TalkTalk begins winding down its mobile business

TalkTalk is in the process of shutting down its mobile business, effectively ending its tenure as a dedicated quad-play provider. According to MoneySavingExpert, the company has begun notifying customers that they are unable to renew their mobile plan at the end of their contract and is offering special deals to those who switch to O2.

In September 2017, TalkTalk confirmed that it was looking to exit mobile, in an attempt to cut costs and renew its focus on cheap broadband packages. One of the options at the time was a “low touch” arrangement with a big-name mobile operator that would enable it to offer customers mobile service without having to do any of the heavy lifting.

Customers can choose to break free from TalkTalk and ignore O2, which has provided the backbone for the company’s existing MVNO offering since 2014. However, TalkTalk is incentivising customers with up to 25 percent off certain O2 tariffs. The deals aren’t just available to existing mobile subscribers, they’re extended to broadband customers too.

“As part of TalkTalk’s simplification, we’re changing how we offer mobile services. This agreement with O2 gives TalkTalk customers access to a wider range of great value 4G services,” said TalkTalk in a statement. “It’s great news for customers and allows TalkTalk to continue investing in our fixed network, delivering even better landline, broadband and TV services.”

Via: ISP Review

Source: MoneySavingExpert

‘Artificial synapse’ points the way toward portable AI devices

Tech titans like Intel and IBM have already begun developing chips for AI that mimic the way the human brain works — it is, after all, the most powerful computer there is. The field of “neuromorphic computing” is still in its very early stages, though, and one of its pioneers’ greatest challenges is copying neural synapses. Those are the small structures where information passes when it moves from one neuron to the next. That’s why a team of MIT engineers have set out to develop an artificial synapse that works like the real deal and have successfully come up with a design that can “precisely control the strength of an electric current flowing across it, similar to the way ions flow between neurons.”

Existing designs that typically use non-crystalline solid or amorphous materials have difficulties controlling that flow of ions, which means they’re not that successful in moving info from neuron to neuron. To solve that issue, the team created synapses using silicon wafer and silicon germanium, a material commonly used in transistors. Team leader Jeehwan Kim said that together, the “two perfectly mismatched materials can form a funnel-like dislocation, creating a single path through which ions can flow.”

They tested their creation by using it on a chip for their neural network, which they fed with tens of thousands of handwriting samples. The result? It was able to recognize handwriting 95 percent of the time — not bad, seeing as current algorithms powered by typical hardware have a 97 percent accuracy.

Neuromorphic computing will be able to do lot more than recognize handwritten samples, though. In the future, it could lead to portable AI devices much more powerful than your already impressive modern smartphone. “Ultimately we want a chip as big as a fingernail to replace one big supercomputer,” Kim said. “This opens a stepping stone to produce real artificial hardware.”

[ From left: MIT researchers Scott H. Tan, Jeehwan Kim, and Shinhyun Choi. Image credit: Kuan Qiao]

Source: MIT

Blipblox could be ‘my first synth’ for kids big and small

This is hardly the first synthesizer for kids that we’ve seen, but the Blipblox device debuting at NAMM 2018 adds a familiar toy-like design and plastic casing. According to its maker, it combines “professional features” like a MIDI input, audio out, unique oscillator modulation schemes and LED lights that sync to the music. It’s intended to let kids as young as three take a turn as music producers, and will “target” a price of $159.

The hook here is that unlike simple keyboards, Blipblox has “a proprietary algorithm that synthesizes completely unique waveforms” so you can create your own soundwave. A studio session demo video gives a better example of the sounds that are possible with this, and it’s not too hard to imagine that if you figure out what each color-coded set of switches is for then you could make some SoundCloud-worthy electronica. And hopefully release it quickly, before your kids take all the studio time for themselves.

Via: MusicRadar

Source: Blipblox

Google teases I/O 2018 with treasure maps and cryptic clues

As it does every year, Google is sending users on a geeky goose chase to learn details about its upcoming I/O 2018 Developer’s conference. The first clue, posted on Twitter, is a bunch of binary code that (spoiler) reveals a website address, google.com/io. That leads you to a splash screen and Google Maps, where you’re positioned in front of a Google office building ready to enter into a reception area.

Plans are coming along for #io18… pic.twitter.com/48VpqvVqWU

— Google Developers (@googledevs) January 24, 2018

From there, you can move around and try to spot items that have identification icons. Clicking on those will reveal clues like a plate of sushi and a book called Sister Carrie. Those are supposed to reveal the name of a city, which is a password to enter into the next room (spoiler again: it’s Mountain View’s sister city in Japan, Iwata).

We’ll let you discover the rest of the clues, which we presume will eventually reveal the dates and other details of I/O. In the past, Google has used the conference to announce big news about future technology like the DayDream VR headset, Google Assistant and Google Home. Now that we’ve got you started, check it out and see if you can solve the rest.

Via: 9 to 5 Google

Source: Google (Twitter)

Guess what, it’s really not a good idea to bite a smartphone battery

Here is a public service announcement: Do not bite your smartphone battery.

Really, it’s just not worth it. It could turn nasty. And the consequences may involve a trip to the operating theater for a bit of facial reconstruction.

How do we know this? Because a guy in China did just that and the whole darn thing exploded in his face.

The horrific incident took place inside an electronics store last Friday and was caught on a security camera (above).

The man had taken his iPhone in for a battery replacement but wanted to be sure the new battery was genuine, according to Taiwan News.

It’s not clear if the man thought it might be made of chocolate, or indeed where he got the idea that biting it would confirm the battery’s authenticity, but, well, he went right ahead and sunk his teeth into it.

But it seems he bit so hard that the battery really didn’t like it at all, causing it to explode right in his face.

Multiple news outlets have since reported that the man escaped (somehow) without injury. Guess seriously singed eyebrows don’t count as an injury.

Taiwan News suggests the bite caused a “catastrophic rupture” to the battery’s casing, leading to a fireball that engulfed not only the man but several other people who were standing around him.

Following the recent controversy over the way Apple handles dying iPhone batteries, the tech giant promised to slash the price of a replacement from $79 to $29 for many iPhone models. Chinese electronics stores, Taiwan News reports, are “notoriously replete with fake goods,” so the man was merely trying to establish whether the one he was about to pay for was the real deal.

We have no idea whether the battery was genuine, as you’re just not supposed to grip any lithium-ion battery between your teeth like you’re having an X-ray at a dental clinic.

While rare — and even without any particular encouragement like biting — lithium-ion batteries inside tech devices have been known to explode without warning.

Hoverboards, for example, have racked up plenty of negative headlines over the last few years after cheap devices with sub-par batteries flooded the market, while Samsung had to abandon its Galaxy Note 7 handset in 2016 over battery fire issues. And let’s not forget this poor guy in a Manhattan store in 2016 whose exploding e-cigarette created an impromptu fireworks display for those nearby.

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Hawaii governor wanted to cancel missile warning but forgot Twitter password

It can’t be any fun reading an alert on your phone telling you that a missile is on its way.

But that’s precisely what happened to residents and tourists in Hawaii on the morning of January 13, sending them scrambling for shelter.

It turned out that the Wireless Emergency Alert was sent in error by a worker at the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency after he accidentally selected the incorrect option on a computer during what was apparently a training exercise.

Hawaii governor David Ige said he discovered the alert was a mistake two minutes after it was sent to islanders’ handsets at 8.07 a.m. But it took him a very long 17 minutes to send out a tweet reassuring islanders that it was a false alarm.

Why? Because he couldn’t remember his Twitter password.

The governor admitted the embarrassing mistake at a press conference attended by the Honolulu Star this week.

Realizing it might be a good idea to let everyone know, Ige, clearly not a Twitter power user, went to log into his account, but couldn’t recall the all-important password.

“I have to confess that I don’t know my Twitter account log-ons and the passwords, so certainly that’s one of the changes that I’ve made,” Ige, 61, told reporters.

The governor finally got a tweet out 17 minutes later at 8.24 a.m., telling his followers that there was “no missile threat to Hawaii.” While you might be wondering why it took him more than quarter of an hour to hit the “forgot password” link and go through the usually brief process of resetting it, Ige said in his defense that he was also “making calls to the leadership team both in Hawaii Emergency Management as well as others.”

There’s a sliver of possibility that some of those calls were about his Facebook password, as a message didn’t show up on that particular social network until 23 minutes after the initial alert. Or perhaps he was making calls inquiring about how to send a state-wide cancellation alert using the WEA system, as that took a full 38 minutes to go out. But Ige made no mention of those matters at the press conference.

The governor promised he’s now on top of the password situation, but said he understood the fear that those in Hawaii must have felt during the long wait for the alert cancellation to appear.

In a tweet posted in the hours after the incident, Ige described it as “a terrifying day when our worst nightmares appeared to become a reality,” adding that he was “sorry for the pain and confusion caused.”

The Federal Communications Commission said recently it’s investigating the January 13 incident to discover how it happened and to ensure safeguards are put in place to prevent a false alarm from happening again in this way.

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KFC India is selling a chicken wings box that transforms into a drone

KFC’s latest packaging turns into a drone you can fly with your phone.

KFC India is back at it with its latest marketing stunt: a chicken wings box that doubles up as a drone. The limited edition packaging consists all the components required to assemble the DIY drone, and all you have to do is follow the instructions and download the controller app on your phone.

Aptly enough, the drone is called Kentucky Flying Object (KFO). This isn’t the first time KFC India served up interesting packaging options. Back in 2012, the company rolled out a takeout box with a portable battery through which you could charge up your phone.

You’ll be able to get your hands on the DIY drone box by ordering Smoky Grilled Wings at 12 KFC stores across ten cities on January 25 and 26. However, the press release does mention that the packaging could be sold online starting next week.

From KFC:

There are two kinds of wings in the world – the finger lickin’ good ones and ones that can fly. Well, KFC India just made sure you can have both! Order the new KFC Smoky Grilled wings at select KFCs across ten cities, and you could get your food in a super cool packaging that turns into a flying drone, powered by your smartphone.

Timings vary across stores — some will offer the promotion at 1pm – 4pm and the others at 4pm – 10pm — so you’ll have to check in with your store to find out when it’s available. If you’re interested, here’s the list of KFC stores that will carry the packaging:

• Delhi: KFC Connaught Place
• Mumbai: Kenilworth Mall
• Kolkata: Park Street
• Pune: Amanora Town Centre
• Hyderabad: KFC Gachibowli
• Chennai: KFC Arcot Road
• Gurgaon: Ambience Mall
• Chandigarh: Elante Mall
• Kochi: Lulu International Shopping Mall
• Bangalore: Hypercity Brookfield, Signature Mall, Central Mall

‘Angry Birds’ goes full NFL ahead of Super Bowl LII

Fans of both Angry Birds and the NFL can get excited together with new Super Bowl LII content in the popular free-to-play mobile game from Rovio. Angry Birds 2 players can now outfit their avian characters with any of the 32 official NFL jerseys and helmets while competing in new levels and in-game competitions. Angry Birds Evolution now includes NFL characters to defeat in the strategy game, and you will find a new bird called the “Quarterback.” Evolution‘s player vs. player mode (The Oinktagon) has also been transformed into a football field in celebration.

Rovio’s special, limited-time outfits and in-game features will highlight all of the NFL’s teams and logos, of course, so even fans of other teams than the Eagles or the Patriots can join in the action. The new football-themed activities and visuals go live starting tomorrow, January 24th, on both Google and Apple platforms. Here are a couple of trailers to keep you excited until then.

Source: Rovio

KFC is selling a chicken wing box that doubles as a drone

Oh, KFC. For every bizarre stunt you pull off, like chicken-flavored nail polish or a nightmarish VR work training experience, you tease us with useful combo meal tchotchkes like a phone-charging takeout box. Unfortunately, ‘tease’ is the word, since the company’s flashy giveaways typically happen outside the US, like when its Canadian stores briefly sold chicken buckets for bitcoin. KFC’s latest stunt is no different: Its Indian locations are selling a chicken wings box that doubles as a drone for a brief couple days this week.

It appears that everything you need to fly this UAV is in — and also, part of — the box. Just punch out parts and follow the instructions available online, then download the app to control your junk food-themed aircraft. The ‘KFO’ drone is a typical quadcopter, though it will probably always carry the distinct aroma of fast food chicken. Keep in mind that it only comes in particular orders of Smoky Grilled Wings and can only be bought on January 25th and 26th, so pick one up and fly it for those of us in less KFC-lucky parts of the world, Indian readers.

Since the KFO website is a little wonky, these are the KFC locations it lists that should have drones:

• Bangalore: Central Mall, Hypercity & Signature Mall
• Gurgaeon: Ambience Mall
• Delhi: CP2
• Chennai: Forum Vijaya Mall
• Hyderabad: Gachibowli
• Mumbai: Powai
• Kolkata: Park Street
• Chandigarh: Elante Mall
• Pune: Amanora Mall
• Kochi: Lulu Mall

Via: The Verge

Source: KFC’s KFO drone, KFO (YouTube)

Apple CEO Tim Cook: Hardware and Software Integration Will Set HomePod Apart From Competitors

Apple CEO Tim Cook is spending some time in Canada this week, and yesterday he attended a hockey game and visited the Eaton Centre Apple Store in Toronto.

Cook today stopped by the offices of Canadian e-commerce platform Shopify, where he spoke to the Financial Post about augmented reality apps and the HomePod.

On the topic of the HomePod, Cook said that Apple’s deep integration between hardware and software will help to differentiate the smart speaker from competing products like Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Home.

“Competition makes all of us better and I welcome it,” Cook said. “(But) if you are both trying to license something and compete with your licensees, this is a difficult model and it remains to be seen if it can be successful or not.”

Cook also said a quality, “very immersive audio experience” was one thing missing from the smart speaker market, which Apple is aiming to fix. “Music deserves that kind of quality as opposed to some kind of squeaky sound,” he said.

The HomePod, which, at $349 in the United States is more expensive than competing products, features a 7 tweeter array, an Apple-designed 4-inch upward-facing woofer, and spatial awareness, all of which is designed to provide the best possible sound.

During his interview with the Financial Post, Cook also spoke about augmented reality, a topic he’s covered many times in the past. Cook said AR is “the most profound technology of the future” that’s able to amplify human experience instead of substitute it.

Cook said developers across Canada are adopting AR at a “very fast rate” and that he “couldn’t be happier” with developer interest in ARKit.

Cook’s full interview, which includes additional comments on augmented reality and details on features coming to Shopify, can be read over at the Financial Post website.

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