No Cell Signal? This Can Help When You Wander Off-Grid!

A new accessory for phones with no reception might be a life-saver, or at least a link back to civilization. The GoTenna establishes a direct radio connection to other GoTennas up to 4 miles away, so you can send text messages and even share your location with family or friends. Sold in $200 pairs, the device is less clumsy than walkie-talkies, less pricey than satellite phones.

I tested a pair around San Francisco and in some wilder stretches of California. I found GoTenna’s radio tech has some serious range limitations over rocky or urban terrains. Inside the dense, hilly City by the Bay, it was only able to beam a message only over half a mile. But along a relatively flat stretch of beach it eked out a signal across 3 miles.

Still, the GoTenna is a worthwhile tool for people who go off the grid but don’t want to totally disconnect, including campers, skiers, hunters, emergency preppers and cruise-ship voyagers. I’d use one to keep my brood in contact on our next overseas adventure, if only to avoid international roaming charges.

Don’t think of the GoTenna as a fix for patchy cell service. If calls drop a lot where you live or work, you’ve got options, including Wi-Fi calling or installing a mini cell tower.

I also tried a new range-extending iPhone case called the Reach Case R79X, from Antenna79, sold by Best Buy and AT&T. My experience was mixed: In some countryside areas it strengthened a weak signal by as much as two times. But it didn’t do so consistently in different locations. Nor did it pick up signal in areas where the phone alone couldn’t find one. The $60 R79X is worth trying—and returning to the store if it doesn’t help.

The GoTenna is designed for situations where there’s no signal at all. It was born after superstorm Sandy, the 2012 storm that knocked out cell service in parts of New York and New Jersey. In the aftermath, company co-founder Daniela Perdomo, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based tech entrepreneur originally from São Paulo, wondered if there might be a way to let people still use their smartphones without being susceptible to infrastructure failure. The GoTenna began shipping in October.

ENLARGE

Like its name suggests, the GoTenna is a radio antenna. Just about 6 inches long, it’s small and light enough to clip onto a backpack or jacket—but noticeable enough that people stopped me to ask what it was. It connects via Bluetooth to an Apple or Android phone, where the GoTenna app can send and receive data through the antenna when it’s extended to 8 inches. The rechargeable battery lasts about 24 hours, or long enough to send 700 messages.

The GoTenna operates on some the lowest frequencies (151 to 154 MHz) available without a radio license. Those frequencies allow digital signals to travel longer distances. But due to limited bandwidth, GoTenna’s technology doesn’t send voice or photos. It only sends text messages and GPS coordinates—sufficient both for telling a buddy you’ve found the perfect campsite…or flagging a helicopter to come get you off that godforsaken mountain.

Neonode's AirBar uses beams of light to turn any laptop into a touchscreen laptop!!

     Ever since Microsoft so heartily embraced finger-friendliness with Windows 8, accessory makers have been striving to figure out a compelling way to add touch capabilities to non-touchscreen displays, be it in the form of fancy styli paired with infrared receivers, gesture control scheme like Leap Motion, or touch-sensitive overlays that you plop on your laptop’s display. But sadly, every single solution has been either lacking in functionality or just plain overpriced.

Enter Neonode’s AirBar—potentially.

        The AirBar’s a slim sensor that magnetically latches onto the bottom of your Chromebook or Windows laptop’s display and connects via USB. Once it’s hooked up—Neonode says it’s plug and play, with no extra drivers necessary—the device casts a beam of light across your screen, and you can poke, pinch, zoom, swipe and scroll around with your hand the way you would on a touchscreen PC.

Since the AirBar’s powered by light, rather than touch, you can use it to interact with your laptop in ways that traditional touchscreens don’t allow, such as with a glove or even chopsticks.

Unlike some of the other impromptu touchscreen solutions out there, AirBar won’t break the bank, either. You can preorder the sensor on the AirBar website right now for $50, though the only model available currently works with 15.6-inch laptops alone.

The story behind the story: AirBar’s price is certainly right, but that’s only one part of the equation with input as visceral as touch. The device has to nail the feeling of actual touch input if it truly wants to succeed. Will it pull it off? Neonode’s going to be showing off the AirBar at CES 2016 in a few weeks, where we’ll hopefully have a chance to poke and prod it ourselves.

Driverless car at 62mph? Baidu says that's no problem

      Chinese search-engine provider Baidu says it has wrapped up a round of "rigorous, fully-automated tests" with its technology in a modified BMW 3 Series.
Baidu, one of the companies that had designs on Nokia's then for-sale HERE maps, says the tests mark a milestone in China's driverless car ambitions.
According to Baidu, the tests demonstrated its technology can handle complex road conditions and accurately respond to the driving environment across a 30-kilometre test drive route.
      "Fully autonomous driving under mixed road conditions is universally challenging, with complexity further heightened by Beijing's road conditions and unpredictable driver behavior," said Wang Jing, SVP of Baidu and general manager of Baidu's Autonomous Driving Business Unit.
The test took place on a stretch of road from Baidu's Beijing headquarters and around the G7 highway, Fifth Ring Road, Olympic Park and back again.

Baidu said the car peaked at 62mph (100kph) during the tests -- a speed that Google, with an emphasis on caution, has avoided for now with its cars maxing out at 25mph.
According to Baidu, its vehicle "successfully executed driving actions including making right turns, left turns and U-turns, decelerating when detecting vehicles ahead, changing lanes, passing other cars and merging into traffic from on-ramps and exiting from off-ramps".

      Baidu announced earlier this year that that was working with a car manufacturer to roll out driverless cars in the second half of 2015, opening up the door to competition with Google from the Chinese company's deep-learning labs within Baidu Research.

Others vying for a place in the next frontier for driving include Uber, Apple, Tesla, Volvo, as well as German car manufacturers that just completed the investment in Nokia's HERE maps in a defensive move aimed at keeping the technology from falling from their grip.
Baidu said its tests were run using its HAD, 'highlight automated driving', maps, which it developed on its own and which sit at the core of Baidu AutoBrain, its chief driving technology. Baidu said it expects to have mapped most of China's roadways with its HAD mapping technology within the next five to 10 years.

Hey Cortana! Welcome To Android And IOS!

After months of beta testing on iOS and Android, Microsoft has officially made its voice assistant, Cortana, available on the two dominant mobile operating systems, as well as Cyanogen OS.
If you use a Windows 10 desktop or laptop, the personal voice assistant will now sync all your data stored in Cortana across your devices. Each operating system offers different features with Cortana, but the basics are that users can set location-based reminders, track notifications like packages and flights, and receive missed call alerts on a Windows 10 PC.
Just like the desktop version, you can use Cortana to look up information and get suggestions, similar to Google Now and Siri.


Just say “Hey Cortana,” when you’re in the app or on your homescreen to activate her, just like you’d say “OK Google,” or “Hey Siri,” to bring up the Android and iOS voice assistants. You can also receive text notifications on your PC, if you have an Android phone. The feature does not work on iOS.
Cortana will be pre-installed via an over-the-air update on the OnePlus One this month, alongside the 12.1.1 Cyanogen update. In the OS, you’ll be able to use the “Hey Cortana” command on any screen, and in any app.
“The custom integration includes the ability to ask Cortana to toggle network modes, power down your phone, and turn on Quiet Mode amongst other features,” Marcus Ash, group program manager for Cortana, said in a blog post announcement. “With Quiet Mode enabled, all notifications, calls and alarms will be silenced.”

Unfortunately the app is only available in the U.S. and China, but it will eventually expand to more countries. It’s available on iPhones running iOS 8 and up, and Android devices on versions 4.1.2 and higher. The OnePlus One is the only Cyanogen device that can run Cortana at this time. Microsoft says integration will be rolled out to additional Cyanogen OS devices next year with “greater functionality.”
Microsoft also announced a partnership with Uber, bringing Uber’s first desktop app through Windows 10. As a part of the deal, Uber is offering a free ride up to $20 for Windows users new to the ride-sharing service with the promotional code “MSFTWIN10”

While you’ll still need to grab the Uber app for Windows 10, this means that with Cortana, all you have to say to your PC is, “Hey Cortana, get me an UberX to Digital Trends, New York City,” or any address, and it’ll let you set your pickup location and request a ride. The app notifies you when your driver is arriving, and you need a phone number to sign up for the account, but existing users do not need a phone to use the app.
The Live Tile for the Uber app will display the estimated time for the driver to appear, so that you don’t have to keep the app open.

Pixel C review: Google's first tablet makes rookie mistakes!!

             The first reaction I had upon holding the Pixel C was basically, "Boy, this feels expensive." Its polished metal case is unmatched among Android slates -- it's the closest thing the platform has, build-wise, to the iPad. Still, it's a tad hefty for a premium tablet today, clocking in at 1.13 pounds. In comparison, Samsung's high-end Tab S2 tablet is just 0.86 pounds (and significantly thinner too), and the iPad Air 2 comes in slightly under a pound. Those might not sound like huge differences, but they're noticeable when you're holding a tablet with one hand for an extended period of time.
The Pixel C is more directly comparable to the Surface 3, which starts at the same price and weighs slightly more (1.37 pounds). But those differences seems a tad more excusable with that device, since it's a full-fledged Windows PC, with support for all existing Windows software and an interface better suited to multitasking. It's pretty clear that Google sacrificed a bit of portability with the Pixel C in exchange for better productivity. It's the first tablet to use NVIDIA's Tegra X1 processor, and that likely affected how thin it could be.
           
               Even more surprising than the weight of the Pixel C is that of its keyboard accessory, which also features an all-metal case and clocks in at 0.87 pound (a touch heavier than the Galaxy Tab S2!). Sure, it's well built, but it just feels like overkill. At least the keys actually feel good, with 1.4 millimeters of travel and great responsiveness. The Pixel C keyboard definitely takes some getting used to — it's far more cramped than typical keyboards, and you'll also have to deal with some slight repositioning, like the skinny, vertical Enter key. It also doesn't have a touchpad, you'll have to stick with your fingers to manipulate the screen (or get a Bluetooth mouse, if you're really desperate for a traditional pointer).
The Pixel C snaps together with its keyboard via embedded magnets: Just lay the tablet down flat on the top of the keyboard, and raise it up to lift the magnetic stand. While it's certainly unique and surprisingly strong (you can lift the Pixel C up right from the keyboard), it also introduces some usability issues. You can only tilt the Pixel C forward so much before it jumps off of the stand, for example. That's something I ended up doing constantly while testing it.

             The screen also tends to wobble as you're typing, especially if you're balancing the Pixel C on your lap. And to properly remove the tablet from the keyboard, you have to lay it down flat and slide it off, which seems counter-intuitive. After a while, I started to miss the Surface's built-in kickstand. Those darn magnets are even an issue when the Pixel C is closed over its keyboard. You can't just tilt it open like a laptop; you actually have to slide the Pixel C across the keyboard and then left it up. It's sort of like opening a giant pistachio. Again, it's not that obvious, though it's something I got used to quickly.

                          Beyond its keyboard accessory (which costs an additional $149), the Pixel C is a relatively nondescript Android tablet. In addition to the smooth metal case, it has polished chamfered metal edges (which get scratched up faster than you'd expect), stereo speakers and a USB-C port for charging. Expect to see more tablets adopt USB-C charging over the next year, as we move away from the ubiquitous micro-USB port.
Despite my issues with it, I'm still mostly impressed with what Google accomplished with the Pixel C's hardware. It needs to be refined, for sure, but it's nowhere near the abject failure that was the first Surface RT. (A device that, at times, made me want to throw it out the window in frustration.) That's a win, I guess.

               The Pixel C was built specifically with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but really, it doesn't feel much different compared to the previous generation of Android Ice Cream slates. Perhaps that's because Marshmallow is more of an optimization update than a whole hog upgrade. As we noted in our review, the latest version of Android is all about refining the overall experience, with some design tweaks (hooray for improved copy and paste!), more granular app permissions and several features that help to preserve battery life.
              If you've used any Android device before, you probably won't notice much new. But for newbies, it's a far more welcoming platform than ever before. For example, Marshmallow's most distinctive new feature, Now on Tap, uses the company's virtual assistant to unearth details about whatever you happen to be looking at. That could be finding more details about an artist you're listening to on Spotify, or just digging up information about a film based on a review you're reading. I wouldn't call it a groundbreaking feature yet, but it portends an interesting future for Google Now.
While there still aren't as many tablet-focused Android apps as I'd like, the few that are out there feel pretty great. Using Gmail and Evernote with the Pixel C felt about on-par with typical desktop apps, with multiple panes of information and all-around speedy performance. Google needs to push developers to take Android tablet apps more seriously though. I've been reviewing Android slates for years, and it's a shame there still aren't enough great big screen apps.
              Unfortunately, Google still hasn't added any sort of split-screen functionality in Android 6.0, so you'll be stuck using one app at a time as always. That's something Samsung's offered for years with its tablets (albeit, with only a small selection of apps), and Apple has notable lifted the idea in iOS 9. And let's not forget Windows 10 slates, which can juggle app multitasking with ease. Google will likely be enabling the feature soon though — intrepid developers have already discovered split screen functionality hiding within configuration files.

Configuration options and the competition

The Pixel C starts at $499 for the 32GB model, and you can also bump up to 64GB for $599. But if you want that keyboard — and really, why wouldn't you? — you'll have to shell out another $149 ($20 more than Microsoft's Surface Type Cover). Just like I've said about the Surface, though, it's a real shame that Google is making you pay extra for an essential accessory. If computer companies really want to sell us on convertibles, they'll have to be more transparent about what these things actually cost. (And seriously, do whatever it takes to bundle the freaking keyboards.)
So after all that, I'm sure you're wondering if the Pixel C can actually take on Microsoft's Surface 3. Really, the answer to that depends on how much you like Android. The Pixel C is built expressly to prove that Android can be a serviceable platform for productivity. But to truly love it, you'll have to live with the lack of multitasking and a limited amount of tablet apps, neither of which are an issue with the Surface 3. Given that I cut my computing teeth on Windows, I'm far productive working in that environment. But the Pixel C might just be perfect for an Android fanatic.
Another option, if you really want Android: Just snag one of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S slates and a decent keyboard (Logitech's tablet keyboard is a good start). Personally, I'd recommend trying to find one of last year's models, which is plenty fast and sports a dazzling screen, but paradoxically it also has better battery life than the Tab S2.

The Pixel C, while an intriguing first effort at making a convertible, is simply tough to recommend. That's especially true when there are plenty of cheaper and better equipped options out there. But it's also an intriguing first effort by Google. It's a sign that the search giant is serious about taking on Microsoft when it comes to hardware, and that it's willing to push an established platform like Android into new territory. With a thinner design, a revamped magnetic latch and (if rumors are true) an OS that unites Android and Chrome OS, Google might be able to turn the next Pixel C into a convertible truly worth considering.

Article By : Devindra Hardawar

The World's First Chia Pet Pen With Invisible Ink Made From Living Algae

           Some of the best inventions actually started out as accidents, and such is the case with the world's first "Chia Pet" pen. Its creators were trying to create an eco-friendly alternative to printer ink using algae, but ended up creating invisible ink that magically appears after a few days exposure to sunlight.
           The folks at Living Ink Technologies are still working on their sustainable printer ink dream, but in the meantime they've created a couple of pens filled with the algae-based ink that they refer to as "timelapse" ink because the artistic creations drawn with it only appears after a couple of days.
         
          On the science side of things, the Living Ink pens contain cyanobacteria, algae, and chlorophyll in very tiny amounts that are invisible to the naked eye at first. But when exposed to sunlight, the algae and bacteria reproduce at astonishing rates, eventually bolstering their numbers to the point where they finally appear green, thanks to all that chlorophyll.
On the artistic side of things, the Living Ink material in the pens also contains disappearing ink so that you're able to create an initial design on paper. The pink pen contains "fast ink" which then grows in the first one or two days, while the blue pen contains "slow ink" that usually takes about three to four to appear. This allows you to create a two-stage secret reveal over the course of about a week.

                The last step is to put your Living Ink creation inside a compact greenhouse (which doubles as a picture frame) filled with a nutrient-dense material called agar that promotes the ink's growth-and wait. With enough patience and exposure to the sun, eventually your artistic creation will make its appearance.
               When removed from the frame the algae and bacteria will eventually die, but the resulting image actually stains the paper so that it won't fade away. From the company's own testing, the Living Ink images remain visible and colorful out of the frames for well over two years and counting.

                Living Ink Technologies is attempting to fund its creation through a $15,000 Kickstarter campaign that just launched, and for a short time you can pre-order the most basic set, which comes with everything you'll need including both pens, for just $30.
                Don't count on this as the perfect Christmas gift, though, delivery isn't expected until March of next year, and that's assuming everything goes well from the Kickstarter campaign succeeding, to production going smoothly. They rarely do, but Living Ink Technologies has been working on and perfecting this algae-based ink for quite a few years now, so it's not like they're only working off an idea brainstormed on a cocktail napkin like countless other crowdfunding campaigns.

Rumor: Apple Watch 2, 4-Inch iPhone To Appear In March!

           That iPhone 6c rumor just got a little more real with a report from 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman. Sources tell Gurman that Apple is planning their next-gen Watch event for March, but the kicker here is that a new iPhone could also be appearing.
           The next generation of the Apple Watch has the potential to make the product a lot more appealing. As we've reported, it seems like the company will introduce security updates and vitals tracking, and Gurman suggests Watch 2.0 could also have a camera and tether-free WiFi capabilities. This would be a big step up for the Watch, which has struggled to find widespread adoption.
But while the rumored March event is Watch-focused, Gurman's sources say that the "iPhone 6c" might also make its bow. KGI's Ming Chi Kuo said last week that the long-discussed 4-inch phone "would resemble an upgraded iPhone 5s" only with shiny upgraded internals. Quoth 9to5Mac:
           The device's technical specifications will fall somewhere between the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6s, with rumors suggesting that the phone may preserve earlier iPhone camera features while including the new iPhone A9 chip.
           There's a lot of demand amongst iPhone users for the option of a screen smaller than the 6s's 4.7 inches, and the 4-inch "6c" would fit neatly in hand. Will the new-ish iPhone be Tim Cook's one more thing come March?