If you’ve ever thought, “I’d really like to be able to record all my drives both on-road and off,” the Toyota FT-AC (Future Toyota Adventure Concept)crossover is the vehicle for you. With detachable infrared cameras on the side mirrors that record yo…
Source: Engadget – Toyota’s FT-AC concept is an Instagram-ready offroader
Monthly Archives: November 2017
Yikes: Climber Falls After Huge Piece Of Boulder Breaks Off In His Hands
This is painful video from climber Brian Koralewski of his attempted climb of a boulder V6 rock climb in Little Rock Canyon near Provo, Utah when a large piece of the rock comes off in his hands and falls on top of his legs. You can actually tell the rock is structurally compromised when he first sticks his hand in the crack and all that dust puffs out from its movement. Brian sustained a broken fibula and partially torn tendon, but was able to hike the 1/4 mile back to his car and drive himself to the hospital. He’s since fully recovered from his injuries and back to climbing again, although presumably just the rock wall at his local Family Fun Center.
Keep going for the video.
Source: Geekologie – Yikes: Climber Falls After Huge Piece Of Boulder Breaks Off In His Hands
Why You Should Be Using VLC Nightly Builds
VLC is one of the most popular media players around. It works on most platforms and can handle almost any type of file. It’s damn near perfect, but you could be getting even more out of VLC by using experimental nightly builds instead of the official version.
Source: LifeHacker – Why You Should Be Using VLC Nightly Builds
Wondering Why Your Internal<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.dev Web App Has Stopped Working?
Kieren McCarthy, writing for The Register: Network admins, code wranglers and other techies have hit an unusual problem this week: their test and development environments have vanished. Rather than connecting to private stuff on an internal .dev domain to pick up where they left off, a number of engineers and sysadmins are facing an error message in their web browser complaining it is “unable to provide a secure connection.” How come? It’s thanks to a recent commit to Chromium that has been included in the latest version of Google Chrome. As developers update their browsers, they may find themselves booted out their own systems. Under the commit, Chrome forces connections to all domains ending in .dev (as well as .foo) to use HTTPS via a HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) header. This is part of Google’s larger and welcome push for HTTPS to be used everywhere for greater security.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Wondering Why Your Internal<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.dev Web App Has Stopped Working?
Congressman receives death threat over net neutrality
The FCC is set to vote on its plan to remove net neutrality protections on December 14th and as that day gets closer, things are getting heated. A 28-year-old Syracuse man is now facing federal charges for a call he allegedly made to Representative J…
Source: Engadget – Congressman receives death threat over net neutrality
Genode OS 17.11 Reworks Its "Nitpicker" GUI Server
Genode is the open-source operating system framework designed for “highly secure” special-purpose operating systems from embedded platforms to desktops while subscribing to a Unix philosophy and going for an L4 micro-kernel approach. The Genode OS 17.11 represents another quarter’s worth of changes…
Source: Phoronix – Genode OS 17.11 Reworks Its “Nitpicker” GUI Server
The DipClip is the answer to all our ketchup-covered problems
I eat fast food more than I like to admit. I drive a lot—to visit my wife’s family in Michigan, to eat cheese in Milwaukee for the weekend, or to see my family who now live in Chicago’s southwest ’burbs.
Source: LifeHacker – The DipClip is the answer to all our ketchup-covered problems
Super Mario Cereal Is A Real Thing
Nintendo and Kellogg’s have teamed up to take fans on a breakfast odyssey that will continue long after the cereal box is empty. In addition to collectible Super Mario Odyssey box art, each Super Mario Cereal box functions as an amiibo accessory, making breakfast a more playful experience.
The limited-edition cereal box will begin hitting store shelves across the US as early as Dec. 11. Those playing the Super Mario Odyssey game can tap the cereal box on the Nintendo Switch system, like you would an amiibo, to receive gold coins or a heart in the game. Even the cereal itself has a Super Mario twist, with colorful power-up marshmallows and a blast of mixed berry flavor in every box.
Discussion
Source: [H]ardOCP – Super Mario Cereal Is A Real Thing
How the Genetics of Skin Color Challenges Antiquated Ideas About Race
For much of recorded history, skin color has been loaded with powerful social meaning. Skin color plays a major part in how we define race. It also plays a significant role in racism.
Source: Gizmodo – How the Genetics of Skin Color Challenges Antiquated Ideas About Race
MediaTek Reveals MT2621 SoC for IoT: Arm v7 MCU, Integrated GPRS/NB-IoT Modem
MediaTek this week announced a new SoC designed for ultra-low-power autonomous IoT applications such as wearables, security sensors, and similar devices. The MT2621 SoC integrates basic computational capabilities, a modem that supports GSM/GPRS and NB-IoT, and a number of input/output interfaces.
The MediaTek MT2621 features an Arm v7 MCU featuring one core running at 260 MHz, 4 MB of embedded Flash, and 160 KB of PSRAM for microcontroller applications that do not require substantial computational resources or memory. To connect to the outside world, the MT2621 integrates a modem DSP, a wideband module (that supports ultra-low/low/mid bands defined by the 3GPP Rel-14), RF capabilities, and even an antenna that can work over existing GSM/GPRS (as well as upcoming NB-IoT networks). The SoC supports dual standby functionality and can work over both networks simultaneously. To connect to local wireless peripherals, the MT2621 can use Bluetooth 4.2. The chip also has an LCM interface to attach LCDs, an interface for a camera, and audio interfaces to connect a speaker and a microphone.
The highly integrated design of the MT2621 allows device manufacturers to reduce the number of additional components to a minimum, which simplifies development cycles and lowers BOM costs. Furthermore, the MCU is being promoted as being power-efficient, which would enable a long battery life, which is crucial for battery-driven applications, including health/fitness trackers, IoT security sensors, smart meters and industrial equipment. Device manufacturers will also have to write their software for the MT2621 that can run a customized MCU-variant of Linux, but naturally not Android or similar operating systems.
MediaTek did not disclose which manufacturing technology it plans to use to produce the MT2621 on, but given rather modest compute capabilities of the chip (as well as target applications), the SoC will likely be made using an inexpensive low-power planar fabrication process. As for the availability timeframe, it depends on the developers of actual hardware. Typically, the development of low-power devices does not take too long, but then it can take months to validate these products and ensure everything works properly. Interested parties will need to contact their local Mediatek representatives for more information.
Related Reading
- Samsung Begins Production of Exynos i T200 SoC for Miniature IoT Devices
- MediaTek Unveils Helio P23 & Helio P30 SoCs: Premium Midrange for Q4’17 & Beyond
- MediaTek Announces Helio X30 Availability: 10 CPU Cores On 10nm
- Mediatek Announces the P25: A Faster P20 with Support for Dual Camera
Source: AnandTech – MediaTek Reveals MT2621 SoC for IoT: Arm v7 MCU, Integrated GPRS/NB-IoT Modem
Google lets developers find 3D assets without leaving VR
Google recently unveiled Poly to give VR and AR developers an easy way to find 3D assets for their virtual worlds. Now, it has introduced Poly API to help developers work with and discover those assets directly in virtual reality. “It’s just so much…
Source: Engadget – Google lets developers find 3D assets without leaving VR
What to Do When Diaper Cream Stains Are Ruining Your Clothes
Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert, advice columnist and author of the New York Times bestselling book, My Boyfriend Barfed In My Handbag … And Other Things You Can’t Ask Martha. Her flagship column, “Ask a Clean Person,” debuted in 2011. Here on Offspring, we’ve launched a new iteration of it, focusing on parenting…
Source: LifeHacker – What to Do When Diaper Cream Stains Are Ruining Your Clothes
Cloudflare CEO on Policing Nazis Online: We Never Considered 'People Could Just Be Really Evil'
For the sake of an open internet, it’s generally believed that objectionable and offensive content is acceptable—and perhaps even necessary—up to a certain point. Internet companies still haven’t charted exactly where that point is. During an event this week, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince argued that they probably…
Source: Gizmodo – Cloudflare CEO on Policing Nazis Online: We Never Considered ‘People Could Just Be Really Evil’
Any Common Dirtbag Can Get an Under-the-Desk Office Lock Button
Matt Lauer, recently fired from NBC’s Today for sexually harassing women in terrible ways for years, had a door lock button under his desk. Who the hell installed that? we all wondered. But the answer may be: nobody. You can just buy one off Amazon.
Source: LifeHacker – Any Common Dirtbag Can Get an Under-the-Desk Office Lock Button
KardiaBand Heart EKG Reader Is First Apple Watch Medical Accessory With FDA Approval
We talked not too long ago about a study that had found that the Apple Watch might be usable for detecting high blood pressure and sleep apnea, thanks to the sensitivity of its heart rate monitor and an accompanying app. This week marks the first actual FDA approved accessory for the Apple Watch that is able to monitor health conditions, which
Source: Hot Hardware – KardiaBand Heart EKG Reader Is First Apple Watch Medical Accessory With FDA Approval
What Crisis on Earth-X Got Right That Justice League Didn't
As different as Justice League and Crisis on Earth-X are in shape and style, they’re both trying to tell similar stories. It’s just that Crisis tells that story much, much better. As dire as the DCEU may seem right now, not all hope is lost. Warner Bros.’ film division just needs to pay attention to what their…
Source: Gizmodo – What Crisis on Earth-X Got Right That Justice League Didn’t
Microsoft's Edge Browser Now Generally Available For iOS, Android
An anonymous reader shares a report: Microsoft announced in October previews of new Edge browser apps for iOS and Android. On November 30, Microsoft officials are announcing that these apps are no longer in preview and are generally available for users in select markets. By making Edge apps available on non-Windows operating systems, Microsoft is hoping to do more than give Windows 10 users who use Edge a more convenient way to sync their bookmarks, tabs, etc., across devices. Microsoft also is doing this to improve its “Continue on PC” feature that it’s been touting for Windows 10. With “Continue on PC,” users will be able to share a web site, app, photo, and other information from their phones to their Windows 10 PCs in a faster and more seamless way. Microsoft is looking to Continue on PC to help keep Windows PCs relevant in a world where more and more computing is done on mobile devices.
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Source: Slashdot – Microsoft’s Edge Browser Now Generally Available For iOS, Android
Microsoft Edge for iPhone and Android is out of beta
Last month, Microsoft released its Edge browser to iOS and Android users, but only in beta. It was available exclusively to Windows Insiders and required a PC running Windows 10 in order to sign up. But starting today, any iOS and Android users can d…
Source: Engadget – Microsoft Edge for iPhone and Android is out of beta
Report: Nest might be folded into Google’s hardware team
(credit: Nest)
A report from the Wall Street Journal claims that Google’s parent company Alphabet is “considering” folding Nest into the Google hardware team. The report says the move would allow Google to “more tightly integrate its services with Nest,” which would let Google compete better in the connected home market. The report doesn’t go into much more detail than that. Questions about what would happen to the Nest brand or how exactly a Google integration would work are left unanswered.
Nest was acquired by Google in 2014, where it was made into “a Google company”—a company that existed inside Google, but was more or less run independently. When the Alphabet era began in 2015, Nest was spun off into an independent company under the Alphabet umbrella. In 2016, Nest CEO Tony Fadell left the company, and since then Alphabet has not seemed quite sure what to do with Nest.
Nest has struggled inside Google (and later Alphabet) since its acquisition in 2014. The expectation was that an infusion of Google’s cash and resources would supercharge Nest, and while the company quadrupled its headcount under Google/Alphabet and acquired companies like Dropcam and Revolv, new products (other than a rebranded Dropcam) were few and far between. Nest’s smart thermostat and smoke detector existed before the acquisition. The only new products under Fadell’s tenure were rebranded Dropcams.
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Source: Ars Technica – Report: Nest might be folded into Google’s hardware team
2018 Will Be The Bad Year
Yesterday, the highly unstable leader of North Korea tested a nuclear missile capable of striking the highly unstable leader of America. And what happened to the global economy? Nothing! Our stock market surged to new highs. Look at the horizon there—do you see it? It’s fucking bad.
Source: Gizmodo – 2018 Will Be The Bad Year