March on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in Japan; an international release will presumably follow shortly after.

Via: Kotaku

Source: Valkyria Project

Rare metals could make hydrogen-powered cars more efficient

Despite being much faster to fuel up than EVs, hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars have largely failed to make an impact. There are various reasons for that like the crazy expensive infrastructure and hydrogen’s explosiveness, but the main one is that from well to wheels, hydrogen cars are much less efficient than EVs. Now, researchers from Spain and Norway have unveiled a new method to convert methane to hydrogen with almost no loss of energy, perhaps making the vehicles (slightly) more feasible.

The system builds on a hydrogen production process called steam reforming. During the process used today, 700 to 1,000 degree Celcius steam reacts with methane (natural gas) under high pressure in the presence of a catalyst like nickel or platinum, producing H2, water and CO2. The problem is that only 65-75 percent of the methane’s energy is captured as hydrogen and the process still releases significant amounts of CO2 — about half of what your car produces when burning gasoline.

By adding a ceramic membrane to that process, the researchers were able to generate hydrogen from natural gas in one step “with near zero energy loss,” they said. The membrane is made from barium, zirconia, yttrium and other rare elements, and the trick is to apply an electrical voltage difference across its surface. When you do that, the steam and methane mix will transit to the other side as protons, creating ionized hydrogen.

The end result is concentrated, impurity-free hydrogen that’s already compressed electrochemically at up to 50 bar (750 psi). With not much more treatment, it’s then ready to be used in a fuel-cell vehicle or for industrial purposes. The team didn’t mention how pollutive the process would be, but if less methane is required to make the same amount of hydrogen, it should produce less CO2. The system retains about 88 percent of the methane’s energy, so “zero energy loss” is actually about a 12 percent loss.

They also note that the process scales down well, meaning you could produce hydrogen from your own natural gas lines using a small generator. That would let you refuel a hydrogen car at home, much as you can with an EV, reducing the need for complex H2 fueling infrastructure.

CoorsTek says that the well-to-wheel efficiency is 41 percent, and uses a spiffy infographic to show that’s better than hybrids, gas cars and even EVs. That assumes, however, that your electricity is produced in a relatively inefficient way. It also notes that CO2 emissions for a car powered by the hydrogen would be a third less than an internal combustion engine and even slightly lower than an EV. That’s not the case in nations that are powered mostly by renewable and nuclear energy, where the overall pollution from EVs would be much lower than any other vehicle.

Hyperbole aside, the development could still have tremendous value. CoorsTek notes that hydrogen use for transportation is a pittance compared to the hundreds of tons used by fertilizer manufacturers and other industries. Any improvement in reforming, then, could substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, on a larger scale, it would be feasible to capture and store the CO2 underground, as it’s completely separated from the hydrogen.

On the other hand, there’s a reason that oil companies support hydrogen cars and not EVs. Hydrogen fuel cells still consume a substantial amount of fossil fuels because of methane reforming, and at this point, the planet can’t absorb a lot more greenhouse gases.

Via: Green Optimist

Source: CoorsTek

World’s largest aircraft gets smaller after tearing itself apart in a field

The world’s largest aircraft suffered more problems over the weekend when it slipped free from its mooring mast before automatically tearing apart and coming to rest in a crumpled heap in a field. Two people sustained minor injuries as a result of the incident.

It’s the second disaster to hit the enormous Airlander 10 — also known as “the Flying Bum” for its butt-shaped leading end — in the space of 15 months.

The 92-meter-long (302 feet) flying machine came loose from its mooring at an airfield in Bedfordshire, about 40 miles north of London, England, on Saturday morning. Shortly after coming free, a safety mechanism automatically ripped open the hull to rapidly deflate the aircraft, causing it to collapse and return quickly to terra firma, the company said.

The Airlander’s manufacturer, Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV), confirmed in a message on Facebook that the aircraft was not in use when the incident took place, adding that it’s now trying to determine what exactly went wrong.

The Airlander on a good day.

HAV

Lifted by helium and powered by four turbocharged diesel engines for a top speed of 90 mph, the the part-airplane, part-airship is capable of reaching heights of 4,900 meters (16,000 feet) and can stay airborne for as long as two weeks. At least, that’s when everything goes to plan. On Saturday, November 18, something went seriously wrong.

“The aircraft is now deflated and secure on the edge of the airfield,” HAV confirmed, adding that the fuel and helium inside the Airlander “have been made safe.”

It said that one person was injured during the incident, while another needed hospital treatment after an accident while dealing with the aftermath.

“We are testing a brand new type of aircraft and incidents of this nature can occur during this phase of development,” HAV said. “We will assess the cause of the incident and the extent of repairs needed to the aircraft in the next few weeks.”

The Airlander is capable of carrying cargo of up to 10 tons, though design modifications could see that increase to 50 tons. And with its ability to land on not only solid ground, but also water, desert, and ice, the Airlander could fulfill a range of roles — including research, surveillance, cargo transportation, and passenger trips — pretty much anywhere on the planet.

The day before Saturday’s accident, the Airlander completed its sixth test flight since August 2016.

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Think your iPhone 6 is past it? Couple kept the same tumble drier for 55 years

Any piece of technology we own today, from smartphones to televisions to cars, often gets replaced much earlier in its life than it needs to be. Provided it still works, and is well-treated, most of our tech will last longer than we give it credit for, but still we tend to replace it within a matter of a few years. Not so for for Sydney and Rachel Saunders, who live in Exeter, United Kingdom, They purchased a tumble drier in 1962, have used it weekly ever since, and it still operates today.

DevonLive

That’s at least 2,860 spins for the Burco-branded tumble drier, which was produced in a very different time, making its service record impressive. The pensioners hit the local news in the U.K. with not only their working order, 55-year-old tumble drier, but also a collection of other household products that have really stood the test of time. Joining the drier is a Servis washing machine and a Baby Belling cooker, both purchased in 1956, when the couple first got married. Also in the collection are a pair of electric irons, and a water boiler. The tumble drier has been used right up until this year, but the washing machine and cooker had been retired years ago.

Fascinatingly, they recall the prices paid for these items. The Baby Belling cooker cost 19 British pounds, or about $25 at today’s conversion rate, and the washing machine was expensive for its day at 60 British pounds, or nearly $80 today. The old Servis washing machine’s history can be traced on Servis’s website. The model, called a Superheat, boiled the water inside the vertical tub, automatically emptied the water when it finished, and had an electric wringer mounted on top. This YouTube video shows a similar model in action. Mind your fingers!

The couple have kept the machines all this time in case their newer models ever broke down, but have now decided it’s time they went to another home. “It would be an awful shame to throw them away,” 81-year-old Rachel told the BBC, and while they don’t want money for the items, they hope a museum or collector would come forward. We thing they’ll be sought after, as online fan communities for such appliances exist, and vintage household electrical goods are often sold on eBay today.

We often think nothing of replacing our smartphone after two years, or a television after five years, and would likely marvel at seeing someone using an original iPhone 3G on the street today. Finding it hard to put all this into context? How about this: Using Mr. and Mrs. Saunders’ Burco tumble drier today is essentially the same as you still using your iPhone X or Galaxy S8 in the year 2072.

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Best iOS app deals of the day! 6 paid iPhone apps for free for a limited time

Everyone likes Apple apps, but sometimes the best ones are a bit expensive. Now and then, developers put paid apps on sale for free for a limited time, but you have to snatch them up while you have the chance. Here are the latest and greatest iOS app deals available from the iOS App Store.

These apps normally cost money and this sale lasts for a limited time only. If you go to the App Store and it says the app costs money, that means the deal has expired and you will be charged. 

Evermusic Pro

Free up disk space on your iPhone and stream your music directly from the cloud or home computer. Evermusic is smart and powerful cloud music player and downloader for Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, MEGA, and more.

Available on:

iOS

Cool Weather

An uplifting quote or inspirational story can completely brighten up your day. Cool Weather delivers your weather fast and with a smile.

Available on:

iOS

My Personal Trainer

Get tips and tricks for keeping your life well balanced in areas of cardio and strength training exercises. You can create goals and plans for self-esteem, service, meditation, and other areas of your life.

Available on:

iOS

Just Watch

You use Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, and Amazon Prime Video as often as anything, so why not get an app that allows you to take all these streaming services on the go with you?

Available on:

iOS

Quicky Sticky Notes

Create a sticky note reminder for your Notification Center with one tap. No images or settings required. This way, you’ll remember things more easily than ever.

Available on:

iOS

Best Greeting Cards Maker

Create unlimited ecards for any occasion with just one single app. Whether you need to send one for the holidays, a birthday, or just because, this app can help.

Available on:

iOS

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Xiaomi to invest heavily in India, new ‘i’ device launching shortly

Xiaomi is ramping up its efforts in India.

Xiaomi has launched seven devices in India this year, but it looks like the company isn’t done yet. In a recent tweet, Xiaomi India head Manu Kumar Jain hinted at a new device that’s set to make its way to the country soon. No details were provided, but the stylized “i” with the Indian tricolor dots above the letter suggest the device will be tailored to the Indian market.

“i” is coming soon!Any guesses what is this? 🤔 @XiaomiIndia pic.twitter.com/rfmXuA8dfq

— Manu Kumar Jain (@manukumarjain) November 18, 2017

Meanwhile, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said in an interview that the company will be ramping up its product portfolio in the country. Xiaomi sells over 200 items in China, ranging from rice cookers to screwdrivers, but it currently has just over 20 products for sale in India. That’s set to change over the coming months:

We will definitely bring more interesting and high quality products into the Indian market. For example, this pen (shows a pen) costs two US dollars and it is a very smooth writing.

Another example is screw drivers… very exquisite. In China, we sell it for 100 RMB. Other competitor products are 10 times worse in quality but three times more expensive. This is the most favoured screw drivers by engineers made by Xiaomi.

Jun also talked about tailoring Xiaomi products for local conditions, which is why the company is setting up an R&D facility in Bengaluru in the future:

We need to first understand the user’s needs and likings. Even we would require some team members to move over to India to build India-specific products… may be we build products that we won’t sell in China.

That way Indian fans will love us more… We will also set up an R&D centre in Bangalore in future. We will hire more local engineers just to design India products. Next year, you will see India-specific products.