Essential Phone can now stream live to Facebook from the 360 camera add-on

 The Essential Phone just got a camera software update that will allow owners of the device to broadcast live, 360-degree video right from the native camera app, provided they have the Essential 360 Camera, too. The update requires no extra softwa…

View More Essential Phone can now stream live to Facebook from the 360 camera add-on

AI pioneer Chris Boos talks about the future of machine learning

 This week on Technotopia I talk to Chris Boos, the creator of a bot that can play FreeCiv, a Civilization clone. His solution demonstrates the power of machine learning and, wildly, has beat multiple humans and the game. Boos’ company, Arago, specializes in building tools that build themselves. Humans can show his bots how to do something – manage a piece of software, for… Read More

View More AI pioneer Chris Boos talks about the future of machine learning

Apple’s iPad could drop the home button and add Face ID in 2018

 Apple is reportedly working on a redesign of the iPad that includes dropping the Home button and slimming down the bezels on the top-end model, as well as adding facial recognition tech to allow for Face ID unlocking and more. Bloomberg says the redesigned iPad could make its consumer debut as early as next year.
The upgraded tablet would likely sit at the top of the iPad line, which would… Read More

View More Apple’s iPad could drop the home button and add Face ID in 2018

Instagram now lets you add any photos or videos to your Stories

 Instagram is turning on a feature that many users have asked for, letting users add photos and videos from their camera roll – even if they’re older than 24 hours. The limitation in place previously seemed designed to encourage Stories to be more of a repository for spur of the moment sharing (as well as a more accurate copy of the original Snapchat product), but Instagram seems to… Read More

View More Instagram now lets you add any photos or videos to your Stories

Apple said to be working on AR headset aimed for potential 2020 ship date

 Apple is working on technology that would enable it to build an augmented reality headset by 2019, with shipping targeted for as soon as 2020, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The device would be independent from Apple’s iPhone or other mobile devices, with its own buillt-in display, OS (dubbed ‘rOS’ internally), and a new custom processor, per the report. Apple CEO… Read More

View More Apple said to be working on AR headset aimed for potential 2020 ship date

Apple Pay Cash launches in beta today, letting you send and receive cash in Messages

 Apple is soft-launching direct, person-to-person payments in an iMessage today with the Apple Pay Cash beta. The feature, which was announced earlier this year, allows you to send and receive cash inside the Messages app on iPhones. The program is launching in public beta today on iOS 11.2 beta 2, and you can opt in using the iOS Public Beta program here. Once you’ve updated,… Read More

View More Apple Pay Cash launches in beta today, letting you send and receive cash in Messages

Netflix’s first Mark Millar project is a comic called ‘The Magic Order’

 Netflix is launching its first project with Wanted creator Mark Millar, since acquiring Millarworld, the publishing company he owns and operates with Lucy Millar. The plan is to develop TV, films and even kids’ shows based on Millarworld properties, but the first thing Netflix will release from the team is actually a comic, to be sold both in digital and print formats, called… Read More

View More Netflix’s first Mark Millar project is a comic called ‘The Magic Order’

Intel and AMD partner on graphics and CPU combo to challenge Nvidia

 Intel is working with AMD to produce a chip for notebook computers that pairs an Intel CPU with an AMD graphics processor, with a small, lightweight design that can nonetheless handle heavy graphics requirements for top-tier video games.
This team-up may seem like kind of a no-brainer, but AMD and Intel actually haven’t collaborated since the 80s, according to analyst Patrick Moorhead… Read More

View More Intel and AMD partner on graphics and CPU combo to challenge Nvidia

Google’s Pixelbook is my new favorite travel buddy

 The Google Pixelbook is a bit of an odd duck among notebooks, or among tablets – or even among notebook/tablet hybrids. It’s a Chromebook, which by now is an established category, though one with very specific appeal; and it runs Android apps, which makes it feel very much like an iPad competitor. It’s a great device in terms of hardware build and general performance, but… Read More

View More Google’s Pixelbook is my new favorite travel buddy

Essential Phone is the best deal in smartphones thanks to camera updates

 The Essential Phone has come a long way since launch in one key area: Photography. When it first hit the market a few months ago, the camera had a nasty tendency to crash and was a bit slow to load and process photos. But Essential has stayed tru…

View More Essential Phone is the best deal in smartphones thanks to camera updates

Essential Phone is the best deal in smartphones thanks to camera updates

 The Essential Phone has come a long way since launch in one key area: Photography. When it first hit the market a few months ago, the camera had a nasty tendency to crash and was a bit slow to load and process photos. But Essential has stayed tru…

View More Essential Phone is the best deal in smartphones thanks to camera updates

Microsoft expands HoloLens headsets to 29 new markets, now up to 39

 Nearly three years on from Microsoft unveiling its HoloLens augmented reality headsets, the company today announced a major expansion of its availability: 29 more markets in Europe, nearly tripling the total number of countries where you can buy the device up to 39. The news shows that while we don’t have a firm number of how many units have been sold, we do know that Microsoft is… Read More

View More Microsoft expands HoloLens headsets to 29 new markets, now up to 39