Passenger drone gets permission for US flight tests

Don’t be surprised if you see a very large, very unusual drone flying through Nevada’s skies. The state’s Institute for Autonomous Systems has given China’s EHang permission to test fly its passenger-toting 184 drone later this year. In addition to providing basic clearance, the move will also have the Institute create criteria that shows the airworthiness of the autonomous single-seater to the Federal Aviation Administration. It’s not certain just where the 184 will fly, although it’ll sometimes need restricted airspace. EHang won’t just be flying in the empty desert, then.

Nevada’s eagerness makes sense given its tourism-driven economy. The Institute’s Mark Barker tells the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he’s anticipating a day when “drone taxis” are an everyday part of the transportation system. The state sees a time when you can hop in a robotic vehicle that flies you directly to a casino, rather than a car that has to grapple with traffic and less-than-intuitive streets. The more support drone makers get, the more tempted you might be to visit that off-Strip attraction which was otherwise out of reach.

Via: Ars Technica

Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal

Apple Supplier Already Shipping 13-Inch MacBook Pro Hinges for Future Update

Apple’s suppliers have already begun providing it with parts for an upcoming 13-inch “MacBook” update, according to a paywalled report from China’s Commercial Times summarized by DigiTimes.

Notebook hinge maker Jarllytec reportedly started shipping metal injection mold-made (MiM) hinges to Apple in May, said to be destined for a 13-inch MacBook. The MacBook in question is likely to be a future revamped 13-inch MacBook Pro, which past rumors suggest will use MiM hinges.

Metal injection molding is a technique used to create small, intricate metal parts. Apple is rumored to be using hinges crafted this way to save space, as the next-generation MacBook Pro models are said to be ultra-thin.

The same report suggests Jarllytec will begin shipping hinges for 15-inch MacBook models in the third quarter of 2016, raising the possibility that Apple will stagger the releases of the redesigned MacBook Pro, first introducing a 13-inch model and following it up later with a 15-inch model. If Apple already has hinges in hand for a 13-inch MacBook Pro, it would perhaps be ready to debut in the next couple of months. We’ve already seen a chassis said to be for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, supporting the notion that it is perhaps already in production.

We are not expecting to see MacBook Pro announcements at WWDC, but rumors have suggested Apple will debut its next-generation MacBook Pro machines during the fourth quarter of 2016. Should Apple be planning to stagger the releases, a 13-inch model could come in September and a 15-inch model could follow in October or November should it not be ready to launch at the same time.

Predicting Apple’s plans for the 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro is difficult because there are a lot of confusing rumors about the two machines. Many of the rumors about the devices have referred to them as simply “MacBooks,” and that ambiguous naming is further confused by a report from Ming-Chi Kuo suggesting Apple is also working on a 13-inch MacBook that would be sold alongside the 12-inch MacBook.

Distilling the rumors down, it’s clear there are new MacBook Pro machines in the works, but figuring out a more concrete release date won’t be possible until we have more information to work with.

In addition to being ultra thin with a MacBook-style design, Apple’s next-generation MacBook Pros are expected to include an OLED touch panel that will replace the function keys on the existing MacBook Pro. Touch ID may be included, and rumors suggest the bar will be dynamic, changing the available keys based on the app in use. This touch panel will need to be deeply integrated into OS X, so additional hints on the upcoming MacBook Pro may be found in OS X 10.12, releasing to developers next week.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Buyer’s Guide: Retina MacBook Pro (Don’t Buy)
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple to Live Stream June 13 WWDC Keynote

Apple has added a page for the 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference to its events website, confirming plans to live stream the keynote event on June 13 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time.

The keynote event, which will take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, will be available on Macs and iOS devices through an event stream on Apple.com and on the Apple TV through an events app.

On the second and third generation Apple TV, there will be an event channel, and on the fourth-generation Apple TV, the event will either be watched through the dedicated WWDC app, which expanded to the Apple TV this year, or through an upcoming events app. Apple has not yet updated its apps on the Apple TV to reflect the streaming information.

As always, MacRumors will also be providing live coverage of the event on MacRumors.com and through the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

The 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference is expected to focus on new software and services, with Apple debuting new versions of iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS, along with potentially introducing new Apple Pay features.

Related Roundup: WWDC 2016
Discuss this article in our forums

Best 360-degree aerial drone photos, hold your breath and expect VR awe

When photos made the jump from cameras to smartphones we got plenty more ways to see amazing sites all over the world. Then came the GoPro. Then the drone. But it hasn’t stopped, now there’s immersive 360-degree virtual reality photography.

So popular has this particular brand of photography become that it now has its own competition to find the best shots. SkyPixel specialises in just that task. As such it’s created a 360-degree aerial panorama contest and has had over 1,000 entries. Yup, there are plenty of people out there with the drones, the cameras and the skills to create virtual reality photography.

From beaches and forests to cities and olympic stadiums, this competition has photos from all over the planet. The gallery above shows off some of the best images that have been submitted to the competition. While these are not in virtual reality, you can follow the links on any you like the look of to view them in 3D. If you’ve got a VR headset that would be the time to get it out.

If drone photos are your thing, after checking out this taster, then click on through to the link below for even more mind blowing aerial photography.

READ: Best drone photos ever: Stunning images taken from up high

PlayStation E3 2016 Press Conference: How to watch it and what to expect for the PS4

E3 2016 is around the corner, with the main show starting on Tuesday 14 June.

However, the press conferences run over the couple of days beforehand and many eyes on what the big two, Sony and Microsoft, have to say before the conference starts proper.

That’s why you should make sure the Sony PlayStation E3 press event is in your calendar. If you’re up and about, you might even want to catch a livestream.

We’ve received an official invite, so will report from the briefing, so here’s what we’ll be looking out for and some of things to expect.

READ: E3 2016: All the launches, games and consoles to expect

Sony

When is the Sony PlayStation E3 press conference?

Sony will host its annual E3 press conference on Monday 13 June in a new location to usual, the Shrine Auditorium & Expo Hall that was used by Electronic Arts in former years.

Registration for the event starts at 4.30pm, but the press conference itself doesn’t start until 6pm (PT). That’s 2am in the UK, sorry.

It traditionally runs for two hours.

Is there a Sony PlayStation E3 2016 Briefing livestream?

There will be several places where you will be able to watch the PlayStation E3 conference live. We’ll be hosting it here on Pocket-lint, with a video embed appearing closer to the launch.

It will also be streamed on live.playstation.com.

For the first time, Sony will also be screening the event live in over 80 movie theatres in the US and Canada. You can get your tickets from playstation.com/e3experience, but we’re not sure how many will still be available in your area.

What hardware will be launched at the Sony PlayStation E3 2016 press conference?

PlayStation Neo

This is the biggy. It has been widely rumoured that the biggest reveal at this year’s Sony event will be an all-new version of the PlayStation 4 – currently dubbed by the media, the PS4.5 or PlayStation Neo.

It is said to have an improved graphics processor, that is capable of 4K video, along with at least one HDMI 2.0 output and HDCP 2.2 DRM decoding. That means it will at the very least be a capable 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, although talk suggests it will be so much more.

According to the rumours, there will also be more RAM on-board and an octa-core CPU, with some suggesting that this would allow for some games to offer more to those who have the beefier machines.

That’ll definitely be of interest to gamers who are willing to pay for a better experience, but surely alienates the 40 million plus owners of existing PS4s? We shall see during the event.

READ: Sony PlayStation 4K: What is PS4.5, when is it coming and how will it affect VR?

PlayStation VR

Considering it’s coming out in October, there will no doubt be a big focus on PS VR this year too – at the event and on the E3 show floor.

The hardware is already established so there might be more news on alternative controllers or the like.

READ: PlayStation VR preview: Affordable virtual reality for the gamers

What games will be announced at the Sony PlayStation E3 2016 press conference?

Like the Xbox Media Briefing earlier in the day, the Sony conference will have plenty of third-party publishers showing their games on stage exclusively.

There will also be a number of key PS4 exclusives and first-party titles.

Here is a list of the games we expect (and hope) to see elaborated upon, demonstrated or announced during the PlayStation presser. We’ll also update when we hear about others.

• Battlefield 1
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
• DayZ
• Detroit
• Gran Turismo Sport
• Horizon Zero Dawn
• No Man’s Sky
• Skylanders Imaginators
• The Last Guardian
• The Last of Us 2

Samsung 4K HDR TV choices for 2016: KS9000, KS8000, KS7500 and KS7000 compared

Samsung announced a new generation of SUHD televisions at CES 2016 at the beginning of the year and now has a full selection of TVs for you to choose from, in a wide of sizes and prices.

The top-end screens use Quantum Dot displays meaning a layer of crystals over the usual LED panel that can change the blue backlight to pure white for a full spectrum of colour options. All that means higher brightness, better colours, higher dynamic range and truer blacks. All this and it can be manufactured far cheaper than OLED.

This year the Samsung TVs leading the way are the KS9000, KS8000, KS7500 and KS7000. Here’s what you need to know about each.

Samsung

Samsung KS9000 9 Series Curved SUHD Quantum Dot TV

At the top of the Samsung TV range is the 9 Series, which is almost identical to the 8 Series except the 9 is curved and the 8 is flat.

The 9 Series comes in 49-inch, 55-inch and 65-inch sizes and pack 4K UHD displays, HDR 1000 and, of course, a Quantum Dot 10-bit display. This offer 64 times the colour of LCD with 1 billion in total, SUHD remastering for upscaling, and Ultra Black Technology for clearly defined dark images plus auto dimming and an auto enhancer for depth. They also feature a moth eye to disperse reflections meaning minimal glare, for a better overall picture.

There’s Samsung Smart Hub for plenty of apps, easy smartphone control and home media access, plus big screen gaming thanks to built-in PlayStation Now for PS3 games. This sits in a refresh UI that gives quicker access to content and you’ll be rewarded with the likes of Ultra HD Netflix and Amazon Video.

The 9 Series has a Samsung PQI rating of 2400. This is a number made up by Samsung to give an overall image quality rating based on resolution, brightness, colour, contrast, motion, noise reduction and immersion.

Compared to previous years, these TVs are not only brighter, but more power efficient, and also have improved internal speakers, with the 9 series offering 4.1 channel speakers.

The Samsung KS9000 is available now and starts at £2,099 for the 55-inch model, £2,899 for the 65-inch model. We can’t find the 49-inch model available anywhere, so the price remains a mystery.

Samsung

KS8000 8 Series Flat SUHD Quantum Dot TV

Like the KS9000, the 8 Series sits at the top of Samsung’s range, but offers a flat panel, rather than the curved of the 9 Series. 

However, there’s a crossover in the technology offered, with a 4K UHD panel offering Samsung’s HDR 1000, for some cracking visuals. It’s a 10-bit panel, again offering Quantum Dot technology meaning a wider range of colours, loads of brightness and plenty of detail. Although it offers the same technologies as the KS9000, the 8000 comes with a performance rating of 2300 PQI.

The KS8000 comes in 49, 55 and 65-inch sizes, with a slick minimalist bezel and a central stand. The idea of these stands is to give a floating look to the TV, as if the panel just hangs in the air. The 8000, like the other TVs on this list offer “360” design, so they look clean and attractive from the back too. It also offers 4.1 channel audio.

Like the other TVs on the list, it comes with a refreshed UI over 2015 models, meaning easy access to Smart functions to easily access content you might want, like 4K Netflix.

The Samsung KS8000 is also out now and starts at £1,499 for the 49-inch model, £1,899 for the 55, and £2,699 for the 65, so you get a lot of TV for your money.

Samsung

Samsung KS7500 Curved SUHD Quantum Dot TV 

The 7 Series, which also offers curved and flat options, comes in more sizes than the top end TVs with 65-inch, 55-inch, 49-inch and 43-inch variants.

Everything else about the televisions’ specs are nearly identical with 4K UHD, HDR 1000, SUHD remastering, Ultra Black Technology and Smart Hub and the moth eye filter. However the Samsung PQI rating is 2200 for this range, which mostly comes down to a slightly different dimming system – the 8 and 9 Series offer Supreme UHD Dimming, whereas the 7 settles for UHD Dimming.

It also takes a step down in audio, offering 2.1 channel system for the internal speakers with 40W RMS compared to 60W for the 8 and 9 Series.

One thing to note on the design is that the feet are very wide on the 7 series, so you’ll need a wide stand, or have to wall mount it.

The Samsung KS7500 is available now, priced at £1,399 for the 49-inch model, and £1,699 for the 55, we can’t find prices for the other sizes.

Samsung

Samsung KS7000 Flat 7 Series SUHD Quantum Dot TV

Offering the flat version of the 7500 is the KS7000. This flat panel 4K UHD TV is a sub-premium alternative to the KS8000, offering many of the same technologies and specs, but in a slightly lower tier package. It comes in 49, 55 and 60-inch sizes.

Importantly this is still a 4K TV and offers Samsung’s HDR 1000, all the upscaling technologies and the moth eye filter, although the KS7000 carries a performance rating of 2100 PQI according to Samsung’s own rating system. That’s likely to be because it believes that curved is a slightly better performer, hence the higher rating on the 7500, and a minor enhancements on the 8 and 9 Series to improve performance at the top level.

However, the KS7000 offers a complete smart TV package with Samsung’s latest Tizen UI for easy access no matter what your source, like 4K HDR Netflix for example, so it’s skilled in all areas. 

Again, like the KS7500 the design sees the feet near the edges, so you’ll need a wide stand, unless you’re going to wall mount this TV.

The Samsung KS7000 can be bought now for £1,299 for the 49-inch model, £1,499 for the 55, £1,799 for the 60 inch. 

SLR camera quality photos on your smartphone, the metalens is coming

Strapping a massive lens case attachment to your smartphone still won’t have you snapping on the level of an SLR, but that soon may not be an issue. Something called a metalens promises to enhance smaller cameras with staggering quality.

The metalens has been developed by Harvard University scientists to change the way light is angled into a camera sensor. This new lens is the size of a grain of sand yet can compete with the expansive and weighty lens of an SLR, apparently.

At the moment optics, which control light entering a camera, need to be made to perfection in order to angle light correctly. This new discovering ditches the curved glass lens in favour of a 2mm construction from quartz and a tiny titanium oxide array.

So what’s the catch? The lens is still in early stage testing where not all of the colour spectrum can be manipulated, but that’s planned next. The key here is these beat a traditional lens in resolving details and are nearly as efficient, plus they’re potentially way cheaper to produce.

So once these metalenses are perfected we should already have full frame sensors in phones, we hope, meaning there’ll be nothing stopping us capturing SLR quality photos on our smartphones.

READ: Turn your GoPro into a 3D camera using this £35 Vitrima lens case