Tuesday 2 May 2017

The Morning After: Meet the 'mother of WiFi'

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It's Tuesday, May 02, 2017.

Hey, good morning! 

It was a day of leaks and, erm,  skintight green tights. We got glimpses at the next Surface laptop, and that (eventual) Fitbit smartwatch, which, looks like other smartwatches. The first lump of extra Zelda content has been teased in detail: hopefully, you like dressing up like Mr. Tingle.

Expect to see more of this later.

Pictures of a ‘Surface laptop’ leak out ahead of today’s Microsoft event
 

Pictures of a ‘Surface laptop’ leak out ahead of today’s Microsoft event<br />   

At around 9:30AM ET today, Microsoft will show off some of its plans to take on Chromebooks for students. That is expected to include a cloud-focused focused version of Windows 10 and some new hardware, like this laptop. Pictures and specs for a 13.5-inch laptop leaked out last night via Twitter, so all we really need to know now is what’s inside and how much it will cost. Stay tuned.
 

'Tingle' and 'Majora's Mask' options are coming to Link's wardrobe, as well as a new Hard Mode.
 

First 'Zelda: Breath of the Wild' DLC adds more reasons to replay
 

First 'Zelda: Breath of the Wild' DLC adds more reasons to replay<br />   

For players who've already traversed every corner of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild's open world, the company has added more details of its first DLC expansion. Due sometime this summer, the company will add a 'Hard Mode' where enemies are powered up by one level, have higher maximum levels and they slowly regain health -- oh, and enemies and chests can be found in the sky. 
 

The 'mother of WiFi'.


 

“Bombshell” is a comprehensive look at Hedy Lamarr's storied life

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Hedy Lamarr’s, regardless of what you know her for, achievements are many. This new documentary, Bombshell, makes that clear. She was a hardworking actress, a determined producer, a patriotic supporter of American troops, a wife (many times over), an unpredictable mother and an icon of Hollywood glamor. But one title Lamarr never got real recognition for during her lifetime was that of inventor. It was her wartime invention that earned her the title of "mother of WiFi." She came up with a method of sending radio signals by making them jump between channels called frequency-hopping out of a desire to help the Navy deploy radio-guided torpedoes without enemy interference during World War II. Unfortunately, Lamarr's beauty and scandals kept many from appreciating her technological achievements. 

Let’s talk.

How to be a human being in the comments: A refresher
 

So it has been a long time since we last posted comments guidelines and standards. To put it in perspective, the last time we talked comments with y'all, the iPhone 5 hadn't been released, Android fans were using Jelly Bean and Facebook had just gone public. A lot can change in the course of nearly five years, but one thing that's remained constant is our dedication to our readers. To that end, we wanted to take a minute to answer some questions, explain some features and, frankly, lay down the law when it comes to the comments section and our social channels. 
 

The future of AR may be closer than it appears.

Avegant's light-field tech gives hope to a mixed-reality future
 

Avegant's light-field tech gives hope to a mixed-reality future<br />   

One thing we’ll need for augmented reality to make the next big leap is the ability to display multiple focal points at once, mimicking the way we see real objects. Light field technology could fix that if only someone had a workable solution -- enter Avegant. Nicole Lee tried on the company’s prototype headset, and says it felt like putting “a 100-inch TV  in front of my face.” So far, it’s less vaporware than Magic Leap and has a wider field of view than Microsoft’s HoloLens.
 

The company's troubled smartwatch looks very retro.
 

Fitbit's upcoming smartwatch and wireless headphones leak out

<p>Fitbit's upcoming smartwatch and wireless headphones leak out</p>

Fitbit’s long-time-coming smartwatch has leaked and appears to swap out the clunky octagonal design of its Blaze fitness tracker for a more traditional square face. It also features a metal unibody case, which adds some colorful accents around the screen. Fitbit will also be taking on Apple's BeatsX wireless headphones with its own pair, codenamed "Parkside." It'll hang around your neck and feature a slight metallic accent. We don't know much about its features yet, but based on the leaked images it looks like a typical pair of wireless earbuds.
 

Better sound than the Amazon Echo, but at a higher price.
 

Apple's Siri speaker could be the 'one more thing' at WWDC
 

Apple's Siri speaker could be the 'one more thing' at WWDC<br />   

Analysts believe that Apple will introduce its Siri-equipped speaker (possibly Apple's "first home AI product") at its Worldwide Developer Conference in early June. And to no one's surprise, it would be pitched as a premium alternative to the Amazon Echo -- a subwoofer and seven tweeters would deliver "excellent" sound. Naturally, there will be tight integration with other Apple devices. The main problem? You might be waiting a while. Kuo understands that it'd arrive sometime in the second half of the year. 
 

But wait, there's more...

1. Trump creates American Technology Council to 'modernize' US government

2. What's on TV this week: 'Sense8,' 'TumbleSeed,' 'Prey' and 'Nioh' DLC

3. The federal courts have already given up on net neutrality

4. Domino's Pizza Tracker integrates with IFTTT, so your smart home can prepare for the delivery

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you'll miss if you don't subscribe.

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Monday 1 May 2017

Editor's Pick: The Grim Upward Trajectory of Mobile Fraud Risks


Peter Suciu
May 1, 2017 2:31 PM PT
More than 8,600 retail locations will shut down this year, following the 5,077 that closed last year, based on data from Credit Suisse. Moreover, 2017 could surpass 2008 -- the worst year for retail closures on record -- when 6,163 stores shut down operations. However, unlike 2008, when overall consumer spending declined with the onset of a global recession. [More...]

More Picks:
What People Don't Get About Tesla
Tesla is like Apple in that it represents a revolution in thinking. Although everyone seems to focus on the electric power plant, that is really a small part of the Tesla revolution. If Musk were to launch an almost-identical company but with gas engines, it would cut through the market like a hot knife through butter. The electric part isn't as much a sales accelerant as it is an impediment. [More...]
Linux's Big Bang: One Kernel, Countless Distros
Even if you're a newcomer to Linux, you've probably figured out that it is not a single, monolithic operating system, but a constellation of projects. The different "stars" in this constellation take the form of "distributions," or "distros." Each offers its own take on the Linux model. To gain an appreciation of the plethora of Linux options, it helps to understand how it started out. [More...]
Duty Calls Popular Shooter Back to World War II
Call of Duty will return to its World War II roots when the latest title arrives this November, publisher Activision Blizzard has announced. The franchise has been a steady hit maker since its 2003 debut. Various titles in the series have become regular staples in e-sports tournaments and Major League Gaming. Call of Duty is one of the most popular series in video game history. [More...]
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The Morning After: China's giant fighting robot appears

Engadget Email Newsletter

Engadget Email Newsletter

eng-daily-newsletter

It's Monday, May 01, 2017.

Hey, good morning! 

Welcome to your Monday morning. China is making its own giant fighting robot, hackers have pillaged a bunch of forthcoming TV shows, and how The Circle takes anti-tech paranoia a little too far.

Monkey King expands the battle between enormous machines.

China makes a giant fighting robot

China makes a giant fighting robot

MegaBots' giant robot duel might just turn into a full-scale brawl. Beijing outfit Greatmetal has unveiled a prototype of Monkey King, China's take on an enormous battle machine. It's still human-piloted, but it has a distinct trick up its sleeve: it can either fight on all fours (good for stability) or stand on its hind legs to wield a staff. It’s all gone Pacific Rim.

'New Girl' and 'Portlandia' are among the shows reportedly affected.
 

'Orange is the New Black' hackers may have stolen 36 other shows
 

'Orange is the New Black' hackers may have stolen 36 other shows<br />   

Hackers that swiped Netflix's unreleased Orange is the New Black season warned that they had shows from other TV networks, and they weren’t kidding. TheDarkOverlord has reportedly provided DataBreaches.net with a "preview" of the shows it obtained from Larson Studios, and it looks like there could be 36 more titles in the mix -- many of which you've likely heard about. The mix includes recent and yet-to-air episodes of Fox's New Girl, FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, IFC's Portlandia and CBS' NCIS: Los Angeles.
 

The "Metal Gear Solid" creator went deep at the Tribeca Games Festival.
 

Hideo Kojima on his cinematic influences, 'Death Stranding' and VR
 

Hideo Kojima on his cinematic influences, 'Death Stranding' and VR<br />   

If you're starting a new gaming festival, having Metal Gear Solid creator Hideo Kojima aboard is a good way to prove you mean business. That was the case for the inaugural Tribeca Games Festival, which featured Kojima in a keynote conversation tonight with Geoff Keighley, producer of The Game Awards. The wide-ranging chat covered Kojima's cinematic influences -- of which there were many -- and his progress on Death Stranding, his long-awaited upcoming project. He, er, compared it to an Italian restaurant,.

It might just prevent pain without nasty side effects.
 

Gene editing could lead to a vaccine for arthritis
 

Gene editing could lead to a vaccine for arthritis<br />   

Arthritis treatment tends to be an all-or-nothing proposition: the drugs you take affect your entire body, causing havoc with your immune system and leaving you prone to infections. But how do you narrow the treatment to just those areas where you feel pain? Genetics! Researchers have used CRISPR gene editing to turn stem cells into cartilage that releases a biological anti-inflammatory drug when they encounter inflammation. It not only limits treatment to the affected area, but responds only when there's a pain flare. You only get relief when you need it -- which is kind of incredible.
 

But wait, there's more...

1. 'The Circle' takes anti-tech paranoia to ludicrous heights (and it's not that good either)

2. DNA in dirt can reveal where human ancestors lived

3. EPA pulls climate science web pages to reflect White House views

4. Amazon's free Android app program is nearing its end

The Morning After is a new daily newsletter from Engadget designed to help you fight off FOMO. Who knows what you'll miss if you don't subscribe.

Craving even more? Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Have a suggestion on how we can improve The Morning After? Send us a note.
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