Facebook Leads Industry Design Lab Creating Simple Privacy Controls, Including Snapchat-Like ‘Data Stories’

In its ongoing efforts to recover from the Cambridge Analytica scandal this spring, Facebook has detailed its collaboration with a design lab focused entirely on privacy and located in Dublin, Ireland.

News of the lab comes from Facebook’s responses to questions from the United States Senate that were released this week by the Senate commerce committee, and follow CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s congressional hearings in April (via Bloomberg).

The lab is called TTC labs — “Trust, Transparency, and Control” — and is a cross-industry program that aims to improve privacy controls for services like Facebook and many others. Facebook said that the lab was started “in recognition of the need for improved approaches to data transparency across all digital services.” According to the lab’s website it’s been around for a while, so Facebook likely chose to highlight its partnership with the initiative to earn some favor during the congressional hearings.

TTC labs was “initiated and supported by Facebook,” and has more than 60 other organizations involved, although names are not given. The ultimate goal is said to be the creation of “people-centric” privacy practices that are user friendly and “easy to understand and control.”

In the latest blog post on the lab’s site the group discusses how design can educate users about how their data is used, using “clear illustrations” to “effectively educate people about data flow and data connections in a step-by-step way.” Other articles talk about “Building people’s trust over time” and “Making cookies transparent.”
In another article, TTC labs details how data controls and transparency can be explained to users in ways that are less technical and more familiar to them. Using the example of an app called “Friendlee,” the group built customizable data controls into an ephemeral story format like Snapchat “to educate teens” about privacy and allow them to easily update their privacy settings without needing to navigate confusing menus.

Friendlee uses an ‘ephemeral story format’, an experience already embedded in the app, to educate teens to understand and make choices about their data without having to actively look for data settings or deletion. Once they have used Friendlee for a while, it prompts them with a ‘data story.’ This story is about an interest that Friendlee identified, such as football, with the story showing content and actions that have made Friendlee believe they like football. At the end of the story, they are asked whether this is actually true using simple, conversational language.

The language around the actions is purposely kept human and is based on self-reflection, not on a technical process like ‘delete this data’. The teen is able to take control of their data without having any knowledge of activity logs or data settings. Instead, they can reflect on it in the context of their own self-identity.

It’s important to note that TTC labs’ blog posts are concepts at this point, so it’s unclear if Facebook itself will implement similar features into its own apps and website.

In the most recent report regarding Facebook’s data malpractices, the company was said to have forged an agreement with at least 60 device makers like Apple and Samsung to provide access to large amounts of user data without explicit consent. Facebook immediately denied that report from The New York Times, stating that it created specific APIs for device makers so that they could provide Facebook features on operating systems before apps or app stores where available, not to harvest user details.

Concerns about Facebook’s data misuse increased in March following the Cambridge Analytica scandal, in which the data of 50 million users was misused in the run-up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Cambridge Analytica eventually shut down in May, remaining adamant that many of the accusations against the data firm were “unfounded.”

In the weeks following the news of the data controversy, Facebook shared numerous blog posts about policy changes and updates that launched on the social network to enhance its users’ privacy. It appears that TTC labs is the latest initiative in that ongoing privacy effort and should see even more updates to the Facebook mobile apps for iOS and Android in the future.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tag: Facebook
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Patent Applications Reveal Apple’s Research Into 3D Chip Packaging

Apple’s persistent quest for better performance, longer battery life, and slimmer form factors appears to be driving its research into advanced chip packaging technologies. So-called “2.5D” and “3D” packaging methods stand to offer significant gains in all of these areas by increasing memory bandwidth, reducing power consumption, and freeing up space for higher-capacity batteries.

Apple has been an aggressive adopter of new device packaging methods, mostly thanks to integrated fan-out (InFO) innovations provided by foundry partner TSMC. TSMC’s success has spurred it into further developing and diversifying its packaging offerings, and TSMC has emerged as an industry leader in packaging techniques.

While versions of TSMC’s InFO packaging have brought performance improvements to Apple devices, such as better thermal management and improved package height, it has largely not been a direct enabler of improved electrical performance. This is set to change with future packaging techniques and is already seen in some products that utilize interposers for higher density interconnects to on-package memory, such as High Bandwidth Memory (HBM).

The primary memory candidate for inclusion in such a package would be conforming to the Wide I/O set of standards described by JEDEC, and mentioned by name in several of the patents. This memory improves on LPDDR4 by increasing the number of channels and reducing the transfer speed per channel, thus increasing the overall bandwidth but lowering the energy required per bit.

Interposers do, however, pose several issues for mobile devices. Significantly, they introduce another vertical element to the package, increasing total height. Interposers must also be fabricated on silicon wafers just like active ICs, with their dimensions driven by the footprint of all devices that need to be included in the package. These solutions are typically termed as “2.5D” due to some components being placed laterally with respect to one another rather a true stacking of chips.

Rather than adopt interposers for its products as a next step in advanced packaging, the direction of Apple’s focus, according to several patent applications [1][2][3][4], appears to be on true “3D” techniques, with logic die such as memory being placed directly on top of an active SoC. Additionally, a patent application from TSMC seems to suggest a level of coordination between Apple and TSMC in these efforts.

3D stacking process flow
The process has similarities to the existing InFO techniques in that they both involve a redistribution layer (RDL) where contacts on a logic die are routed inside a molding compound with the help of vias directly in the molding compound. Where the 3D process diverts from this is that there is now RDL content on both sides of the die, necessitating the use of through-silicon vias (TSV) directly in the logic die so that interconnections can be made with the top of the die. A key feature of these RDL layers is that interconnect pitches finer than available substrate or interposer types is possible.

Subsequent dies could then be attached to the molding compound, mating with the vias and RDL placed in the previous step. This step could be done multiple times, provided each stacked component has TSVs for the next level of integration, and this is already seen in HBM, which allows for the stacking of up to eight DRAM dies.

Side view of memory die (110) attached to SoC (150) in 3D package
Still, this approach has many technical challenges that have prevented its commercialization. TSVs are expensive to implement and are a serious yield detractor to ICs. Electrical isolation from nearby components’ radiated energy can also be a concern, particularly when integrating RF and analog components in a package with other components that would have been separated by space and EMI shielding before. Apple describes techniques to incorporate shielding directly in the package to mitigate this.

Package with integrated EMI shield
This approach also presents thermal challenges since active dies become so closely coupled in mediums that have poor thermal conductivity and shared thermal paths. These concerns extend not only to normal device usage, but also the package integration and any solder reflow steps. Thermal stresses can induce warpage of the packaging components due to differing coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) amongst the materials utilized in the package. This warpage can lead to broken or separated contacts, resulting in device failure.

The use of a carrier substrate in the process flow mitigates some of the thermal concerns. The direct integration of heatsinks into device packaging is also addressed at various levels of the package assembly, such that higher dissipating die, such as a SoC featuring CPU and GPU cores, could be placed on the bottom of the stack or at a higher level of integration, providing stackup flexibility not seen in previous PoP arrangements.

Package with integrated heatsink component (310)

Embodiments may be applied in applications such as, and not limited to, low power and/or high I/O width memory architecture. Embodiments can enable a short double data rate (DDR) channel to neighboring function units (e.g. SOC, chipsets, etc.) by using RDL and direct chip attach. Embodiments may be particularly applicable for mobile applications that require low power DDR at target performance including high speed and I/O width.

The benefits of the methods described are many. The use of higher bandwidth memory will yield performance improvements. The flexibility of component placement shortens the distance between connected active and passive devices, either lowering the energy required to communicate between them, or reducing parasitic effects that can cause unwanted power loss or dynamic performance degradation. The most notable tasks that stand to benefit are gaming and image processing tasks, which often require large amounts of bandwidth over short time intervals.

Apple Watch Implications

These enhancements would be applicable to all of Apple’s mobile devices, but multiple patent applications specifically mention methods of multiple components married together in a System in Package (SiP), as seen in the current Apple Watch. The methods described below are an enhancement on the existing SiP solutions found in Apple Watch in that they introduce true 3D stacking elements enabled by both TSV and Through Oxide Vias (TOV).

Array of TOVs for connecting stacked die to package pins

In one aspect, embodiments describe system on chip (SoC) die portioning and/or die splitting within an SiP structure (e.g. 3D memory package) in which IP cores such as CPU, GPU, IO, DRAM, SRAM, cache, ESD, power management, and integrated passives may be freely segregated throughout the package, while also mitigating total z-height of the package.

Additionally, the patent describes TSV and TOV pitch in explicit detail, suggesting that keeping package heights down allows them to create very small width vias, with the TOV forming interconnect rows at sizes smaller than even the TSVs. The effect of TSVs stressing active parts of the die, including hurting transistor performance, is also discussed, and the reduced pitches help to mitigate this.

Active die keepout zones around TSVs
Inclusion of RF transceivers and active devices on substrate types not currently used in Apple mobile devices are covered, indicating all types of active and passive components found in Apple Watch products could be housed in the SiP proposed.

Bottom level view of an SiP with stacked heterogenous die interconnected with TSV and TOV

Timeline

Packages featuring 2.5D and 3D connected components have been in consumer devices for several years, but most of the methods described above have yet to debut in mobile devices. The steps described are set to increase manufacturing complexity, and cost and throughput will likely suffer as a result.

Due to cost and yield concerns, a primary candidate for first inclusion of these methods would be a high-margin, low-quantity device. While the iPhone is the highest margin of Apple’s mobile products, it is also the largest volume category, with a huge initial demand for each generation. The iPad Pro is a good candidate because of its low volume nature and its classification as a high-performance device. The inclusion of 120Hz refresh rate is something that will benefit from increased memory bandwidth, specifically.

The focus of many of these patents seems to be specifically on SiP methods seen in Apple Watch internals. The Apple Watch is a lower-volume device, and it stands to benefit because its internals are extremely sensitive to package size given the importance of its form factor and battery size. It seems reasonable to expect some of the methods described to be incorporated as soon as the next revision of the Apple Watch, and more progressively in future revisions.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5Tag: TSMCBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Neutral)
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Wi-Fi Company Plume Introduces New ‘SuperPod’ Mesh Router Alongside $60/Year Subscription

Wi-Fi router startup Plume today announced an upgraded version of its mesh networking devices and a new subscription model for its customers. Plume first began selling its “Plume Pod” routers in late 2016, and today revealed a new tri-band router called the “SuperPod” (via The Verge).

Plume’s SuperPod works like any other mesh system, requiring users to connect the first Pod to their modem with an included ethernet cable. The rest serve as wall plugs that users permanently place in an outlet to enhance the Wi-Fi signal throughout their home. In comparison to the original dual band, four-channel model, SuperPod has a tri-band Wi-Fi radio with eight channels and two ethernet ports.

When connected and running, the SuperPod system learns the user’s home usage patterns “in a matter of days.” This means that the SuperPods will learn when you use Wi-Fi the most (getting news from a smart speaker in the morning or watching 4K films at night) and implement “Adaptive Wi-Fi” to actively optimize the network for more consistent speed and performance.

For users to take advantage of these features, they’ll have to subscribe to Plume. The company previously sold the Plume Pod without a subscription, but today is changing that by requiring customers to subscribe to its Adaptive Wi-Fi service before they can purchase a SuperPod, The Verge notes.

The service costs $60 per year and if users opt out of the subscription in a year’s time “the routers may not fully work,” although Plume CEO Fahri Diner said the company wouldn’t outright “brick” the devices if users decide not to pay down the line.

Diner says Plume wants to provide so many additional services as part of its subscription that customers will happily remain subscribed. “Our intent, our hope, is to make the decision a no-brainer,” Diner said in a phone call. “If the customer doesn’t want to renew, it won’t be because of the price. They will be unhappy for us for one reason or another.”

Plume is offering price discounts for it subscribers, however, selling a three-pack of its routers for $39, down from $179. Three packs come with two dual-band routers (the older models) and one tri-band router (the new model). In terms of adding supplemental Pods onto the system, the company will still sell its Plume Pod for $39 and the individual price for the new SuperPod is $99.

Potential customers can also choose to pay a flat $200 fee for a lifetime membership to the service, while existing Plume owners will be grandfathered in to the new features for free. Other features include parental controls, speed tests, service management, and “Plume HomePass.” This service creates unique Wi-Fi passwords personalized to guests when they visit. The iOS app can also detail Wi-Fi connections, freeze device connections to prevent kids from accessing the internet, data consumption charts, and more.

Wi-Fi mesh systems have become a popular solution for in-home Wi-Fi over the years, with options from companies like Linksys, Orbi, Eero, Google, and others. The technology is looking to expand as well, with the Wi-Fi Alliance in May announcing a new certification program called “EasyMesh,” which aims to allow users to build mesh networks in their homes across different brands.

For Plume, orders on the SuperPod will open June 15 and the device will begin shipping June 21.

Tags: wi-fi, Plume
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Apple Identifies Limited Hardware Issue With 2017 13″ MacBook Pro Models With Function Keys

Apple has identified a limited hardware issue affecting the latest 13-inch MacBook Pro models with function keys, according to an internal memo distributed to Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers late last week.

Namely, when either the MacBook Pro’s solid state drive or main logic board experiences failure, both need to be replaced simultaneously. Apple’s memo doesn’t specify an underlying reason as to why both components may fail in tandem, or what percentage of units may be at risk of being affected.

An excerpt from the document, obtained by MacRumors from a reliable source:

Apple has identified a specific population of MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2017, Two Thunderbolt 3 Ports) units requiring both solid state drives and the main logic board to be replaced when either has a functional failure.

A message will appear when either the solid state drive or the main logic board part number is added to the repair of an identified MacBook Pro system. The message will indicate both the SSD and MLB must be replaced when either component has a functional failure.

For clarity, this refers to the 2017 model year 13-inch MacBook Pro with a standard row of physical function keys rather than a Touch Bar. Apple says the issue does not affect any other MacBook Pro models with or without the Touch Bar, including those released in 2016, according to the memo.

Apple says the dual SSD-logic board replacement is not required for unrelated issues, such as a cracked display or an unresponsive trackpad.

Apple appears to have authorized free repairs for this issue if the affected MacBook Pro is covered by Apple’s limited one-year warranty or an extended AppleCare+ plan, as long as there is no liquid damage or accidental damage, or else out-of-warranty fees may apply. Apple quotes a turnaround time of 5-7 days.

To initiate a repair, visit the Get Support page on Apple’s website and select “Mac” → “Mac notebooks” → “Hardware Issues” → “The topic is not listed,” explain the issue, and select continue. Then, select “Bring in for Repair” to schedule an appointment with an Apple Authorized Service Provider or Genius Bar.

There are also options to contact Apple’s support advisors by phone or online chat to initiate a mail-in repair in select countries.

This issue could explain why the 13-inch MacBook Pro with function keys temporarily faced extended shipping estimates on Apple’s online store last month, as Apple may have implemented a fix, although the brief shortage could have been purely coincidental. We’ve reached out to Apple for comment on the matter.

Related Roundup: MacBook ProBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy)
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Verizon Named 2018’s Fastest Mobile Network in PCMag’s Annual Carrier Showdown

Verizon Wireless was awarded the title of the fastest nationwide mobile network in PCMag’s annual mobile network comparison, the results of which were released this morning.

For its test, PCMag analysts drove within and between 30 cities in the United States to test mobile network speeds using four Samsung Galaxy S8 phones. More than a dozen locations in each city were tested, with the site gathering more than 124,000 data points to reach its conclusion. Scores were calculated taking into account metrics like download speed, upload speed, latency, reliability, and consistency.

Verizon was named the overall fastest network after it won or tied in 19 of the 36 cities that were tested across the United States, marking Verizon’s 5th annual victory.

Verizon won out in almost every region (Northeast, North Central, South Central, Northwest, and Southwest), with the exception of the Southeast, where T-Mobile was determined to be the fastest network. T-Mobile was also named the second fastest network overall, followed by AT&T and then Sprint.

PCMag says that compared to its 2017 results, it saw faster, more consistent LTE connections across all four major U.S. carriers in the 2018 test. In the future, we should see some interesting results as mobile networks are upgraded to 5G. AT&T and Verizon are both aiming for higher speeds in smaller areas, while T-Mobile is aiming for nationwide 5G coverage but at slower speeds.

In addition to determining the fastest mobile carrier in 2018, PCMag also took a look at Speedtest Intelligence results pulled from Ookla to determine the fastest download speeds on modern Samsung and Apple devices.

Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S9, equipped with Gigabit LTE and 4×4 MIMO, beat out the iPhone X, which does not have 4×4 MIMO. Of Apple’s iPhones, though, the iPhone X saw the fastest upload and download speeds thanks to its adoption of 256QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), which boosts signal to allow for more data to be transferred at one time.

The full results of PCMag’s 2018 mobile carrier speed testing can be found over on the PCMag website.

Tags: Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon
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DigiTimes Vaguely Says 2019 iPhones Are ‘Likely to Support USB-C’

Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes has published a report today claiming that 2019 iPhones will come with USB-C support, but the vague wording makes it hard to decipher what they are referring to exactly.

Cage Chao and Jessie Shen, citing sources within Apple’s supply chain:

Apple is redesigning chargers and related interface for its next-generation iPhone and iPad devices, and will likely have its 2019 series of iPhones come with USB Type-C support, according to sources at analog IC vendors.

The flashiest take would be that Apple is planning to remove its Lightning connector from iPhones, in favor of a more universally adopted USB-C port, but that perennial rumor has been proven incorrect time and time again.

A similarly vague report from The Wall Street Journal last year ignited speculation that the iPhone X would have a USB-C port, for example, but oft-reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo accurately said 2017 iPhones would retain Lightning connectors, with added support for fast charging via USB-C Power Delivery.

Given the unlikely possibility of a wholesale switch from Lightning to USB-C, and that the latest iPhones already support USB-C fast charging, the report could be referring to the type of power adapter included in the box.

The report adds:

Speculation circulated previously in the smartphone market that Apple would adopt Type-C interface in its next-generation iPhone series slated for launch later in 2018. Apple is still in its redesign phase and will not be able to equip the technology in its upcoming iPhones, the sources claimed.

The speculation mentioned in the report likely refers to a pair of rumors that have suggested 2018 iPhones will include an 18W USB-C charger and a Lightning to USB-C cable in the box, enabling much faster charging speeds than the tiny square-shaped 5W power adapter included with current iPhones.

In the end, this report could merely be suggesting that Apple will not bundle an 18W power adapter and Lightning to USB-C cable with iPhones until 2019, rather than this year. But, without further details, it is open to interpretation.

A transition to USB-C could make sense if Apple wants to use one standard across its MacBooks, iPhones, and iPads, but with Apple pushing towards a wireless future, it’s unclear if the controversy of switching to USB-C would be worthwhile considering the Lightning connector might be removed entirely down the road.

It’s worth noting that DigiTimes has a rather mixed track record at reporting on Apple’s roadmap. The website claimed that Apple’s AirPower charging mat would be available in March, and said a second-generation iPhone SE would launch in May or June, but neither release date proved to be accurate.

At this point, this report should be treated with some skepticism until DigiTimes provides more specific details, or the information is backed up by a more reliable source such as Kuo, who recently returned to the scene.

Tags: digitimes.com, USB-C, Lightning, 2019 iPhones
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Uber could soon know if you’re drunk before the car arrives to pick you up

Uber is looking at the idea of using artificial intelligence (A.I.) to determine if riders have had one beer too many, and then tailor its service accordingly.

A patent application filed by the ridesharing company this week details how A.I. could be used to detect small changes in a rider’s behavior as they use the app to request an Uber.

Titled “predicting user state using machine learning,” the patent doesn’t explicitly mention drunkenness or drug use. But its contents, which speak of “uncharacteristic user states” and “identifying a normal or abnormal state of the respective user,” suggest such matters to be at the center of the idea. Other conditions that could also conceivably lead to uncharacteristic behavior by a rider could also include extreme tiredness.

So how would it work? According to the filing, A.I. smarts built into the app would monitor behavior such as typing speed and accuracy, as well as walking speed and direction, before interpreting the data to determine whether the rider is compos mentis or utterly mangled.

In other words, if you’re typing slower than usual, making more mistakes than you ordinarily do, and perhaps dropping the phone or walking all over the place, the software is likely to conclude that you’re intoxicated.

The algorithm could also make use of time and location data, taking special note of whether or not the ride request is coming from an entertainment area with bars and clubs at the end of the night.

If the system concludes that the rider is inebriated, it could deal with the Uber request in a number of ways. For example, it might match the razzled rider with a more experienced driver, or one trained to handle such potentially disorderly passengers. It might also prevent drunk riders from taking a pooled ride. At the very least, it would serve as notice to the driver that the rider they’re about to collect may be the worse for wear.

Of course, if the algorithm detects someone in a particularly bad state, a driver may simply refuse to pick them up for fear of them vomiting in their vehicle, or worse.

Some Uber riders, however, may find the idea expressed in Uber’s patent somewhat troubling, especially as it could offer a way for predatory drivers to target vulnerable riders who may not be in full control of their faculties.

Privacy advocates, too, may not like the sound of it. Uber doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to handling customer data, and holding information on when its riders are perceived to be sozzled or sober may leave some riders feeling uncomfortable.

When asked about the patent, Uber boss Dara Khosrowshahi told the NY Post that “it’s kind of a cool idea,” adding that if it made Uber safer, “it’s certainly something we would look at.”

It should be pointed out, however, that at this stage it’s simply an idea outlined in a document, so it may never see the light of day. We’ll keep you posted.

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A single police drone has seriously impacted crime in a Mexican city

Powie/Pixabay

Drones are finding a place in so many industries lately that it’s little surprise police departments have also been testing the technology for crime-fighting operations.

The city of Ensenada in Mexico, for example, has recently achieved positive results using just a single quadcopter, Wired reported this week. The flying machine has helped to cut overall crime in the city by as much as 10 percent, including a 30 percent drop in house burglaries,

Cops in Ensenada, located a couple of hours south of the U.S. border, have been using DJI’s Inspire 1 quadcopter for the last four months and so far the eye in the sky has helped them to make a whopping 500 arrests.

The police department’s drone has been sent skyward mostly in response to emergency calls from the public, so far flying around 25 missions a day. Once it’s up in the air, any authorized cop can tap into the drone camera’s feed, whether they’re out with the camera or sitting at their desk back at base.

The software powering the drone has been created by a California firm called Cape. CEO Chris Rittler says the remotely controlled copter can often beat car-based officers to a crime scene, allowing them to survey a scene prior to arrival and track a suspect’s movements if one is identified. Rittler believes that for a city the size of Ensenada — about half a million people — you’d need no more than 12 quadcopters to cover its entirety. Certainly, their versatility makes them a more powerful monitoring tool than fixed security cameras, and more cost-effective to operate than helicopters with on-board cameras.

Drones for law enforcement

Law enforcement in a number of countries are steadily finding ways to incorporate drone technology into their daily operations. In the U.K., for example, Devon and Cornwall Police, and neighboring Dorset Police, teamed up in 2017 to launch a drone unit for assistance with missing person searches, gathering images from crime scenes and major traffic accidents, and taking part in coastal and woodland searches to fight wildlife crime. Like in Ensenada, the unit uses DJI’s Inspire drone equipped with powerful thermal imaging and zoom cameras.

In France, meanwhile, traffic cops have been using drones to catch speeding drivers.

Proving their use in emergency situations, a drone recently helped rescuers save a resident from an encroaching lava flow on the island of Hawaii, while in the U.K. recently, the technology was used to help find a car crash victim who’d strayed from his vehicle.

In what looks to have been a significant move, DJI recently teamed up with connected law enforcement company Axon to market DJI drones to law enforcement agencies around the world.

The Axon Air program will promote DJI’s Phantom 4 Pro and Matrice 210 drones for law enforcement work, while also offering information about how the technology can be used to tackle crime or help in other related operations.

Looking ahead, Amazon envisages police using mini drones that travel around with officers and assist them with their work, though admittedly such a scenario still seems a ways off.

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Uber Lite is a barebones version of the app that comes in at just 5MB

Uber Lite is making its way to India, and will expand to other emerging markets later this year.

India is one of Uber’s largest markets, and the ride-sharing service is doubling down in the country with a new lightweight version of its app. Dubbed Uber Lite, the app comes in at just 5MB, and is designed primarily to run on low-end hardware and 2G networks. The app strips out the vehicle animations, and you don’t even get the map view by default.

An overwhelming majority of phones sold in India are budget devices that retail for under $200, so it makes sense for Uber to launch a lightweight app that provides a better user experience. Uber is touting a 300-millisecond response time for the app, and the company says Uber Lite will work on all Android phones.

The app automatically pulls in your location via GPS, and there’s a textbox where you can enter your destination details. You get to see how close an Uber is to your location, view fare estimates, and choose from UberGo, Pool, Premier, Moto, and UberXL. You’ll also be able to call the driver and share your ride status once you get going. The app caches the top locations in your city, making it easy to pick a destination even when you’re in an area with little to no connectivity.

Like the regular Uber app, Uber Lite will be able to surface smarter recommendations over time as it learns your usage habits. And while maps aren’t available when you launch the app, there’s an option to toggle them should you need to see the route.

Uber says it’s also working on local language support, a progress bar that will let you follow your cab’s progress, and the ability to book a ride even when you’re offline. Uber Lite is clearly aimed at taking on Ola, India’s home-grown ride-hailing service, which launched a lightweight version of its app earlier this year. Ola Lite comes in at just 580KB, and offers most of the features of the full-fledged app.

Uber Lite isn’t available on the Play Store just yet, but you can fill up the form below to be the first to try out the app in early access.

Sign up for Uber Lite

Nomad Launches New 2,800mAh Battery Cable for iPhone

Nomad today announced the launch of an updated Battery Cable, which comes equipped with a slim 2,800 mAh battery to add a bit of extra juice to Apple’s iPhones and iPads.

The Battery Cable looks like a standard braided Nomad Lightning cable for the iPhone, but with the addition of a battery pack at one end that can be used for extra charging power when necessary.

Nomad’s 1.5M Battery Cable includes an integrated Nomad cable tie and support for passthrough charging, so you can charge up the battery while you charge your iPhone. Having the battery pack integrated into the cable is convenient because it ensures the battery is always full when you need it.

Compared to the original version of the Battery Cable, the new model has a higher capacity and a sturdier aluminum build.

Nomad’s Battery Cable can be purchased from the Nomad website for $49.95 starting today.

Tag: Nomad
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