Mod gives Google’s Home Mini speaker its ‘missing’ line-out jack

For many, Google’s Home Mini speaker has one key disadvantage over Amazon’s Echo Dot: there’s no line-out jack. If you want more powerful sound without buying a higher-priced model, you have to stream to a Chromecast-equipped speaker system. However, that didn’t deter SnekTek — the site has added an aux audio port to the Mini through a clever homebrew mod. To say this required some delicate surgery would be an understatement, mind you. The procedure involved boiling the adhesive off the bottom, finding the one space where a headphone port would fit, and carving out a hole. As with the iPhone 7 headphone mod, the product clearly wasn’t designed for this — there won’t be any doubt that you voided your warranty once you’re done.

This doesn’t disable the Mini’s built-in sound, but it otherwise works: Google’s puck is suddenly much better-suited to kicking out the jams. And it’s not an expensive mod, either, as the biggest costs are the port itself, some wiring work and epoxy. The main catch, of course, is the effort. If the thought of tearing open your speaker triggers a mild panic, you’re probably better off springing for a Chromecast Audio adapter and setting your mind at ease.

Via: Android Police

Source: SnekTek (YouTube)

Google Maps may tell you when to get off the train or bus

Have you ever been to a strange city, either as a tourist or new resident, and gotten lost? Don’t lie, now. No matter how good a navigator you are, it can be difficult to keep track of your bus or train stop amidst the transfers, noise, and general confusion you feel when trying find your way around a new place. Thankfully, Google may soon have a solution for this particular problem.

Tech Crunch reports that Google is working on an update for Google Maps that will tell you when its time to get off the bus or train. The idea is that the app will give you real-time updates as you travel, so you won’t have to keep track of which stop you need. The app will simply tell you when you’ve arrived at your destination.

Like all of Google’s apps, the user interface remains as user-friendly as ever. Simply open Google Maps, select your destination, your preferred method of transport, and Google will do the rest. The app will give you real-time updates while you’re walking or riding. The best part is you don’t even have to keep Maps open to do it. The app will send notifications to your phone’s lock screen so you know when your stop is coming up.

In short, it appears that Google is trying to make its public transit directions as convenient as the ones it has for driving or walking, which have turn-by-turn navigation. In the current version of the app, those who rely on public transit directions could still use Google Maps, but they generally have to keep the app open and track themselves along the route. This is fine for people who know the area well, but for newcomers, it can be a bit of a hassle.

There is no word on when this update is expected to go live, but Tech Crunch did say that Google may already be rolling out test updates for it.

Still feeling a bit lost? Check out our guide to Google Maps tips and tricks to help make your next adventure a bit easier.

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Mantis shrimp are the inspiration for this new polarized light camera

You may have 20/20 vision, but alas, your eyes are no match for those of the mantis shrimp. And now, this unique sea creature has inspired researchers at the University of Illinois to create an ultra-sensitive camera said to be “capable of sensing both color and polarization.” So what does this mean for us humans? Thanks to Mother Nature’s inspiration, we may now have a camera that can improve early cancer detection and potentially help us better understand underwater phenomena.

“The animal kingdom is full of creatures with much more sensitive and sophisticated eyes than our own,” said Viktor Gruev, a University of Illinois professor of electrical and computer engineering and co-author of the new study. “These animals perceive natural phenomena that are invisible to humans.”

Perhaps one of the best known examples of this is the mantis shrimp, whose eyes have 16 types of color receptors (compared to humans who have but three). But more importantly are the mantis shrimp’s six polarization channels. Polarization of light, Gruey explained, is “the direction of oscillation of light as it propagates in space … While most of us are familiar with polarized sunglasses, which simply remove glare, many animals use polarized vision as a covert communication channel, to find food, or even to navigate by sensing polarization patterns in the sky.”

The mantis shrimp’s combination of color receptors and polarization channels are said to “capture more visual information, using less power and space, than today’s most sophisticated, state-of-the-art cameras,” Gruey continued.

So of course, we’re now trying to leverage this naturally occurring phenomena to our benefit.

The researchers discovered that the mantis shrimp eye stacks light-sensitive elements on top of one another, which helps the shrimp absorb lights at shorter wavelengths in the shallow photoreceptors, and lights at longer wavelengths in the deeper receptors. These photoreceptors are said to be organized “in a periodic fashion at the nanoscale that allows them to also ‘see’ the polarized properties of light.”

By combining silicon photodetectors and other nanomaterials in this way, the research team was able to create a point-and-shoot color-polarization camera that could have the capacity to do everything from detect cancer to monitor changes in the environment.

“By mimicking the mantis shrimp visual system, we have created a unique camera that can be used to improve the quality of our lives,” Gruev said. “The notion that we can detect early formation of cancer is what is driving this research forward. The cost of this technology is less than $100, which will enable quality health care in resource-limited places around the world.”

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Britain’s mad scientist built a life-size TIE Silencer from ‘The Last Jedi’

Colin Furze is a certifiably insane inventor with millions of subscribers to his YouTube channel, where he posts videos that embrace the very definition of “don’t try this at home.” In the past, he’s built a fully operational thermite cannon, a microwave that becomes a video game console, and even a home-built hoverbike that he piloted around the countryside. He was even featured on Top Gear, when he modified an amusement park bumper car to set a speed record.

For his newest project, he wanted to do something really big. But what’s a guy to do when he already has a life-size AT-ACT Walker in his back yard? After his last project, eBay challenged him to create a life-sized replica of a TIE Silencer fighter from the latest Star Wars film The Last Jedi.

The blueprints for something like that can’t be found just laying around, so Furze did the next best thing. “We were sent a TIE silencer toy via eBay,” Furze explained to Empire Online. “We measured this toy, and just scaled everything up.”

When completed, the massive replica was 46 feet long and 14 feet high. After it was built, the team moved it to the front lawn of a historical landmark, the Burghley House in Stamford, for the public to enjoy.

They got everything they needed for the project from eBay, apart from the steel frame. It took a team of up to five people about six weeks to build. Furze doesn’t have any special qualifications for what he does, he just has an avid interest in gadgets and construction. “In theory, I still am a plumber,” Furze told Empire Online in an interview from the build site. “Because it’s the only thing I’ve got qualifications for.”

Joining him on the project was James Bruton, a robot engineer, who created an authentic replica of the BB-8 droid. Using only parts from eBay, Burton created the droid using 3D-printed parts, balancing weights, and an internal magnet.

With more Star Wars films on the way, what’s next for Furze? “It’d have to be pretty big,” he said. “They’ve just announced three more films, right? That’s three more potential projects!”

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‘Street Fighter’ anthology brings online play to classic brawlers

The original Street Fighter turned 30 this year, and Capcom is marking it in style… if a little late. It’s releasing a Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection in May 2018 that not only bundles many of the pre-3D titles (ranging from the first game through III 3rd Strike), but adds online multiplayer. Fire up II, II Turbo, Alpha 3 or III 3rd Strike and you won’t have to gather rivals in the same room to show off your Ryu or Sakura skills.

This isn’t the most comprehensive collection. What, no Street Fighter: The Movie? However, you might not mind so much given the broad platform support. The 30th Anniversary release will be available on the PS4, Switch, Windows PCs and the Xbox One, so there’s a good possibility that you can play your preferred flavor of Street Fighter whichever way you like, including on the road.

Via: Kotaku

Source: Digital Eclipse (Twitter), Street Fighter (YouTube)

OnePlus 5T needs an update to play Netflix in HD

The OnePlus 5T is defined by its cinematic 18:9 screen, but don’t expect to get the full effect while you’re watching your favorite streaming service… at least, not yet. Owners have learned that the 5T and its OnePlus 5 ancestor can’t play Netflix or Amazon Prime Video in HD, since they both lack the Widevine rights management certification need to play at anything beyond standard definition. Yes, your $500 pride and joy currently plays video at a lower resolution than phones costing half as much. Thankfully, there’s a solution in the works.

The company has explained to The Verge that an update is in the works to enable HD streaming on these devices. There’s no indication as to when this update is coming or why more advanced Widevine support wasn’t included from the start, but a solution is in sight.

However quickly the update comes, the situation doesn’t help OnePlus’ current situation. It has already had to fix some glaring software mistakes, and this is one that you’ll definitely notice if you’re streaming Stranger Things or American Gods. It also illustrates one of the concerns about digital copy protection: your ability to watch video at the best possible quality is dependent on software factors outside of your control.

Source: OnePlus, The Verge

Reigns: Her Majesty lets you rule as Queen and slyly addresses gender roles

App Attack is a weekly series where we search the App Store and Google Play Store for the best apps of the week. Check out App Attack every Sunday for the latest.

With all of the dating apps available out there, we’ve become used to the act of swiping left or right. But what if it was applied to actual gaming as well? This week, we have an app that will put those swipes to the test in an effort to rule with dignity.

Reigns: Her Majesty — available on iOS and Android — is the sequel to last year’s Reigns. This time around, you’ll still have to make important decisions that could alter your dynasty, along with your reputation on the throne. But now you’ll get to experience it from a different point of view — as Queen.

The main controls of the game involve swiping left or right through a deck of cards. At the top, you’ll have a specific question asked by a character within the land, and then two options to choose from. Similar to any dating app, swiping to the left brings you to a negative action or response and swiping to the right is the positive option.

Although I hadn’t played the original Reigns, I was interested to see the different issues that would occur with being the Queen. It was refreshing to see that the game highlighted the controversial portrayals of women in power — having to choose between making necessary, strict, requests but also remaining calm and maintaining a smile.

As Queen, you have to be able to make the appropriate calls when it comes to issues such as raising taxes or abolishing alcohol. You’ll also be asked for favors, which, if you accept, could possibly end in death. When I agreed to help “my” people in need, I actually ended up being crushed to death by the crowd. Thankfully, you’re able to start over to perhaps use a bit more strategy next time.

Many of the cards definitely make you think deep into gender roles. There are cards that ask you to smile, and even ones with comments on your physical appearance. Not only do you have to manage an entire kingdom, but you also have to take into account your reputation, which adds an extra layer to the game.

There were times when I was criticized for having too many wrinkles, and other times where I would also be caught “gossiping too much.” I was also yelled at for being too ruthless — which apparently people dislike as well. Also, who knew it was so important to perform the Coronation Rite correctly?

The interface is aesthetically pleasing, with a cartoonish style that’s charming and fun to sort through. Even those who aren’t familiar with Reigns will find that it’s easy to get the hang of it. The game doesn’t require having a lot of background knowledge in order to successfully play through it. The rather strange sound effects heard while playing also make it that much more entertaining.

The more reincarnations you experience — each time it’s game over — the more you’ll get used to making snap decisions. But the choices do weigh more than you think they do. In the beginning, I swiped left and right only trying to get a reaction out of the people, but quickly realized each swipe of a card determines your fate, even in the smallest way possible.

The game is definitely addicting, not only because you want to prove that the Queen can rule as successfully as the King and still be respected, but because you quickly want to be able to grasp the concept of making the correct choices that will advance you to ultimately comple the game.

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Anheuser-Busch placed an order for 40 Tesla Semis

Last month, Tesla unveiled what it likely hopes will be the future of the trucking industry, the Tesla Semi. The announcement generated a lot of excitement, but retailers appeared to be a bit hesitant to embrace Elon Musk’s latest offering. This is likely simply a result of the untested nature of electric trucks. That being said, Walmart and other retailers did make some purchases, and now the world’s largest beer brewer is getting in on the action.

Anheuser-Busch has announced that it has placed an order for 40 Tesla Semis, which is likely the largest order the product has seen to date. The brewery says that it believes the use of the Tesla Semi will help it reduce its carbon footprint and keep the roads safer, thanks to the autonomous driving features.

In terms of the environmental impact, Anheuser-Busch has a stated goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 30 percent by 2025 which it says would be “the equivalent of removing nearly 500,000 cars from the road globally each year.”

The company also said that it believes that self-driving and electric cars are the future of the trucking industry, and it wants to embrace these technologies early.

“We can’t wait to get these trucks on the road, and keep leading our industry forward to a greener, smarter future in partnership with some of the world’s most innovative companies,” Anheuser-Busch’s James Sembrot said. “This investment in Tesla semi-trucks helps us achieve these goals while improving road safety and lowering our environmental impact.”

Despite Anheuser-Busch’s investment, the future of the Tesla Semi is far from certain. Forbes points out that, in order to see long-term success, the Tesla Semi will need to prove it is economically feasible, and there are a few hurdles in the way of that achievement. One of the largest will be the truck’s carrying capacity. Tesla has said that it is capable of hauling a gross weight of 40 tons, but Forbes estimated that the truck’s battery could weigh as much as 7 tons on its own.

Regardless, the recent purchase from Anheuser-Busch shows that some companies are willing to give Tesla a fair shot. It remains to be seen if the Tesla Semi finds long-term success, but maybe you shouldn’t count Musk out just yet.

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The world’s first graphene running shoes are coming in 2018

Graphene is a relatively new material that has recently been used to make things better, whether it’s used in headphones, or to reduce battery charge times, or to desalinate and purify water. Now, we’re finally going to see graphene brought into the world of footwear and fitness. The University of Manchester has partnered up with British sportswear brand inov-8 to incorporate graphene into running shoes, and it’s the first company to ever do so. What’s even more amazing is that the kicks will officially be heading to the market some time in 2018.

These shoes have been tested in the laboratory, and the results show that the composite rubber outsoles are much stronger and more stretchy than traditional materials, making the shoes more resistant to wear and tear. This new kind of rubber, which has been developed with the National Graphene Institute at The University of Manchester, means that off-road runners and fitness athletes will no longer have to compromise the need for grip. There is a degree of stretch, durability and traction with these new shoes that has never been seen before in footwear.

“When added to the rubber used in inov-8’s G-Series shoes, graphene imparts all its properties, including its strength,” university reader Dr. Aravind Vijayaraghavan said in a recent statement, as reported by Tech Crunch. “Our unique formulation makes these outsoles 50-percent stronger, 50-percent more stretchy and 50-percent more resistant to wear than the corresponding industry standard rubber without graphene.”

Even though it is technically the thinnest material in the world, graphene is simultaneously the strongest material ever measured. It is 200 times stronger than steel, and at the same time incredibly flexible. The material can be twisted, stretched and folded without causing any kind of damage.

“Product innovation is the number-one priority for our brand,” inov-8 CEO Ian Bailey said. “It’s the only way we can compete against the major sports brands. The pioneering collaboration between inov-8 and the The University of Manchester puts us — and Britain — at the forefront of a graphene sports footwear revolution. And this is just the start, as the potential of graphene really is limitless. We are so excited to see where this journey will take us.”

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‘MechWarrior 5’ will revolve around co-op and user mods

Piranha Games is starting to open up on what MechWarrior 5: Mercernaries will entail after a year of teasing, and it’s good news if you don’t always want to play alone. The robot battler should launch in December 2018 with co-op play as a central feature — up to four players can take on the game’s central campaign. Your friends stand in for the AI teammates in your unit, which could be helpful when you absolutely need someone watching your back.

The title will also make a big deal of mod support through Steam Workshop, letting you tailor your own missions, planets and other aspects of the game. Not surprisingly, the game mostly hinges on running your own mercenary company. And if you’re wondering: yes, there’s a good chance the Clans play a role. The game starts in MechWarrior’s 3015 timeframe and lasts for about 35 years, or right as the Clan invasion is in full swing.

There’s still a lot we don’t know about MW5, but for many its mere existence is important. It’s the first MechWarrior game with a single-player mode in over 15 years, and the first new game in the series for over 4 years. For some, it isn’t so much a sequel as it is a return to the franchise’s roots.

Via: PC Gamer

Source: Piranha Games (YouTube), MechWarrior 5