Nokia 9 passes through the FCC with questionable specs

The Nokia 9 is shaping up to be a very modest improvement over the Nokia 8.

The Nokia 8 was Nokia’s flagship phone for 2017, and while it’s a commendable device, there are certain areas where we’d like to see improvements on for its successor. The Nokia 9 recently passed through the FCC with many of its specifications on full display, and it’s, unfortunately, a mixed bag of old and new.

Starting off with the improvements, the 5.5-inch OLED display on the Nokia 9 should offer more vivid colors and deeper blacks compared to the Nokia 8’s IPS panel and the battery has been increased from 3,090 mAh up to 3,250 mAh. There are dual cameras on the back once again, and while the resolutions are slightly lower on the Nokia 9 with a 12MP and 13MP sensor, megapixel count isn’t the end all be all when it comes to image/video quality. Also, just like the Nokia 8, there will be 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage with an option to expand it via a microSD card.

The absence of the Snapdragon 845 is a shame.

Looking at the front-facing camera, the Nokia 9 is said to ship with a 5MP sensor. That’s not necessarily bad, but it is an interesting change when you consider that the Nokia 8 has a 13MP one.

In addition to this, the Nokia 9 also appears to be using the Snapdragon 835. This is the same processor found on the Nokia 8, and while the 835 isn’t slow by any stretch of the imagination, it is disappointing that Nokia’s opting for it over the Snapdragon 845. Nokia could be choosing to go this route as a way to cut down on costs or to ship the phone out as early as possible, but in any case, it’s a shame none of the 845’s many advantages will find their way on Nokia’s latest.

With these specifications in tow, what are your early impressions of the Nokia 9?

Nokia 9 CAD renders reveal a curved design, dual cameras, and no 3.5mm jack

Can you use a Sprint phone on the Boost Mobile Network?

Everything you need to know about using a Sprint phone on Boost Mobile.

Boost Mobile is one of the most popular MVNOs powered by Sprint’s network, and with plans starting out as low as $35/month for unlimited calling, texting, and 3GB of 4G LTE data, it’s also one of the best deals around for those that are covered best by Sprint compared to the other big carries in the U.S.

There’s a decent selection of phones to choose from on Boost, but for those that like having as many options to choose from, it is noticeably slimmer compared to what you can get directly from Sprint. Thankfully, as long as you know what to do, you don’t have to rely solely on Boost’s offerings.

If you have a Sprint handset or want to purchase one to use with Boost Mobile, here’s what you need to do.

Make sure you have an eligible phone

Boost Mobile does allow you to use Sprint phones with its service, but not every single phone that’s sold by Sprint is compatible. Boost has an online tool that allows you to type in your phone’s ID to see whether or not it’ll work, and supported devices include the likes of the Moto X4, Galaxy Note 8, Moto G5 Plus, Essential Phone, and others.

Your best bet is to stick with devices that are listed on Boost’s website as being compatible with the network, but if you don’t see your phone mentioned, we recommend contacting customer support seeing as how Boost’s main list of compatible Sprint devices is looking a bit outdated these days.

Once you’ve confirmed that you have an eligible device, you’ll want to make sure that it’s not currently active on a Sprint account and that it’s been unlocked for use on other carriers.

Take your phone to a Boost Mobile store

Now that you’ve confirmed your phone is compatible, your next step is to take it to your local Boost Mobile store. You can search for stores in your area on Boost’s website, and once you’ve found the one you want to go to, take your Sprint phone there and tell whoever’s working that you’d like to activate it on Boost.

What’s important to note here is that other retail stores that sell Boost phones, such as Walmart and Best Buy, won’t be able to help you out here.

Sprint phones can be used with any Boost Mobile plan

One of the nice things about using Sprint phones on Boost Mobile is that any of Boost’s plans will work with eligible devices. So, whether you want the basic $35/month plan or want to pay $50/month for unlimited everything, your plan choices aren’t limited just because you’re using a Sprint phone.

Not all services are guaranteed to work

Eligible Sprint phones that are used on Boost are confirmed to support voice, text, and data services, but Boost can’t guarantee anything beyond this. MMS (picture and video text messages) should work, but since Boost doesn’t directly sell Sprint phones, you’re taking the risk of any features beyond basic calling, SMS, and data not working.

Learn more at Sprint

A peek into how NextVR captures football games for VR

NextVR has figured out how to work fast in VR without sacrificing quality, and it’s incredible.

The folks at NextVR have been assembling quality videos for VR audiences longer than most, but what sets this team apart from the rest is the ability to deliver sports. These events typically make you feel like you’ve got a seat ringside or courtside for live Boxing or Basketball experiences, but the work they do with the NFL takes a slightly different shape. These shows are more like post-game analysis with a killer VR highlight reel, complete with show hosts to walk you through all the best plays of the game.

These shows are typically live in the NextVR app within an hour or two of the game ending, which is incredibly impressive when you consider all the work that goes into creating one of these events.

Read more at VRHeads

Double Dragon Trilogy delivers on action and nostalgia

Relive all the glory of the early Double Dragon games on Android!

If you ask me, Double Dragon is the definitive arcade beat ’em up game from the late 80s era of gaming. It’s such an iconic franchise that kicked all sorts of ass back in the arcades and on the NES.

Play Double Dragon Trilogy for FreeGAMESTASH

Porting classic games like Double Dragon to mobile should be a straightforward affair, but as we all know these games can be buggy and often are poor representations of the source material. That’s why it’s so heartening to know that the team behind bringing the Double Dragon Trilogy to Android managed to do a pretty bang up job here — you get the first three Double Dragon games all wrapped up into one app.

For those who are unfamiliar with the series, Double Dragon is a side-scrolling street-fighting beat ’em up game, wherein you play as Billy and Jimmy Lee, two martial arts experts who are looking to clean the streets of the deadly gangs terrorizing the city. While the controls are fairly basic — you get a digital joystick and buttons for jumps, kicks, and punches — you’re able to pull off a good variety of cool martial arts moves like spinning kicks, tosses, and elbows to the head. But be careful, because your enemies are also just as capable of pulling off devastating moves, too.

Making things even cooler is the inclusion of weapons. Some enemies come armed with melee weapons like chains and baseball bats, or even throwing knives. With a carefully timed punch, you’re able to disarm an enemy and then pick up their weapon to use against them. Weapons can ultimately make the difference in battles, as like other games from this era of gaming Double Dragon is really tough — especially if you’re stuck struggling with the on-screen touch controls.

But that’s the other aspect that makes Double Dragon Trilogy a real winner. The support for Bluetooth controllers is an absolute godsend here. I struggled mightily to make progress with the touchscreen controls, which are serviceable but just not quite as responsive as you might hope. But with a Bluetooth controller in hand? It’s a total gamechanger. These games were always meant to be played with physical controls and while you’ll manage alright with the touchscreen controls, a Bluetooth controller lets you kick ass like you remember from your childhood

Now, as for the games themselves, the story is pretty basic and is just there to justify the ensuing street fights. The plots of all three games are centralized around Billy and Jimmy fighting to save Billy’s girlfriend Marian from the clutches of mysterious gangs. The gameplay remains consistent throughout the trilogy, with the graphics and some elements evolving over time. As you would expect, Double Dragon 3 has the best graphics but they come at the expense of the animations, which seem a bit clunkier than the first two. It also finally changes up how your character’s health is displayed — as a number rather than an ambiguous bar. The Third also has a bit more of a developed story, which revolves around finding the three sacred stones that are scattered around the world — although you’re still tasked with saving Marian.

All three games are challenging and fun, featuring a great mix of enemies and boss battles throughout. I’d definitely recommend playing with a Bluetooth controller for the best experience. You can buy it from the Google Play Store, or find it in the GameStash subscription library.

Download: Double Dragon Trilogy ($3.49)

Google Chrome’s ad-blocking feature launching in February

Get ready for a cleaner Internet.

Following a report that came out in April, Google announced in June that it’d be introducing a new feature to its Chrome web browser that blocked obtrusive advertisements. The company originally stated that Chrome’s ad-blocker would launch at some point in early 2018, but we now have a specific date of February 15, 2018, as the official launch of it.

As a quick refresher, Chrome’s ad-blocker will help filter out advertisements that don’t meet new standards that have been created by the Coalition for Better Ads. The Coalition for Better Ads has a list of rules and guidelines that online advertisements need to follow so they don’t get blocked from Chrome, and violations include the likes of pop-ups, ads that take over your entire screen, automatically playing videos, etc.

Following the launch of the ad-blocker on February 15, any advertisements that have a status of “failing” in the Coalition’s Ad Experience Report for more than 30 days will be blocked from Chrome. The idea of the whole thing is to prevent online ads from becoming too aggressive or in your face, and I’m sure that’s something anyone who’s ever gone online can stand behind.

A few examples of “least preferred ad experiences” that the Coalition is fighting against.

Chrome’s ad-blocker doesn’t appear to be launching with a new version of the web browser, so it’s likely a server-side feature that Google will be able to turn on for all users over the course of a few days. The ad-blocker will be available for both desktop and mobile, and it’ll be quite interesting to see how the online landscape changes following its release.

Google, an ad company, will soon block ‘bad ads’ in Chrome

White House temporarily shuts down ‘We the People’ petition site

The “We the People” site was launched back in 2011 as a way for the rank and file citizens to get a response from the Obama administration if they were able to get 100,000 signatures on any given petition. The site will now be unavailable until late January, and the Associated Press reports that all existing petitions and responses will be restored next year.

A White House official told the AP that the temporary shutdown will save taxpayers $1.3 million per year, though there’s no detail on how. The current petitions — 17 that have met the signature threshold — have not been responded to in the year Trump has been in office. According to the AP, they include calls for Trump to release his tax returns, preserve (and cease) funding for the National Endowments for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. While the petition site is down, individuals can contact the White House through a web form.

Via: The Verge

Source: Associated Press

Engadget giveaway: Win an Anki Cozmo robot and Overdrive racing set!

When the holiday season rolls around, it’s always a good excuse to get in a little play time. Picking up a few items for yourself or guaranteeing second-hand fun after you gift them is a win-win scenario. This week, smart-gadget maker Anki has passed along some top “toys” for two lucky readers. There’s a liquid-metal Cozmo Collector’s edition robot, which can be an entertaining companion as well as a platform to limber up your coding skills. When you’re feeling a bit brawnier and competitive, there’s the Fast & Furious Edition Anki Overdrive racing set. Just connect your mobile device (iOS / Android) to control one of these special edition vehicles, each with special tools, tricks and tactics available to help battle the competition. Anki has provided both a Cozmo Collector’s Edition robot and Fast & Furious Edition Overdrive racing set for two winners. Just head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning a set of smart Anki products.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

• Entries are handled through the Rafflecopter widget above. Comments are no longer accepted as valid methods of entry. You may enter without any obligation to social media accounts, though we may offer them as opportunities for extra entries. Your email address is required so we can get in touch with you if you win, but it will not be given to third parties.
• Contest is open to all residents of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec), 18 or older! Sorry, we don’t make this rule (we hate excluding anyone), so direct your anger at our lawyers and contest laws if you have to be mad.
• Winners will be chosen randomly. Two (2) winners will each receive one (1) Cozmo Collector’s Edition robot and one (1) Fast & Furious Edition Overdrive racing set (approximately $350 value).
• If you are chosen, you will be notified by email. Winners must respond within three days of being contacted. If you do not respond within that period, another winner will be chosen. Make sure that the account you use to enter the contest includes your real name and a contact email. We do not track any of this information for marketing or third-party purposes.
• This unit is purely for promotional giveaway. Engadget and AOL are not held liable to honor warranties, exchanges or customer service.
• The full list of rules, in all of its legalese glory, can be found here.
• Entries can be submitted until December 20th at 11:59PM ET. Good luck!

London police will use AI to look for child porn on seized devices

Around this time last year, Interpol revealed it was using an AI system to track down child porn on P2P networks in the global hunt for predators. Tech firms like Google and Microsoft have been using their own tools in the fight against child exploitation for years, too. Now, the UK’s Metropolitan Police say they want AI recognition software of their own that’s capable of identifying images and video of abuse on confiscated devices like smartphone and computers.

Currently, the Met’s image recognition software can detect guns, drugs and money while scanning hardware for evidence, but struggles to make accurate calls on nudity. In the next “two to three” years, though, the force wants a more sophisticated AI tool. Not only should this help with investigation load — the digital forensics department processed 53,000 devices last year — but spare officers from some of the psychological trauma that comes with looking at images of child abuse day-in, day-out.

The Met police is also looking to move all the information it holds from its London-based data centre to a commercial cloud provider, such as Google or Amazon. Regarding security, the Met’s head of digital and electronics forensics told The Telegraph these companies are actually better positioned to safeguard this data since they have the resources to invest in the latest server armour. As you might imagine, there are many legal issues that could get in the way of the Met moving sensitive images off-site. It’s merely a plan at this point, though, so who knows what special arrangements the Met and cloud providers may come up with in the future.

Source: The Telegraph

Facebook will alert you when someone posts your photo, tagged or not

Facebook has launched new tools powered by its facial recognition tech — the same one that suggests friends to tag in photos. To start with, it has beefed up the alternative text feature it rolled out last year, which describes a photo’s contents for people using a screen reader. For instance, the original version of the tool would describe a friend’s photo with the words “may contain: tree, sky, sea.” The enhanced version will include those and the names of people who could be in the photo even if they aren’t tagged. Facebook’s facial recognition can be pretty hit and miss, but the names can give visually impaired users a fuller view of the picture.

The platform will also start notifying users when its face recognition tech recognizes them in pictures (again) even if they’re not tagged, unless they’re not part of the audience. Finally, it will start sending out notifications when someone else uploads users’ photos as profile pictures. Facebook hopes this last tool can help prevent scammers from using other people’s identities, especially for those who use the platform to conduct business.

To make things simpler, the social network will roll out a single on/off switch for all these features. Unfortunate for those who only really like one of them, but great for those don’t want to deal with tweaking their settings. The switch will roll out worldwide the next few days, except in Canada and Europe where Facebook doesn’t have facial recognition on offer. It will automatically be set to “off” for users who’ve disabled tagging, but it can easily be switched on anytime.

Source: Facebook

UPS is Tesla’s latest electric semi-truck customer

UPS has placed the largest Tesla semi-truck order to date, reserving 125 of the trucks. Since unveiling the electric vehicles last month, Tesla has received quite a few orders from major companies. PepsiCo has ordered 100, Anheuser-Busch ordered 40 and Walmart, DHL and Loblaws have reserved Tesla Semis as well. While not every company that has announced a Tesla Semi order has said how many they’ve reserved, the total number of trucks ordered to date appears to be in the range of 420.

UPS said that the all-electric semi-trucks will help them reach a number of their energy goals. The company is working to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 12 percent within the next seven years and by 2020 it wants 25 percent of its newly purchased vehicles to be advanced technology or run on alternative fuel. UPS already has over 8,500 alternative fuel or advanced technology vehicles in its fleet including all-electric, hybrid, ethanol, compressed natural gas, hydraulic hybrid, liquefied natural gas, propane and renewable natural gas vehicles. In total, the company has around 108,000 package cars, vans, tractors and motorcycles on the road. Therefore, moving more towards electric vehicles stands to have a major environmental impact.

Tesla plans to begin producing its trucks by 2019.

Via: Reuters

Source: UPS