Trouble counting sheep at night? Try the new sleep app, Shleep

Yes, it has a funny name but in an emerging tech field from Alibaba to Zenith, the new sleep app Shleep is getting a lot of attention for its clever interface, its complex approach to assessing energy and sleep, and a platform backed by hard science and a Dutch team’s deep background in sleep studies.

Debuting at CES 2018, Amsterdam-based Shleep held its own against a raft of sleep-related apps and technologies ranging from  to a four-part system that includes a visor, a cream, and neuroacoustic software.

Instead of gadgets and gizmos, the Shleep app offers a cool, comforting interface featuring company mascot “Shleepy,” but it’s one built around a philosophy involving understanding and behavior change. In short, the company believes the better a person understand that certain behaviors lead to disturbed sleep and increased risk of disease, the easier it is for them to change their behavior.

Once a user opens the app, users see a questionnaire after a short animated introduction. After viewing the video, users can respond to questions about their age, screen time, lifestyle and sleeping habits. Then the app builds a tailor-made program that sets out to improve that person’s individual sleeping habits including mindful relaxation exercises and detaching from technology. The information is presented in a series of videos, combined with targeted exercises.

“The mission of Shleep is the help the world sleep better — and it is also my personal mission,” said Dr. Els van der Helm, the founder and CEO of Shleep. “I dream of making a measurable contribution to a more harmonious society with energetic people who feel good about themselves.”

In addition to helping individual users through their new app, Shleep also provides digital training, personalized assessments, tailored workshops on sleep health, individual and group consultants and policy recommendations to improve health, leadership, effectiveness, and engagement.

Sleep is a major problem in the modern age, so it’s no wonder so many companies are producing products and apps tailored to better sleep. More than one-third of American adults sleep less than seven hours a night during the work week, and Allied Market Research values the global sleep market at nearly $80 billion by 2022. But that is a drop in the bucket compared to the $411 billion per year in lost productivity due to sleep deprivation.

The issues around sleep devices are so prevalent that the National Sleep Foundation recently requested that monitoring companies create a set of standards so that consumers can decipher the information being collected.

The problem has increased in recent years due to a number of quantitative factors, not least consumers’ use of technologies at night and in the bedroom. It’s well documented that the lighting coming off most digital devices has a negative impact on a user’s ability to fall asleep. Add in stress, a media-rich environment, ample video platforms and the ever-present threat of FOMO (fear of missing out) and it’s no wonder so many of us remain wide-eyed at night.

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These are all the Moto phones Motorola is releasing in 2018

2018 is shaping up to be a big year for Motorola.

Ever since its acquisition by Lenovo, Motorola’s turned into a company that’s not shy about releasing a lot of different phones each year. This allows for a lot of choices, but it can also make trying to pick the perfect phone a bit headache-inducing. No matter your opinion on Motorola’s release cycle, however, there’s no denying that 2018 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for the company.

Our friends at Droid Life recently got their hands on full device renders of Motorola’s 2018 lineup, and while we can’t yet verify if any of this is legit just yet, some of what we’re seeing lines up nicely with another leak that came out before these.

In any case, here’s what we might see from Motorola in 2018.

Moto Z3/Z3 Play

Kicking off this list, let’s talk about Motorola’s highest-end and most premium phones for 2018 – the Moto Z3 and Z3 Play.

Just like last year, we’re expecting Motorola to release two entries in its Z-series in 2018. The regular Moto Z3 will be the most powerful of the two, whereas the Z3 Play will come with slightly lower specs and a more affordable price tag. Specifications for these two phones are mostly up in the air, but what does seem like a sure bet is slimmer bezels.

Both the Moto Z3 and Z3 Play will supposedly come with 6-inch FHD+ displays, and like we saw through a lot of 2017, bezels surrounding these panels are going to be cut down considerably. The Z3 (pictured below) has the slimmest bezels of the two, but the Z3 Play still looks a lot more modern when compared to the Z2 Play.

Something that’s got our attention with these two renders is the lack of a physical fingerprint sensor. It’s possible that Motorola will be opting for one that lies underneath the display like we saw with Vivo at CES 2018, a facial recognition system, or a combination of the two. It’s too early to say for certain, but we’ll likely see at least one of these things make an appearance.

Along with showing off the phone itself, the image of the Z3 also reveals a new Moto Mod. It may not look like anything at first glance, but the “5G” branding near the bottom suggests that this Mod will allow the Z3 to get 5G data speeds. Furthermore, the monthly data allotment page is taken right from the Project Fi app and could be a hint that more Moto phones will find their way to Google’s MVNO.

Moto X5

If you’re not about the Moto Mod life but still want a quality phone from Motorola, the X series has proven to be the way to go. Our first look at the Moto X5 shows a very similar design compared to the X4, but there are a couple key differences.

Just like the Z3/Z3 Play, we’re looking at a tall display with slim bezels on all sides. However, unlike those two phones, the X5 appears to have a notch near the top just like another phone with an X in its name. This is one trend I was really hoping wouldn’t catch on, but if it has to make its way into one Moto phone, so be it.

The screen on the X5 is said to measure in at 5.9-inches with a FHD+ resolution, there are dual cameras on the front and back, and there’s also mention of “Moto’s Smart AI.”

Also, like the Z3/Z3 Play, there’s no visible fingerprint sensor. Our guess about the under-display module or facial recognition remains the same, but once again, it’s too early to say for certain.

Moto G6/G6 Play/G6 Plus

Motorola’s G-series has been its most popular (and profitable) since the very first Moto G that came out in 2013, and this year’s entries are shaping up to be the best we’ve seen yet. There will be three G-series phones in 2018, including the Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus.

The G6 Play will be the weakest of the three, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be a bad phone. All G6 handsets are adopting the Moto X4’s glass design, and it adds a nice premium touch to the budget lineup. A 5.7-inch FHD+ display with a 16:9 aspect ratio will be present on the G6 Play, and it’ll carry a massive 4,000 mah battery.

The G6 and G6 Plus will adopt the new 18:9 aspect ratio, with the G6 offering a 5.7-inch FHD+ display and the G6 Plus going for a 5.93-inch one with the same resolution. The G6 will come with a Snapdragon 450 processor, 3,000 mAh battery, 3GB/4GB RAM, 32/64GB storage, 12MP + 5MP rear cameras, and a 16MP front-camera. The G6 Plus ups the processor to the Snapdragon 630, will offer up to 6GB RAM, and feature 1.4um pixels on the rear camera. All its other specs are shared with the G6.

Pricing isn’t mentioned for the G6 Play, but it’s said that the G6 will cost $240 and the G6 Plus will go up to $330.

Moto E5

Last but not least, we’ve got the Moto E5. The Moto E4 proved to be a truly excellent phone for $129 (or cheaper) in 2017, and based on what we’ve seen from the E5 so far, it looks like we’ll have a similar situation this year.

The overall design appears to be mostly unchanged, but what is worth noting is that the fingerprint sensor has been moved from the front to the back. This results in the Moto dimple doubling as the E5’s fingerprint sensor, and this is something that’s found on the G6 Play as well.

I’m expecting the phone to stick with a traditional 16:9 aspect ratio, but even so, it looks like we’ll be getting rounded corners to help give it a little modern flair. Exact price and specs are still unknown, but if you’re going to be in the market for an affordable phone this year, this will probably be one that you’ll want to have on your shortlist.

Video: LG G7 canceled + what we know so far about the 2018 flagship

The LG G7 is dead.

With news that the phone originally planned for February launch has been canceled, to be replaced an entirely new product at some point later in the year.

Right before the CES show in January, LG let slip that it would be retiring the “G” brand for its next-gen flagship. Then came the bombshell that the phone which had been in development as the LG G7 had been scrapped by the new CEO. That means LG will be scrambling to bring a new high-end smartphone to market in April — though it’s not clear whether the upcoming model will be completely new, or merely a re-tooling of an alternative design.

Check out our video above to find out exactly what’s going on with LG’s 2018 flagship, and subscribe so you don’t miss everything Android in 2018!

• Android Central on YouTube
• LG G6 review
• LG V30 review
• More on the LG G7

This limited edition PyeongChang Winter Olympic Galaxy Note 8 is gorgeous, and you can’t have one

Samsung has done it again.

To celebrate the 2018 Winter Olympics coming to PyeongChang, in its home country of South Korea, Samsung has created a wonderful limited edition Galaxy Note 8. And unfortunately, you will never have a chance to own one … that is, unless you are competing in or involved with managing the games this year.

Samsung has made 4,000 of these, officially dubbed the “PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games Limited Edition,” for athletes and Olympic staff to have as part of their Olympic experience. Samsung is also providing a Note 8 to all of the athletes participating in the Paralympic Winter Games.

The limited edition version of the phone is identical to the standard Galaxy Note 8 in terms of specs and capabilities, but has a custom color scheme with a shiny white back glass, black front, gold frame and gold accents including the Olympic inscription on the back. The S Pen is, naturally, white and gold to match. Younghee Lee, CMO and Executive Vice President of Samsung Electronics:

Throughout our 20-year legacy as an Olympic partner, Samsung has showcased our support of the Olympic Movement by helping spread the Olympic Spirit and enhance connections through our latest technological innovations and immersive experiences. We’re proud to provide the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Games Limited Edition to all athletes in an effort to help them to stay connected, capture and share one of the most memorable moments of their lives.

Naturally this is a nice bit of promotion as well, as Samsung is a “Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Wireless Communications Equipment and Computing Equipment category” (yeesh) for the games this year. But Samsung has a knack for releasing specially designed limited edition versions of its phones to align with big cultural and sporting events, and has been involved with the Olympics for 20 years now. With the Winter Olympic Games in its home country this year, everything has aligned perfectly.

You’ll probably never see one of these in person. And though I wouldn’t totally rule out the possibility of someone finding one to sell online after they leave the Olympics this year, you probably shouldn’t count on being able to buy one, either. But we can lust after this white and gold beauty regardless.

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

• Galaxy Note 8 review
• Complete Galaxy Note 8 specs
• Galaxy Note 8 vs. Galaxy Note 5
• Which Note 8 color is best?
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Dallas Mavericks are the latest pro team to accept cryptocurrency

You don’t just have to attend Sacramento Kings games if you’re itching to spend some digital money on a pro sports event. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has confirmed (both to Bloomberg and on Twitter) that his basketball team will start accepting bitcoin and ethereum for ticket purchases during the 2018-2019 NBA season. It’ll also accept tokens from companies with “business relationships.” In short: if you’ve benefited from the bitcoin boom, you can probably score some courtside seats.

The decision isn’t coming out of the blue. While Cuban warned that bitcoin was in a bubble back in June, he also invested in it (not to mention a blockchain fund and Unikrn’s digital tokens) before 2017 was over. He sees enough of a future in cryptocurrency that it only makes sense for his team to support it. You might not see other teams or leagues rushing to follow suit, but it does represent a vote of confidence for the emerging technology.

Next season.

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) January 16, 2018

Source: Mark Cuban (Twitter), Bloomberg

Samsung designed a 2018 Winter Olympics edition Galaxy Note 8

Samsung has unveiled a sweet-looking Galaxy Note 8 you might never get your hands on. The Korean conglomerate has designed a limited edition version of its extra large phone exclusively for 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics participants. It’s fitted with a shiny white back glass to represent snow and wintertime, and it’s adorned with a gold Olympics logo and similarly gold accents as inspired by the Olympics torch. Inside, it’s still the same Galaxy Note 8 everyone else has, minus the pre-loaded PyeongChang 2018 themed wallpapers.

Samsung will distribute 4,000 devices to competing athletes and staff members before the games begin in early February. All Paralympic Winter Games participants will also get cases that feature the Paralympic Games logo to go with their new phones.

Since the company has been an Olympic partner for decades, a special edition for the event is par for the course, especially now that the event is being held in its home country. While it’s unfortunate that this version is exclusively available to Olympics athletes and staff, you may want to cross your fingers and hope that Samsung eventually decides to sell it. The company released the 2016 Olympics edition Galaxy S7 Edge to the public, after all, though it only sold a couple of thousand units worldwide.

Source: Samsung

YouTube implements stricter requirements for partners

YouTube has been under fire for months over inappropriate content masquerading as kid-friendly videos and popular creators acting out of line. Now, Google has introduced stricter requirements for the video platform’s YouTube Partners and Preferred programs over advertiser concerns, which could impact creators’ earnings. To start with, Google will now manually vet videos and ensure they meet its ad-friendly guidelines before adding them to Preferred, a program that offers advertisers access to the top 5 percent content on the platform.

Creators part of Preferred get more per click than their counterparts and have bigger earning potential. The program was recently thrust into the spotlight when it booted popular YouTuber Paul Logan from its roster. Logan was slammed for posting a video showing him and his friends laughing and making jokes upon coming across a body in Aokigahara, Japan’s “suicide forest,” and claiming that his video was meant to raise mental health awareness. Google will finish its manual review of all Preferred channels in the US by mid-February and worldwide by the end of March.

In addition, YouTube has changed the eligibility requirements channels need to be meet in order to earn money from the platform. Starting today, creators can only be part of the program if they have 4,000 hours of watchtime within the past 12 months and 1,000 subscribers. YouTube says it came upon those new thresholds “after thorough analysis and conversations” with creators. Last year, it slapped a 10,000 channel view minimum requirement on creators who want to apply for YouTube Partnership in order to prevent channels uploading stolen content and low-quality videos from making money. But it’s “been clear over the last few months that [it needs] a higher standard,” YouTube said in its announcement.

Even older channels already earning money on the platform will be affected, though YouTube is giving them until February 20th. They’ll be dropped from the program if they fail to meet the requirements next month, but they can apply again later. The company knows, however, that the new requirements aren’t enough to keep bad actors out. (Toy Freaks, which it had banned for disturbing content targeting kids, had over 8.5 million subscribers, for instsance.) It promised to “continue to use signals like community strikes, spam, and other abuse flags to ensure [it’s] protecting [its] creator community.”

Source: YouTube, AdWords

Malicious Link Texted to Mac and iOS Devices Can Cause Freezes and Resprings

A link that exploits a bug in iOS and Mac devices was shared on Twitter this afternoon, and if you receive this link through the Messages app, your iPhone or iPad can freeze up or respring, and the Messages app can become unusable.

The link, which goes to a Github page, breaks the Messages app and causes problems on both iOS devices and Macs. Simply receiving the link results in issues, likely due to the Messages feature that lets you preview web links. We tested the bad link and while we saw few resprings, it did reliably cause the Messages app to freeze entirely.

The only solution appears to be to quit out of the Messages app and then delete the entire offending conversation to restore full functionality.

These kinds of Message-based bugs have surfaced several times in the past, with text strings, videos, and more crashing the Messages app in the past. Such bugs are not serious, but they can be highly irritating when abused as a prank.

It’s best not to send the link to friends, because it can cause the sending device to freeze up and crash as well. If your device is affected, quit the Messages app on Mac or iOS, open it back up, and immediately delete the entire message thread.

On Mac, you’ll need to swipe right on the trackpad or right click on to the person’s name to delete the conversation, while on iOS, you’ll need to swipe to the right on a person’s name to bring up the delete option.

Blocking the domain using Parental Restrictions may prevent the link from affecting your iOS devices. You can turn on Restrictions on iPhone or iPad by going to Settings –> Restrictions –> Websites and adding “GitHub.io” to the “Never Allow” list.
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Ferrari plans to build an electric supercar after all

Despite Tesla’s lead on the electric vehicle market, large automakers spent 2017 announcing they will transition their gas-powered car models to EVs. But other companies selling more elite vehicles are also throwing their hat in the ring. At NAIAS in Detroit, Ferrari stated it will build its own electric sportscar seven years after its previous president vowed the company would never build an EV.

“If there is an electric supercar to be built, then Ferrari will be the first,” Ferrari Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne told reporters, according to Bloomberg. “People are amazed at what Tesla did with a supercar: I’m not trying to minimize what Elon did but I think it’s doable by all of us.”

Despite Marchionne’s aspiration to be first past the post, Aston Martin and Volkswagen both claimed in 2017 to already be developing their own electric supercars. Ferrari didn’t announce any details about its future EV, but its model will almost certainly compete with Tesla’s higher-end vehicles. But it’s a sign of the times — and Marchionne’s new tenure — that the company is investing in EVs after former president Luca di Montezemelo flatly denied Ferrari ever would when Engadget asked him back in August 2011:

“You will never see a Ferrari electric because I don’t believe in electric cars, because I don’t think they represent an important step forward for pollution or CO2 or the environment. But, we are working very, very hard on the hybrid Ferrari. This should be the future, and I hope in a couple of years you can see it.”

For the record, Ferrari did end up rolling out a limited-edition hybrid in 2014, and Marchionne vowed to make all of its models hybrid in some way by 2019. However else the company might distinguish its EV from the competition is anyone’s guess, but even the fanciest cars are joining the electric revolution.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from NAIAS 2018.

Source: Bloomberg

Facebook teams up with ‘True Blood’ creators for new series

Facebook’s Watch tab won’t just be chock-full of sports shows and gaming culture. The social site has ordered 10 episodes of Sacred Lies, an adaptation of the Stephanie Oakes novel The Sacred Lies of Minnow Bly (which, in turn, is an adaptation of the Grimm Brothers’ The Handless Maiden). The show revolves around a handless teen who escapes from a cult and is believed to know who killed the cult leader. It’s an intriguing (if not completely original) premise — and importantly, there’s an appropriate pedigree.

The show will be executive produced by Raelle Tucker (shown above) and Scott Winant, who respectively produced and directed True Blood. Winant will also direct the first two episodes. While this is definitely different than True Blood, the reunion might bode well for Sacred Lies. The two also have strong backgrounds elsewhere: Tucker executive produces Netflix’s Jessica Jones and has worked on Supernatural, while Winant has worked on everything from Breaking Bad to Thirtysomething.

There’s no mention of when Sacred Lies will be ready. When it is ready, however, it could add some crucial variety to Facebook’s Watch tab. While Facebook isn’t strictly going toe-to-toe with the likes of Amazon or Netflix, it’s clearly hoping to at least match them in quality and the range of shows on offer.

Source: Deadline