Volkswagen previews its EV future with the I.D. concept
You wouldn’t blame Volkswagen if it never wanted to here the word “diesel” ever again. The German company desperately needs to swing from dirty to clean, so it launched the ID, a new platform for its next-gen EVs. The first model is a concept car, but it will eventually be built in some form and arrive to market in 2020. The company plans to build up to 20 different models based on its “Modular Electric Drive Kit” platform, and hopes to sell up to three million electric cars by the year 2025.
I saw the car when it launched yesterday, and if anything, it looks better than the futuristic illustrations that leaked earlier. That design looks sharp from any angle (except maybe head-on) and I like the idea of a sliding rear door on a hatchback, even though it’ll probably get axed from the final model.
The inside is pure concept, with an LED dash display, retractable steering wheel for autonomous mode, and rear cameras instead of mirrors. Though concept cars are often dark or colorful, it’s likely not a coincidence that the ID concept is white with blue interior accents. In effect, VW wants to make a fresh, bright start and put the dark days of diesel-gate and emissions cheating behind it.
Japan’s noisy iPhone problem
I cancelled my iPhone 7 Plus order last week. Yes, I still had a two-week wait before it was scheduled to arrive, but it wasn’t impatience that got the better of me. It was where I live: in Japan. iPhones sold here (and in Korea) hold the dubious honor of being customized for their markets. We’re not talking about extra mobile wallet functions, but a limitation; a constraint. Ever since the iPhone 3GS arrived in Japan in 2008, taking a photo and even a screenshot (ugh) has been accompanied by a mandatory shutter noise — one that iPhone users elsewhere probably turn off right away. Even switching to mute mode doesn’t halt the awkward ‘passht’ added to discourage covert photography. I’ll soon leave Japan and return to my native England, at which point I’ll reconsider upgrading. I’m not buying another Japanese iPhone.
The mandatory shutter sound has been a part of Japan’s camera phones almost ever since they went on sale back in 2000. This was the first country to sell camera-equipped phones that could send photos electronically. Kyocera’s VP-210 had what was then a cutting-edge 0.11-megapixel sensor: the era of camera phones had begun.
There’s a misconception that there’s some kind of legal provision to ensure smartphones (or feature phones), make a noise when you take a photo. That isn’t the case.
As these devices proliferated and people got used to attaching photos to emails (“sha-mail”), voyeuristic “up-skirt” photography became a concern — especially in crowded places like rush-hour trains. According to Akky Akimoto, writing for The Japan Times in 2013, people were discussing the issue online as early as 2001. There’s a misconception that there’s some kind of legal provision to ensure smartphones (or feature phones), make a noise when you take a photo, but that isn’t the case.
Over these years, sending photos became a core feature of modern cell phones, and wireless carriers took it upon themselves to ensure that all the models they offered came with built-in cameras with shutter sounds that couldn’t be disabled. NTT Docomo has said it was implemented “to prevent secret filming or other privacy issues.” A SoftBank spokesman gave me a similar answer: “When we first offered camera phones and the ‘sha-mail’ service around 2000, we requested that manufacturers make the shutter sound compulsory, even on manner mode.”
“This was done to prevent camera phones from being used in ways offensive to public morals. We continue to request handset manufacturers use the shutter sound,” the spokesperson continued.
Phone manufacturers and carriers have cooperated ever since, ensuring all phones sold in Japan make a sound for still videos, still photos and screenshots. While this might been seen as a well-intentioned move (and one that could discourage would-be voyeurs), the companies are protecting themselves against legal repercussions from anyone who gets harassed or sees photos of themselves online or elsewhere, taken without their permission.
Apple’s iPhone is the same. Worse, the iPhone 7 actually has the noisiest shutter sound yet — something that my Japan-based colleagues are blaming on the new stereo speakers.
Japan residents could buy an overseas model: Recent iPhone models share a lot of LTE bands across countries, and the company even displays all the radio bands of each iPhone model it sells. However, the iPhone 7 is the first Apple phone to work with the country’s well-established Suica contactless payment system, used in convenience stores, restaurants and the country’s national railway. The American variant (or the Hong Kong one, anywhere but Japan) doesn’t include the same contactless hardware.
The mandatory noise hasn’t solved the problem of cellphone voyeurs either. According to the Japan Times, which cites an NHK TV program from early 2013, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police had seen a 24 percent annual rise in “camera voyeurism” — up 60 percent from 2007. The majority of those (64 percent) had used cell-phone cameras, although there’s something to be said for the remaining percentage that were taken on cameras that weren’t forced to make a shutter sound.
Limiting creepy photographers with enforced smartphone sounds is worsened by the availability (especially in Japan and Korea) of “manner camera” apps where users can take photos on iPhones and other smartphones with no faux shutter sound. These are often slower, typically taking lower-quality pictures; you also can’t launch them from drop-down menus or the lock screen. Unfortunately, if unscrupulous types really want to take covert photos of unsuspecting people on trains and elsewhere, they will find a way to do so.
With the current iteration of iOS 10, Japanese users can tinker with the phone’s accessibility functions to add a mute toggle to the screen that silences the shutter noise. But this is likely a bug that Apple will squash in a later update, which means my new iPhone order will remain cancelled for now. I’m not some kind of covert photographer; I just hate being so conspicuous when I use my smartphone. I can tolerate it in Japan, where everyone suffers the same fate, but anywhere else, where you can mute your phone, I look like an incompetent fool who got his first smartphone in 2016: “You can mute that, you know?” “No, I can’t..”
Sony PSVR exposed: What you get in the box and what you still need to buy
We’ve had a fair while to wait since Sony first announced the PlayStation VR headset – originally known as Project Morpheus – but it’s almost upon us. The virtual reality device will hit stores on Thursday 13 October and we’ve been playing with one in the Pocket-lint office to bring you a full, in-depth review soon.
However, until then we thought we should give you an idea of what you get in the box with your PSVR and, perhaps as importantly, what you don’t.
That way you can make sure you buy or source anything else needed to make sure you are fit and ready to go with the PlayStation VR from day one.
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What do you get in the PSVR box?
There are plenty of leads and bit and bobs in the PlayStation VR box. Here’s what you will have to unwrap in order to be prepared for set-up.
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Sony PlayStation VR headset
A bit of an obvious one. The iconic headset is clearly the largest item in the box. There are also plenty of protective stickers you have to remove before use – such as on the lenses.
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Processor unit
A small box, which looks much like the original PS4 only much smaller, has all the connections you need to run the headset. It also has HDMI pass-through, so you can have the headset and your TV connected at the same time.
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Stereo headphones
A pair of in-ear headphones with additional earpieces for different sizes. These plug into the in-line remote found on the headset lead.
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HDMI cable
A HDMI cable is provided to hook the processor unit to your PS4’s HDMI out. You then attach your own HDMI cable to run from the unit to your TV.
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USB cable
This attaches the processor unit to your PlayStation 4 in order to relay motion information from your headset and the like.
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VR headset connection cable
Pretty self-explanatory. This attaches the lead built into your headset to the processor unit.
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AC adaptor
The included AC adaptor provides power to the processor unit.
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AC power lead
This will change depending on your region. It’ll always have a figure of eight connection at one end, but then your own region’s plug at the other.
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PSVR games demo disc
A good selection of levels or tasters of some of the launch titles are stored on this disc for you to try. Should you like them, you can then click “buy” directly and download the full game (at a cost). At least it means you’ll have something to play and trial the first time you set-up your headset.
What is missing from the PSVR box?
While you get all the components you need for the headset to work from the off, there are still other things you’ll need to get it working or to take the games playing to the next level. They are all fairly obvious, but we thought we’d detail them anyway.
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PlayStation 4
You will more than likely know this already, but the PSVR headset runs from a PS4 – either the original or the new PS4 Slim. It will also run off a PS4 Pro when that’s release later this year.
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DualShock 4 controller
If you have a PS4 there’s a very good bet you still have your DualShock 4 controller. You’ll need it, and the light bar on the front, to play the vast majority of PSVR games.
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PlayStation Camera
It is less likely that you already own a PlayStation Camera. However, it is mandatory if you want to use the PlayStation VR as it is needed to track the headset and any controllers. The current square-shaped model works just fine, but a new rounder version is also due for release at the same time as the PSVR, priced around £40.
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PlayStation Move controllers
While a couple of PlayStation Move batons are not essential for all games, there will be plenty that will require them. They allow you to use your hands in virtual experiences independently. Some peripherals, such as a forthcoming blaster gun, also work with them. You might even have a couple of Move controllers lying around from the PS3 days, in which case they work just fine. Otherwise they cost around £30 each when bought new.
Rebellion
PSVR games
You do get the demo disc and that’s great initially but you will want to nab yourself some games. These can cost anywhere up to £50 each.
US renews five-year gaming education grant for Becker College
To maintain its interest in gaming education, the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration renewed a five-year grant this week with Becker College in Worcester, Massachusetts. Becker College is the home of MassDigi, an academic program that focuses on the entrepreneurial side of game development, including a 12-week summer program where attendees take a concept to a market ready title. The Economic Development Administration’s grant is for the amount of $583,000.
This announcement actually renews a five-year grant MassDiGi received in 2011. In a press release announcing the news, MassDigi says the funds will be used “to promote entrepreneurship, academic cooperation and economic development across the state’s video and digital games ecosystem.” The school also hosts an annual Game Challenge pitch competition where aspiring developers can show off their games and refine ideas ahead of a proper launch.
Via: Gamasutra
Source: Massachusetts Digital Games Institute
Fuze is the first iPhone 7 headphone jack case you can preorder
It was only a matter of time until iPhone 7 accessory makers started delivering a slew of cases to bring back the 3.5mm headphone jack. But I didn’t expect the first case that you could actually preorder — Fuze — would come from a tiny Austin outfit’s Indiegogo campaign. For the most part, Fuze doesn’t pack in any surprises. It’s a traditional case for the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus that includes a headphone jack and also recharges your phone. That’s it! But given the outcry against the loss of the 3.5mm port, its basic feature set might still win over some fans.
Fuze charges with a Lightning cable, and it packs in either a 2,400 mAh battery (for the iPhone 7 case) or a 3,600 mAh battery (for the larger Plus model). Based on the images and video available, Fuze looks surprisingly thin for a battery case. At 2.9 ounces, it would still add some noticeable heft to the 4.87 ounce iPhone 7, though.
Actual Innovation, the creators of Fuze, initially offered the case for $49 as a “super early bird” price on Indiegogo. That backing option sold out fast, so at the time of this post you can either get in for a $59 “early bird” price, or the $69 standard cost. The company claims the cases will start shipping in December, but as always with crowdfunding campaigns, take that timeline with a grain of salt. At least they’re not starting from scratch though — their crowdfunding site points out Fuze is built from an existing case from a longtime MFi (Made for iPhone) certified manufacturer. So far, they’ve raised over $41,000 of a $60,000 funding goal.
Fuze isn’t anything truly innovative, but it’s a sign that Mophie and other established case makers should start hustling with their iPhone 7 headphone jack solutions.
Source: Fuze (Indiegogo)
China now streams some court trials on the internet
In China, some court cases will now be streamed on the internet for the public to view across the country. The Chinese government isn’t exactly known for transparency, but this is certainly a step in that direction. As you might expect, not all cases will be aired. The BBC reports “sensitive trials,” like those of human rights activists, may be among the topics excluded from the program.
Those court proceedings that are available for streaming can be accessed via a dedicated website. Users simply log on to see a list of cases currently airing across the country. Topics range from drug trafficking to trademark disputes, divorce and murder cases and some of the proceedings can be streamed live as they happen.
Back in August, a New Zealand court announced that it would livestream court proceedings for the first time. Kim Dotcom’s lawyers successfully argued that due to “public interest” in the case, the Megaupload founder’s extradition hearings should be broadcast to YouTube. The two sides eventually settled on a 20-minute delay to allow for the removal of any suppressed evidence.
The best smart leak detector
By Rachel Cericola
This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. Read the full article here.
After spending over 10 hours pouring water, mopping it up, and changing wet socks to test the performance of seven DIY leak detectors, we’ve decided that the D-Link DCH-S160 Wi-Fi Water Sensor is the best smart water sensor currently available. It’s one of the few options that doesn’t need a smart-home hub, making it a more affordable solution than the competition because it can work with your existing Wi-Fi network. It can—like the rest of the units we tested—deliver alerts whenever water is present, but it also throws in a few perks that aren’t available on any other smart water sensor at this price.
Who should get this
Water sensors are small devices that can alert you whenever water is present around the refrigerator, the washing machine, sinks, and toilets—even in the basement. If you’ve got a leaky basement or appliances of a certain age, a smart water sensor makes for a strategic addition to your home.
Some smart water sensors work alone via Wi-Fi, and others connect to a smart-home hub; when wetness occurs, both can send a message to your phone so you can respond with a towel or a plumber. The units we’re talking about here can’t actually shut off the water; they simply alert you to the danger so you can respond quickly.
Though you can get a leak sensor that will set off an eardrum-piercing tone for as little as $10, if you want to get alerts and remote access, be prepared to pay a bit more: Our recommendations hover around the $60 mark.
How we picked
We tested a variety of smart water sensors, including Wi-Fi models and those that work with Z-Wave smart-home hubs. Photo: Rachel Cericola
We compiled a list of smart water sensors by doing a Google search for reviews and roundups; once we had a list, we looked for feedback on Amazon and Google. Although we found a million different leak sensors, when you factor in the smart aspects, the list of what’s out there is much smaller. We narrowed that list further using features, availability, and price. The average cost for a smart water sensor that fit our criteria is about $60; you really shouldn’t pay more than that. That narrowed our list down to seven products to submit to our water-torture tests—each product is easy to set up, works with an app, and can be used almost anywhere you expect water to make an appearance.
How we tested
We used a spray bottle to determine how little water would trigger an alert. Photo: Rachel Cericola
For each of our tests, we used apps on an iPhone 5, an iPad, and a Samsung Galaxy S6. Most of the devices used either the SmartThings or Wink hub, so we used the applicable app; when the device connected via Wi-Fi, we used that device’s specific app.
When dousing each smart water sensor, we used four different amounts of water to see if it would react and how quickly. We used measuring cups to douse each sensor with one-quarter cup of water, as well as a full cup. We also measured sensitivity using a spray bottle and, finally, by completely submerging each unit in a bowl of water.
The main purpose of these devices is to alert you to water, whether you’re at home or away, so we made sure each detector delivered those alerts to a mobile device from afar. Anything beyond their basic features was considered a bonus—for instance, quite a few of the devices on our list allowed you to check on room temperature and even battery life.
Our pick
The D-Link DCH-S160 Wi-Fi Water Sensor. Photo: Rachel Cericola
The D-Link DCH-S160 Wi-Fi Water Sensor is a reliable smart water sensor that’s also affordable. It’s actually the least expensive option we tested—not coincidentally, it’s also one of the few models that doesn’t need a smart-home hub. Instead, it uses Wi-Fi to deliver water alerts through the mydlink Home app (available for iOS and Android devices) and integrate with other smart devices in the home. It’s also the only model on our list that relies on power from the wall rather than a battery.
The D-Link device performed well throughout our testing, sending out alerts about six to 10 seconds after the sensors first touched water. It also features an audible alarm that you can hear from about 35 feet away, though that sound doesn’t travel as well through floors.
The app associated with the D-Link DCH-S160 Wi-Fi Water Sensor—mydlink Home—is pretty basic. Other than a record of when water was present, it offers options to change the device’s name, add in a personal photo, and create rules. For instance, we set the device to send both push notifications as well as an email whenever water was present; texting is not an option here.
For a stand-alone device, it does offer a few integration options as well. If you search the D-Link Water Sensor channel on IFTTT, there are ways to get phone calls, post to Slack, trigger the Nest thermostat, and more. It also works with other D-Link Connected Home devices, which you can control and set up integrations for from the same app.
A pick for smart-hub users
If you don’t have access to an electrical outlet, and don’t mind using a Z-Wave hub, the Fibaro Flood Sensor is a great choice. Photo: Rachel Cericola
The Fibaro Flood Sensor features an audible alarm that also triggers when someone tilts or tampers with the device in any way. It has a temperature sensor and a visual “drop” display that can change color based on if there’s water, weird temperatures, or bad network connections. As an added bonus, this little circular device can actually float—which can end up being a huge bonus if a leak turns into a flood. However, unlike the D-Link, it requires a smart hub, a requirement that kept it from being our top pick.
This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
States sue to block White House plan for internet transition
If you thought the battle over whether or not the “keys” to the internet would be handed over to an international governing body might be over quickly, we’ve got some bad news. Attorneys general from Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma and Nevada filed a lawsuit this week in an attempt to block the Obama Administration’s plan to cede control of the internet to the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in October. The group argues that President Obama must get Congressional approval before “giving away government property.”
“The Obama Administration’s decision violates the Property Clause of the US Constitution by giving away government property without congressional authorization, the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by chilling speech and the Administrative Procedure Act by acting beyond statutory authority,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office explained in a statement.
The Republican attorneys general echoed the sentiments of their fellow party members, arguing that the move would give authoritarian governments like China, Russia and Iran more power to censor the internet. Those three countries will participate in the international governing body that will oversee the internet and domains. Attorney General Paxton argued that trusting those governments to lend a hand to maintain the freedom of the internet was “lunacy.” The group also cites security concerns over the .gov and .mil domains after the transition, but supporters of the transition say that those won’t be affected by the change.
In an open letter on TechCrunch last week, a group of Congressional Democrats slammed Republicans for their resistance of the transition. The group of five Senators and Representatives reminded their counterparts, and the general public, that the US doesn’t own the internet.
“If the Republicans successfully delay the transition, America’s enemies are sure to pounce,” the letter explained. “Russia and its allies could push to shift control of the internet’s core functions to a government body like the U.N. where they have more influence.”
Source: The Hill
Salesforce urges EU to block Microsoft’s acquisition of LinkedIn
When Microsoft announced they’d won the bidding war for LinkedIn with a colossal $26.2 billion offer, it seemed, well, about as interesting as corporate enterprise acquisitions sound. Yet it’s a shrewd move for both: Integrating a business-oriented social network into Outlook or Windows would be promising for the software giant, while LinkedIn gets stability under its new corporate umbrella. But not everyone is happy about the deal: Salesforce is urging the European Union to block it, claiming the union would be anticompetitive.
Specifically, Salesforce’s chief legal officer Burke Norton argued that if Microsoft owns LinkedIn’s dataset of “450 million professionals in more than 200 million countries,” they could deny competitors from using it. But even the combination of software and social information could give an unfair advantage, sources told The New York Times. Of course, the company is hardly unbiased: Salesforce had a competing bid for LinkedIn.
Microsoft fired back, noting that the deal has already been cleared in the United States, Canada and Brazil, and that the advantage would not outpace Salesforce’s existing dominance in the customer relationship management (CRM) market. Whether the EU competition authority ends up blocking it or not, the call for scrutiny could lead to a deeper investigation into the deal, potentially dragging it out for months longer.
Source: PC World
Chromebox vs Chromebit — Which should you buy?
They’re two awesome devices that don’t get the attention they deserve. Knowing which one you should buy is all about knowing what you want to use it for.
Most of the time when we’re talking about Chrome OS, we’re talking about Chromebooks. The lightweight operating system is perfect for smaller, more inexpensive laptops because it’s just not very resource intensive. Those same qualities make it perfect for the Chrome-branded devices that don’t get as much attention as they deserve — Chromeboxes and Chromebits.
A Chromebox is a concept most people will be familiar with. Think of a small computer designed to have a stand-alone monitor, mouse, and keyboard attached. If you pictured a Mac Mini or Intel NUC, you got it. A Chromebox is simple a compact desktop computer that runs the same Chrome OS as a Chromebook does. A Chromebit is a little different. It resembles a first generation Chromecast because it’s essentially an HDMI stick PC. Everything needed to power the OS is inside the ultra-small casing and it plugs directly into an open HDMI port on a television or monitor. It has all the features you need to operate it — Bluetooth, WiFi, and a USB port built right in.
Both the Chromebox and Chromebit (as well as a Chromebook) run the same operating system and can do the same things within the limits of the hardware. The prices are even close. The differences between the two, and how you’ll be using it, are what determines which is best for you.
Why a Chromebox is great
A Chromebox has a couple very strong points, and both are based on the hardware. You’ll find that most Chromeboxes use higher-powered Intel Celeron or “i” model processors like traditional PCs or higher-end Chromebooks. These chips are known as solid performers and can power “regular” Windows computers, so they breeze through Chrome OS when mounted inside a bigger box with room for better cooling. I have an old Samsung Chromebox here with an Intel i5 processor here, and it can still keep up with anything I throw at it. Especially because of the next “pro” in the list.
A Chromebox makes for an almost perfect media center PC.
Most Chromeboxes use hardware you can upgrade. I don’t mean the CPU or the disk controller or any random EEPROM on the board, but the storage and RAM can be swapped out for more capacity. Using off-the-shelf parts, you can drop a bigger solid-state disk drive and up to 16GB of RAM for most models. Some of the Intel “Core i” models can use even more RAM. You’re only limited by what the motherboard supports (usually two 1.35 volt DDR3 SODIMM slots). The storage is usually a standard SATA M2 SSD and is an easy upgrade. Realistically, a Chromebox with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is cheap and easy to build. Since everything on the board is Linux compliant (Chrome OS is Linux) you have yourself a great dual-boot machine that’s about $600 cheaper than an equivalent Mac Mini, or a drop in the bucket compared to an Intel NUC that can run as well.
Which makes it hands-down the best way to HTPC. You’ll have the horsepower to run any Ubuntu-based media center OS, and with two to four USB ports, you can attach almost limitless storage for your own media. Plug it into your receiver or TV, set up a wireless keyboard and mouse and off you go. And you can always boot back to Chrome if you only want to surf the web. Facebook never felt so fast.
Why a Chromebit is great
A Chromebit is the king of portable. It’s about the size of a disposable lighter, and you can pair it with a small Bluetooth remote/mouse/keyboard combo that isn’t much bigger. It’s literally a full computer that will fit in your pocket, ready to use anywhere there is a television. There are a lot of people who love HDMI stick PCs, and usually, this is one of the biggest reasons.
A Chromebit is a great way to take everything with you.
Everything works and feels the same as a Chromebook, or even a souped-up Chromebox when you’re using Chrome OS. Yes, the less-beefy ARM or mobile Intel processor can struggle a bit here and there when trying to render a full HD YouTube video, but for the most part, the experience is enjoyable. All your apps and extensions will load right up and run the same way they would on any other Chrome device, and you even have a USB port for extra storage if you need it and want to carry it along. You can still load a media center operating system on a Chromebit. (Some people are doing just that.) A Chromebit, a small keyboard combo and a cheap 250GB external drive filled with movies and music would make for a great vacation carry-along. It would also be an awesome tool to give a Google Docs or Google Sheets presentation in class or a meeting. For taking it with you, a Chromebit is great.
That’s not to say a Chromebit can’t be pretty cool at home, either. It’s basically a plug and play option if you want the internet on any TV. Plug it into a free HDMI port, power it up and switch inputs. Many are CEC compliant and they boot in under 10 seconds, including wireless connectivity and paired with your keyboard and mouse. If you don’t have room for a Chromebox or just don’t want to see one in your entertainment center, a Chromebit might be just the thing for you.
The Chromebit, Chromebox, and Chromebook all do the same things the same way.
In the end, the Chromebit, Chromebox, and Chromebook all do the same things the same way. Much of the internet talk about Chrome OS is centered around Chromebooks because they are a cheap portable solution that’s perfect for many. But all of the same things apply to the other Chrome devices, too. If Chrome is all you need, and you don’t want to use a tiny screen, you should check a Chromebox or Chromebit out.
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