For $25, you can create your own voice-controlled origami with Paper Signals

Who says you have to be a tech wizard to create a voice-controlled tool? Certainly not tech giant Google, which is trying to convince us all that we just might be geniuses in our own way with a cute new project called Paper Signals. Somewhere in between origami and computer science, Paper Signals is an open-sourced and extremely affordable way for folks to learn how to build voice-controlled gizmo and gadgets.

To begin your journey as a techie, simply acquire a Paper Signals starter kit, which will set you back just under $25. Included is an Adafruit board, necessary cables, and a micro servo motor that will help mobilize the various parts of your new toys. In addition, you’ll have to supply some basic tools, like an X-acto knife, glue, pencil, and a ruler. Of course, in order to utilize the voice assistant aspect, you’ll also need a Google Assistant compatible device, like a Google Home, or at the very least, your phone.

Paper Signals is part of Google’s Voice Experiments, with the goal to demonstrate “what’s possible when you bring open-ended, natural conversation into games, music, storytelling, and more.” And while you might be a bit skeptical about just how useful a DIY piece of paper technology could really be, some of these Paper Signals seem to have pretty useful applications.

For example, you can create the arrow Paper Signal, which will help you track whether the value of Bitcoin is increasing or decreasing on a given day. Just say, “Track Bitcoin,” and if the arrow points up, it means your investment is appreciating. If the arrow points down … well, don’t panic.

Similarly, there’s a pair of pants that you can make with Paper Signals, which can let you know if it’s hot or cold in New York City. If it’s hot, the pants become shorts. If it’s cold, the opposite occurs.

Sure, none of these gimmicks are the most useful in the world, but they’re an easy and seemingly enjoyable way for folks to begin experimenting with a relatively new (and deceptively accessible) kind of technology. After all, who doesn’t want to be able to say that they built a voice-activated tool over winter break?

Editors’ Recommendations

• From CERN to the ISS, here are 9 big tech projects that changed the world
• Weekly Rewind: Crowdfunding astronauts, flying cars, self-cleaning toilets
• Weekly Rewind: Humanoid robots, the best ski gloves, our take on the iPhone X
• Like wine? Here are five tech gadgets wine drinkers will love
• Weekly Rewind: Amazon’s new product lineup, the Levi’s smart jacket, the Chrome competitor

Apple developers in China made $17 billion in revenue since App Store launch

There may not be a lot of foreign technology allowed behind China’s so-called Great Firewall, but that certainly hasn’t stopped the Apple developers who have managed to make it through government censorship from profiting massively. In his speech on Sunday at a Chinese public cyber policy forum, Apple executive Tim Cook shared that developers on the Apple platform have earned 112 billion yuan, or $16.93 billion in China. That figure is about 25 percent of the total earnings from the App Store (where the total revenue to date is about $70 billion).

There are around 1.8 million developers on the platform in China, and the nation serves as Apple’s third-largest market in terms of sales. That said, Apple is fighting to maintain its ground in the highly competitive tech landscape in the Asian nation, especially as high-end mobile devices from domestic companies prove increasingly comparable (and perhaps more affordable). That said, with the recent release of the iPhone 8 and the iPhone X, Apple may just find its way back to the front of the pack.

While local developers may be faring quite well on Apple’s platform, many foreign and American developers cannot say the same. Apple has come under fire for acquiescing to Chinese government officials’ demands to remove “hundreds of apps,” as Reuters noted. These apps include everything from messaging services to virtual private network (VPN) services, which can be used to get around China’s stringent internet controls.

Most recently, video conferencing and calling service Skype disappeared from the the App Store, as well as from local third-party app stores.

“We have been notified by the Ministry of Public Security that a number of voice over internet protocol apps do not comply with local law. Therefore these apps have been removed from the app store in China,” an Apple spokeswoman told the Times in an emailed statement regarding questions about Skype’s recent vanishing act. “These apps remain available in all other markets where they do business.”

Regardless of whether or not apps are made available in China, it’s clear that Apple is doing what it can to court the country. As Reuters notes, Cook has made several visits to the nation, and as even met with President Xi Jinping. What that means for Apple’s future in China has yet to be determined.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Netflix keeps on growing, bumps budget for original programming to $8 billion
• Apple vs. Qualcomm: Everything you need to know
• Apple sells 47 million iPhones in record-breaking quarter
• Skype becomes victim of Chinese censorship, disappears from App Stores
• Here are all the places that support Apple Pay

Bacteria’s at the core of this 3D-printed living ink that could become your skin

The range of objects emerging from 3D printers these days is already quite expansive, but generally, they share one thing in common — the “ink” used in these printing processes is dead. More accurately, it was never alive. But there’s a new 3D printing application that bucks this trend. It’s a new living ink of sorts, and it depends upon bacteria.

As per research published in the journal Science, a team at ETH Zurich led by Professor André Studart has found developed a “3D printing platform that works using living matter.” The bacteria-laden ink allowed researchers to produce “mini biochemical factories with certain properties, depending on which species of bacteria the scientists put in the ink,” and that could mean 3D printing personalized skin in the future.

Called “Flink,” which is an acronym for “functional living ink,” this new ink is comprised of a hydrogel mixed with bacteria and nutrients needed to feed said bacteria. The challenge in creating the ink was finding the right texture — too stiff and the bacteria can’t move around, lessening their effectiveness at secreting certain useful compounds. On the other hand, if it’s too thin, the printed products wouldn’t be able to maintain their shapes. Ultimately, the team noted, “The ink must be as viscous as toothpaste and have the consistency of Nivea hand cream.”

The bacteria used in the experiment were Pseudomonas putida, which breaks down toxic chemicals, and Acetobacter xylinumin, which secretes nanocellulose, which can relieve pain and retain moisture. That means it could be a useful tool in treating burns. Depending on the kinds of bacteria used in the ink, ETH researchers found that they could print objects that boasted different properties.

For example, we could one day print a “bacteria-containing 3D-printed sensor that could detect toxins in drinking water,” or a bacteria-containing filter that could help clean up oil spills. That said, it’ll still take some time to address the challenges associated with 3D printing as a whole. This includes how long it takes for printing to take place, and consequently, how difficult these solutions are to scale.

“Printing using bacteria-containing hydrogels has enormous potential, as there is such a wide range of useful bacteria out there,” the ETH team noted in a release. “Most people only associate bacteria with diseases, but we actually couldn’t survive without bacteria.” Look out world — you could soon be printing with bacteria all the livelong day.

Editors’ Recommendations

• New 3D-printing technique uses UV light to print working electronic circuits
• CryptoKitties lets you buy, sell, breed virtual cats using real digital currency
• Touchscreen technology could help fight spread of bacteria in hospitals
• Kevlar finds a use beyond bulletproof vests — as a cartilage replacement
• Amazing (and slightly creepy) robotic mask changes in response to your emotions

Samsung envisions phones that read your palm

There’s a good possibility that you’ve forgotten a password and had to get hints or recover it. But the process for that isn’t very trustworthy. Intruders can guess security questions, for one thing. Samsung might soon have a subtler way of helping you remember your password, though: it would give you a palm reading. A recently published patent application shows that Samsung has been exploring a system that would scan the unique lines on your palm and use them to display hints in the form of incomplete characters. You’d get a nudge in the right direction, but nothing so obvious that a thief could guess it (even if they could use your hand).

This could theoretically extend to signing you in, although Samsung would likely want to implement depth sensing or a similar technology to prevent evildoers from cheating with photos.

There’s no certainty that you’ll ever see this in the Galaxy S9 or any future Samsung phone. It’s just a patent filing, and that won’t necessarily translate to a finished product. It’s a simple-enough concept, though, and it could be extremely helpful if you’re struggling to get into an online store or are worried that you’ve locked yourself out of your phone.

Via: CNET

Source: WIPO (PDF)

CVS buys health insurer Aetna to counter Amazon

Amazon is considering diving into the pharmacy business, and that’s making incumbents nervous… so nervous, in fact, that it just sparked one of the larger acquisitions in recent memory. CVS Health is acquiring the insurance giant Aetna for the equivalent of $69 billion in a bid to create a highly integrated health care provider. You could get care right from your nearby CVS locations, and you’d have a one-stop shop for health that (theoretically) lowers costs, albeit by giving up choice. If regulators don’t object to the deal, it should close in the second half of 2018.

Neither CVS nor Aetna has explicitly mentioned Amazon. However, it’s no secret that Amazon looms large over the proposed merger. The New York Times reports that CVS and Aetna met “several times” for talks with Amazon’s potential competition in mind. Also, CVS is in a prime position to change its strategy. It makes the most money from its pharmacy benefits business (which serves companies and insurers), not its stores, so it could continue to thrive even if Amazon swoops in and destroys its retail sales.

Aetna isn’t under the gun in the same way. It was recently blocked from buying a key competitor, Humana, and has been looking for a way to expand without invoking the wrath of antitrust regulators. CVS makes sense in that regard — the two firms operate in related areas, but they wouldn’t be shrinking the markets for health insurance or pharmacies. There is a concern that they might hurt choices for Medicare, since both are key to offering prescriptions to Medicare recipients.

If the buyout does move forward, it could create an uphill battle for Amazon. It’s not about to enter the insurance space, so it might miss out on sales if Aetna customers don’t even have the option of purchasing some medications beyond CVS. Not every other pharmacy can afford to snap up an insurer, though, so Amazon could easily claim a sizable chunk of the market.

Via: New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Gizmodo

Source: CVS Health

Happy birthday, SMS! The text message turns 25

Today is a special day. It marks the birth of one the most popular forms of mobile communication: the SMS text message. On December 3rd, 1992, the world’s first text message was sent. Fittingly, given the time of year, it read, “Merry Christmas,” TechSpot reports.

The first text message was sent by Neil Papworth over the Vodafone GSM network. At the time, mobile phones weren’t capable of sending texts, so Papworth typed the message on a computer and sent it to an Orbitel 901.

Text messages took awhile to catch on, due to U.S. carriers charging higher rates for texts and the popularity of IM services, such as the soon-to-be-defunct AIM. By 2012 however, mobile users in the U.K. were sending 151 billion texts a year. In recent years, that number has fallen. As of 2017, users in the U.K. only sent 66 billion text messages.

Elizabeth Bruton, of the Science Museum in London, told Sky News that she believes text messaging served as one of the precursors to smartphones because it expanded the possibility of what mobile phones could be used for. Prior to the advent of texting, cell phones were only mobile phones, but texting offered a glimpse of what cell phones would one day become.

“For the very first time we have mobile telephones that were more than just literal mobile telephones, moving beyond voice communications to a new application of the mobile spectrum — to sending, literally, text messages,” Bruton said. “And we can see that continuation through to today when we have hundreds of thousands of applications on our smartphone. So SMS can be considered the first step towards the modern smartphone.”

Texting did more than just influence the rise of smartphones — we can also see the system’s influence in Twitter’s decision to limit tweets to 140 characters though the platform recently doubled that number.

Today, texting is on the decline as the humble SMS has been superseded by apps such as Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and iMessage. But texting remains popular due to how easy it is to use. You don’t need Wi-Fi or a data connection to send a text. You just need cell service and a few characters.

Editors’ Recommendations

• SMS to PC and back again: Here’s how to send a text message from a computer
• Chat in the air: Delta rolls out free in-flight messaging
• How to block text messages on iOS and Android
• Some Samsung Galaxy S8, S8 Plus owners are randomly missing text messages
• Don’t lose your texts! Here’s how to save text messages in Android and iOS

The entertainment industry already has big plans for self-driving cars

Just think about how relaxing your commute would be in a world of self-driving cars. You hop into your vehicle, tell the computer your destination, and settle in for a peaceful ride to work. Perhaps you can even take a nap, right?

Not if the entertainment industry has anything to say about it. You’re a captive audience the whole journey, so what better time to bombard you with even more “immersive entertainment experiences”? Companies have seen the future, and they’re already making plans to monetize it.

Intel and Warner Bros. recently announced a partnership to do just that. Referring to the autonomous vehicle (AV) as a new type of “consumer space,” Intel’s CEO writes that “the rise of the AV industry will create one of the greatest expansions of consumer time available for entertainment we’ve seen in a long time.”

With the average American spending more than 300 hours per year behind the wheel, entertainment execs hope that time can now be spent consuming content rather than driving. The Hollywood Reporter notes that some analysts predict that in-car streaming entertainment could result in as much as $200 billion per year in extra revenue. “Can the windshield be the movie screen of tomorrow?” asked Ted Schilowitz of Paramount Pictures.

Some of the possibilities involve in-cabin virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) experiences. “For example, a fan of the superhero Batman could enjoy riding in the Batmobile through the streets of Gotham City, while AR capabilities render the car a literal lens to the outside world, enabling passengers to view advertising and other discovery experiences,” writes Krzanich.

The broadcast industry’s next-gen standard is known as ATSC 3.0, and it combines internet capability, over-the-air signals, and Ultra HD 4K resolution. “Broadcasters are interested in conversations with automakers,” said spokesman Dave Arland. “ATSC 3.0 is a very big [content] pipe into the car.”

Although this technology is still a few years away, advertisers are already ahead of the curve. “We could deliver interactive, geolocated advertising based on nearby shops, restaurants and businesses,” said a rep from the National Association of Broadcasters.

Ad Week envisions a scenario where the data collected by a driverless vehicle could be used for specific, targeted advertising: “If passenger biometric data recognizes that the passenger is generally too hungry to wait, he or she could be served with ads and offers for nearby restaurants.”

It seems like the peaceful oasis inside your car is about to get a lot more … crowded. “The telcos, content providers, game developers and e-commerce companies will be transacting business within the car,” said Danny Shapiro of NVIDIA. “We’ll also see new types of interfaces — we can even turn the whole interior of the car into a holodeck.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Cracking the code: How to choose the best resolution for your TV
• Motorcycle buying guide: What to know before buying your first bike
• Here is everything you need to know about adaptive cruise control
• 2018 Audi R8 V10 Spyder review
• Don’t be left out in the cold! Plan ahead with the best weather apps for Android

Samsung clarifies that there is no ‘Microsoft Edition’ Galaxy S8

Shortly after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, there was some interesting news regarding a possible “Microsoft Edition” of the phones. It turned out that the announcement was little more than a promotional campaign to get people to buy the phones from Microsoft stores. Basically, those who bought the phone from Microsoft stores got access to some of Microsoft’s productivity software once the phones are connected to a Wi-Fi network.

“A Microsoft customization is applied to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ Microsoft Edition when the devices are unboxed and connected to Wi-Fi,” a spokesperson said at the time of the phone’s launch. “This customization ensures customers a best-in-class productivity experience with Microsoft applications such as Office, OneDrive, Cortana, Outlook and more.”

Given that plenty of people enjoy Microsoft’s various productivity software, there was nothing really wrong with this move. The phones bought from Microsoft were identical to those bought anywhere else and Microsoft’s software could be uninstalled if it wasn’t wanted.

The amusing bit of news comes half a year later courtesy of Windows Central’s Al Sacco. He reports that he was recently contacted by Samsung regarding his original story on the Microsoft-branded S8. Samsung, apparently late to the game, has decided that it wishes to clarify that there are no “Microsoft Edition” S8s.

“Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note8 devices are available in the Microsoft online and retail stores with a unique Microsoft experience which ensures their customers, particularly small-to-midsize business owners and entrepreneurs, a best-in-class productivity experience,” a Samsung representative told Windows Central. “There is not a ‘Microsoft Edition’ brand of any Samsung Galaxy products.”

We’re not really sure what Samsung was hoping to accomplish with this late announcement. If the company was concerned about potential brand confusion, then it would have made more sense to make this announcement near the device’s launch. At this point, it’s too late really do anything and serves to confuse the issue more than anything else. Most people have likely forgotten that the “Microsoft Edition” S8s were once a topic of discussion until Samsung made this announcement.

Editors’ Recommendations

• BlackBerry KeyOne review
• Google Daydream View 2 vs. Oculus Go — which will be the better VR experience?
• Acer Predator Helios 300 review
• Battle for the Android throne: Can the Google Pixel 2 best Samsung’s Galaxy S8?
• Moto X4 vs. Moto Z2 Force: Which Moto reigns supreme?

Samsung clarifies that there is no ‘Microsoft Edition’ Galaxy S8

Shortly after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+, there was some interesting news regarding a possible “Microsoft Edition” of the phones. It turned out that the announcement was little more than a promotional campaign to get people to buy the phones from Microsoft stores. Basically, those who bought the phone from Microsoft stores got access to some of Microsoft’s productivity software once the phones are connected to a Wi-Fi network.

“A Microsoft customization is applied to the Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ Microsoft Edition when the devices are unboxed and connected to Wi-Fi,” a spokesperson said at the time of the phone’s launch. “This customization ensures customers a best-in-class productivity experience with Microsoft applications such as Office, OneDrive, Cortana, Outlook and more.”

Given that plenty of people enjoy Microsoft’s various productivity software, there was nothing really wrong with this move. The phones bought from Microsoft were identical to those bought anywhere else and Microsoft’s software could be uninstalled if it wasn’t wanted.

The amusing bit of news comes half a year later courtesy of Windows Central’s Al Sacco. He reports that he was recently contacted by Samsung regarding his original story on the Microsoft-branded S8. Samsung, apparently late to the game, has decided that it wishes to clarify that there are no “Microsoft Edition” S8s.

“Samsung Galaxy S8, Galaxy S8+, and Galaxy Note8 devices are available in the Microsoft online and retail stores with a unique Microsoft experience which ensures their customers, particularly small-to-midsize business owners and entrepreneurs, a best-in-class productivity experience,” a Samsung representative told Windows Central. “There is not a ‘Microsoft Edition’ brand of any Samsung Galaxy products.”

We’re not really sure what Samsung was hoping to accomplish with this late announcement. If the company was concerned about potential brand confusion, then it would have made more sense to make this announcement near the device’s launch. At this point, it’s too late really do anything and serves to confuse the issue more than anything else. Most people have likely forgotten that the “Microsoft Edition” S8s were once a topic of discussion until Samsung made this announcement.

Editors’ Recommendations

• BlackBerry KeyOne review
• Google Daydream View 2 vs. Oculus Go — which will be the better VR experience?
• Acer Predator Helios 300 review
• Battle for the Android throne: Can the Google Pixel 2 best Samsung’s Galaxy S8?
• Moto X4 vs. Moto Z2 Force: Which Moto reigns supreme?

This $23 Anker Classic Bluetooth speaker packs a powerful punch

Portable sound for anywhere you go!

The Anker Classic portable Bluetooth speaker is down to $22.99 on Amazon when you clip the $5 off on-page coupon. That’s the lowest direct price drop on this speaker ever. It has been selling around $28 for the last few months, but even that is a drop from a previous $35 selling price.

Android Central reviewed this speaker, so you should check that out for an in-depth breakdown of everything this little guy is capable of.

Features include:

• Experience your tunes in high definition and surprising fullness realized through a 4W / 2in driver and bass port – outclassing other similar-sized portable speakers.
• Unrivaled 15 to 20-hour playtime powered by a built-in rechargeable 2100mAh Li-ion battery.
• Automatically connect to the last-connected device when turned on enables one-step music streaming. Compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled devices (2.1 and over). 3.5mm audio port for non-Bluetooth devices.
• Outstanding connection range of up to 33 feet. Built-in microphone with a 2-feet pickup range allows the speaker to double as a speaker phone.

The Classic has 4.4 stars based on more than 6,200 user reviews. All Anker products come with an 18-month warranty.

This is a great price on a powerful little speaker, but Anker does have a huge selection of speakers to choose from. You could upgrade to the Anker SoundCore 2 for just $10 more.

See on Amazon