ICYMI: M&Ms vaccinating wild ferrets and Land Rover AI
Today on In Case You Missed It: The US Fish and Wildlife Service is trying to protect the endangered black-footed ferret by dropping vaccine-dipped M&Ms in rural areas of Montana, via a drone. Land Rover is testing an all-terrain autonomous driving system that can adapt to trail conditions and even alert other vehicles if anything gets stuck in the mud.
Be sure to read up on the mall security bot that may have run over a child and the grandpa who created a backyard paradise for his grandkids. As always, please share any interesting tech or science videos you find by using the #ICYMI hashtag on Twitter for @mskerryd.
‘Robot Wars’ returns to BBC Two on July 24th
Forty teams. New presenters. A bullet-proof arena. Nastier house robots.
Rejoice, for the return of Robot Wars cometh.
It’s been over a decade since homemade robots — each taking huge amounts of time and care to build — were pitted against each other in fights to the death, purely for the entertainment of a hydraulic fluid-thirsty crowd. And starting at 8PM on Sunday July 24th, a brand new six-part series will debut on BBC Two.
Expect twisted metal, burning rubber, flipper-induced acrobatics, and probably a couple of anticlimactic electronics failures. In short, utter carnage. Sure, Craig Charles will be notably absent, but that’s nothing the tears of a child clutching a heap of dead robot won’t make us forget about.
Source: Robot Wars (Facebook)
‘Pokémon Go’ sponsored locations to let brands in on the fun
While you’re trying to catch ’em all with Pokémon Go, the developers are figuring out how to make (more) money from the white hot augmented reality (AR) game. Along with the existing in-app purchases from “PokéCoins,” developer Niantic says it will use sponsored locations as another way to cash in, according to the Financial Times. “There is a second component to our business model at Niantic, which is this concept of sponsored locations,” Chief Executive John Hanke told the FT.
Sponsorships make a lot of sense for Pokémon Go, because retailers are already paying to set Pokéstop “lures” to draw players. Also, Niantic is familiar with the concept thanks to its other AR game, Ingress. With that app, sponsors like Duane Reade pharmacies in the US and Vodafone in Germany pay to turn their locations into “portals,” drawing extra foot traffic. With Pokemon Go, advertisers would be charged for every customer visiting a store, as confirmed by the app.
In just a week, Pokémon Go has become the most downloaded and top-grossing app on Android and iOS in the US, and has 21 million active (and I do mean active) daily users as of yesterday. It’s not clear how much money the app is actually generating, though some analysts think it could make a $1 billion a year if it can keep up its current momentum.
Niantic is an independent company, but is funded by both Nintendo and Google parent Alphabet. Pokémon Go, meanwhile was jointly developed by Niantic and the Pokémon company, which is 32 percent owned by Nintendo. The success of the game has increased Nintendo’s value by billions of dollars in just two weeks.
Niantic has promised to release more information “in the future” about any Pokémon Go sponsorship deals. As with Ingress, it will no doubt introduce them carefully so as not turn off players. Businesses will need to be equally careful, as the game has drawn mobs of users to various locations, sometimes for the good and sometimes the not-so-good.
ABC Rebrands iOS and Apple TV Apps With ‘Throwback’ Shows and New Interface
ABC today announced a rebranding of its Watch ABC app for iOS and Apple TV devices, now simply called “ABC,” aimed at offering a wider breath of content as well as new, exclusive digital series for users who download the app. The interface has also been redesigned and the app is exclusive to iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV (via Entertainment Weekly).
One of the more interesting aspects of the new ABC app is that the network has added 38 full seasons of “throwback” shows, meaning that anyone can download the app and watch entire seasons of now-cancelled ABC series, without having to sign into a paid TV service account. Some of these old shows include Ugly Betty, Schoolhouse Rock, Ellen, My So-Called Life, and Dinosaurs.
“Our team has completely re-imagined the digital viewing experience for ABC fans,” said Karin Gilford, ABC’s senior vice president of digital media, in a statement. “In addition to the current ABC shows that fans know and love, we are introducing new ABCd original digital series that are fun, fresh and perfect for mobile, and we are making full seasons of all-time favorite shows available for binging.”
Otherwise, ABC will function much in the same fashion as its predecessor, allowing those who can provide proof of a TV subscription access to brand-new episodes of the latest TV from the network, like Scandal and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., with the addition of new digital short-form video series. Users will also be able to stream live TV from within the app.
ABC is available to download from the iOS App Store for free. [Direct Link].
Tag: ABC
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‘Pokémon Go’ Now Considered ‘The Biggest Mobile Game in U.S. History’
One week after it launched in the United States, Pokémon Go is now the biggest mobile game in the country’s history, in statistics focusing on the amount of daily active users (DAU) the app draws. Within the first 24 hours of launch, Pokémon Go beat out popular games like Slither.io and Clash Royale, but didn’t have enough traction at the time to topple massive hits like Candy Crush Saga at its peak.
According to Survey Monkey, Niantic’s app has officially done just that, breaching Candy Crush Saga’s peak DAU as more and more users download the app. The numbers state that Pokémon Go has just under 21 million DAU in the United States alone, which dethrones Candy Crush Saga’s peak U.S. numbers of approximately 20 million DAU (on a worldwide scale, King’s app was reported to have 93 million DAU in its heyday). The record-breaking statistics make the new app “the biggest mobile game in U.S. history.”
Next, Survey Monkey thinks it’s possible for Pokémon Go to even topple Google Maps and Snapchat, as the augmented reality game’s user numbers continue to rise in the wake of positive and enthusiastic word-of-mouth. How long the game will remain in the public consciousness — particularly in comparison to the somewhat abandoned, first-party Nintendo app Miitomo — is the main question mark in Pokémon Go’s immediate future.
Tag: Pokémon GO
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Xiaomi’s gargantuan Mi Max now up for general sale in India
After offering the first flash sale for the 6.44-inch Mi Max last week, Xiaomi is now making the phablet available for general sale in India. The phone is available from Amazon, Flipkart, Snapdeal, and Paytm, with the base model offering 3GB of RAM and 32GB storage along with the Snapdragon 650 for ₹14,999.
There’s a variant offering 4GB of RAM, 128GB flash storage and Snapdragon 652 SoC that will retail for ₹19,999. However, it looks like today’s sale will focus on the 32GB model. The phone is up for sale from several retailers, but as is often the case with Xiaomi products, it’s more than likely that the Mi Max will be sold out sooner rather than later.
If you’re interested in the Mi Max, head to Tata’s CLiQ storefront to get your hands on the phone.
See at Tata CLiQ
Grab the Honor 5X for only £139 at Amazon now!
The Honor 5X is currently on sale over at Amazon. As spotted by folk over on Hot UK Deals, you can pick up the smartphone for just £139.99. Sporting a 5.5-inch display, Snapdragon 616 processor, fingerprint sensor, 2GB of RAM and more, it’s an enticing price for what’s available.
The price covers three variants — silver, grey, and gold. All three are SIM-free too so you can use them on any compatible network. We’re not sure how long this promotional offer will remain active, so be sure to act hastily if you’re interested.
See at Amazon
Carphone Warehouse Goji VR headset is much cheaper than Gear VR, iPhone compatible too
Carphone Warehouse is ranging its own universal virtual reality headset to give mobile phone owners interested in the Gear VR a budget option.
The Goji Universal VR Headset costs £39.99 and as well as Android, it can be used with iPhones. That includes the iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus and 6s Plus.
It is lightweight and has a cushioned visor. Like most mobile VR devices, including Google Cardboard and Samsung’s Gear VR, you slot your phone in the front, which then acts as the screens for each eye.
The Goji works with the large array of VR apps available on iOS and Android app stores. It has a headphones port to connect easily for audio, plus there are magnetic controls to paude and resume playback on 360-degree videos.
- Best VR headsets to buy in 2016, whatever your budget
“Everyone should have the opportunity to try the latest VR technology, so we’re bringing a universal headset to our stores for our customers to experience,” said Dean Kramer, accessories director at CPW.
The headset with be available in Carphone Warehouse stores from Saturday 16 July.
Carphone Warehouse
Here’s a full list of phones confirmed to be compatible with the headset:
- Apple: iPhone 4s/iPhone 5/iPhone 5s/iPhone 6/6 Plus/iPhone SE/iPhone 6s/6s Plus
- Samsung: Note3/Note4/Note5/S5/S6/S7/A7/A8/A9
- Huawei: Honor 3C/Honor X1/Honor 3X/Mate 7/Mate 8/P8/P9
- Sony：Z2/Z3/Z5/Z6/C6/E5/A4
- LG: G5 SE/G5/G4/V10
- Google: Galaxy Nexus/Nexus 4/Nexus 5
Federal judge throws out evidence obtained by ‘stingray’ trackers
A federal judge has taken a stand against the use of “stingray” — cell phone baiting surveillance devices used by the police and other government agencies. District Judge William Pauley decided to suppress evidence obtained by the stingray setup, ruling earlier this week that the defendant Raymond Lambis, charged in connection to a drug trafficking probe, had his rights violated when surveillance equipment was used without a warrant. The Drug Enforcement Administration used the tracker to find Lambis’ apartment by pinging the defendant’s cell phone, revealing his location down to the apartment number. “Absent a search warrant, the government may not turn a citizen’s cell phone into a tracking device,” Pauley wrote in the ruling.
The trackers work by mimicking cell phone towers, forcing phones in the area to ping them. Law enforcers can use this data to track and pinpoint a specific phone’s locations. The Stingray can even flash firmware to a suspect’s phone with a little more effort, turning the device into an audio bug.
This ruling marks the first time a federal judge has suppressed evidence found thanks to the use of stingrays. In a statement to Reuters, American Civil Liberties Union attorney Nathan Freed Wessler said: “This opinion strongly reinforces the strength of our constitutional privacy rights in the digital age.”
The Justice Department changed its internal policies last September, with agents needing to obtain a warrant before using the Stingray. Lambis’ lawyer noted that occurred a week after his client was charged, adding that it was unclear if the drug case against Lambis would now be dismissed.
UK takes first steps toward laws for autonomous cars
The UK is proving to be quite the testbed for autonomous vehicles, thanks in no small part to government support. Tens of millions in funding is being funneled into various driverless car projects, and we already have rules of the road encouraging trials on public streets. With research and development simmering away nicely, the government is starting on the next course: Making sure laws, rules and regulations are updated for the autonomous age.
The government briefly set out its plan to ready the UK for driverless cars in the Queen’s Speech a couple of months ago. And this week, it has launched an open consultation looking at how we can tweak regulations to make them compatible with driverless vehicles (ahead of their inclusion in the Modern Transport Bill). We’re aways from being able to take a door-to-door trip without touching the wheel at this point, of course, but naturally the government has volunteered a few early proposals.
Insurance and liability
Amending insurance law is one of the government’s top priorities, because people won’t be able to buy driverless cars without appropriate insurance. Arguably, it’s the most complex issue too. Some insurers are already experimenting with suitable policies, but it’s all a question of liability — a word on the tip of everyone’s tongue following the recent, fatal Tesla crash involving Autopilot. In a scenario where all vehicles are fully autonomous, for example, it’s easy to blame manufacturers for any issues that result in a collision.
But autonomy is a gradient. There are already assistive technologies out in the wild, like self-parking features or Tesla’s Autopilot mode, where the driver isn’t necessarily in direct control. As we transition from regular cars all the way through to fully autonomous vehicles, the roads will be home to a mishmash of technologies that could make liability even harder to deduce. Also, when the driver is “out-of-the-loop,” as the government phrases it, and tech is at fault, the driver could be considered one of the “victims” of a claim. That’s another thing policies don’t take into account currently.
The government has put forward a fairly common-sense framework to steer the discussion. Where the driver is at fault, either directly or through inappropriate use of assistive/autonomous tech, they are liable. Where the technology is at fault, the manufacturer is on the hook, though the government expects insurers and the makers of cars to cook up agreements that share the risk. Other situations, such as an accident caused by vehicle hacking, makes things altogether more complicated. As it stands, though, the idea is manufacturers will assume liability for the tech.
Highway Code and other regulations
In the longer-term, the powers that be are also suggesting several amendments to the Highway Code and other regulations that are at odds with driverless tech. Highway Code Rule 60, for example, states that you should have both hands on the wheel where possible, and maintain full control of your vehicle at all times. See the problem there? Similarly, minimum distance requirements between vehicles could be relaxed for autonomous “platooning,” which would make for more efficient journeys.
Some regulations effectively prohibit self-parking features, too. We’re talking about such rules as: you have to be in the car while the engine is on, be in full control and not staring at a mobile device while “driving.” The incompatibilities are obvious even now, considering BMW’s parking assistant works via a mobile app or key fob. The government is even thinking about a future where we can Netflix and chill while our cars drive us to work. As you’d imagine, this isn’t even vaguely allowed at the moment, and for good reason.
As we’ve mentioned, these are just a few conversation starters, with the public consultation open until early September. Any real law / regulation changes are a little ways off, but it’s clear the government doesn’t want anything getting in the way of “making road transport safer, smoother, and smarter.”
[Image credits: Getty (car accident), Bradford Timeline/Flickr (Highway Code)]
Source: Department for Transport (1), (2)
