NYC’s mayor has a plan to get e-bikes on city roads

San Francisco and other cities around the US have been rolling out pedal-assisted e-bike sharing programs to help decrease street traffic and air pollution. Now New York City’s Mayor Bill de Blasio has directed his city’s Department of Transportation to start making rules that allow pedal-assist bicycles on the streets. Throttle e-bikes that can travel faster than 20 MPH, will not be included in the legalization effort, however. Pedal-assist bikes have been illegal to operate under the current administration due to safety concerns.

“As cycling continues to grow in popularity for commuting, deliveries and tourism, we are seeing the demand for pedal-assist bicycles that can help cyclists travel longer distances and more easily climb steep hills,” said Mayor de Blasio in a statement. “With new and clear guidelines, cyclists, delivery workers and businesses alike will now understand exactly what devices are allowed.”

The goal here is to create better options for cycling delivery workers and commuters, especially as the L train tunnel’s planned closure in April of next year. The Mayor’s office says that the Williamsburg Bridge sees more than 7,000 bicycling trips daily and expects that number to double during the tunnel closure. NYC also cites a European study that found the health and environmental benefits of cycling, especially among older cyclists.

Via: TechCrunch

Source: New York City Mayor’s Office

Apple’s Upcoming Morning Show Drama Gets New Showrunner

One of the TV shows Apple has in the works, a “morning show drama” starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, is getting a new showrunner, reports Variety.

The original showrunner and creator, Jay Carson, had planned to work with Apple on the series, but he has departed over creative differences. Kerry Ehrin, known for “Bates Motel,” is instead set to take over and is close to inking a deal with Apple.

Ehrin was the co-creator, executive producer, and showrunner of “Bates Motel.”

Apple has signed a deal for two seasons of the as-of-yet untitled morning show drama, each with 10 episodes. The show, based on the 2013 book “Top of the Morning” by Brian Stelter, takes a look inside the cutthroat world of morning television. Stelter’s book was based on the rivalry between NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Apple has multiple TV shows in the works, all of which are outlined in the original content section of our Apple TV roundup. Rumors have suggested the first of Apple’s TV shows could debut in 2019.

Related Roundup: Apple TVBuyer’s Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)
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Amazing software turns 3D scans into knitted objects, no grannies required

Carnegie Mellon University

When people talk about those most likely to lose their jobs to automation, chances are that grannies aren’t the first people who come to mind. But knitting needle-wielding grannies, busy churning out tiny knitted jumpers for their grandchildren, could soon find themselves at risk of techno-replacement thanks to new research coming out of Carnegie Mellon University’s Textiles Lab.

Computer scientists there have developed software that’s able to transform 3D models into stitch-by-stitch knitting instruction for V-bed automated knitting machines. The result is a system that could one day take any 3D scan of an object and transform it into a knitted object, with minimal human intervention.

“A 3D model usually consists as a set of points and encodes how they are connected to represent a shape,” Vidya Narayanan, a doctoral student working on the project, told Digital Trends. “Knitting machines cannot directly work with such an input. A knitting machine consists of hundreds of needles on which loops or stitches can be created and moved around. The input to such a machine needs to specify exactly where stitches or loops must be added and how they must be moved.”

Carnegie Mellon University

Carnegie Mellon’s system works by taking a 3D model as its input, and then computes the necessary stitches and their connectivity so that the shape can be replicated through knitting. After this, it works out the order in which loops must be generated, assigns needle locations for each loop, and calculates the necessary instructions to ensure the finished structure looks as intended. And you thought making a car drive autonomously was complex!

For now, though, it seems that granny may be safe from total replacement. That’s because, while the tech is certainly impressive, there is still room for improvement.

“Noticeably, this version of our system only generates stockinette patterns, and does not support textures or patterns,” Narayanan continued. “But it is indeed possible to generate knit objects with interesting patterns such as laces and cables, as well as color work. This also calls for ways to encode aesthetic considerations and provide more user control in the pattern generation process.

“Secondly, our project was focused on the geometry — getting the shape right. Modeling yarn stress is also important for functionality. Soft knit objects can deform in unintuitive ways, simulations will go a long way in making better design tools for such systems. We are now looking at understanding and solving these problems.”

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Messenger goes immersive with new 360 photo compatibility

Messenger now allows you to share immersive views with your friends. In an update announced on Tuesday, April 3, Messenger added support for 360 photos as well as upgrading to high-definition video. The 360 support allows for both uploads from a 360 camera as well as 360 apps and even panoramas from the native camera app.

Sharing a 360 photo follows a nearly identical process as adding an image with a standard aspect ratio. First, make sure you have a 360 image inside your camera roll. Facebook supports 360 cameras and 360 photo apps, but you can also shoot a panorama with the native camera app and Facebook will do the immersive conversion for you.

Inside a message, tapping on the photos icon will bring up the camera roll. Select the 360 image, and Facebook will process that file before sharing with the person or group in the message. Like 360 images inside the newsfeed, tapping on the image will enable the motion control, where moving the smartphone or tablet will allow you to explore all the angles of the image. On a desktop computer, moving the mouse will pan around the image.

Three-sixty images are marked with a circular icon in the bottom right corner.

The update also ups video resolution from standard definition to a high-definition 720p. In 2017, Facebook updated photos to a 4K resolution and is now bumping up video resolution, though not to the same level as stills. 720p is on the lower end of high definition compared to 1080p, but users may notice a quality improvement to videos shared on Messenger. Videos that are already at least 720p are automatically shared at that new higher resolution.

The update comes as visuals become increasingly important in messaging apps — just look at Snapchat’s emphasis on the camera. Facebook may not be done with the visually focused updates either, since visuals are on the company’s list of trends for 2018 for Messenger. The platform is predicting a growth for visual sharing inside the app this year. Videos and images have been growing in popularity on social networks and that trend is migrating to chat platforms.

Users worldwide are gaining that 360 photo capability. The HD video update is available in 18 countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia. Both updates are for both iOS and Android platforms.

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Intel decides not to patch Spectre vulnerability for older processors

Court Mast/Intel via Getty Images

Intel revealed that it will not be issuing Spectre patches to a number of older Intel processor families, potentially leaving many customers vulnerable to the security exploit. Intel claims the processors affected are mostly implemented as closed systems, so they aren’t at risk from the Spectre exploit, and that the age of these processors means they have limited commercial availability.

The processors which Intel won’t be patching include four lines from 2007, Penryn, Yorkfield, and Wolfdale, along with Bloomfield (2009), Clarksfield (2009), Jasper Forest (2010) and the Intel Atom SoFIA processors from 2015. According to Tom’s Hardware, Intel’s decision not to patch these products could stem from the relative difficulty of patching the Spectre exploit on older systems.

“After a comprehensive investigation of the microarchitectures and microcode capabilities for these products, Intel has determined to not release microcode updates for these products,” Intel said. “Based on customer inputs, most of these products are implemented as “closed systems” and therefore are expected to have a lower likelihood of exposure to these vulnerabilities.”

Because of the nature of the Spectre exploit, patches for it need to be delivered as an operating system or BIOS update, and if Microsoft and motherboard OEMs aren’t going to distribute the patches, developing them isn’t much of a priority.

“However, the real reason Intel gave up on patching these systems seems to be that neither motherboard makers nor Microsoft may be willing to update systems sold a decade ago,” Tom’s Hardware reports.

It sounds bad, but as Intel pointed out, these are all relatively old processors — with the exception of the Intel Atom SoFIA processor, which came out in 2015 — and it’s unlikely they’re used in any high-security environments. The Spectre exploit is a serious security vulnerability to be sure, but as some commentators have pointed out in recent months, it’s not the kind of exploit the average user needs to worry about.

““We’ve now completed release of microcode updates for Intel microprocessor products launched in the last 9+ years that required protection against the side-channel vulnerabilities discovered by Google Project Zero,” said an Intel spokseperson. “However, as indicated in our latest microcode revision guidance, we will not be providing updated microcode for a select number of older platforms for several reasons, including limited ecosystem support and customer feedback.”

If you have an old Penryn processor toiling away in an office PC somewhere, you’re probably more at risk for a malware infection arising from a bad download than you are susceptible to something as technically sophisticated as the Spectre or Meltdown vulnerabilities.

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Nest Secure can now be armed using Google Assistant

Available as part of the latest Nest Secure software update.

Google and Nest products have always worked well together, and now that Nest is part of Google’s hardware division, that point should be even more prevalent going forward. Most recently, Nest finally added Google Assistant integration for its Nest Secure home security system.

This functionality is available as part of an update to Nest Secure itself, and the next time you open the Nest app you should see a notification saying that “a client has been updated.” Assuming this is the one for Google Assistant support, review the permissions that are required for it to work, tap the “allow” button, and say “Hey, Google, sync my devices.”

Once this is done, you’ll be able to control the entirety of your Nest Secure system using just your voice. A few examples of voice commands that Neset recommends include:

• Hey Google, set Nest Secure to Home and Guarding
• Hey Google, what’s the status of my security?
• Hey Google, cancel security (must be done within seconds of arming the system)
• Hey Google, set security to Away

This update is rolling out to the Nest app now.

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Best Verizon Wireless Deals of April 2018

No matter what T-Mobile says, you can actually find some pretty great deals on Verizon.

Verizon Wireless has some of the largest coverage for customers in the United States, and although T-Mobile likes to continually poke fun at the carrier for having high monthly rates, there are actually some really solid deals to be found if you know where to look.

You can typically find quite a few deals being run by Verizon at any given time, but if you only want to look at the best of the best and don’t have time to sift through the garbage, that’s where we come in.

These are best deals on Verizon Wireless right now.

Get 50% off the Pixel 2, two months of YouTube TV, and a free Home Mini + Chromecast

The Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL are two of the finest Android phones you can buy, and right now Verizon’s offering one of the best deals for them that we’ve seen yet.

As long as you trade in an eligible device, you can get up to 50% off the cost of a Pixel 2 or Pixel 2 XL. You’ll also get two free months of YouTube TV, as well as a free Google Home Mini and Chromecast.

This deal goes live on April 5, and you’ll need to pay for the Pixel 2/2 XL on a monthly installment plan.

See at Verizon

Buy one Galaxy S9, get another for free

If you’re in the market to buy a new phone, chances are the Galaxy S9 is at the top of your shortlist. The S9 and S9+ both bring a lot to the table, including the ultra-fast Snapdragon 845 processor, top-of-the-line Super AMOLED displays, and a rear camera with a physically changing aperture for gorgeous low-light photographs.

As long as you add a new line of service, Verizon is letting you buy one Galaxy S9 or S9+ and get another one completely free. No trade-in is required to take advantage of this deal, and your savings are applied over the course of 24 months via bill credits.

The free phone you get must be of equal or lesser value, meaning if you choose one S9 and one S9+, you’ll pay for the more expensive S9+ and get the regular S9 for free.

See at Verizon

Get a $150 prepaid card when you switch to Verizon

Thinking about switching to Verizon but waiting for the perfect time to do it? Your lucky day has arrived!

When you switch to Verizon and port over an existing number, the carrier will send you a free $150 prepaid gift card that you can do with as you wish. The card will arrive within 8 weeks after you’ve made your claim for the deal, and you’ll need to buy a new 4G LTE phone, too.

There are a number of devices that are part of this promotion, including the Galaxy S9, Pixel 2, Moto Z2 Play, and others.

See at Verizon

Buy a Moto Z2 Force, get a free Alexa Moto Mod and $50 gift card

Motorola’s Moto Z series continues to be one of the most unique in the smartphone space, and the current flagship for it is the Moto Z2 Force. The Z2 Force is not a perfect phone, but if you’ve been dying to finally experiment with Moto Mods, Verizon’s got a killer deal just for you.

When you buy a Moto Z2 Force on Verizon for its regular price of $31.50/month, you’ll get a free Moto Mod Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa at no extra cost. Even better, Verizon will also throw in a $50 prepaid Visa gift card that you can use to buy more Moto Mods, pay your monthly bill, or virtually anything else.

See at Verizon

Save $50 on the Samsung Fast Charge Power Bundle

Should you take advantage of the first deal and get two brand-new Galaxy S9s for the price of one, that’s not all Verizon has to offer.

As long as you buy it and a Galaxy S9 or S9+ in the same transaction, you can get the Samsung Fast Charge Power Bundle for $50 off — bringing its final price down to just $99.

For $99, you’re getting an official fast wireless charger from Samsung, 5,100 mAh battery bank with Fast Charge, and a Fast Charge car charger.

See at Verizon

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Updated 4/3/2018 – Added new deals for April!

Apple hires Google’s former AI leader

Apple has regularly been accused of lagging behind Google in AI development, but it just scored a major victory that could help it turn things around. The iPhone maker has hired Google’s just-departed AI and search chief, John Giannandrea, to head up its “machine learning and AI strategy.” He’ll report directly to Tim Cook. It’s not certain if Apple has specific plans for the new exec, but Cook observed in a message to staff (obtained by the New York Times) that Giannandrea shared “our commitment to privacy and our thoughtful approach.” In other words, don’t expect him to widen Apple’s data collection just because of his Google history.

When Giannandrea stepped down, initial reports indicated that he would stay at Google in a position that gave him more “hands on” time. It’s apparent that he’d either had a change of heart or had planned to jump to Apple for a while. Whatever his reasons, Giannandrea has been crucial to Google in recent years. He ran the efforts to make AI technology central to the company’s products. He clearly succeeded — Assistant is everywhere, and machine learning plays a role in everything from mobile photography to visual search. We’d expect that cross-disciplinary approach to continue at Apple.

Between this, a Siri-related hiring spree and earlier high-profile hires like Carnegie Mellon’s Russ Salakhutdinov, one thing is clear: Apple is determined to improve the AI in its products. The company was the first to introduce a modern, conversational AI helper to smartphones with Siri, but that lead quickly eroded as Amazon, Google and Microsoft hopped in. Siri isn’t as adept at answering general questions as its rivals, to the point where its limitations became a drawback for the HomePod. Giannandrea might not give Siri directly comparable intelligence (Google has the luxury of its own search engine), but he could close the gap and help Apple keep pace.

Source: New York Times

OnePlus confirms some of the 6’s key specs

It’s that time again: OnePlus wants to drum up hype for its next phone, and that means dribbling out specs to entice fans. CEO Pete Lau has confirmed some of the rumored specs for the OnePlus 6, and it’s clear the company will keep up its tradition of bordering-on-overkill specs. The nearly-all-screen handset will tout the expected Snapdragon 845 processor and up to 8GB of RAM (the latter an option on the OnePlus 5T), but it’ll also carry up to 256GB of internal storage instead of the 5T’s 128GB. That capacity certainly isn’t unheard of among giants like Apple and Samsung, but it’s relatively rare among smaller brands.

Previous rumors had the 6 shipping with a 6.3-inch, 2,280 x 1,080 screen, 20- and 16-megapixel rear cameras and a front 20-megapixel cam. Importantly, the base model with 6GB of RAM would ship with 128GB of storage, or twice as much as the outgoing 5T and many other flagships. We’d take these claims with a grain of salt, but they’re at least consistent with OnePlus’ past practices.

You probably don’t have long to wait to learn more. While OnePlus hasn’t announced an event yet, it usually runs these teaser campaigns in the few weeks before it unveils a new phone. The big question is the cost. OnePlus prices have steadily climbed upward, and it won’t be surprising if the 6 is more expensive than its ancestors.

Via: 9to5Google

Source: OnePlus

Apple Hires Google’s Chief of Search and Artificial Intelligence

Apple has snapped up John Giannandrea, who today stepped down from his position as the head of Google’s search and artificial intelligence unit, reports The New York Times.

According to Apple, Giannandrea will run Apple’s overall “machine learning and A.I. strategy,” reporting directly to Apple CEO Tim Cook.

In an email sent out to employees and obtained by The New York Times, Cook had high praise for Giannandrea. “John shares our commitment to privacy and our thoughtful approach as we make computers even smarter and more personal,” he said. “Our technology must be infused with the values we all hold dear.”

Giannandrea’s hiring comes as Apple has recently faced criticism for Siri, the AI-based personal assistant built into products like Macs, iPhones, iPads, the Apple TV, and the HomePod. Many believe Siri has serious shortcomings in comparison to AI offerings from other companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google due to Apple’s heavy focus on privacy.

The Information, for example, recently shared an in-depth look at Siri and how it has become a “major problem” for the company due to rushed development and poor communication between teams.

At Google, Giannandrea, a senior vice president, was involved in the push to integrate artificial intelligence throughout Google products, including internet search, Gmail, and Google Assistant.

Prior to joining Apple, Giannandrea spent 10 years at Google, joining the company following Google’s acquisition of Metaweb, a startup where he worked as a chief technology officer.

In recent years, Apple has been bolstering its artificial intelligence team. In 2016, the company hired Carnegie Mellon researcher Russ Salakhutdinov to lead a team focused on artificial intelligence, and in October, Apple acqui-hired the team from Init.ai, a customer service startup focused on creating AI with natural language processing and machine learning to analyze chat-based conversations between humans.

There has also been an uptick in the number of positions Apple has recently offered on its job website that mention the term “Siri,” suggesting a ramp up in AI hires.

Tags: Siri, Google, artificial intelligence
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