citizen – Page 2 – Tech Today w/ Ken May

Dainese’s airbag jacket doesn’t rely on a motorcycle to activate

Airbag jackets for motorcyclists typically rely on the bike to activate the safety features, which, in some cases, could be a bit tricky. Dainese remedied the issue by packing all of the requisite tech inside the jacket itself on its D-air Misano 1000. The collection of sensors, GPS and other electronics that are housed in the back protector “monitor the dynamics of the rider’s body 800 times a second” and deploy the airbag when they detect impact or tumbling. As you might expect, there’s an on/off switch to activate the system when you’re in the saddle and an LED status like keeps your informed of its status. Looking to snag one? The D-air Misano 1000 will arrive in November for €1, 499 (around $1, 700). Filed under: Transportation Comments Via: Gizmag , Gizmodo Source: Dainese Tags: airbagjacket, d-airmisano1000, dainese, jacket, motorcycle, safety, transportation

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Dainese’s airbag jacket doesn’t rely on a motorcycle to activate

The second ‘StarCraft II’ expansion arrives November 10th

It’s been a long time coming, but the second StarCraft II expansion is nearly here: Blizzard has announced that Legacy of the Void will arrive on November 10th. As with both the original game ( Wings of Liberty ) and Heart of the Swarm , this latest title will focus primarily on one species. In this case, you’re reuniting the mysterious Protoss so that they can confront a dire threat and reclaim their homeworld. You’ll also get new units for all factions, and there are fresh multiplayer modes that include shared bases and objective-based co-op. It’s not really a revolution, then. However, this also represents the end of the StarCraft II story line — if you’re determined to see the conclusion to Blizzard’s five-year sci-fi saga, you’ll want to check this out. Filed under: Gaming Comments Via: Kotaku Source: Battle.net , BusinessWire Tags: activision, blizzard, gaming, legacyofthevoid, starcraft, starcraft2, starcraftii, starcraftiilegacyofthevoid, video

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The second ‘StarCraft II’ expansion arrives November 10th

Add-on promises to stabilize video from nearly any camera

It’s possible to stabilize your phone videos through Hyperlapse , and dedicated video editors can smooth out other shaky clips with enough time and effort. But what if you want a simple way to eliminate jitters no matter which camera you’re using? SteadXP believes it can help. It’s crowdfunding a namesake device that brings three-axis video stabilization to virtually any camera, whether it’s an action cam, a DSLR or a pro-grade cinema cam. While many of these shooters have some kind of stabilization, SteadXP’s device uses motion tracking with after-the-fact software analysis to deliver the kind of graceful, movie-like stabilization that would normally require a gimbal or steadicam . And importantly, you don’t have to settle for one take on your footage. While SteadXP doesn’t play nicely with zooms and takes some time to compute the final results, you can reframe your subject to get the intended look. It’ll even suggest different trajectories (such as one that keeps the horizon level) to achieve particular effects. If you like the concept, you might want to act quickly and score a discount. SteadXP is promising a GoPro-compatible model with a €140 pledge ($159) or a DSLR/mirrorless version with a €230 ($261) pledge, but you’ll have to pay €30 more if you miss out on these early bird offerings. You won’t have to wait too long to give the stabilizer a shot, at least. Regular shipments will start in March if all goes well, and those willing to pony up additional cash (at least €200, or $227) can participate in a beta test beginning this January. If you frequently record your outdoor adventures and would rather not make viewers feel queasy, this gadget is likely worth a closer look. Filed under: Cameras , Peripherals Comments Via: The Verge Source: Kickstarter Tags: actioncamera, crowdfunding, dslr, gopro, ImageStabilization, kickstarter, mirrorless, photography, stabilization, steadxp, video

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Add-on promises to stabilize video from nearly any camera

All gas stations in Russia will have to install EV charging stations

The Russian auto market is struggling recently , and falling energy prices aren’t helping the country’s oil industry, either. With the economy looking somewhat uncertain, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is taking a baby step toward a greener future by mandating every gas station in the country have an electric vehicle charger by November 1, 2016. The rule is meant to boost Russia’s dismal EV segment that currently numbers a grand total of about 500 vehicles across the vast territory, according to Autostat data cited by The Moscow Times . Unfortunately, while this mandate is trying to overturn the status quo, it already looks easy to circumvent. A major problem is that the new rules don’t specify the type of charger to install, and the government isn’t offering any financial assistance to gas station owners. Therefore, they’re expected to take the cheapest option to satisfy the law. According to The Moscow Times , the least expensive charging equipment costs the equivalent of $1, 480 to import before installation expenses. However, a site like this would take nine hours to fully power-up an EV. “We believe that the new decree could stimulate business, ” Yelena Burenina, a spokesperson for the Moscow United Electric Grid Company, said to The Moscow Times . Although, at this point practically anything would be an advancement. Just 140 EVs were sold in Russia last year and fewer than 50 in the first half of 2015. Russia’s frigid winters are considered a major hurdle for EV adoption because the low temperatures cut back their total range. Somehow, though, chilly Norway is figuring out how to make green cars sell. [Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images] Filed under: Transportation Comments Via: Gas2 Source: The Moscow Times Tags: autoblog, charger, DmitryMedvedev, ElectricVehicle, EV, GasStation, partner, russia, syndicated

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All gas stations in Russia will have to install EV charging stations

California Unemployment office says Uber driver was an employee

If you ask Uber, none of their drivers are employees — just independent contractors who happen to use their network to get fares. If you’ve been watching the news though, you know some drivers disagree: filing lawsuits both in California and the UK for the right to be recognized as employees. Those drivers just got some vindication, by way of the California unemployment office. According to the Employment Development Department, at least one former Uber driver qualifies for unemployment benefits. According to Reuters , the EDD decided that a former Uber driver in southern California was an employee; the decision was held up twice by a administrative law judge when Uber appealed. Apparently, Uber’s control over the driver was a deciding factor — the company gets to define fares, bar drivers from picking non-Uber passengers and can even charge drivers a cancellation fee for choosing not to pick up a fare. That’s “in fact an employer / employee relationship, ” according to the decision. Uber says this ruling doesn’t have any impact on pending litigation, but it’s certainly a feather in the hat of drivers who want a more traditional relationship with the company. We’ll have to wait and see how that turns out as the class-action lawsuit moves forward. Filed under: Misc , Transportation Comments Source: Reuters Tags: edd, lawsuit, uber, unemployment

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California Unemployment office says Uber driver was an employee

3D-printable files of TSA master baggage keys are out for download

If you never trusted your luggage lock much to begin with, then you’re going to warily look at it in suspicion from now on. Some security enthusiasts took that photo of TSA’s master baggage keys that The Washington Post published and turned them into 3D-printable CAD files — in fact, they’ve recently uploaded them on GitHub , making them freely available to everyone. The person who released the files told Wired that while he tried to be as accurate as he could, he didn’t exactly expect the keys to work. Thing is, at least one of them did work: Bernard Bolduc, who describes himself as a “Unix wizard and security geek” on Twitter printed out a key and tried it on his TSA-approved lock. The result? He told Wired it took him one try to open the lock even though the key was made of common PLA plastic using commercially available printer. He didn’t even have to tweak the design in any way. We can assume that the rest of the files can be used to print out keys that can open other types of locks that the TSA uses to check baggage at airports. Sure luggage locks were never really lockpick-proof, but it’s still unfortunate how the agency made it even easier for thieves to open travelers’ suitcases. OMG, it’s actually working!!! pic.twitter.com/rotJPJqjTg — Bernard Bolduc (@bernard) September 9, 2015 [Image credit: Getty/Zoonar RF] Filed under: Misc Comments Source: GitHub Tags: 3dprint, security, tsa

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3D-printable files of TSA master baggage keys are out for download

BlueCross BlueShield hack may have exposed data for 10 million customers

Another week, another major institution falls victim to hackers. This time, it’s New York-based heathcare provider Excellus BlueCross BlueShield : the company says that more than 10 million personal records of its customers were exposed to hackers in an attack it discovered this past August. The company discovered the attack early in the month, but after doing more investigation it turned out that it actually took place way back in December of 2013. The investigation showed that the hackers could have accessed personal information including “name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address, telephone number, member identification number, financial account information and [insurance] claims information.” While all of this information could have been exposed to hackers, the company isn’t sure exactly what may have been revealed. The investigation thus far hasn’t shown any evidence of what data was stolen and whether it was used in any nefarious way, but Excellus is still offering its customers the now-commonplace two years of free credit monitoring and identity theft protection. Unfortunately, hacks against healthcare providers are hardly a rarity at this point. An attack on Premera , another arm of BlueCross, was revealed in March of this year, putting the data of 11 million customers at risk. And just a month earlier, Anthem was hacked — the database accessed in that breach contained the info of a whopping 80 million customers, though only a portion of those were believed to have been accessed. [Image credit: Shutterstock] Comments Source: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield , Democrat & Chronicle Tags: BlueCrossBlueShield, hack, healthcare

Office 2016 starts rolling out on September 22

Microsoft’s next major Office update is now only a few weeks away: the software giant just announced that it will start rolling out Office 2016 starting on September 22. While it’s not nearly as exciting as new hardware, it’s still a significant release for Microsoft. It’ll be the first version of Office built specifically for Windows 10, and it also brings in some long-awaited features like real-time co-authoring and the addition of OneDrive attachments in Outlook. It also comes a few months after we saw the release of Office 2016 for Macs . You can still get a taste for Office 2016 on PCs today with the Public Preview , and it looks like you’ll be able to easily upgrade to the final versions of those apps once they’re available. Filed under: Software , Microsoft Comments Tags: microsoft, Office2016

Jawbone’s fitness trackers will track more of your fitness

“Basically, we’re fixing all of the things that people hate, ” is how one Jawbone rep here at IFA 2015 describes this mid-lifecycle update to Jawbone’s range of wrist-worn fitness trackers. When we reviewed the Up3 earlier this year, we described it as a feature-packed disappointment, since while the wearable had potential to be useful, the execution was bungled. That’s why the company has spent the last few months working on a firmware upgrade that, it’s hoped, will make the device much more attractive to new customers. Slideshow-317496 One of the biggest annoyances that we had with the Up3 is that the device only took your resting heart rate when you woke up. The company had originally said that the single daily measurement was the best indication of your heart’s health, but it’s not as useful as continuous or regular tracking. With this new firmware update, the Up3 and Up4, the mobile-payments variant of the Up3 , will now take your passive heart rate during the day. The idea is that whenever you sit down, it’ll see how your heart is holding up every 20 minutes or so. If you’re worried that all of this extra effort will send you racing to the recharge socket, don’t stress — we’re told that the change will have no detrimental effect on battery life. In addition, if you’re rocking an Up2 or an Up3/4, you’ll no longer have to touch the device’s cap (the solid plastic panel) to enter and leave sleep tracking mode. The company believes that now the gear will be able to detect all of that automatically within seconds of you hitting the hay. The only thing that you’ll have to do with the cap now is to tap it to dismiss alarm clock and inactivity alerts. The company has also addressed complaints over the Up2’s strap, which now comes in a rope-style design rather than the full band that was previously available. Meanwhile, the Up3 now comes in new colors like Sand Twist (beige, but the company is saying it’s closer to champagne gold) and Teal. As before, the Up3 is priced at $179.99, while the Up2 with its new lightweight band remains $99.99 and both, as of right now, are available to pre-order from Jawbone’s online store. Check out all the news from Berlin at our IFA 2015 hub . Filed under: Wearables Comments Source: Jawbone Tags: 2015, Fitness, IFA, IFA2015, Jawbone, SleepTracking, Up2, Up3

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Jawbone’s fitness trackers will track more of your fitness

AT&T offers a plug-in WiFi hotspot for your car

Your existing car probably doesn’t have a built-in WiFi hotspot , but AT&T will soon have a way to add one and deliver that sweet, on-demand internet access. The carrier is launching the ZTE Mobley, a WiFi hotspot that plugs into your car’s OBD-II port and shares an LTE data link with everyone inside. Yes, you could just tether your phone, but AT&T is counting on simplicity to reel you in — the hotspot goes live shortly after you turn your car on, and you don’t have to worry about battery life. It won’t cost you much to give this concept a shot, at least. The Mobley will be available for ‘free’ on a 2-year contract, or $100 outright. The biggest expense is the data itself, which will cost you $20-plus for stand-alone service or $10 if you add the Mobley to a shared plan. Filed under: Transportation , Wireless , Networking , Mobile , AT&T Comments Source: AT&T Tags: att, car, hotspot, mobilepostcross, mobley, obd-ii, router, transportation, wifi, wireless, zte

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AT&T offers a plug-in WiFi hotspot for your car