Monday 21 October 2019

Dark mode substantially extends battery life on OLED iPhones

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It's Monday, October 21, 2019.

Hey, good morning!

Welcome back! This week is reviews week, so you can expect verdicts on Microsoft’s new Surface family, Google’s new Pixel phones and Nest devices and a few more things. Over the weekend, we saw proof that dark mode could help your smartphone last longer, saw people willingly trapped on a plane for 19 hours and saw how the LA fire service is taking drones seriously.

The New York to Sydney trip studied the health effects on everyone aboard.

Qantas completes record 19-hour flight to test the limits of air travel

The Australian airline has completed the first non-stop commercial flight from New York City to Sydney as part of a project researching the effects of very long flights -- in this case, 19 hours and 16 minutes. The study measured pilots' brain waves, melatonin and overall alertness, while passengers helped gauge the effectiveness of anti-jetlag measures, like changes to cabin lighting and meals. Travelers even participated in exercises on board.

There are two more flights coming as part of Project Sunrise, Qantas' larger effort to study health on long-haul trips. A London to Sydney flight is due in November. However, there is one major obstacle that could prevent flights like this from becoming regular occurrences: headcount. Qantas had to put tight limits on numbers to save fuel, with just 49 passengers and crew flying aboard a Boeing 787-9, which typically holds 280. That will demand a premium.

At the end of a robotic test, the difference was considerable.

Dark mode can substantially save battery life on OLED iPhones

Dark mode is a key feature on iOS 13, but can it really extend your iPhone's battery life? If it's a newer model with an OLED screen, the answer seems to be a firm yes, according to tests done by PhoneBuff. They used robotic devices to perform identical tasks on two iPhone XS test devices, one in light and one in dark mode. That included watching a YouTube video, using Twitter, navigating with Google Maps and chatting on the Messages app.

At the end of the test, the light mode iPhone XS was dead, while the one running dark mode still had 30 percent battery life. The benefits come from the OLED screens found on devices like the iPhone X, XS and 11 Pro. When OLED pixels are shut off, they use zero power, while dark pixels on regular LCD phones emit some light. (This is also why OLED phones have better contrast ratios than LED models.)

A low-cost, high-quality entry into the world of sedan hybrids.

Honda's Accord Hybrid is a value-packed sedan

Honda has a reputation for well-engineered, long-lasting vehicles. So it should be no surprise that the 2020 Accord Hybrid is those things and more. Will it impress your car-nerd friends? Probably not. Will it impress your bank account and family? Yes, yes it will. According to Roberto Baldwin, our six-foot-and-the-rest editor, it's comfortable and roomy with an impressive amount of tech for the price. It also gets a combined rating of 48 miles per gallon. For people looking for a vehicle where passengers aren't crammed together but would rather not jump on the SUV bandwagon, the Accord Hybrid is something to look into. Plus, it's great for the tall people of the world.

Learn Python online with this 85-hour bundle.

It made virtually no progress until the robot arm pitched in.

NASA's InSight lander can finally dig a hole for its Mars heat probe

NASA's ‘mole’ lander was supposed be digging a hole so a probe could measure heat escaping from Mars' interior, but it hasn't made much progress since February -- it hadn't even finished burying itself. At last, it's making some headway. The arm had struggled against unusually rough soil, but the team found it could get the necessary friction by having InSight press its robotic arm against the probe.

It's still moving slowly. The mole has dug a mere three quarters of an inch since October 8th, but it could venture as deep as 16 feet. That, however, will take some time.

It believes drones could be vital for search and rescue and other fields.

Los Angeles Fire Department wants to double its drone fleet

The Los Angeles Fire Department's Battalion Chief Richard Field intends to double the drone fleet just five months after partnering with DJI. On top of the existing 11 drones, the new ones would provide help to "specialized resources," such as crews who deal with hazardous materials, urban search and rescue and swiftwater rescues. Existing units provide clearer viewpoints on blazes and help create maps for wildfires.

But wait, there's more...

1. Google will fix a 'bug' that uploads free full-quality iPhone pics to Photos

2. Bungie pulls popular gun from 'Destiny 2' after discovering exploit

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Saturday 19 October 2019

Nike's accessible AJI

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It's Saturday, October 19, 2019.

Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Welcome to your weekend! This morning is a great time to catch up on all of Google’s new hardware, our re-review of the Galaxy Fold and some exciting news items from Friday. That includes Nike’s accessible Air Jordans and Google’s parent company getting into the drone delivery business in the US.

(View in browser.)

Drones will drop the orders in yards and driveways.

Alphabet’s Wing starts drone deliveries to US homes

During a pilot program in Christiansburg, Virginia, drones will drop off packages from FedEx, Walgreens and local retailer Sugar Magnolia, which include over-the-counter medication, snacks and gifts. Alphabet says it's the first commercial drone delivery service to homes in the country.

Make sure you didn’t miss anything.

Here's everything Google announced at the Pixel 4 event

Despite all of the leaks ahead of Google's Pixel 4 hardware event, the company still had plenty to share. Of course, we got our first official look at the Pixelbook Go and Pixel 4/4XL, but we also got to see the new Nest Mini, Nest WiFi and Pixel Buds. And Google had plenty of new features -- like ultrasound sensing and an improved Recorder app -- to wow the crowd.

FlyEase makes it easy to get sneakers off and on without changing their looks.

Nike puts an accessibility twist on its iconic Air Jordan 1

At a glance, the AJI High FlyEase appears to be just like any other Air Jordan 1, but its new technology is going to be a welcome change for the accessibility community. The adaptive system is made up of a zipper mechanism that ties around the heel, a Velcro strap for the ankle area, an adjustable tongue and laces that don't need to be tied. Together, all these FlyEase features can create a way for simple, one-handed entry, into the shoes.

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Just can't trust it.

The Samsung Galaxy Fold, reviewed again: Hard to love, even harder to hate

Yeah, we’re back here again. Samsung’s Galaxy Fold is one of those devices that inspires adoration and annoyance at the same time. Its foldable design means you can carry around a tablet in your pocket and get plenty of work done along the way. The Fold’s power and flexibility are nothing short of intoxicating, but it leaves much to be desired.

Closed, it’s chunky and clumsy, and Chris Velazco has serious concerns about how well its main screen will hold up over time -- our review unit's display developed dead and stuck pixels out of the blue, and there are other units with more pronounced blemishes. The Galaxy Fold offers a glimpse at the future of smartphones and gives Samsung a potent foundation to build on, but almost no one should consider buying one right now.

Sudo make me a sandwich.

One of Linux's most important commands had a glaring security flaw

If you've used the command line in Linux or a Unix-based platform like macOS, you're probably familiar with the "sudo" command, which lets you run tasks with different (usually elevated) permissions than you'd otherwise have. It's powerful, but it was apparently too powerful until now. Developers have fixed a sudo flaw that lets you claim root-level access even if the configuration explicitly forbids it.

Linux users can update to a newer sudo package (1.8.28 or later) to fix the flaw. You might not be immediately vulnerable as any attacker will need to have command line control over your system before they can even consider exploiting the flaw -- at that point, you probably have larger problems.

The free trial is almost up -- time to make a decision.

A month on, Apple Arcade is too cheap to quit

Apple’s $5 monthly subscription gaming package is here, and several Engadget editors are already hooked. Whether that’s due to a particular game they can’t shake, or because it can keep their kids away from microtransaction-heavy minigames, there’s apparently something for everyone. We’ll see how long that lasts.

We hope you like TVs.

Engadget’s Guide to Home Entertainment

It might seem impossible to navigate this rapidly changing industry, which is why we've put together a week of home entertainment stories. We've covered what to look for from your next TV or soundbar, what to play on your favorite console, and how on earth you're supposed to know what streaming services and hardware to opt for. We've also got stories on the upcoming Disney+ service, and a guide to home projectors.

It’s time for an upgrade.

US military will no longer use floppy disks to coordinate nuke launches

The US strategic command has announced that it has replaced old floppy drives with a "highly-secure solid state digital storage solution," Lt. Col. Jason Rossi told c4isrnet.com. The storage is used in an ancient system called the Strategic Automated Command and Control System, or SACCS. It's used by US nuclear forces to send emergency action messages from command centers to field forces, and is said to be unhackable precisely because it was created long before the internet existed.

But wait, there's more...

1. Netflix's 'Cowboy Bebop' production pauses after John Cho suffers a knee injury

2. Razer's first workstation laptop is cheaper than you'd expect

3. SpaceX begins construction of its next-generation Starship rockets

4. Netflix ends support for some older Roku players on December 1st

5. 'Fortnite' Chapter 2 is the fresh start the game needed

6. Nintendo's 'Ring Fit Adventure' hides grown-up workouts in a kids' game

7. Le Creuset's Star Wars cookware is available to pre-order

8. Japan will help NASA build a space station near the Moon

9. Netflix reveals its huge lineup of holiday movies and specials

10. Vatican launches $110 'click to pray' wearable rosary

11. 'League of Legends: Wild Rift' will land on mobile and consoles in 2020

12. Disney is tweeting everything that's coming to Disney+

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Friday 18 October 2019

Tech News Flash

Tech News Flash: Friday -- October 18, 2019

TechNewsWorld -- All Tech - All The Time
https://www.TechNewsWorld.com
Part of the ECT News Network

Headline Scan
Adopt a Maintenance Mindset: Protect IT
New Tech Vetting Law in SF Could Fuel Regulatory Trend
Google Rolls Out Pixel 4 Phone, Pixelbook, Nest WiFi and Pixel Buds
4. 'Serious' Linux Sudo Bug's Damage Potential Actually May Be Small
Safari's Safe Browsing Option Raises Privacy Concerns
Virtual Pets, Virtual People and Virtual Immortality

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Today's Story Highlights

Adopt a Maintenance Mindset: Protect IT

As part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, the National Cyber
Security Alliance is advising all computer users to "Protect IT" by
taking precautions such as updating to the latest security software, Web
browser and OS. The nonprofit public-private partnership, which works
with DHS and private sector sponsors, advised computer users on ways to
protect their personal data.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86304.html

New Tech Vetting Law in SF Could Fuel Regulatory Trend

San Francisco officials want to get ahead of the emerging technology
curve by prequalifying and regulating startup tech proposals before
products become available to consumers. That approach is a developing
trend in the U.S., according to Arle Lommel, senior analyst at CSA
Research. If approved, the creation of a city-controlled regulatory
office would invert the historical norm.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86302.html

Google Rolls Out Pixel 4 Phone, Pixelbook, Nest WiFi and Pixel Buds

A new flagship smartphone, a slick refresh of Pixelbook Go, some home
gadget improvements and a revamp of its wireless earbuds highlighted
Google's annual hardware event in New York City. The latest models of
Google's flagship smartphone, Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL, base priced at
$799 and $899 respectively, will have wider distribution, as they'll be
available from all major U.S. carriers.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86297.html

4. 'Serious' Linux Sudo Bug's Damage Potential Actually May Be Small

Developers have patched a vulnerability in Sudo, a core command utility
for Linux, that could allow a user to execute commands as a root user
even if that root access was specifically disallowed. The patch prevents
potential serious consequences within Linux systems. However, the Sudo
vulnerability posed a threat only to a narrow segment of the Linux user
base, according to Todd Miller, a maintainer of the open source Sudo
project.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86298.html

Safari's Safe Browsing Option Raises Privacy Concerns

An option in Apple's Safari browser that's supposed to protect Web
surfers from malicious sites has raised privacy concerns in some
quarters. The option, called "safe browsing," is turned on by default.
Depending on where an Apple device is registered, the browser could be
sending IP information to Tencent, a conglomerate with close ties to
China's government.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86294.html

Virtual Pets, Virtual People and Virtual Immortality

One of the interesting and somewhat underappreciated aspects of the
recent Qualcomm wireless event is that 5G will make realistic AR avatars
possible. This advance will be possible because with high bandwidth and
very low latency, processing could shift from the device to the cloud.
Coupled with the rollout of distributed data centers, this means you
could have realistic virtual pets and friends.
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/86291.html

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