Monthly Archives: June 2015

Moore’s Law in action: making our machines ever more micro

June 14, 2015Wearablescomputer, law, memory, portable, wearables

Over the past few decades, engineers have leveraged Moore’s Law to the fullest, resulting in powerful ultrathin laptops and feature-rich miniature wearables. Back in 1981, a 23-pound Osborne 1 computer was considered portable, with 64KB of onboard memory. Today, smartphones weigh just a few ounces and easily pack 128GB of storage.There’s also a vastly more complex architecture of circuits and sensors inside these devices, all at a scale nearly invisible to the eye.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/13/moores-law-micro-machines/

Team MIT’s robot lost the DARPA challenge but won over the crowd

June 14, 2015Wearablesdarpa, Darpa Robotics Challenge, mit, race, robot, robotics, vehicle

At the DARPA Robotics Challenge last week, a robot drove in on a red UTV. The vehicle slowly came to a halt on the obstacle course as it reached the door of a simulated disaster building. The driver, a six-foot-two Atlas humanoid, sat motionless for many minutes. About half a dozen researchers wearing blue “TEAM MIT” vests looked on, like anxious parents waiting for their child to pick up the pace in a crucial race. When their robot eventually turned its body to get out of the vehicle, it shook uncontrollably for seconds before it leaped out of the car and fell flat on its face. The crowd collectively gasped and a loud aww rippled through the stands at Fairplex in Pomona, California. In that moment, one of the front-runners in the race became the underdog.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/12/team-mit-darpa-robotics-challenge/

Europe’s Philae comet lander finally wakes up

June 14, 2015Wearablescomet, Europe, philae, rosetta

After seven months of not-so-voluntary deep sleep, the comet lander Philae has finallywoken up in earnest. The European Space Agency got in contact with its explorer for 85 precious seconds late on June 13th, receiving 300-plus data packets that shed light on what happened following the machine’s bumpy touchdown. As it turns out, Philae came back to life at least temporarily during its forced hibernation — it just couldn’t get back in touch with its Rosetta host ship and thus the ground crew.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/14/philae-comet-lander-wakes-up/

Amazon’s first transparency report details data requests for 2015

June 14, 2015WearablesAmazon, government

Amazon has finally published a bi-annual transparency report (PDF), revealing the kinds of data requests it received from the government in recent months and how the company responded to them. Apparently, from January 1st to May 31st, 2015, the e-commerce giant got:

813 subpoenas – Amazon provided all the info requested for 542 of them
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/14/amazon-transparency-report/

Ride shotgun in this 360-degree Le Mans video

June 14, 2015Carsapp, camera, laptop, le-mans, nismo, Nissan, PC, race, tablet, Venue, video, youtube

Sure, 360-degree video is practically old news at this point, but we’ve never seen an example that works as well as this. To coincide with the Le Mans 24 Hour endurance race, Nismo (Nissan’s motorsports division) has uploaded a 360-degree lap of Circuit de la Sarthe, the course that plays venue to the contest. Although it’s probably more immersive on your PC or laptop, we’d recommend also watching it through the YouTube app on your phone or tablet, as you’ll be able to use your device’s gyroscope to move the camera in any direction you chose.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/14/le-mans-360-video-nismo-gtr/

‘Super Smash Bros.’ gets ‘Street Fighter’ and ‘Fire Emblem’ brawlers

June 14, 2015Wearables3DS, Mega Man, Monster, Nintendo, roy, ryu, splatoon, wii u, youtube

The roster for Super Smash Bros. just grew a little larger. Nintendo announced today thatStreet Fighter icon Ryu and Fire Emblem‘s Roy are joining the fight on Wii U and 3DS. They’ll be available for $3.99 on either system, or across both versions for $4.99 each — Ryu’s pack also comes with a free Suzaku Castle stage, if you’re struggling to decide which to buy first. Footage of both characters leaked on YouTube recently, so neither is a huge surprise. However, they’re arriving today alongside the previously announced Lucasand a host of new Mii fighter outfits. These include Mega Man and Zero, Isabelle from Animal Crossing, an inkling boy, girl and “squid hat” outfit from Splatoon, Heihachi from Tekken, and Jacky and Akira from Virtua Fighter. All eight costumes will be available for $6, or $9.20 across both Nintendo platforms. Alternatively, you can fork out $0.75 for the individual costumes on your preferred system, or $1.15 if you want them on both.
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https://www.engadget.com/2015/06/14/mash-bros-monster-update/

Did Apple dash Dre’s dream of a Beats Sonos-rival?

June 14, 2015Wearablesacquisition, Apple, audio, Beats, beats electronics, Bluetooth, home, Slashgear, sonos, speaker, wifi, wireless

Apple axed Beats’ ambitions of a wireless home audio system to rival Sonos, insiders say, with the rumored project iced in the aftermath of the acquisition. Beats Electronics had been working on a speaker system which would upgrade its existing range from Bluetooth-alone to supporting multiroom synchronized playback over WiFi, among other things, Variety’s sources suggest, but a supposed combination of technical hurdles and dwindling confidence left the concept in limbo.
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https://www.slashgear.com/did-apple-dash-dres-dream-of-a-beats-sonos-rival-14388242/

As WWDC ends, the mood in the trenches is neighborly

June 14, 2015WearablesApple, apple music, apple tv, developer, iOS, ios 9, music, OS X, sdk, Slashgear, TV, wwdc

Apple’s WWDC is over for another year, and as the dust settles on the iOS 9, Apple Music, and OS X El Capital launch, it’s a chance to reflect on five days of sessions. It’s hard to gage the tone of a week-long developer event from a fast-paced keynote – even with an Apple Music section which went on too long, and which several developers I spoke to suspected was padded to fill up space originally intended for an Apple TV SDK announcement. If there can be such a thing as an overarching theme, though, it felt like it might be harmonious co-existence.
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https://www.slashgear.com/as-wwdc-ends-the-mood-in-the-trenches-is-neighborly-14388248/

Honda’s RC213V-S is a full-fat race bike for the street, slightly trimmed

June 14, 2015Carsbike, Honda, motorcycles, prototype, race, race bike, racing, RC213V

BARCELONA — Under a white plastic dome tucked within the famed Circuit de Catalunya, Honda unveiled something special here today, something it’s calling an “absolute MotoGP machine for the street.” It’s named RC213V-S, it is one of the fastest motorcycles ever produced and you can buy it if you have the money. But, you can’t necessarily have all of it. Read on and I’ll explain.

Though that name is a bit of a mouthful, it serves as a strong clue to the bike’s heritage. It’s largely based on the RC213V, Honda’s completely custom prototype machine, built to compete in the world’s premiere motorcycle racing series: MotoGP. It’s on the RC213V that Marc Marquez won his first world championship, making it the de-facto fastest motorcycle in the world.
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https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2016-honda-rc213v-s-preview/

Less roof, more awesome: On the road and track in the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider

June 14, 2015Carsalfa romeo, Alfa Romeo 4C, Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, Sharp

To say the Alfa Romeo 4C is an impractical car is an understatement. But it’s also a remarkable car that justifies every bit of inconvenience with thrilling looks and sharp performance. The 2015 Alfa Romeo 4C Spider features a removable fabric top that makes it even more impractical, but somehow that just makes it even better. How’s that for Italian exotic logic?

The standard 4C chassis is already quite stiff thanks to its carbon fiber monocoque construction, so the Spider didn’t need to add a bunch of braces to retain its rigidity for its topless transition. At 2,487 pounds (1,128kg), the Spider is only 22 pounds heavier than its fixed roof sibling.
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https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2015-alfa-romeo-4c-spider-preview/

LG Smart Lighting joins the Apple HomeKit party to battle Hue

June 13, 2015WearablesApple, Bluetooth, gateway, homekit, hue, LG, lighting, Slashgear, smart

In the very near future, LG will release a number of smart lights and a hub which will be compatible with Apple HomeKit. This LG Smart Lighting solution is not LG’s first – they also released a Bluetooth-friendly bulb called LG SmartLamp, allowing you to connect – one at a time – to each bulb within range. This new line of bulbs will all connect to a single device called a Scene Gateway, a hub that requires only power and a connection to your internet router.
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https://www.slashgear.com/lg-smart-lighting-join-the-apple-homekit-party-to-battle-hue-12388127/

Apple Watch hacked to run “true” native apps

June 13, 2015Wearablesapp, app store, Apple, Apple watch, developer, hack, native, Slashgear, smart, software, watch, wearable

Developers hack the Apple Watch to allow apps to run on UIKit, the software bones of the smart wearable device. While Apple has provided the developer world with a software kit called “WatchKit”, WatchKit itself remote-drives another bit of software called PepperUICore which lives on top of UIKit. Apple’s own apps on the Watch, save the Weather app, do not use WatchKit. To show that it is possible – albeit not recommended for those hoping to get in to Apple’s official app store – three developers have gotten both UIKit and SceneKit apps running on the Apple Watch.
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https://www.slashgear.com/apple-watch-hacked-to-run-true-native-apps-12388122/

BMW i8 with 2.0L, turbocharged 4-cylinder, 450HP said to be in works

June 13, 2015CarsBMW, BMW i8, Express, hybrid, Slashgear

BMW’s i8, the incredible-looking plug-in hybrid, is believed to be getting a more powerful sibling in the near future, according to Auto Express. While we shouldn’t be expecting anything with the “M” performance badge, the publication’s sources say BMW’s engineers are eager to show what an “i” can really do with its lightweight carbon fiber body. The main changes are said to be a bigger, more powerful engine, ditching the rear passenger seats, and a slightly more sporty design, possibly with a spoiler.
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https://www.slashgear.com/bmw-i8-with-2-0l-turbocharged-4-cylinder-450hp-said-to-be-in-works-12388125/

Ford GT Race Car to compete at Le Mans in 2016

June 13, 2015CarsFord, Ford GT, le-mans, race, Slashgear, video

Ford has introduced its new GT race car for Le Mans 2016, pointing toward its past victories and announcing that it will be competing in the LM GTE Pro class. Such is to commemorate its 1966 victory’s 50th anniversary, and to perhaps gain another bragging right. Says the auto maker, this new GT race car is based upon its new supercar that will be arriving in 2016 and that was introduced this past January. Video and full gallery after the jump.
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https://www.slashgear.com/ford-gt-race-car-to-compete-at-le-mans-in-2016-12388146/

Halo 5 gets a Ford F-150 to celebrate release at E3

June 13, 2015CarsE3 2015, Ford, Ford F-150, game, halo 5, Slashgear, truck, vehicle, Xbox, Xbox One

The Xbox One release of Halo 5: Guardians will be celebrating with their very own unique Ford F-150 truck. This truck will be popping up first – in the real world – at E3 2015, starting next week. This Ford F-150 Halo Sandcat, as it’s called, is a one-of-a-kind vehicle. It’s inspired by the aesthetics of the Halo game’s United Nations Space Command vehicle, and – unlike that vehicle – is prepared to roll through the real streets in the real world. While this truck isn’t prepared for production at the moment, anything is possible.
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https://www.slashgear.com/halo-5-gets-a-ford-f-150-to-celebrate-release-at-e3-12388171/

Star Wars VR experiences coming soon thanks to ILMxLAB

June 13, 2015WearablesAugmented Reality, HTC, HTC Vive, industrial light and magic, lucasfilm, Oculus, oculus rift, Slashgear, star wars, valve, virtual reality, vive, VR

The folks at Industrial Light and Magic, the creators of the special effects and the entire look of Star Wars, have created a new experience lab. This effort is called ILMxLAB, and it’s really made up of the efforts of ILM, Skywalker Sound, and Lucasfilm’s story group. Together, the crew will create immersive experiences – augmented reality and virtual reality – for the first generation of market-ready VR devices. This means Oculus Rift, it means Valve’s HTC VIVE, and it means everything in-between.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

Five unusual Android launchers to spruce up your phone

June 13, 2015Wearablesandroid, app, Google, google now, Slashgear, smartphone, software

One of the benefits of Android’s openness is that many of its parts can be replaced by third party apps and services. One of those parts is the homescree and app launcher, the very first piece of software the user meets when using their smartphone. After the lock screen, of course. You might have heard of launchers like Nova, Apex, Go, or even Google’s own Google Now, but here are five more that you won’t usually read about in the news unless they have a major update or release.
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https://www.slashgear.com/five-unusual-android-launchers-to-spruce-up-your-phone-13388209/

Pivotal Tracker 1 (2nd Gen) fitness tracker review

June 13, 2015WearablesFitbit, fitness, fitness tracker, jawbone, Mi Band, review, Slashgear, tracker, wearable, Xiaomi

We all know the big names in fitness and sleep trackers. Just about everywhere you look you can find someone wearing a Jawbone wristband or a FitBit tracker. Those trackers are on the pricier side of things, however, and not everyone is willing to spend that much on tech that might — like their last gym membership — end up going unused. Enter the budget tracker market where Xiaomi’s Mi Band largely goes unchallenged. Late last year a company called Pivotal Living based out of Seattle, Washington introduced an even more budget-friendly option, at least for the short term: its Pivotal Tracker 1 wearable, which is free if you sign up for a year’s membership at $12.
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https://www.slashgear.com/pivotal-tracker-1-2nd-gen-fitness-tracker-review-12386907/

The RZA interview: Boombotix and the future of physical-format music

June 13, 2015Wearablesaudio, boombotix, interview, music, portable, Slashgear, streaming

This week SG caught up with the music producer and artist Robert Diggs, also known to you as the RZA of the Wu-Tang clan. This season RZA takes a new role as a guide for content strategy with portable audio equipment leader Boombotix. He’s the new “Head Abbot”, a take on his role as The Abbot with legendary hip hop group the Wu-Tang Clan. While other legends in the music industry turn to streaming services to claim a spot in the next wave, RZA turns to the fans. To you. “To put music back in your hands.”
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https://www.slashgear.com/the-rza-interview-boombotix-and-the-future-of-physical-format-music-12387650/

Samsung Galaxy S6 Active hands-on vs Galaxy S6

June 13, 2015Phonescarriers, galaxy, Galaxy s6, galaxy s6 active, Samsung, Samsung Galaxy, Samsung Galaxy S6, Slashgear, software

Today we compare the Galaxy S6 Active to it’s slightly less active counterpart, the original Samsung Galaxy S6. These devices are very similar where it matters most – in their cameras, their software, and their displays. The places where they’re different is in their ability to handle the elements. Hence the name – Active. There’s also carriers to think about. While the Galaxy S6 is available through most any carrier you like, the Active iteration is only available in the United States through AT&T. If you cannot roll with that, you cannot roll with this.
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https://www.slashgear.com/samsung-galaxy-s6-active-hands-on-vs-galaxy-s6-12388184/

Baidu and BMW aim to launch a self driving car this year

June 12, 2015Carsbaidu, BMW, China, self driving, self-driving car, Slashgear

Chinese tech giant, Baidu, began working with BMW in April 2014 on a project centered around self-driving vehicles. More than one year later, the partnership is getting close to enjoying the fruits of its labor. According to Baidu’s senior vice president, Wang Jin, the new self-driving car should be hitting the streets in China by the end of the year. When the arrive, the cars won’t be staying on the test track. The goal is to get them on the congested highways in urban centers like Shanghai and Beijing this year.
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https://www.slashgear.com/baidu-and-bmw-aim-to-launch-a-self-driving-car-this-year-12388064/

Kingston microDuo 3C USB-C Review – One drive, Two plugs

June 12, 2015Wearablescloud, flash drive, kingston, MacBook, review, Slashgear, usb

One day the tech world will have embraced the USB-C connector – until then, we’re reliant on devices like Kingston’s DataTraveler microDuo 3C USB Flash drive to bridge old and new. The double-sided thumb drive sandwiches between 16GB and 64GB of storage in-between a pair of plugs: a regular USB 3.1 on one end, and a USB-C 3.1 on the other. As a new MacBook user, I’m understandably curious about anything that works around the ultraportable’s notorious lack of ports: read on for my review.

I’ve been using the MacBook for the past couple of months and there have been hurdles, some predictable and others less-so, to get it to co-exist with other computers. For the most part I’ve resorted to either pushing files to the cloud and then re-downloading them on the other machine, or attempting to use AirDrop if I’m dealing with two Macs.
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https://www.slashgear.com/kingston-microduo-3c-usb-c-review-one-drive-two-plugs-11387811/

Final Oculus Rift specs revealed for 2016 consumer model

June 12, 2015WearablesAMD, computer, geforce, GTX, hardware, HDMI, headset, Intel, Intel i5, Nvidia, NVIDIA GeForce, Nvidia GeForce GTX 970, Oculus, oculus rift, peripherals, ram, Slashgear, software, usb, usb 3.0, video, virtual reality, Windows, windows 7

Oculus reveals the final hardware and software specifications for their long-awaited Oculus Rift virtual reality headset. This machine works with a three-part system, starting with the headset itself, fully capable of the highest-end virtual reality experience on the market at the time it’s being revealed. This machine requires that the user have a computer with Windows 7 SP1 or newer with 8GB RAM or more, Intel i5-4590 equivalent or greater, and either an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 / AMD 290 equivalent or greater. They’ll also need HDMI 1.3 video output to connect to the headset, and 2x USB 3.0 ports for peripherals.
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https://www.slashgear.com/final-oculus-rift-specs-revealed-for-2016-consumer-model-11387922/

Oculus Touch: the new must-have VR input controller

June 12, 2015Wearablescontroller, E3 2015, gesture, headset, Oculus, oculus rift, oculus touch, Slashgear, virtual reality, VR

Today Oculus founder Palmer Luckey introduced Oculus Touch, a pair of controllers for the virtual reality environment. Made with the virtual reality universe in mind, Oculus Touch will be working in demos at E3 2015, but won’t necessarily be available with the first release of the Oculus Rift consumer headset in Q1 2016. In this handset set – two controllers – are capacitive touch, gesture recognition, and a set of traditional inputs as well. Whether or not these controls will work with anything other than Oculus Rift is yet to be seen.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

Up close with Oculus Rift 2016

June 12, 2015Wearablescontroller, headset, Oculus, oculus rift, oculus touch, prototype, Slashgear, virtual reality

While we’re not allowed to actually play with the Oculus Rift 2016, the first Oculus consumer product, we have gotten up close and personal with it. Not only that, we’re having a peek at the newly revealed Oculus Touch, the new must-have virtual reality controller – or controllers, if you prefer. This headset is largely similar to that of the Oculus Rift Crescent Bay prototype we got our hands-on earlier this year, but here it’s a whole lot smoother. A whole lot more finalized than before.
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https://www.slashgear.com/up-close-with-oculus-rift-2016-11387967/

Oculus Touch: up close with the next-gen VR controller

June 12, 2015Wearablescontroller, headset, Oculus, oculus rift, oculus touch, Slashgear, software, virtual reality, VR, wireless, Xbox, Xbox One

Today Oculus announced Oculus Touch, a set of wireless controllers that allow the user to see gestures and movement in virtual reality. While the latest software for Oculus Riftdid include visions of virtual reality hands, Oculus suggested today that they needed to go a step further. Beginning their special Oculus Rift event out with word that the headset would ship with an Xbox One controller, they went on to show a couple of hand-held joysticks with halos around them. This is the controller setup that’ll usher in the future, so they suggest.

“I’ve seen thousands of people inside the rift now, I’ve given thousands of demos,” said Oculus Rift founder Palmer Luckey, “an one of the first things that people do – is, they reach out, into this virtual reality world. It’s something entirely new to them. And it’s a natural reaction to something they’ve never experienced before.”
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https://www.slashgear.com/oculus-touch-up-close-with-the-next-gen-vr-controller-11388008/

This is Oculus Rift

June 12, 2015Wearablesgaming, headset, Microsoft, Oculus, oculus rift, Slashgear, virtual reality, Xbox, Xbox One

Today Oculus revealed the Oculus Rift – the consumer model – for release in the first quarter of 2016. This headset is the culmination of several years of testing – both in private and in public, with developers using these headsets out in the open, like no product before. This final headset is simple, easy to use, and meant to be the highest-end experience for virtual reality gaming and beyond. What’s more – this isn’t just about Oculus anymore. They’ve also partnered with Microsoft for Xbox One functionality.

The following trailer should give you an idea of what the Oculus Rift looks like. This is not the important part of this equation. What’s important is how comfortable it feels and how natural it makes your virtual reality experience seem.
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https://www.slashgear.com/

BlackBerry tipped to possibly release Android smartphone

June 12, 2015Phonesandroid, blackberry, blackberry 10, iOS, rumor, Slashgear, smartphone, Windows, Windows Phone

If you have a smartphone, the odds are high it is running Android or iOS. There are the BlackBerry 10 and Windows Phone users out there, but their numbers are (relatively speaking) few, and in the absence of some of its biggest former customers BlackBerry in particular is feeling the crunch. Thusly enters a new rumor, one that pegs the Canadian company as planning to offer a future smartphone that runs Android rather than its BlackBerry 10 platform. This would be a first for the company.
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https://www.slashgear.com/blackberry-tipped-to-possibly-release-android-smartphone-11388053/

Apple Watch users wanting to downgrade watchOS run into problems

June 12, 2015WearablesApple, Apple watch, firmware, Slashgear, watch

Apple Watch users unhappy with changes brought by upgrading watchOS to 1.0.1 are becoming frustrated by difficult, drawn out procedures to downgrade their firmware. Apple Watch doesn’t seem to have a user-accessible recovery mode, allowing users to turn back the clock on unsatisfying firmware updates. Users who are looking to downgrade have to jump through hurdles to revert back to the previous OS. Reportedly, customers are being directed by AppleCare reps to send their watches back to Apple for service. There are even rumors of being charged for “out of warranty repairs”.
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https://www.slashgear.com/apple-watch-users-wanting-to-downgrade-watchos-run-into-problems-12388078/