LG reports record Q1 profits despite struggling smartphone division

The company saw an operating profit of USD 1.03 billion for Q1 2018.

Just ahead of the G7 ThinQ unveiling, LG’s released its financial results for the first quarter of 2018. Looking at the company as a whole, Q1 saw total sales of USD 14.1 billion and operating profit of USD 1.03 billion.

With sales up 3.2% and profit increased by over 20% from Q1 last year, this is LG’s most profitable first quarter in history and the biggest quarterly earnings since Q2 of 2009. LG attributes this success largely to its Home Appliance, Air Solution, and Home Entertainment divisions, each of which saw double-digit margins for their most profitable quarterly earnings ever.

However, things aren’t so hunky-dory when it comes to the company’s Mobile Communications (aka smartphone) operations.

Although losses are down compared to this time last year, sales of USD 2.01 billion still resulted in a net operating loss of USD 126.85 million. To hopefully reassure investors, LG commented –

Despite component price increases, the company shrank its operating deficit by continuing to improve its business structure. While the global smartphone market is forecast to experience stagnant growth and more intense competition in the second quarter, LG expects to see positive results with the launch of the LG G7 ThinQ flagship phone and the opening of the Software Upgrade Center to deliver higher-quality customer support.

LG’s set to announce the G7 ThinQ on May 2, and while we’re expecting it to be a powerful and capable phone, will it be enough to help LG stand out against competition from Samsung, Google, and Apple? Sound off with your take in the comments below.

LG G7 ThinQ: Rumors, Specs, Release Date, and More!

Troubleshooting 5 common PlayStation 4 controller issues

Put that credit card away and try these steps to fix what’s ailing your PS4 controller.

We would all love to live in a perfect fantasy world where everything works exactly the way it was intended. But we don’t, and our tech lives by the same gnarly rules of life that everything does.

PlayStation 4 gamers know all too well how a bad controller can ruin their days off, but you don’t have to put your gaming on hold or go out and buy new hardware whenever your DualShock 4 is on the fritz. Here are some common issues you may run into with your PS4 controller, as well as suggestions on how you can fix them.

Looking to replace your controller? These are our favorites!

PS4 controller won’t connect

This is a classic problem that likely has plagued many-a gamer at least once. Sometimes, the controller just fails to sync with the console. As odd as it may be for a connection to work fine days on end only for it to suddenly fail, it happens. In most cases, a quick run around the reset mill should correct any issues:

First, try plugging your DualShock 4 into the PS4 using your USB cable. This should attempt a resync and in most cases will get you going again.
Try restarting your console.
If neither of those worked, look on the rear of the controller for a tiny hole located next to the L2 button. You’ll need a pin, paperclip, or some other type of thin poking device to jam in there. Push the button on the inside for a couple of seconds and then release, then attempt to resync the controller to your PS4 by plugging it in with your USB cable.

It’s worth noting that the PS4 uses a standard Bluetooth connection, so if you use your controller with multiple devices — such as your PC, smartphone, or tablet — you’ll want to make sure it’s not connected to anything else while you’re trying to connect it to your PS4.

PS4 controller won’t charge

If your controller won’t charge by plugging it into the PS4, it may be due to a number of different factors. We’re going to employ the process of elimination to see what, exactly, is broken. Here are some things you should try:

• Your USB cable could be damaged. Try a different one.
• Try plugging the controller up to a different USB port on the PS4.
• If possible, try charging another controller with the same cable on the same port.
• Try plugging it in while you’re in safe mode. To enter safe mode on the PS4, first turn the console off, and then when you turn it back on be sure to press and hold the power button for 7 seconds. You’ll hear a second beep and you should arrive at the safe mode screen.
• See if Windows will recognize your controller by plugging it into your PC’s USB port.

By the end of the trial you will have figured out what has failed on you. If it seems the USB cable is to blame then it’s time to buy a new one. If the controller charges normally in a different port then your PS4 may be malfunctioning. If a different controller works on the same port or USB cable then it may be the USB port on the controller itself that’s broken.

Try every combination you can and write down the results of each test. Hopefully, you’ll find that you just need to use a different cable or replace the controller and not have to send your entire PS4 in for repairs.

PS4 controller trackpad is not working

The PS4 controller is unique in that it has a trackpad on it. You can use it to navigate menus or type words, but it’s also used in some video games for controlling certain mechanics.

Try these steps if you find that your trackpad is being unresponsive:
1. Turn it off and back on again.
2. Clean the trackpad with a 50/50 solution of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and water.

Beyond that, a broken trackpad is cause for a repair or replacement. It won’t do you any good to try and replace it as the part is not readily available, and you’d also be potentially compromising your controller’s USB port as the trackpad is connected by the same ribbon that powers it.

PS4 controller buttons are sticking

Sticky buttons can be a problem even if you try to keep your controller as clean as possible. Sometimes buttons can become unstuck or lose their stickiness with repeated use, but if you aren’t having any luck then you may need some chemical help.

Take a microfiber cloth and dab it with a bit of isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
Use the cloth to wipe around the exterior of the buttons. Make sure you cover each affected button thoroughly.
Try pressing the buttons now.

If it still doesn’t budge, you may need to take the controller apart for a deeper cleaning. There’s a handy guide on YouTube that shows you exactly how to go about it.

Note: You may void your warranty if you take your PS4 controller apart yourself. Be sure that your warranty is no longer valid and no other means to repair or replace the controller can suffice before attempting this.

PS4 controller can’t hold a charge

While we love the PS4 controller, one downside that we can’t get over is its lack of a user-replaceable battery. This is because batteries have a tendency to degrade over time, and some of them degrade so harshly that they can fail to hold a charge more than an hour.

If your controller is dying too fast — or worse yet, it simply won’t turn on — it could be due to a bad battery. Replacing it is pretty easy, thankfully. All you’ll need to do is buy a replacement battery for around $10, grab some screwdrivers and open the controller, and swap out the old one for the new one. iFixIt shows us just how easy that process can be.

Note: You may void your warranty if you take your PS4 controller apart yourself. Be sure that your warranty is no longer valid and no other means to repair or replace the controller can suffice before attempting this.

Check your warranty

If none of the above worked or if you are uncomfortable performing some of these troubleshooting steps, then perhaps it’s time to give Sony a call. Check to see that your PS4 and its controller are still under warranty, and if they are then Sony will be able to repair or replace them for free. If not, you can still likely pay for a repair, and that’s still going to be much cheaper than replacing the thing outright.

As a general rule of thumb for any problems you have with your PS4, call Sony to see your less risky options before deciding to take on any of these repairs yourself.

Any other tips?

Here, we tried to cover the most common issues that you are bound to come across when playing your PS4. The controller gets the most mechanical wear out of all your components, after all, and no amount of tender love and care can stand up to the long-term effects of regular usage.

Think we missed anything here? Let us know of any other PS4 controller issues that seem to be plaguing you and whether you’ve been able to fix them!

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

This Multi-function Car Jump Starter May be the Most Practical Phone Accessory

Keep it in your glovebox for any time your car — or phone — needs a boost of power.

It’s a road tripper’s nightmare — you make a quick pit stop only to find that your battery has died and you need a boost. If you’re lucky your car insurance includes roadside assistance for situations like this.

But if you’re prepared with the right tech, you can boost yourself and get right back on the road!

With the summer months just around the corner, now’s the time to invest in a multi-functional car jump starter as a failsafe before you’re left stranded on the side of the highway.

• Anker PowerCore 400A Car Jump Starter (up to 2.8L Gas)
• DBPOWER 500A Portable Car Jump Starter (up to 3.0L Gas/ 2.0L Diesel
• DBPOWER 600A Portable Car Jump Starter (up to 6.5L Gas/ 5.2L Diesel
• Weego Heavy Duty Jump Starter (up to 6.4L Gas/ 3.2L Diesel
• Beatit 800A Portable Car Jump Starter (up to 7.0L Gas/ 5.5L Diesel)

Anker PowerCore 400A Car Jump Starter

We’ll start with the most compact battery on our list. This jump starter from Anker includes a 9000mAh internal battery, two USB ports to charge your phone in emergency situations, along with a built-in LED flashlight.

Designed to jump-start cars with gasoline engines up to 2.8L and can deliver up to 15 jump-starts from a full charge. While it’s small enough to be stored in your glovebox, you’ll want to remind yourself to charge it every couple of months just so it’s ready to use whenever you need it. The kit includes a carrying case, a car charger for the battery pack itself, and of course the clamps for connecting up to your car battery.

If this sounds like the right fit your you and your car, get this jump-starter battery pack by Anker for $80.

See at Amazon

DBPOWER 500A Portable Car Jump Starter

If the Anker product is a bit too small to support your vehicle or a bit more than you’d like to pay, consider this option from DBPOWER. With 500A peak current available, you’ll be able to jump-start any vehicle with a 3.0L gas engine or 2.0L diesel engine.

Along with a standard 5V/2.1A USB port, they’ve also included a Quick Charge 3.0 USB port and a USB-C port that lets you quickly charge up if you find yourself needing roadside assistance with a dead phone.

All these features built into a device that’s small enough to fit in your glovebox. You know what’s also small? The price — just $50 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

DBPOWER 600A Portable Car Jump Starter

Another good option from DBPOWER that steps up the specs — with 600 amps of peak current you’ll be able to jump-start vehicles with up to 6.5L gas or 5.2L diesel engines. There’s also the USB ports included along with a convenient LCD display that shows you the remaining power.

This is a heavy duty option that’s still small enough to fit in your glovebox. It includes a flashlight and compass, too, so this makes a great option to keep on the boat at the cabin.

Get yours for just $70 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Weego Heavy Duty Jump Starter

Weego is all about the car jump starter tech — they offer seven different models that start as low as $65 and as high as $191 for a professional model that’ll jump start just about anything.

The Weego Jump Starter 22s was selected by Wirecutter as their pick for the best overall value, but we’ll highlight the Jump Starter Promo that includes a bonus battery pack that’s just as handy to keep in your glovebox

Get the promo pack for $69, or check out the other options from Weego.

See at Amazon

Beatit 800A Portable Car Jump Starter

Designed to boost vehicles with up to 7.0L gas or 5.5L diesel engines, this is a great option for anyone who owns a big SUV or truck. Featuring a 18,000mAh lithium ion battery and dual USB ports which can be used to charge smartphones, tablets or other devices, and an emergency flashlight, this is a great option.

Beatit says their car jump starter includes “intelligent clamps” which include over current, short circuit, overload, over-voltage, and over-charge protections.

You can pick up yours for $70.

See at Amazon

Have you used a portable car jump starter?

What has been your experience? Got a recommendation that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments.

Tesla loses Autopilot chief Jim Keller

Tesla’s Autopilot chief has left the building. The automaker hired veteran chipmaker Jim Keller from AMD back in 2016 before it announced that it’s working on its own AI chip. Keller worked for Apple before AMD and was a key figure in the development of the A4 and A5 processors for iPhones and iPads. The spokesperson who confirmed the news to Electrek said he’s leaving to join a company where he can once again focus on his core passion: microprocessor engineering. According to The Wall Street Journal, that company is Intel.

The spokesperson said:

“Today is Jim Keller’s last day at Tesla, where he has overseen low-voltage hardware, Autopilot software and infotainment. Prior to joining Tesla, Jim’s core passion was microprocessor engineering and he’s now joining a company where he’ll be able to once again focus on this exclusively. We appreciate his contributions to Tesla and wish him the best.”

Tesla has been in hot water for quite some time and is still facing intense scrutiny over the safety of its self-driving technology. Back in March, a Model X was involved in a fatal crash while Autopilot was on, though Tesla insists that the driver was at fault for the accident. While Keller left during a difficult time, Tesla has no shortage of talents to choose from. In fact, he’s being replaced by two tech veterans.

Pete Bannon, another Apple alum who co-led the development of Cupertino’s chips from A5 to A9, will lead Tesla’s Autopilot hardware efforts. The company has also promoted Andrej Karpathy, the Director of AI and Autopilot Vision, and put him in charge of Autopilot’s software development.

Source: Electrek, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters

Europe wants to regulate how tech giants treat other companies

Europe is introducing new rules for Google, Apple, Amazon and other large platforms forcing them to handle customer complaints better and be more transparent about rankings. The proposed regulations, released by the EU Commission, affect search engines, app stores, e-commerce sites and hotel booking apps. Platforms would have to explain why they de-listed or lowered a site’s ranking and how they treat their own competing products, and customers would gain the right to sue them.

Sites like Google are notoriously opaque about how they handle the search rankings that are crucial for many businesses. Meanwhile, companies like Spotify have complained about having to give Apple a cut of sales to appear in its App Store, while at the same time competing directly against Apple Music.

If the proposed rules are passed by the EU parliament, Google or Bing would have to tell customers exactly why they dropped their rankings. If a situation can’t be resolved amicably, the platforms would be required to appoint mediators and pay at least half the costs. They would also need to explain how they treat their own services compared to third-party businesses that provide identical products (as is the case with Apple Music versus Spotify, for example).

The EU has been moving toward regulation because tech sites don’t have a good track record in policing themselves. Last year, for example, the EU fined Google $2.7 billion for manipulating search results to promote its own products, to the detriment of other e-commerce sites. “Platforms and search engines are important channels for European businesses to reach consumers,” said EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, “but we must make sure they are not abusing their power, and thus bringing harm to their business users.”

Via: Reuters

Source: European Commission

IBM is using blockchain to confirm the origins of jewelry

While blockchain is the system that supports cryptocurrency, the decentralized ledger can have wide applications outside of crypto. Today, TechCrunch reports that IBM has set up a blockchain system to trace the provenance of jewelry. TrustChain accomplishes this by following gems from the mine where they’re procured all the way to the store where they are sold.

The benefit here is that the entire process of proving provenance becomes digital. There are certainly mechanisms in place to authenticate jewelry now, but it’s often based on a paper trail. Blockchain ensures that the system is digital, and therefore more efficient and somewhat easier to use.

This also streamlines the dispute process. “If there is a dispute, instead of calling and following back through the process in a more manual way, you can click on a trusted chain, and you’re able to see what happened immediately,” Jason Kelley, the general manager of IBM’s blockchain department, told TechCrunch. “That reduces the number of steps in the process, and speeds up what has been a paper-laden and manual effort.”

This doesn’t mean that there isn’t the potential for errors or it erases all hassles that come with keeping track of something, but it streamlines the entire process and just makes it easier to deal with. Blockchain has been a tech buzzword recently, and it’s important for the tech to prove itself in a practical manner. Ventures like this, as well as Samsung’s exploration into using the tech for global shipping, will be interesting to keep an eye on as blockchain moves further into the mainstream.

Source: TechCrunch

Dutch police seize revenge porn site Anon-IB

Dutch police have seized revenge porn site Anon-IB, Motherboard reports. The site currently redirects to a Dutch police force website with an image stating, “Cybercrime teams from the Dutch police have seized the Anon-IB forum in an ongoing investigation concerning criminal offenses. More information concerning this investigation will be made available on April 26, 2018 on http://www.politie.nl.” A spokesperson for Politie — the Dutch police force — told Motherboard that no Anon-IB administrators had been arrested yet but some users of the site had been brought in.

Users of Anon-IB go to the site to share nude photos, or “wins” as they’re called, with others. Some also request images and different sections and threads allow visitors to focus on specific countries, states or even universities. Earlier this year, The Daily Beast reported that IP addresses linked to the US Navy, the US Senate, the Department of Energy and the Executive Office of the President were used to post on Anon-IB.

Revenge porn has proven difficult to tackle, but some governments have made efforts to fight it. Australia created a national reporting tool last year and California launched a similar hub in 2015. German courts have ruled that subjects of nude photos can withdraw their consent after sharing them and the UK made revenge porn a crime in 2015. And last year, Senators introduced a bill that would criminalize revenge porn in the US. However, last week, a Texas court ruled that a 2015 law that made revenge porn a misdemeanor punishable by jail time and a fine was unconstitutional. The 12th Court of Appeals said the law was too broad and far-reaching and therefore a violation of the First Amendment.

Katelyn Bowden, creator of the anti-revenge porn group BADASS, told Motherboard, “We at BADASS, are so thrilled to see that a law enforcement agency has heard our pleas, and has finally done something against this website. Anon-IB was a cancer on the internet, and needed to be removed. We are immeasurably grateful to the Dutch police and all parties who had a hand in getting Anon-IB shut down.”

Image: Politie via Motherboard

Via: Motherboard

LG celebrates record profits by making its biggest ever acquisition

LG has revealed its biggest acquisition yet shortly after it announced that it has reached its highest quarterly profit since 2009. The Korean corporation has snapped up Austrian company ZKW, which is known for manufacturing lighting and electrical systems used by European automakers like Audi, BMW, Daimler and Porsche. It’s one of the first companies to make matrix LED and laser headlights and was almost purchased by Panasonic for $885 million back in 2016 — LG had to shell out around US$1.3 billion to finalize its deal. So, why would LG buy a company that makes lights for premium cars? Two words: autonomous vehicles.

According to the company’s announcement, LG and ZKW will work on developing intelligent lighting solutions. Particularly, lighting technologies that can collect information from autonomous vehicle sensors and cameras and can project high-resolution warnings on roads based on that data. “In addition to strengthening ZKW’s product development capabilities,” LG chief Jo Seong-jin said in a statement, “LG’s global production experience and international business network will present unlimited opportunities for both companies in the auto market of tomorrow, which includes intelligent lighting solutions.”

While a $1.3 billion acquisition is a huge deal for a company like LG, it at least made $1.03 billion in operating profit for the first quarter of 2018. It said its sales rose 3.2 percent from the first quarter last year, thanks to its pricier appliances. Unfortunately, LG’s couldn’t say the same for its mobile division, which recorded an operating loss of $126.85 million. Sales apparently declined due to G7’s delay, but the company “expects to see positive results with the launch of the LG G7 ThinQ” in May.

Source: LG (1), (2)

TCL’s premium 4K HDR Roku TVs start at $649

TCL had a pretty good year in 2017, with over 23 million TVs shipped around the world. It even climbed the ranks to become the number two TV brand in the US, according to last September’s NPD report. One of the reasons for that is the affordable price point of its TVs, as well as its partnership with Roku. So, in 2018, the company is aiming higher. At CES, it introduced its new premium 6-Series, which boasts a slim, metal design and even better display quality. And today, TCL announced pricing for the TVs: The 55-inch model will be $649 while the 65-inch version will retail at $999. You can pre-order it starting today, and it’ll be available on store shelves starting May 1st.

That pricing is around the same as TCL’s existing P-Series TVs, but the new 6-Series promises to be much improved. Aside from the slimmer looks, the 6-Series also boasts a better version of its Contrast Control Zones technology, which boasts better contrast than before, resulting in deeper blacks and a richer depth of image. According to TCL, while the P-Series of televisions had 72 of these local dimming zones, the newer 6-Series has around 96 in the 55-inch and 120 in the 65-inch.

Another feature of the new 6-Series is the addition of TCL NBP Photon tech called iPQ Engine, which TCL uses for more accurate color reproduction. Last but not least, the new TCL 6-Series also has HDR Pro Gamma, which optimizes the screen for most lighting conditions. Simply change the picture mode (from Normal to Bright to Dark) in the TV’s settings, and TCL says that the TV can show dark shadows and clear contrast even in bright daylight.

I had the opportunity to check out a brief demo of the 6-Series running a copy of BBC’s Blue Planet 2 and I was definitely impressed by the beautiful saturated colors on the screen. The vibrant greens of the forest seemed remarkably true-to-life and the blue of the ocean was captivatingly vivid. It was certainly the sort of quality I would expect out of a much more expensive TV. Still, the demo was done in a highly controlled environment and it might not look like that in the real world.

Other features of the 6-Series include a new Roku TV voice remote, Dolby Vision HDR, 802.11ac WiFi, ethernet and three HDMI 2.0a ports. TCL also introduced the 5-Series this year, which doesn’t have quite the same handsome looks as the 6-Series, but it does have Dolby Vision as well, along with HDR Pro Gamma and the same ports of the 6-Series. It doesn’t, however, have the same level of Contrast Control Zone tech as the 6-Series does. Pricing for the 5-Series is still to be determined at this time.

Sonos confirms only newer speakers will support AirPlay 2

When Sonos announced forthcoming support for AirPlay 2 back in October, it was pretty vague about exactly what that would look like. Now, it’s clarified matters, and while support is definitely on its way, there are a few caveats involved. In an announcement to MacObserver, the company says that AirPlay 2 will only be compatible with the Sonos One, Sonos Play:5 and Playbase. Older speakers won’t have native support.

But here’s the workaround. AirPlay 2 will work on older speakers if they’re grouped with compatible models (that is, the ones listed above). So a set of Play:1s can utilize AirPlay 2 as long as they’re grouped with a Sonos One, for example. Basically, if your speaker has touch controls, it’ll support AirPlay 2. If it has buttons, it’ll need to be part of a group to support it.

When support will actually arrive is another matter, and probably up to Apple, rather than Sonos. When Apple announced HomePod earlier this year, AirPlay 2-enabled features such as multi-room playback and stereo pairing were held back until “later this year” — and that’s the most optimistic timeframe we can expect for Sonos support, too.

Via: 9to5Mac

Source: MacObserver