Changes to Google Play Store will require apps to be optimized for newer Android versions

Android security depends on secure apps and Google has some big plans.

Google has made some significant announcements on its Android Developers Blog centering around some new policies developers will need to follow to continue publishing to the Play Store. Google says that starting in August 2018 all new apps submitted will need to target Android Oreo, and in November 2018 updates to existing apps will need to do the same. In addition, starting early in 2018 there will be some extra metadata added to the app file (the .apk file) to verify it’s authenticity and in August 2019 all apps will be required to provide a 64-bit version even if they target any native Android libraries.

In the second half of 2018, Play will require that new apps and app updates target a recent Android API level. This will be required for new apps in August 2018, and for updates to existing apps in November 2018. This is to ensure apps are built on the latest APIs optimized for security and performance.

In August 2019, Play will require that new apps and app updates with native libraries provide 64-bit versions in addition to their 32-bit versions.

Additionally, in early 2018, Play will start adding a small amount of security metadata on top of each APK to further verify app authenticity. You do not need to take any action for this change.

Google says these changes are to help make the apps we use as secure as Android itself. They’ve given some simple examples that explain just how these changes will help here.

Right now, a developer can upload an app targeted towards an old version of Android and not ask for permission to see things like camera data or location when you first run it because those became official with Android Marshmallow (API 23). Adding metadata to use as a check for authenticity makes sense here because that can be used to separate apps that were downloaded from Google Play from other sources for installations (as well as be used for copy protection if Google wanted to do so), and requiring 64-bit versions of apps is getting things ready for application processors that don’t support 32-bit binaries.

A side effect of these changes will affect how manufacturers update devices as well as the practice of selling new devices with older versions of Android.

Next August, all new apps submitted to Google Play will have to be targeted for Android Oreo. In November, updates for existing apps will also need to be targeted for Oreo. These requirements will advance each year so apps in August 2019 will need to target the next version of Android. Each year the same thing happens and new apps or updates to existing apps won’t be accepted unless they target a recent version.

Existing apps that don’t get updated will be allowed to stay, and the development tools will still allow the creation of apps targeted for old versions. But Google Play won’t. Apps designed for old software don’t make use of Android’s newer features and are less secure because of it.

When your phone can’t run the app you want because the software is old, you’ll notice.

As a result, companies who sell phones with old versions or forget about those phones when it comes time to update them will stand out because the products won’t have access to new or newly updated apps. Google says they encourage developers to do what they can to make apps backward compatible, but we all know how things go when they’re only suggested or encouraged. Look at the state of tablet apps on Google Play as an example here. These changes will effectively shut out phones with old versions when it comes to the newest apps.

We expect to hear plenty more about these new policies before they go into effect and have some questions about how the new “authenticity” metadata will be used to get answered. But we like the idea of Google doing what it can when it comes to keeping our data safer and the apps that want to use it in check a little better.

Android Oreo

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Duolingo adds French and German to its short story library

Six months ago, language learning service Duolingo introduced new mini-morsels of content called Stories. They walked users through short tales that would ideally be more organic than scripted conversations. Today, the service announced it’s expanded beyond Spanish and Portuguese by adding 20 Stories each in French and German.

Duolingo launched Stories as an experiment, as its team points out in an August update, so they aren’t sure when (or if) they’ll add more languages. Expanding up to four is a good sign, though, and shows promise for the service’s experiments beyond typical lessons. Earlier this month, Duolingo launched a podcast focusing on Spanish-language non-fiction stories, which can be found on iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify and elsewhere. Stories remain on the Duolingo site, but as it’s still in beta, they don’t add XP for participating — they’re just for your own learning pleasure.

Source: Duolingo

Android apps must have 64-bit support by August 2019

Android has supported 64-bit apps ever since Lollipop arrived in 2015, but they haven’t been necessary. Now, however, Google is laying down the law… or rather, it will. As of August 2019, Android apps will have to support 64-bit code. They won’t have to ditch 32-bit compatibility, but they can’t cling exclusively to the past, either. There will eventually be Android devices that will only support 64-bit code, Google noted, so it’s important that developers make the leap.

There are requirements coming sooner than that. In August 2018, new apps will have to target Android Oreo’s programming interface. They won’t require Oreo, but they won’t get away with skimping on newer features, either. Updated apps will have to make the advancement in November. Google will also step the requirement forward with each new year, preventing devs from getting too comfortable.

A security upgrade is coming in early 2018, although coders won’t have to worry about those. Google is sprinkling a “small amount” of security metadata on early 2018 to prove that apps were distributed through the Play Store. Think of it as a “badge of authenticity,” Google said.

Google isn’t exactly on the cutting edge of mobile 64-bit support. Apple started requiring 64-bit code for iOS apps in February 2015, and iOS 11 dropped 32-bit apps in September. However, this is bound to have a significant impact on the smartphone world. Now that Android app developers have no choice but to step up their game, you should see the overall feature support improve. The 64-bit requirement won’t magically lead to faster or more powerful apps, but it could encourage developers to fine-tune their apps if they’ve been overly cozy with 32-bit software.

Source: Android Developers Blog

HTC Vive owners can now get social with Oculus Rift friends in Facebook Spaces

Facebook’s Rachel Rubin Franklin said on Tuesday, December 19, that Facebook Spaces is now available for the HTC Vive VR headset. Formerly available only on the rival Oculus Rift model, Vive owners can now get on Facebook’s VR social bandwagon to experience the popular network in a whole new, up-close-and-personal way.

“Vive owners will find all the same fun features as the Rift version — you can create your own avatar, view Facebook photos and 360 videos, play games, draw with markers, go Live, make Messenger video calls, and (my favorite) take awesome selfies,” Franklin says. “Plus, it’s cross-platform compatible, so Vive users can also hang out in Spaces with friends who use Rift.”

Facebook Spaces arrived on the Oculus Rift in April. The idea was to bring Facebook users into a virtual space where they could hang out together, interact with the environment, play Pictionary or tic-tac-toe by drawing in the air, and so on. Spaces also incorporates other Facebook-related services such as Messenger video calling, timelines, photos, pages you follow, 360 videos, and more.

HTC Vive owners will start their Facebook Spaces adventure by creating an avatar based on an uploaded photo. From there, they can customize the avatar’s eye color, facial features, hairstyles, and more. After that, they can jump into a virtual environment, and invite friends with HTC Vive or Oculus Rift headsets.

Facebook Spaces is not currently compatible with the Oculus-powered Gear VR. But the Oculus Rift with its Touch controllers and sensors now only costs $379, which is far cheaper than it was when Facebook Spaces arrived in April. At the time, the headset/controller bundle cost $598, down from a heftier $798.

But now Facebook is expanding into Vive territory. The kit costs a more expensive $500, and includes two motion controllers, two base stations, a link box, and earbuds. Of the two, the HTC Vive reportedly had control of the PC-based VR headset market until Facebook dropped the Rift’s price to $379. The social network saw 210,000 units shipped in the third quarter while HTC only saw 160,000 Vive headsets sold during the same period.

But Facebook doesn’t plan to stop with the HTC Vive, as Facebook Spaces is slated to arrive on other VR platforms and devices in the future. One of those platforms could be the new Windows Mixed Reality headset family now hitting the market. These include the Lenovo Explorer, the Samsung Odyssey, the Dell Visor, and two others.

“VR is such a powerful way to feel present with the people you care about when you can’t physically be together,” Franklin added. “With Facebook Spaces, we’ve always been committed to bringing the power of social VR to as many people as possible, across platforms and devices.”

Facebook Spaces is still listed as a beta, so expect changes as Facebook shapes the platform based on feedback. You can download the HTC Vive version of Facebook Spaces here, while the version for the Oculus Rift is available here.

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‘Sunday Night Football’ will arrive on all your devices for the 2018 season

You don’t have to muscle your way up to the front of the bar to catch the big game — at least, not when 2018 comes around. NBCUniversal announced this week that beginning next year, NBC Sports will be streaming all of Sunday Night Football to all possible platforms. So no matter where you are, you can cheer like a maniac for your favorite team.

Made possible by Verizon’s decision to give up its exclusive rights to stream NFL games on mobile phones, this announcement means that Sunday night games will be made available on smartphones, desktops, tablets, and of course, connected TVs. Moreover, as part of NBCU’s deal with the NFL, the media company will be extending TV Everywhere rights to NBCUniversal cable, satellite, and telco partners.

While NBC Sports Digital has long been available on desktops, tablets, and connected TVs, 2018 will be the first year in which mobile phone owners will be able to watch Sunday Night Football from their handheld devices as well. Alas, you’ll also have to put up with the national and local affiliate ads on your phone, because not everything is perfect.

“This is an exciting day for NBC Sports. We have been streaming Sunday Night Football on numerous platforms since 2008, but as a result of this agreement, 2018 will be the first time we can stream primetime television’s No. 1 show on all digital platforms, creating a more seamless viewing experience for NFL fans,” said Rick Cordella, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Digital Media, NBC Sports Group. “In addition to fans, this mobile agreement benefits our distribution partners, local affiliates, and advertisers, as it significantly extends SNF’s digital reach.”

It will be a big year for NBC and football, as the network has won the rights to broadcast and stream Super Bowl LII on February 4. You will likely want to watch that game, however, on a screen larger than your iPhone. But as for all the other action leading up to the biggest matchup of the year, rest assured that you can catch every play from just about anywhere (provided you have Wi-Fi or good service available).

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Eat our dust, Elon Musk. Virgin’s Hyperloop One sets crazy new speed record

Virgin’s Hyperloop One has set a new speed record with its hyperloop pod transportation system, leaving Elon Musk’s efforts to this point in the dust.

The magnetic pod achieved speeds up to a jaw-dropping 240 miles per hour — or 351 feet every second — at DevLoop, the world’s first full-scale hyperloop test site in the Nevada desert. That’s 48 miles per hour faster than its initial tests last summer, and 20 miles per hour faster than the previous record set by Musk’s hyperloop pod. If you’ve ever wanted a preview of what it’s like to travel at hundreds of miles per hour in a hyperloop, check out the video above.

“The XP-1 Virgin Hyperloop One’s test pod performed as designed, handling high speeds and levitating in a vacuum tube depressurized to the equivalent of flying at 200,000 feet above sea level,” Ryan Kelly, director of marketing for Hyperloop One, told Digital Trends. “In the testing footage, you can see a 28.5-foot-long and 8.9-foot-tall vehicle propel at high-speeds down the world’s first full-system hyperloop test track. This test brings the vision of the hyperloop much closer to reality.”

The test was carried out on December 15, although the company announced the news this week. During the test, all components of the system were put through their paces — including the airlock, electric motor, advanced controls and power electronics, custom magnetic levitation and guidance, pod suspension, and the vacuum.

The tests were conducted in a 1,600-foot-long concrete test tube. Kelly thinks that greater speeds will be achieved in the future, although you will likely have to wait a bit to see them — but it’s not the pod’s fault. “DevLoop is a short track and speed is an output of length,” he said. “As systems get longer, you’ll see faster speeds.”

Hyperloop One also announced that it has raised an additional $50 million to help continue making its high-speed dreams into reality. The record that we would absolutely love to see next? Actually getting this thing to market so that we can try it for ourselves. We’re resigned to the fact that this may take a little while longer, though.

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Windows 10 Timeline hands-on

Microsoft thinks the way you use your desktop hasn’t kept up with the times, and wants to do something about it. Its answer is Timeline, a new feature for Windows 10 that we tried November. It’s now available to Windows Insiders as part of build 17063.

Timeline is a new task view that’s based on, well, time. Apps are listed chronologically so you can easily scroll down to find a specific document, application, or group of applications you were working with. It even works across devices, so long as they’re all linked to the same Microsoft account.

That’s the theory, at least — but new features rarely survive first contact with their users. Does Timeline really revolutionize how you use Windows, or does it solve a problem no one needed to solve?

Task View, move over for Timeline

Timeline is not just a new feature, but a replacement for Task View, which is summoned by hitting the icon to the right of Cortana or mashing Windows+Tab on your keyboard. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean you lose any features. Timeline, like Task View, shows a summary of all open Windows, and also your active desktops into the top.

The look and feel of Timeline is hard to fault.

The transition to Timeline has led to slight tweaks in the interface. For example, you’ll now find the New Desktop icon at the top instead of the bottom, and window previews seem a bit larger than they used to be. A new scroll bar on the right side lets you move down the list of previously opened apps and documents, if you for some reason would rather not use the touchpad or scroll wheel. We noticed a bit of lag in the animations even on the powerful new Surface Book 2, which wasn’t visible in Task View, but that may be do to Timeline’s early state.

Lag aside, the look and feel of Timeline is hard to fault. Task View was extremely handy for serious multi-taskers, and Timeline is the same, so we’re glad to see Microsoft hasn’t ruined a feature that worked. If we have to nitpick — and of course, we must — we’d like to see Timeline allow smaller window previews on large monitors. Right now, having more than nine or 10 windows open results in too many previews to fit on the screen all at once, and that’s not something that happened with Task View.

What, where, and why?

The behind Timeline seems simple. Your past apps and documents appear chronologically, so you can pick up what you were last doing. It’s like a visual browser history for your entire desktop. Except — it’s not that simple.

As Microsoft’s blog post says, “In Timeline, a user activity is the combination of a specific app and a specific piece of content you were working on at a specific time.” That… sounds a bit confusing, doesn’t it?

Yet, it’s not. Listing every application in precise, reverse chronological order would be a bit of a mess, so Timeline tries to group things by what’s currently open, what was open earlier in the day, and what was open on previous days.

It’s a sensible approach, but (at least for now) it works a lot better for documents than for applications. Perhaps that’s because we’re less likely to leave documents open for long periods than applications. Or it could be because we use OneDrive, which integrates extremely well into Timeline.

Whatever the case, we noticed applications we closed did not immediately appear under “Earlier Today” in Timeline view. In fact, most didn’t appear at all. Microsoft says this is expected, because most applications aren’t built to appear in Timeline. Developers need to create “high-quality activity cards” for inclusion. Note, though, this applies only to the history portion of Timeline. Currently opened apps always appear as a window preview.

Still, relying on developer updates will make Timeline less useful in the short-term. We also didn’t see first party apps like Edge show up, which Microsoft says should be supported — a likely bug.

The privacy menu, which will let users exert some control over how past tasks appear, was also bugged. It crashed whenever we tried to open it. Insider builds, folks — they’re not without their risks! If it did work, the menu would let us control activity tracking on a per device-basis, manage linked accounts, and wipe the history clean.

OneDrive for the win

While application support is sketchy for now, documents stored in OneDrive worked, and they showed how useful Timeline can be.

Every document we opened in Word and Excel was instantly visible in Timeline even moments after we closed it. Better still, Timeline pulled in documents from before the feature was implemented. Our document history went all the way back to November 19th, one month prior to the date we installed it.

Files opened on one device were perfectly mirrored on the other.

That spanned our devices. We saw documents that we opened on a Microsoft Surface Pro over a work trip two weeks prior, and that device hasn’t received the Insiders update. It hasn’t been turned on since the new build went live. We also updated two devices to Windows 10 Build 17063, and saw files opened on one perfectly mirrored on the other. It was seamless, and required no additional setup.

There’s no doubt this will change our workflow. In the past, we depended on the “recent” columns of Word and Excel to find recently edited documents. Now, that’s no longer needed. Finding and opening documents directly from Timeline is easy, removing a step from our workflow. It’s not going to change the world, but it’s handy.

Timeline will take time, but looks promising

It’s no surprise that Timeline isn’t perfect. This is the very first public release, available only to Windows Insiders on the Fast Ring. For most, it doesn’t include Sets — another upcoming feature.

Still, I can see the point and, as an avid user of Office 365 and OneDrive, I can’t wait for it to simplify my work. Having instant access to past documents from a single, central control panel is awesome. Sure, we kinda enjoyed the same benefit from the Quick Access feature of File Explorer — but Timeline is grander, bolder, more attractive, and just a tad easier to access.

This is what we want to see from Windows 10. Features like better smartphone integrated and Xbox support are nice, but for us, Windows is about the desktop, and making the desktop as useful as possible. Timeline is a promising, innovative step in that direction.

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The latest Windows Insider update lets you travel through time — sort of

Okay, it may not be the most exciting form of time travel, but it’s definitely the most useful. Microsoft rolled out a new Windows Insider Update today, December 19, and its headline feature is something called “Timeline,” which allows you to resume past activities with just a couple of clicks.

“Timeline is here!” the Windows blog post reads. “We know that it can be difficult to get back to stuff you were working on in the past. If you’re like us, you might sometimes forget which site or app you were using or where you saved a file. Now you can finally close apps without worrying — with Timeline, you can get right back to where you left off.”

The whole thing works by storing a snapshot of your past activity, which you can view in the Timeline. Just scroll back through your last few apps till you find the one you want, and click on it to step right back in where you left off.

Naturally, the new Timeline feature has a few implications for privacy, but you can control which apps show up in the Timeline and which ones don’t. You can also disable it entirely by turning off “activity collection” under your Settings menu and the new Activity History panel.

Windows will also integrate Cortana into your Activity History, which means she’ll bark at you to keep you productive, or just gently suggest activities you might want to step back into. Plus, she’ll suggest activities from other Cortana-enabled devices for you to continue right at home on Windows 10.

To access your Timeline, all you’ll have to do is click the new Task View button, that will bring up your activities and recent Timeline.

That’s not all! What’s a Windows Insider Update without a few incremental Microsoft Edge improvements?

First among the changes coming to Edge is a bit of a new look. The Dark Mode is getting a slight update with darker blacks, and better contrast for colors, text, and icons.

Alongside the visual change to Edge, Microsoft is also rolling out a couple behind-the-scenes changes, first among them being improved support for touchpad gestures.

“You can now use gestures like pinch and zoom, or two-finger panning, to achieve the same interactions on web sites that you can do with a touch screen today,” the Windows blog reports.

There are a number of other, smaller changes coming to Edge which you can read all about here at the Windows Blog.

Editors’ Recommendations

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MacBook Pro 13 vs. MacBook Pro 15

The iPhone may be Apple’s most popular product, but the company hasn’t forgotten about its former flagship, the MacBook. In late 2016, Apple revealed the new face of the MacBook Pro lineup, including three new laptops with updated hardware (two of which feature the newly-unveiled Touch Bar feature).

The latter component is an OLED multi-touch display, one designed to replace the function keys at the top of the keyboard and provide custom shortcuts for whichever app is at hand. It’s a headline-worthy feature, to be sure, but it might not be for everyone. Fans of the MacBook may wonder whether they should get one of these new machines and, if so, which one.

Read on, as we break down the specifications and features for the MacBook Pro 13 vs. MacBook Pro 15.

MacBook Pro 13-inch

MacBook Pro 13-inch (Touch Bar) 

MacBook Pro 15-inch (Touch Bar)

Dimensions
11.97 x 8.36 x 0.59 inches
11.97 x 8.36 x 0.59 inches
13.75 x 9.48 x 0.61 inches
Weight
 3.02 pounds
3.02 pounds
 4.02 pounds
Keyboard
Full-sized backlit keyboard
Full-sized backlit keyboard with Touch Bar
Full-sized backlit keyboard with Touch Bar
Processor
2.3GHz dual core Intel Core i5
3.1GHz dual-core Intel Core i5
2.8GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 / 2.9 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
RAM
8GB LPDDR3
8GB LPDDR3
 16GB LPDDR3
Graphics
Intel Iris Graphics 640
Intel Iris Graphics 650
Radeon Pro 555 2GB / Radeon Pro 560 4GB /
Display
13.3-inch Retina display
 13.3-inch Retina display
15.4-inch Retina display
Resolution
2,560 x 1,600
2,560 x 1,600
 2,880 x 1,800
Storage
128GB SSD / 256GB SSD
256/512GB/1TB SSD
 256/512GB/1TB/2TB SSD
Networking
802.11ac Wi-fi, Bluetooth 4.2
802.11ac Wi-fi, Bluetooth 4.2
802.11ac Wi-fi, Bluetooth 4.2
Ports
2 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
4 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
4 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
Webcam
720p FaceTime HD camera
720p FaceTime HD camera
720p FaceTime HD camera
Operating System
MacOS High Sierra
MacOS High Sierra
MacOS High Sierra
Battery
Up to 10 hours web browsing
Up to 10 hours web browsing
Up to 10 hours web browsing
Price
$1,300+
$1,500+
$2,400+
Availability
Apple
Apple
Apple
Review
N/A
6/10
Hands-on

Design & Features

The basic 13-inch MacBook Pro should look familiar to longtime users. The aluminum unibody is as striking as ever, and the new trackpad — which is significantly larger than the previous one — should give users a bit more freedom when performing multi-touch gestures. The 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros look almost identical, aside from the size of the display, touchpad, and speaker grills. As for color options, all three of the new MacBooks come in either Silver or Space Gray.

In terms of features, there are some differences here. Two of the models have the infamous Touch Bar built into the keyboard, replacing the function keys with a new touch interface. The Touch Bar retains all the functionality of the old keys, allowing users to adjust lighting, sound, and other facets on the fly. More importantly, it adapts to each program the user opens. However, it’s placement means it doesn’t end up being very useful.

While we don’t like the Touch Bar all that much, Touch ID is a fantastic inclusion on these laptops. Touch ID works great and gives you an extremely efficient way of unlocking your laptop with your fingerprint. It’s sorely missing on the MacBook Pro without Touch Bar.

The basic 13-inch MacBook features two Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports that can be used for charging devices and connecting displays, while the upgraded 13-inch and 15-inch models each feature four of these Thunderbolt ports. There’s no HDMI port or SD card reader, but it’s nice to see Apple push forward with next-gen connectivity. If only Apple offered four Thunderbolt 3 ports across all the models.

Winner: MacBook Pro 15-inch

Performance

MacBooks have never been the most powerful laptops around, but they’ve always been a dependable mid-range option, and that continues to be the case with the new 13-inch MacBook Pro models. The cheaper version — the one that lacks the aforementioned Touch Bar — sports a 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, while the version with the Touch Bar has a 3.1GHz Core i5. The 3.1GHz model has a higher clock speed, and since both processors are dual-core, the higher clock speed should translate to quicker performance.

The new 15-inch MacBook Pro takes things to another level. The base model has a 2.6GHz quad-core Intel i7, but for an additional $400, you can net a model with a 2.7GHz processor. Although that is a lower clock speed than the 13-inch Pro with the Touch Bar, having twice the cores means the i7 can handle multi-threading applications far better than a dual-core with a higher clock speed.

Both of the 13-inch models have 8GB of RAM, while the 15-inch has a monstrous 16GB, which is enough for many of the more demanding games and animation software on the market. Overall, the new 15-inch MacBook Pro is a far more powerful machine. While the 13-inch model with Touch Bar is more powerful than the version without, the difference will not be noticeable except during gaming or hardware-intensive applications.

All 13-inch models use Intel Iris graphics, of the HD 640 or 650 variety. They’re not bad, but not great for gaming or other GPU-heavy tasks. For that you’ll want the 15-inch model, which has AMD Radeon graphics based on “Polaris” architecture.

Winner: MacBook Pro 15

Display

Malarie Gokey/Digital Trends

All three of these MacBooks use LED-backlit Retina displays with IPS technology, so the decision here really comes down to personal preference. The 13-inch models tout 2,560 x 1,600-pixel resolution at 227 pixels per inch, with support for millions of colors. The 15-inch model has 2,880 x 1,800 resolution, but the pixel density is slightly lower at 220 PPI, due to the larger screen size.

While a 15-inch screen offers more real estate for watching videos and editing images, it will also take up more space. They should all offer similar quality in terms of brightness and color.

Winner: Tie

Portability

Apple touts these new MacBooks as the slimmest yet, and that goes a long way toward portability. The 13-inch models weigh in at a petite 3.02 pounds, and given they’re a mere 0.59-inches thick, they should be easy to carry in most bags.

The 15-inch models is a bit bulkier at 4.02 pounds, with a thickness of 0.61 inches. For users on the go, these are all remarkably portable machines, but if you have limited carrying space, you may wish to opt for one of the 13-inch models.

Winner: MacBook Pro 13

Availability and price

Anyone hoping the new MacBooks would cost the same as the previous generation may want to crack open the piggy bank — and probably check out some cheaper alternatives too. The basic 13-inch model starts at $1,300 with the reduced 128GB of SSD storage, while the 13-inch version with the Touch Bar will cost a whopping $1,500 — and that’s just the baseline configuration. Additional memory and a faster processor cost extra. If those numbers make you queasy, consider moving toward a couch before you read on.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,400. Users who want a bit more power can upgrade to the version with a 2.7GHz quad-core processor for $2,700.

Winner: MacBook Pro 13-inch (without Touch Bar)

Conclusion

The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is easily the most impressive of the bunch, sporting the promising (if puzzling) Touch Bar and some solid hardware under the hood. Still, those features come a daunting price.

All things considered, the average user may want to stick with the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro — in particular, the one without the Touch Bar. Despite the bump in processor speed you get, the Touch Bar version is just not worth the extra three hundred  (or five hundred) dollars it costs.

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US lifts ban on funding research for gene-modified super viruses

For the past 3 years, the US has maintained a moratorium on backing research that involves genetically modifying viruses to make them more potent, whether it’s their ability to spread or their lethality. You can kiss that de facto ban goodbye, however: the government has lifted the restriction in favor of a new review step. Scientists who want to engineer these super viruses will be subject to scrutiny by a “multidisciplinary group” that will consider the intentions and risks, such as whether or not it’s “ethically justifiable” and whether or not there are safer methods of accomplishing the same goal.

If you ask officials, this shouldn’t amount to a serious change. The National Institutes of Health’s Dr. Francis Collins said that 10 of the 21 studies frozen by the moratorium went ahead anyway thanks to exemptions, and this is simply a matter of “regularizing the process” of making those exemptions.

That isn’t making some researchers any less nervous. There are certainly benefits to the move: creating these mutant viruses could help by anticipating their evolution and developing treatments before they become especially dangerous. And in some ways, gene modification is necessary to see how viruses change based on their genetic structure. The perils, however, are obvious. These gene-modified viruses could wreak havoc if they escape the lab, and there have been mishandling incidents for everything from avian flu to Ebola.

In that sense, the concern isn’t so much lifting the moratorium as it is human nature. Even the most diligent biologist might not spot a tiny leak in a biohazard suit, and some viruses may not produce signs of infection until it’s already too late. Scientists will have to think very carefully before making proposals, and they’ll likely want to take extra precautions to avoid even the hint that a super virus might get free.

Via: STAT, The Verge

Source: PHE.gov (PDF)