throw-new – Page 33 – Tech Today w/ Ken May

AT&T refreshes its GoPhone lineup with $45 option and unlimited data

AT&T is expanding its GoPhone prepaid choices by adding a $45 tier for those who think the $60 plan’s offerings are too much, and the $40’s not enough. The company originally launched this option back in April, though you could only get it at Walmart. Now the $45 plan is officially listed on the company’s website , and it comes with unlimited talk, text and data. In fact, even the $60 option also comes with unlimited data now, but it’s not as “unlimited” as we’d all like. You only get 1GB of high-speed data for the $45 tier and 2.5GB for the $60 per month, after which AT&T will throttle your connection. Sure, it’s no fun browsing the internet on speeds reaching only 128kbps, but having a connection no matter how slow beats having none at all, especially in times of emergency. If you need more high-speed data, though, you can always top off the more expensive plan with 1GB for $10, or the $45 plan with 500MB for (oddly enough) the same price. Plus, you can add $10 on top of both tiers to get 1, 000 minutes of calls to landlines and cellphones in Mexico, among other add-on packages that you can see on AT&T’s website. Ma Bell not your carrier of choice? If T-Mobile has the better service where you live, you may want to look at its comparable (but even more competitive) Simple Choice prepaid plans. [Image credit: JeepersMedia/Flickr ] Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile , AT&T Comments Source: Droid Life , AT&T

Britain’s first ‘poo bus’ hits the streets

Thanks to a range of new technologies, Britain’s buses are steadily swapping traditional fuel for greener alternatives . Over in Bristol, however, Wessex Water believes more can be done with the brown stuff. That’s why it’s today put the UK’s first bus powered entirely by human and food waste into service. The Bio-Bus, as it’s known, is a 40-seater shuttle capable of travelling up to 186 miles on a full tank of bio-methane gas, which is generated via a process called anaerobic digestion. Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s uses the same technique to power one of its stores. Its branch in Cannock, West Midlands is exclusively powered by energy generated from bio-methane gas expelled by unusable food from its shelves. Bath Bus Company, the company operating the service, believes the “poo bus” will carry 10, 000 passengers between Bristol Airport and Bath city centre each month. While it’s perfectly set up to run the Number 2 route, it’ll disappointingly run on the A4 service locally. Filed under: Transportation Comments Source: Wessex Water

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Britain’s first ‘poo bus’ hits the streets

Meizu MX4 goes Pro with ‘2K+’ screen, fingerprint reader and ‘Retina Sound’

It wasn’t all that long ago when China’s Meizu unveiled its latest phone, the MX4 , but the real flagship is actually what the company announced today. As you can tell from the name, the new MX4 Pro is a beefed-up version of the earlier model, yet it’s still priced very competitively and is almost just as comfortable to hold. Most notably, it has a slightly larger 5.5-inch display with a stunning 2, 560 x 1, 536 resolution — a tad more than the standard 2K resolution (hence the “2K+” label), thus making this the highest screen resolution for the current smartphone market. That said, this NEGA LCD panel is apparently very power efficient, sipping just 1.05 times the power consumed by the MX4’s 1, 920 x 1, 152 screen. Underneath that lies a Samsung octa-core processor (2GHz A15 x 4 + 1.5GHz A7 x 4) which, according to Meizu, is 20 percent more efficient than the MX4’s MediaTek offering. Like Huawei and Oppo , Meizu is also adding a convenient single-touch fingerprint reader to its latest phone, except this one — dubbed mTouch — is placed on the front side instead of the back. As such, the old capacitive home button is gone. While each side has its own merits for the sensor’s placement, this cheeky company thought this would be a good opportunity to say that it’s on the same page as Apple, so much that it dedicated one slide to paying tribute to Jony Ive. Later on, Meizu’s VP Li Nan admitted that this was just a stunt to get people talking, but we’re certain that Apple will also have something to say about this, especially given the two companies’ rocky past . Despite the cheap shot, the mTouch does have good intentions. For one, it uses a TrustZone baked into the Samsung Exynos chip to process the fingerprint data, meaning hackers won’t — or shouldn’t — have access to it. Apple and Huawei use similar security methods for their fingerprint readers. Another benefit of mTouch is that some time in the first-half of 2015, this feature will let you make purchases with AliPay (the Chinese equivalent of PayPal) and WeChat without typing in passwords. This, surprisingly enough, is called mPay. The “one more thing” for the MX4 Pro (oh yes they did) is its Hi-Fi audio capability, or “Retina Sound” as Meizu likes to call it (ugh). This is courtesy of the ES9018K2M 32-bit DAC (as featured on the Vivo Xplay 3S ) with its high signal-to-noise ratio, Texas Instruments’ OPA1612 amplifier with its high cut-off frequency and ultra-low distortion (and it’s better than the Xplay 3S’ OPA2604 ), plus high-end capacitors and resistors to enable Meizu’s patent-pending passive filter technology. Of course, we’ll need some proper ears-on time to tell if this Retina Sound is as good as it claims to be, as well as how fast these audio chips would drain the phone’s 3, 350 mAh fixed battery. As for cameras, the main one uses the same old 20.7-megapixel Sony IMX220 sensor with f/2.2 aperture, but it’s now paired with an improved image signal processor that claims to further reduce noise, while still offering 30 fps continuous shooting and 4K video capture. On the other side of the phone, the front-facing camera has been upgraded to a 5-megapixel version which also supports auto-focus and 1080p video recording, though the aperture has gone from f/2.0 to a slower f/2.2. The rest of the MX4 Pro is fairly bog standard. Naturally, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi along with TD-LTE and FDD-LTE networks are supported, and the phone is topped with 3GB of RAM to keep the Exynos chip well oiled. Oh, and the MX4 Pro supports NFC, which is something we wish the MX4 also included. As for software, the device is running on Flyme 4.1 (based on Android 4.4.4) which adds a couple of screen-off features: voice command plus launch apps with on-screen gestures. Another interesting addition is SmartTouch: It comes in the form of a semi-transparent dot that goes on top of the UI, and by swiping horizontally from it you can jump between apps, whereas swiping upward from it takes you back to the home screen, and swiping downward from it pulls down the notification tray, meaning you no longer have to stretch your thumb to the top of the screen. Of course, you can always reposition the SmartTouch dot by holding down on it, or you can toggle it with the shortcut button on the notification tray. Alas, there’s no date nor price for the international markets just yet, but here’s the off-contract deal in China: the 16GB, 32GB and 64GB flavors will cost CN¥2, 499 ($410), CN¥2, 699 ($440) and CN¥3, 099 ($510), respectively, and they will be available starting from December 6th. For a phone packing such a high resolution screen, a single-touch fingerprint reader, high-quality audio components and good build quality, these are some surprisingly good prices that will no doubt put pressure on the likes of Xiaomi, OnePlus and Huawei’s Honor in China. Meizu MX4 Pro Meizu MX4 Dimensions 150.1 x 77 x 9 mm 144 x 75.2 x 8.9 mm Weight 158g 147g Screen size 5.5 inches 5.36 inches Screen resolution 2, 560 x 1, 536 (546 ppi) 1, 920 x 1, 152 (418 ppi) Screen type NEGA LCD, 72% NTSC, 450 nits IPS LCD Battery 3, 350 mAh (non-removable) 3, 100 mAh (non-removable) Internal storage 16GB / 32GB / 64GB External storage None Rear camera 20.7MP Sony IMX220, f/2.2, 1.2μm Front-facing cam 5MP OV5693, f/2.2, 1.4μm 2MP Sony IMX208, f/2.0 Video capture Up to 4K; front cam up to 1080p Up to 4K 30fps NFC Second-gen None Radios Up to LTE Bluetooth v4.0 SoC 2GHz A15 x 4 + 1.5GHz A7 x 4 octa-core Samsung Exynos 5430; Mali-T628 MP6 GPU 2.2GHz A17 x 4 + 1.7GHz A7 x 4 octa-core MediaTek MT6595; PowerVR G6200 GPU RAM 3GB 2GB SIM slot Micro SIM WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac Audio ES9018 K2M and OPA 1612 2nd-gen NXP Smart PS audio processor Operating system Android 4.4.4, Flyme OS 4.1 Android 4.4, Flyme OS 4.0 Prices CN¥2, 499 / CN¥2, 699 / CN¥3, 099 CN¥1, 799 / CN¥1, 999 / CN¥2, 399 Filed under: Cellphones , Mobile Comments Source: Meizu

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Meizu MX4 goes Pro with ‘2K+’ screen, fingerprint reader and ‘Retina Sound’

Walgreens to offer quick, affordable and needle-free blood tests in all its stores

You might still think of Walgreens as a corner drugstore chain, but the company aims to be much more than that. In its quest to become a “healthcare leader, ” Walgreens recently teamed up with Silicon Valley startup Theranos, which boasts a new and innovative blood testing method developed by founder Elizabeth Holmes (above). In fact, a Walgreens in Palo Alto started offering blood tests from within its premises earlier this year, followed by over 20 stores in Phoenix. Now, the company has announced that it plans to make this in-store blood test available in all its 8, 200 locations — a move that has huge implications, as Theranos’ tests are much cheaper, quicker to do and a lot more efficient than its more traditional counterparts. Holmes, who dropped out of Stanford at 19 years old to build Theranos, devised a way to perform up to 70 different blood tests using just 25 to 50 microliters of blood. The startup seriously needs so little blood from patients, that all it takes to draw a sample is a nearly painless fingerprick. Plus, the minuscule vial it uses to keep blood in is called a “nanotainer, ” which you can (barely) see in the image above. Even better, the company has vowed to keep its prices (which are fully displayed on its website) below 50 percent of Medicare’s reimbursement rate for each procedure. With Theranos testing kits accessible in every Walgreens, people can just walk in, get their finger pricked, get results to their doctors within hours and save a ton of money in the process. Walgreens hasn’t revealed a timeline for this expansion yet, but seeing as the company wants to be known as a leader in healthcare within five years’ time, the rollout will likely start soon. Other than its partnership with the startup, Walgreens is also working on a cloud-based EHR (electronic healthcare record) containing all customers’ info that can be accessed across stores, among other projects. PS: Holmes is pretty secretive when it comes to Theranos’ testing process, but you hear her talk about the company below. Filed under: Science Comments Source: Forbes

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Walgreens to offer quick, affordable and needle-free blood tests in all its stores

Square merchants can now make their own gift cards

It’s simple: Square arms small-business owners with an arsenal of weapons they need to do battle with larger (chain) competitors. In turn, you, the consumer, reap a variety of benefits . Now, the company’s furthering that entrepreneurial spirit with its own Square Register -integrated gift cards program. Starting today, any Square merchant can order custom-designed cards at $1.50 apiece, without having to worry about future subscription, redemption or transaction fees. What’s more, when a customer buys a gift card, the funds are immediately transferred into the seller’s back account, rather than sitting in limbo until they’re redeemed. For shopkeepers, it’s a simple, inexpensive way to entice customers. Filed under: Misc , Software Comments Source: Square

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Square merchants can now make their own gift cards

Facebook’s latest page keeps you updated on tech news

You probably don’t think of Facebook as a source for bleeding edge tech news, but the social network is determined to improve that reputation. It just launched FB Techwire , a page that blends technology news and commentary in a single feed. The site is ostensibly for journalists, but it’s handy for just about anyone who’d like to get all their tech stories in a single place — you won’t necessarily have to dig through a newsreader app or your Twitter timeline to keep up. Give it a look if you’re eager to see more in your social stream than the usual vacation photos and family announcements. Filed under: Internet , Facebook Comments Source: FB Techwire

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Facebook’s latest page keeps you updated on tech news

Solar power will give you non-stop water during bike rides

If you’re a cyclist, you know the anxiety that comes with running out of water in the middle of a bike ride — the last thing you want is dehydration when you’re miles away from home. Design student Kristof Retezàr may just set your mind at ease, though. He recently developed Fontus , a bike-mounted device that uses solar power to convert air moisture into water for your drinking bottle. The key is its use of thermoelectric cooling. Solar panels generate electricity that cools the top of the device, where air comes in as you ride; as the moisture condenses, it drips water into a bottle below. The bottom stays warm, but that only accelerates the condensation process above. This is a design exercise at the moment, but Retezàr is looking at both crowdfunding and investors to turn this into a shipping product. It won’t need much refinement to be both cheap and effective, at least. The Fontus prototype cost less than $40 to make, and it actually works best when conditions are at their worst — it produces half a liter (17 fluid ounces) of water in an hour when subjected to hot and humid air. That may not be completely satisfying if you’re extremely thirsty, but it should be enough to tide you over until your next rest stop. Filed under: Transportation , Science Comments Via: Huffington Post , Nerdoholic Source: James Dyson Foundation

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Solar power will give you non-stop water during bike rides

Court rules Google can arrange search results any way it wants

With the First Amendment behind it, Google is now free to put search results in whatever order it wants, according to a recent ruling by a US court in San Francisco . The company has been fighting to earn this right for years , but it wasn’t until last week that a judge in the Bay Area decided to grant the search giant such a thing, citing freedom of speech as the main influencer in the decision. It all started back when a site known as CoastNews filed a lawsuit arguing that Google was knowingly lowering its rankings in search results ; the tech giant supposedly viewed it like a competitor and, thus, didn’t want it to succeed. Shortly thereafter, Google quickly answered with an anti-SLAPP motion , which is often used by defendants to guard against litigation that would deter free speech . Sure, this doesn’t mean Google will be protected forever from other angry websites, here at home or elsewhere around the globe . But, should a similar lawsuit arise, it does allow the company to argument that a court has already agreed with it once before. [Image credit: Shutterstock] Filed under: Internet , Google Comments Source: Gigaom

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Court rules Google can arrange search results any way it wants

Times Square’s new digital billboard is almost the length of a football field

New Yorkers passing through Times Square will see (whether they want to or not) the biggest, most expensive digital billboard (at least in the US) when it turns on this Tuesday night. The screen is big enough to run a whole block, from 45th to 46th Street along Broadway, and is made up of 24 million pixels. (To contrast, 4K TVs weigh in with around 8 million pixel, although the scale here is massively different.) Oh yeah, it’s also eight stories high. According to the New York Times , the cost of this prime advertising real estate comes in at over $2.5 million for four weeks. Google, a company that has the means , will take over the big screen as the debut advertiser until 2015. But we can go bigger: LG’s already using the world’s biggest billboard in Saudi Arabia, which is 820 feet long. [Image credit: Richard Perry/The New York Times] Filed under: Displays Comments Source: NYT

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Times Square’s new digital billboard is almost the length of a football field

State Department shuts down unclassified email to cope with hack

The US government is no stranger to dealing with cyberattacks , but it just took a rare and relatively extreme step to keep itself safe. The State Department shut down its entire unclassified email system this weekend to bolster its defenses after spotting “activity of concern” (read: potential data breaches) that happened at the same time as an earlier hack that targeted the White House. Officials aren’t naming culprits at this stage — they’ve pinned some previous attacks on China and Russia, but it’s not clear that there was digital warfare involved this time around. More details are expected to come once the security upgrades are in place, so you may get a better sense of what happened in the near future. [Image credit: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite] Filed under: Internet Comments Source: AP (SFGate)

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State Department shuts down unclassified email to cope with hack