Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Google built a processor just for AI

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/18/google-ai-processor/

Google is no stranger to building hardware for its data centers, but it's now going so far as to design its own processors. The internet giant has revealed the Tensor Processing Unit, a custom chip built expressly for machine learning. As Google doesn't need high precision for artificial intelligence tasks, the TPU is focused more on raw operations per second than anything else -- it's an "order of magnitude" faster in AI than conventional processors at similar energy levels. It's space-efficient, too, fitting into the hard drive bays in data center racks.

The fun part? You've already seen what TPUs can do. Google has been quietly using them for over a year, and they've handled everything from improving map quality to securing AlphaGo's victory over the human Go champion. The AI could both move faster and predict further ahead thanks to the chip, Google says. You won't get to buy the chip yourself, alas, but you might just notice its impact as AI becomes an ever more important part of Google's services.

Source: Google Cloud Platform Blog

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Saturday, May 14, 2016

Windows phones will finally let you log-in with a fingerprint

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/13/windows-10-mobile-fingerprint-scanner/

We've know for a while now that Windows 10 would support for alternative log-in options like fingerprint, facial and iris recognition. Thanks to Windows Hello, unlocking a phone with facial recognition is possible, but using a finger to access your device hasn't been an option. Well, that's about to change. At the WinHEC conference this week, Microsoft announced that support for fingerprint scanners will be part of a Windows 10 Mobile update this summer.

Of course, that software feature will need hardware to support it. HP's Elite X3, a phone that doubles as a laptop, has a fingerprint scanner but we'll have to wait and see if other device makers adopt the Windows Hello tool. Microsoft says while some OEMs have experience with fingerprint components from FPC and Synaptics, using scanners from other companies may take a bit more effort to work alongside Windows 10. The Anniversary Update that will deliver the feature is in testing now, and it should arrive in July for both desktop and mobile.

Via: MSPoweruser, The Verge

Source: WinHEC Presentation (PDF)

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Thursday, May 12, 2016

A Major Mystery About Earth's Magnetic Field Has Just Been Solved

Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-major-mystery-about-earths-magnetic-field-has-just-be-1776291902

For the first time, physicists have observed a mysterious process called magnetic reconnection—wherein opposing magnetic field lines join up, releasing a tremendous burst of energy. The discovery, published today in Science, may help us unlock the secrets of space weather and learn about some of the weirdest, most magnetic objects in the universe.

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LG's GoPro rival can stream direct to YouTube

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/12/lg-action-cam-lte-gopro-rival/

LG has made an action camera that can live stream to YouTube (or anywhere else) without a phone or WiFi. The LG Action CAM LTE (clearly, hours spent on the name) has onboard 4G to beam video direct to the web. The camera itself looks like an elongated GoPro Hero4 Session (the frame it's hanging from in the picture looks almost identical). Unlike GoPro cameras, though, LG's Action CAM has built-in GPS and motion sensors -- much like the Garmin, or TomTom action cameras. This means you'll be able to record where your footage was taken, gather metrics or easily find video highlights later.

The Action CAM's 12-megapixel sensor shoots 4K/UHD at 30 frames per second (fps), 1080p at 60fps and for extra slo-mo, there's a 120 fps option at 720p. If you're hoping to make use of the cellular livestreaming, then you're limited to 720p at 30 fps. That cell connection isn't the only way to get video out of the camera though. The Action CAM supports memory cards up to 2TB, and there's built in WiFi and Bluetooth too (plus good old USB of course).

LG says the Action CAM is part of its "Friend" line of accessories, which it launched in Barcelona earlier this year with the LG G5, although there are no specifics about how it actually fits in with the rest of the line (especially as it doesn't need to borrow the phone's data connection). It's likely that you'll be able to use a handset as a viewfinder though. The Action CAM is also waterproof to one meter for 30 minutes without a case, so you'll definitely not want your phone with it then (we also imagine this hinders livestreaming).

On paper, the Action CAM seems to offer more features than most of its rivals. GoPro cameras don't have motion sensors, and there are very few with livestreaming built in right now. GoPro gets around this by native support for Periscope, but that still requires you have your phone within WiFi reach. We can't tell you if this makes LG's camera a worthy rival just yet, as we have no idea about price, data costs and even where it'll be available beyond South Korea next month, followed by the US and Europe later.

Source: LG

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Vuze camera offers 3D VR video for less than $800

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/12/vuze-vr-camera-pre-orders/

HumanEyes swore up and down that its Vuze virtual reality camera would undercut the price of professional cams by thousands of dollars, and it clearly wasn't kidding around. The company has started taking pre-orders for its 3D 360-degree camera at a relatively modest $799. That's significantly less than the under-$1,000 target it set back in January, and a sliver of the cost of high-end alternatives -- even GoPro's upcoming Omni rig is likely to be much more expensive, and only shoots in 2D. You'll have to wait until the fall to get your unit, though, so don't count on using the Vuze for a VR vacation documentary.

This isn't the cheapest or most portable VR camera you can get. Ricoh, Samsung and others are already making smaller 360-degree cameras that cost under $400, and Nikon's upcoming KeyMission 360 may be similarly affordable, but all these options only shoot in 2D. Vuze's system packs eight cameras versus two to four on most of these competitors, which is what allows to record in 3D (or 2D at higher resolution). Another advantage of the extra optics, is it doesn't have to rely on fisheye lenses (and thus compensate for serious distortion) to create its wrap-around 4K picture. As such, this might be the best way to capture VR video on an enthusiast's budget. You're theoretically getting the quality of the pro option without the bank-busting cost.

Source: Vuze

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Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Leaked Canon Lens Has Some Bright Ideas Built in

Source: http://gizmodo.com/leaked-canon-lens-has-some-bright-ideas-built-in-1775812012

Leaked Canon Lens Has Some Bright Ideas Built in

Properly lighting a tiny subject when doing macro photography is tricky since your camera ends up so close to it. A ring light surrounding the lens is one solution to the problem, and it looks like Canon might soon be releasing a macro lens featuring an LED ring light built right in.

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Thursday, May 05, 2016

Mankind Doesn't Stand a Chance Now That Robotic Cockroaches Have Started Cooperating

Source: http://gizmodo.com/mankind-doesnt-stand-a-chance-now-that-robotic-cockroac-1774920929

The scourge of puppies, babies, and robotic vacuums is no longer a problem for robotic cockroaches. Researchers at UC Berkeley have taught this pair of VelociRoACHes to cooperate and help each other tackle stairs using a tiny magnetic winch and old-fashioned teamwork.

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This New 'Skinterface' Could Make Smartwatches Suck Less

Source: http://gizmodo.com/this-new-skinterface-could-make-smartwatches-suck-less-1774926857

This New 'Skinterface' Could Make Smartwatches Suck Less

If smartwatches are going to create a gadget future beyond smartphones, they’ll have to up their game . Researchers from Carnegie Mellon may have just the thing with a new smartwatch interface that uses that fleshy bezel right next to the typically tiny displays: your arm.

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A Robot's Stitched Up a Pig Gut All By Itself

Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-robots-performed-the-first-ever-autonomous-suturing-o-1774855279

Robot-assisted surgery is increasingly common in hospitals, but it’s always under the control of a human surgeon. Now, a robot’s sewn up incisions in a live pig’s gut, all by itself.

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Netflix adds data-saving quality controls to mobile apps

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/05/netflix-data-saving-quality-controls/

Back in March, Netflix revealed that it was working on a "data saver" feature for its mobile apps. Keeping its word, the streaming service announced today that the cellular data tool that allows users to adjust video quality to save data is available in its iOS and Android apps. In fact, we're seeing the new feature in both Netflix apps here at Engadget HQ. By default, the software adjusts video quality to allow for about 3 hours of streaming per gigabyte of data. The company says that tests showed this to be the best balance of data use and quality when streaming over a cellular connection.

In addition to the default setting, there are options for low, medium and high quality streaming that allow for four hours, two hours and one hour of watching with 1GB of data. There's also a setting for those with unlimited data plans, and if you don't want to use any of that monthly allotment, you can opt to only stream movies and TV shows on WiFi. Netflix also offered the reminder that even if you choose higher quality in the app, your mobile service provider may place its own limits on bandwidth. Regardless of networks fiddling with quality, these new quality settings should help folks who enjoy an episode of House of Cards on the go, but regularly exceed their data caps.

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Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Simple exploits use images to attack websites

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/04/imagemagick-web-exploits/

Would-be hackers don't always have to jump through hoops to bring down a website. Researchers have discovered relatively simple exploits in ImageMagick, a common package for processing pictures on the web, that let attackers run any code they like on a targeted server. If someone uploads a maliciously coded image and ImageMagick handles it, they could theoretically compromise both the site and anyone who visits it. That's particularly dangerous for forums and social networks, where user uploads are par for the course -- a vengeful member could wreck the site for everyone.

Thankfully, there are fixes. The ImageMagick team is closing the security holes within the next few days, and it's possible to thwart at least some attacks by either verifying the integrity of images or using a policy file to disable the susceptible features. The concerns are that these safeguards won't cover everything, or that website owners won't rush to shore up their defenses. It could be a while before you can assume that your favorite social sites are protected.

Via: Ars Technica

Source: ImageTragick, ImageMagick

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Tuesday, May 03, 2016

Hacker who stole from banks ordered to pay $7 million

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/02/russian-hacker-gozi-virus/

A hacker whose creation stole bank account details from over a million computers across the globe has been ordered to pay $6.9 million. Nikita Kuzmin from Russia is one of the three architects of the Gozi virus, which infects computers through PDF files. People unwittingly install it on their machines by downloading a PDF file they receive that's relevant to their interests. Authorities first identified Gozi back in 2007, but by the time they did, Kuzmin and his cohorts had already siphoned millions of dollars from people's accounts.

The feds' computer experts identified a server that contains 10,000 bank account details pilfered from 5,200 computers, 160 of which belongs to NASA. Besides stealing money himself, Kuzmin also rented out the Gozi virus to other hackers for $500 a week. He earned $250,000 from that particular venture. However, Kuzmin helped authorities out with other investigations while he was in jail for 37 months back in 2011. While the DOJ didn't release the details of how he contributed, it's clear whatever he did worked: he didn't get additional jail time.

Source: Department of Justice, Bloomberg, Reuters

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HP's new Pavilion PCs include a 15-inch hybrid laptop

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/05/03/hp-2016-pavilion-pcs/

Spring is well underway, and that can only mean one thing for HP: time to unveil a wave of new home PCs. The company has trotted out a host of new Pavilion PCs that pack both obligatory upgrades -- thinner, faster and new colors -- as well as a few welcome improvements. The highlight by far is the Pavilion x360 line of convertible laptops, which gets a larger 15.6-inch model (above) on top of the existing 11.6- and 13.3-inch versions. Yes, HP's most affordable hybrid is now big enough to replace larger portables. You'll also find slimmer designs for the two smaller versions, optional keyboard backlights on the two larger systems and your pick of current Intel chips ranging from a Celeron to a Core i7. When the Pavilion x360 updates arrive from May 15th through May 29th, prices will start at a frugal $380 for the 11.6-inch PC, $480 for a 13.3-inch version and a not-too-shabby $580 for the 15.6-inch model.

There's more to the refresh than that, of course. The more conventional Pavilion line is slimming down at the 14- and 15.6-inch sizes, and the larger systems (including the 17.3-incher) can carry the latest Intel Core i7 or AMD A12 processors, up to 16GB of RAM and storage that can include both a 128GB SSD and a 2TB hard drive. Systems start showing up as soon as May 18th, with prices starting at $540 for a 14-incher, $580 for the 15.6-inch Pavilion and $900 for the 17.3-inch behemoth.

On the desktop side of things? Some Pavilion All-in-Ones now carry a "micro edge" display that cuts the border thickness by 75 percent, and there's an optional RealSense camera for both gesture commands and signing in with face detection. A new Pavilion Desktop, meanwhile, is 30 percent smaller than its ancestor while sporting up to a Core i7 or AMD A12, 16GB of RAM, 3TB of storage and budget GeForce GTX 750i or Radeon R7 graphics. The all-in-ones first show up between July 3rd and July 10th with prices starting at $700 for a 23.8-inch display and $1,000 for 27 inches. The Pavillion Desktop hits on June 26th for $450, and it'll be joined at the same time by a 32-inch quad HD Pavilion Display that sells for $400.

Source: HP

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Thursday, April 21, 2016

Opera is the first big web browser with a built-in VPN

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/04/21/opera-browser-vpn/

If you've wanted to use a virtual private network to improve your web privacy or (let's be honest) dodge content restrictions, you've usually had to either install a third-party client or use a relatively niche browser with the feature built-in. As of today, though, you have a more mainstream option: Opera has released a developer version of its desktop web browser with native VPN support. You only have to flick a virtual switch to get a 256-bit encrypted connection that hides your connection details and prevents sites or governments from blocking content they don't want you to see.

The preview version only gives you three simulated locations for the VPN (Canada, Germany and the US), so this won't give you access to a whole lot until the finished browser is ready. However, the VPN is free. If all you want is to access a forbidden streaming service or make it harder for snoops to monitor your traffic, this might be your easiest and most affordable solution.

Source: Opera

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Monday, April 18, 2016

Flexible lens sheets could change way cameras see

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2016/04/18/flexible-lens-sheets-could-change-way-cameras-see/

Cameras are already embedded in a lot of devices, but what you could wrap them around things like a "skin?" That's the premise of "flexible sheet cameras" developed by scientists at Columbia University. Rather than having just a single sensor, the devices use an array of lenses that change properties when the material is bent. The research could lead to credit card-sized, large-format cameras that you zoom by bending, or turn objects like cars or lamp posts into 360-degree VR cameras.

In order to create a wraparound camera, the team first considered attaching tiny lenses to single pixel-sized sensors, a tact that's been tried before on curved surfaces. However, they realized that when bent, such an array would have gaps between sensors that would produce artifacts in the final image. Instead, they created flexible silicon sheets with embedded lenses that distort and change their focal lengths when bent. The resulting prototype has no blank spots, even with significant curvature, so it can capture images with no aliasing.

The team flexed the prototype sheet -- with a 33x33 lens array -- in a predictable way, allowing them to produce clean (though low resolution) images. However, if the amount of deformation isn't known, the system produces random and irregular images. For instance, they created a simulated camera based on a larger, more flexible sheet that produces a hilariously distorted image (above) when when draped on an object.

However, the goal is to eventually measure the amount of deformation with built-in stress sensors, then calculate the sheet's geometry to produce a clean image. While the current prototype is very low-res, it proves that the concept is viable, so the team plans to "develop a high resolution version of the lens array and couple it with a large format image sensor." Eventually, the sheet camera could result in sensitive large format cameras that produce very high dynamic range images. If you want to be more futuristic, the tech could even turn household objects and wearables into giant image sensors. Invisibility cloaks for all?

Via: Digital Trends

Source: Columbia University

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