Amazon Fire HD 8: Finally, a tablet worthy of your kids
See at Amazon
Have kids? Have kids who are always “borrowing” your tablet? Maybe get them this instead!
Fun fact: Kids like stealing their parents’ tablets. Maybe they’re just watching videos. Maybe Pokémoning. (That’s a verb, right?) Maybe they’re just catching up on emails and building new slide decks. (My kids are weird. Don’t ask.)
Thing is, I’ve never really found a tablet I actually want to let my kids use. High-end tablets like the Pixel are too big and too expensive. Same goes for iPads, really. At some point they’re going to drop it. They’re going to leave it on the floor to be stepped on. That’s just the way it is.
And I’ve got a real aversion for cheap tablets. You know — those off-brand things that go for $50, never get updates and have zero in the way of support. But what if you could spend just a little bit more for something decent. And, as it turns out, something that has a little bit of kiddie controls already built in.
And that’s why I’ve been pleasantly surprised with the latest from Amazon — the Fire HD 8. It starts at just $89 for the 16GB model, with “special offers.” (That means ads, of course.) I ramped things up just a little bit though, going for the 32GB model and no ads, and came out at about $135. That’s not nothing, but it’s also not horrible for something that’s really gotten a lot of use in my house. (Plus, having a range of options is great!)
Get more at Modern Dad!!!
Facebook Messenger now lets you video chat with up to 50 friends
Facebook wants its Messenger app to be your go-to chat app for all things communications related, including video calls.
In an effort to make that dream a reality, it recently updated the chat app’s camera with Snapchat-like lenses, and now it’s updated the group video call feature, enabling you to chat with up to 50 participants simultaneously. This update follows an April update that first added video calling to Messenger. Prior to that, Facebook’s app only let users make one-on-one audio calls.
Keep in mind both Google Hangouts and Microsoft Skype offer video calls, though they include 10-person limits. With Facebook Messenger’s group video chat, you can see up to six people at a time, but up to 50 friends can join in and choose to just listen in and join via voice, or be on camera. Once more than six people are on the call, only the dominant speaker is shown to all participants.
To get started using the new group video chat, you’ll need the latest version of Messenger. Then, jump into an existing group conversation, or create a new one, and tap on the video icon on the corner of the screen to enter the video chat. Everyone in the group will be notified, and each person can join when they are ready. You can also directly call just a few people or the whole group.
You can also still send texts, stickers, and other animations while video and audio are transmitting. However, live masks are iOS-only, allowing you to augment the live video chat with an animation, but they should arrive for Android users soon.
Facebook said the new group chat update is rolling out now globally for both iOS and Android.
You now have another way to play Minecraft – on the Apple TV
Minecraft is available everywhere – every platform, every device – including the latest Apple TV set-top box.
The Apple TV edition of Minecraft has just launched. It doesn’t come with multiplayer Minecraft Realms or Xbox Live support, but those features are coming. In the meantime, if you’re willing to pay the $19.99 entry price, you will get access to seven DLC packs (Holiday 2015, Town Folk, and City Folk skin packs, along with the Plastic, Natural, Cartoon, and Festive 2016 mash-ups).
Apple CEO Tim Cook first revealed in October during an event that Minecraft was coming to Apple TV, but he didn’t say too much more at the time. Now we know the Apple TV edition is on-par with other versions, minus the multiplayer features, and it will include the recently announced Ender update that brings new single-player content and more. You can read about that update from here.
If you need help figuring out how to find or download apps on Apple TV (fourth-gen), we got you covered. Go read this guide, in which we explain how to search for apps, download apps, re-download apps, and learn more about apps. Phew!
Also, check out our pick of the best Apple TV apps available right now.
Samsung’s new 15-inch laptop weighs little more than a MacBook
Samsung’s Notebook 9 really pushed the envelope on size while still offering solid performance in a no-nonsense package. Today, the company is updating those extremely light laptops: a new pair of Notebook 9 computers has just been announced, and they are even lighter than those that came before. The 13-inch weighs only 1.8 pounds, while the 15-inch version comes in at a ridiculously light 2.17 pounds. That 15-inch weight in particularly is noteworthy, because the earlier version came in at a still-light 2.9 pounds. To put things in perspective, Apple’s 12-inch MacBook weights 2 pounds even — the 15-inch Notebook 9 is barely heavier than that.
The Notebook 9 doesn’t skim on performance, either — the lineup offers 7th generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processors and lets you put in up to 16GB of RAM. Naturally, the storage is solid-state, with drive options “up to” 256GB, and the screen resolution comes in at 1080p on the dot. But Samsung had to cut corners somewhere to get this much computer in such a small package, and it looks like battery life is what’ll take the hit. Samsung says these machines are rated for seven hours. Fortunately, USB-C power provides a full charge in 80 minutes.
From a design standpoint, the new computer looks a bit different than the original. It has a bit more of a distinctive flavor and looks less like a MacBook Air clone. The whole machine is a lighter shade of silver and grey, with keys to match (rather than the black key caps that marked the previous model). And Samsung added in a fingerprint scanner here — so if you liked the TouchID scanner in the new MacBook Pro but hated everything else, the Notebook 9 might work for you.
Unfortunately, Samsung didn’t say how much the new Notebook 9 models cost (or when they’ll be available). Last year’s model 15-inch model started at $1,200; hopefully these new ones will be in that same ballpark. We’ll have to really get our hands on these and try them out before we can pass judgement, but Samsung had a good thing going with the last model. It looks like the company kept what worked with the first Notebook 9 while somehow reducing the weight of that 15-inch model in a big way. There are also more configurations available this time out — so if you’re looking for a light but otherwise basic laptop (no touchscreen, no tricks like a detachable screen), the new Notebook 9 could be worth a look.
Source: Samsung
The world’s smallest radio works through tiny diamond flaws
Researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have made the world’s tiniest radio receiver through an assembly of atomic-level defects inside pink diamonds. The radio receiver can withstand harsh environments, high temperatures and could even be embedded in humans thanks to its biocompatibility. The team was still able to play music through the receiver at around 660 Fahrenheit, which be perfect for when the sun eventually eats the solar system.
The diamond’s tiny imperfections make up a system of nitrogen atoms with a hole next to it. This arrangement an emit single photons or detect very weak magnetic fields. Not just that, these flaws apparently even have photo-luminescent properties, meaning they can convert information into light which could, according to release, offer uses in sensors and quantum computing.
The device is powered by green light delivered by laser. Electrons are sensitive to electromagnetic fields which includes FM radio waves. When those nitrogen holes receives radio waves, they convert it into red light. This then gets converted into current by a photodiode, and made into sound through a speaker. Boom: that’s (a heavily oversimplified explanation of) how your tiny diamond radio works.
The scientists could augment the radio with an electromagnet, creating a strong field around the diamond in order to tune the receiving radio frequency of the flaws. As you can hear in the video, reception is… passable. At least it’s made of diamond?
Source: SEAS (Harvard), Physical Review
BlackBerry creates a research hub for self-driving cars
Just because BlackBerry is done making its own smartphones doesn’t mean it won’t be a big name in consumer tech. The company has unveiled the BlackBerry QNX Autonomous Vehicle Innovation Center (AVIC), a facility in QNX’s Ottawa home that will be key to building the framework for self-driving cars. It’s not crafting the autonomy code, but it will create the underlying platform. One of its first initiatives will have it team up with Renesas, PolySync and the University of Waterloo to build a concept vehicle to test on Ontario roads.
To put it mildly, the Canadian government is enthusiastic. While it’s not funding the research hub (QNX’s John Wall says there’s a possibility down the line), it sees BlackBerry’s work as key to making Canada a go-to source for self-driving car software. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was a key guest at the December 19th inauguration event, where he touted AVIC as both a job creator and crucial to making Canada a “global leader” in autonomous tech.
For BlackBerry, this is a chance to shed its public image as a failed smartphone giant and make a name for itself in a field where even big players like GM and Tesla are just getting started. The problem: AVIC won’t be the only development center vying for attention. Apple also has a self-driving software team in Ottawa, and poached at least some of its employees from QNX — including former chief executive Dan Dodge. BlackBerry will have to convince staff that it’s worth sticking around, and that its technology has a bright future in spite of the competition.
Via: The Globe and Mail
Source: BlackBerry
Mark Zuckerberg explains how he wrote his home AI
Ever since Mark Zuckerberg revealed his intention to create his own AI helper, some questions have loomed large: just how would he go about it? And can one man write an effective artificial intelligence when it frequently requires whole teams? At last, the Facebook CEO has provided some answers. The Zuckerberg has written a lengthy piece explaining not only how he created the Jarvis AI that’s running his home, but the inherent challenges in making an assistant that works the way you’d expect.
Some parts of the process were easier than expected. He created a Facebook Messenger chat bot to start with instead of writing a dedicated app (an always-listening voice app came later), and took advantage of Facebook’s facial recognition for his door-facing cameras. He even managed to get the AI to thrive on relatively “open-ended” requests where it learns what works. Zuck can tell Jarvis whether or not songs are “light,” for example, and teach it to play mood-appropriate music without having to request specific tracks.
At the same time, Zuckerberg ran into numerous headaches. Despite loads of smart household equipment (such as Crestron home automation, Sonos audio and a Nest Cam), the executive found himself reverse-engineering code and even jury-rigging appliances to get things online. He also discovered that context is a problem: if you ask to turn on the air conditioning in “my office,” does the AI know whose office it is? Voice recognition systems are very geared toward structured commands, Zuckerberg says, and aren’t very good at understanding conversational speech.
Jarvis is one of Zuckerberg’s yearly personal challenges, and isn’t likely to see extensive work after this. However, the tech mogul isn’t dropping everything after this. He wants to write an Android app (the listening client is iOS-only), string more listening stations around his home and connect more appliances. He’d also like to give the AI more independence: he wants it to learn skills on its own, and would like to make his technology available if he can abstract it. The software is currently built around the Zuckerberg’s specific needs, so he can’t just release it as-is. Whatever happens, don’t be surprised if the effort behind Jarvis influences Facebook’s larger AI strategy.
Source: Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)
AirBnB reportedly working on a flight-booking feature
Bloomberg reports that short-term rental listing service, AirBnB is looking to get into airline reservation game as well. According to unnamed sources within the company, AirBnB’s plans are still in the formational stages. The company could either acquire an online travel agency outright or simply license the booking data.
Bloomberg’s sources also state that the company hopes to launch the service before filing for IPO, which is widely speculated to be taking place within the next 18 months or so. The forthcoming service would operate separately from AirBnB Trips, which debuted last month and offers tours, restaurant reservations and various other travel services. AirBnB representatives declined to comment on matter.
The news comes after months of legal wrangling between AirBnB and cities around the world over how the site operates. The company has recently settled or dropped its lawsuits with New Orleans, San Francisco, New York and Amsterdam.
Source: Bloomberg
Twitter will livestream the Golden Globes’ red carpet
Twitter will livestream the fluffiest part of the fluffiest awards show, namely the red carpet ceremony of the Golden Globes awards. The pre-show will provide, if you can believe it, two full hours of people walking on a carpet that is red, complete with glamor and (hopefully) sass. “The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is always searching for innovative ways and original tools to reach our audience … and Twitter is the recognized partner to help us expand our audience,” HFPA President Lorenzo Soria said in a statement.
Twitter probably won’t put “the recognized partner” on an aspirational poster, but the tie-up does make sense. Folks like to tweet during the Globes, Oscars and other big TV events to to amuse themselves during the long periods of boredom. As Twitter notes, since it’s hosting the pre-show shenanigans, you’re just a swipe away from a fire tweet. “Twitter is where the conversation about the Golden Globes happens. Viewers Tweet along before, during and after the award show,” said Twitter COO Anthony Noto.
The social network will not carry the actual presentation, but the pre-show is a nice option for wire-cutters who only want to see well-dressed celebs vamp and answer inane interview questions. You’ll be able to catch it on a smartphone, the web and connected devices without needing a cable TV subscription.
Twitter is still trying to turn its rabid user base into advertising dollars and is pinning a lot of hope on livestreaming. So far, it has had some success with the NFL, MLB, NHLA, Wimbledon and other prime clients. Now that a rumored sale with Disney and other suits has fallen through (thanks in part to the social network’s nasty dark side) it’s going to have to find a way to bump its revenue, by whatever means necessary. You can catch “The HFPA Presents: Globes Red Carpet Live” here on January 8th from 6 to 8 PM ET.
Via: Techcrunch
Source: Twitter
House committee calls for clear cellphone surveillance rules
Stingrays — those cellphone surveillance devices preferred by law enforcement agencies — definitely broke into the mainstream public consciousness this year. And while the word is out that law enforcement agencies from California to New York have used the devices to monitor citizens for years, a new report (PDF) from the bipartisan House Oversight and Government Reform Committee shows that the rules governing their usage can vary greatly from state to state or even department to department. As a result, committee chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and member Elijah Cummings (D-MD) are calling on Congress to establish “a clear, nationwide framework that ensures the privacy of all Americans are adequately protected.”
The committee has already pushed the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security and the IRS to require a warrant before deploying a Stingray or other similar cell network-spoofing device, but the report’s findings showed that in many states law enforcement agencies don’t even need probable cause in order to justify their usage. To remedy that situation, the report recommends that Congress pass clear rules about “when and how geolocation information can be accessed and used.”
The DOJ and DHS will then be responsible for requiring local law enforcement agencies to adopt the framework before they can receive federal funding for Stingray devices like the ones that violated FCC regulations in Baltimore. Finally, the committee also recommends that the non-disclosure agreements that have obscured details of some Stingray deployments should be replaced with “agreements that require clarity and candor to the court.” While the new framework, if passed by Congress, sounds like a promising move in the right direction it won’t do much when the vigilantes inevitably set up their own cell-spoofing dragnets.
Via: House Oversight Committee
Source: Law Enforcement Use of Cell-Site Simulation Technologies: Privacy Concerns and Recommendations
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