waiting – Page 30

An iPad app can land your plane if the engine quits

If the engine quits in a small plane, it’s not the end of the world — just glide to the nearest airport and make a dead-stick landing . Simple, right? Sure, if the pilot makes perfect, lightning-quick decisions. Since we’re only human, there’s now an iPad app called Xavion that can connect with a small-plane’s autopilot, find the nearest airport and, if possible, fly you to the runway’s threshold by itself. It’ll even tell you if you can’t make it, so that you can find a nearby farmer’s field instead. According to Popular Science , the autopilot update will arrive in a few weeks for the app, which currently offers manual pilot assistance in an emergency (see the video below). It’ll even tell you if you can’t make it, so that you can find a nearby farmer’s field instead. Xavion keeps track of airports near your flight path as you go, along with airplane flight data, the weather and even cabin pressurization, thanks to the iPad’s built-in barometer. If something goes wrong, you just tell it to go to the nearest airport. It’ll then connect to your autopilot via WiFi and guide the airplane home, while showing a virtual track of the path, simulated terrain and a moving map in case you need to take manual control. It’s only during the landing flare that the pilot needs to grab the controls. On top of engine-out situations, the app could also be useful for a medical problem or other emergencies, giving the pilot a second set of “hands” to get to the nearest airport safely. The Xavion system with autopilot assist will never be certified by the FAA as a primary (or even secondary) flight system, but it can be used by pilots as a discretionary backup since it’s not attached to the plane. Some capabilities, like the alert when you can’t make a runway, aren’t available at all in any commercial systems, even those that cost $10, 000 and up. For a bit of extra peace of mind, that makes the app’s $199 per year price tag a relative bargain. [Image credit: Flightlog/Flickr] Filed under: Tablets , Transportation Comments Source: Popular Science

Excerpt from:
An iPad app can land your plane if the engine quits

Hacking your iCloud files just got easier, even with two-step enabled

An update to Elcomsoft ‘s Phone Breaker software now makes it easier for good or bad guys to bypass Apple’s vaunted new two-factor authentication to steal your iCloud stuff. As before, the hackers would need some information to start with — either your Apple ID/password plus a two-factor code, or a digital token stolen from, say, your laptop. That would give them access to your account anyway, but here’s the kicker: The Phone Breaker app can then create a digital token granting intruders permanent access without a two-step code until you change the password. It also allows someone to view all your iCloud files at a glance, making it easier to pick and choose which to steal. The tool is used legitimately by law enforcement to access lawbreakers’ phones, but was also recently implicated in a celebrity phone hack. Filed under: Software , Apple Comments Via: Macworld Source: Elcomsoft

More:
Hacking your iCloud files just got easier, even with two-step enabled

Facebook’s going after eBay and Craigslist with group-based selling

Facebook likes to experiment with little projects that could, someday, be as popular as Poking and Graph Search . One such project is enabling selected users to sell their unwanted items on the social network, in a move that’ll surely strike terror into the hearts of the folks over at Craigslist and eBay . New Zealand-based developer Indy Griffiths took to Twitter to reveal that he’d been given the option to sell an item to a group, with the button nestled next to the write post button. From there, users are required to fill in a form, providing a price, description, pictures and delivery options. Then the site pretties up the listing and makes it available for all others to see, like, comment and even purchase. Since this is just an experiment, only a few users will be able to try it out, and the site has already posted (and subsequently taken down) a support page saying that it’s not responsible for any of these transactions. Still, if Facebook’s not planning to fleece its users with extortionate sales fees, then it might just replace all those other sales-based sites and services in our hearts. Filed under: Internet , Facebook Comments Via: The Next Web Source: Indy Griffiths (Twitter) , Facebook Help

View article:
Facebook’s going after eBay and Craigslist with group-based selling

PS3 and PS4 finally get Plex, and a whole world of streaming (update)

When Plex first arrived on the Xbox One , we figured it would only be a matter of time before the service made its debut on the PlayStation 4. It’s taken two months, but finally the company has released an app for Sony’s latest console, giving Plex Pass subscribers another way to stream their favorite movies, music and photos on their TV. It’s begun rolling out in Europe and Asia, but we suspect it’ll reach the US PlayStation Store soon enough. Plex, if you’re not aware, relies on server software managed from your PC or Mac to organise your personal media collection and make it available for streaming on multiple devices with detailed, visual listings. Today’s release adds the PS4 to this growing roster of secondary hardware, which already includes smartphones , tablets and a range of set-top boxes such as Amazon’s Fire TV. Consoles are an increasingly popular choice for streamers these days though, so it’s no surprise that Plex has made them its next priority. The Xbox One was once positioned as an all-in-one entertainment system, but it’s hard for any developer to ignore the PlayStation 4’s dominance of the console market right now. Update: Plex has announced the app for both PS3 and PS4. It’s available now across Europe and Asia, with US availability coming “in the near future.” Filed under: Gaming , Home Entertainment , HD , Sony Comments Source: Plex (PlayStation Store)

Continue reading here:
PS3 and PS4 finally get Plex, and a whole world of streaming (update)

Curiosity detects organic molecules in Martian atmosphere and soil

NASA’s Curiosity rover is still going strong on the red planet, observing the atmosphere and analyzing soil samples for the sake of future missions. For instance, the agency has revealed that the rover has sniffed out sudden methane spikes in the atmosphere sometime in late 2013 and early 2014, coming from somewhere north of the rover’s location in the Gale crater. The rover’s Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) lab regularly analyzes the air on the planet and has found methane levels to be typically lower than scientists expect. During these sudden spikes, however, these levels are ten times higher than usual. NASA believes that methane during these events erupt from an underground source every now and then, which means some process or reaction might be going on underneath the Martian surface. On Earth, methane is largely produced by human activities, the trash we dump in landfills, as well as animal and human waste. While it’s possible that microbes that release methane waste are living on the planet, that doesn’t automatically mean there’s life on Mars, or even that it supported life long ago. “There are many possible sources, biological or non-biological, ” says Curiosity science team member Sushil Atreya, “such as interaction of water and rock.” As the Sarcastic Rover account posted on Twitter: Martian Methane is NOT a canary in the coal mine of life. But like any dead bird, it’s a good sign something might be worth a closer look. – SarcasticRover (@SarcasticRover) December 16, 2014 There’s evidence suggesting that the Gale crater was a lake for millions of years before it dried up, and the rover has recently discovered that each cubic foot of soil in the crater contain two pints of water. So, as Atreya says, the source could be non-biological. Methane, as you might know, can also be used as fuel. If we can find a way to harness the gas on Mars, future manned explorations might be able to use it to power their equipment, allowing them to stay longer on the red planet. In addition to sniffing out methane, Curiosity has also found chlorine-containing organic molecules in the soil samples it drilled from the Gale crater. NASA says this is Curiosity’s “first definitive detection of organic molecules at Mars, ” because while it has detected similar molecules in the past, this is the first time the ground crew made sure they came from the planet and weren’t created by SAM’s instruments during testing. In fact, the rover drilled the sample back in May 2013, but NASA’s only announcing this now, as the scientists spent over a year replicating SAM’s tests and analyzing the results. [Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS] Filed under: Science Comments Source: NASA , JPL , Sciencemag

Continue reading here:
Curiosity detects organic molecules in Martian atmosphere and soil

LG says next year’s 4K TVs will be better because of quantum dots

LG has announced that next year, it will have a new set of 4K TVs to slot between its existing Ultra HD LCDs and super-colorful OLED models. These are different because they use quantum dot technology, which LG says will make for a wider color palette and better color saturation than regular LCDs. Sony’s already using the technology in its high-end TVs , and reports have indicated that Samsung will offer LCDs with quantum dots as well. The tech used here will use nanocrystals in sizes of 2 to 10 nm that show a different color based on their size, laid in a film over the usual IPS LCD. LG has committed heavily to OLED as a display technology of the future, but even with prices dropping rapidly, it’s still out of range for most buyers . As a result, improving traditional LCDs — and trying to convince folks to upgrade to 4K at all — is where the key battles will be. The new TVs will be available in 55- and 65-inch versions at first, and you can be sure we’ll be taking a close look at them in Las Vegas next month. Filed under: Displays , Home Entertainment , HD , LG Comments Source: LG Newsroom

Microsoft kicks off Skype’s Translator preview on Windows 8.1

Tu madre es una tarantula. Entiendes? If you didn’t catch that, Skype’s got you covered. Microsoft just kicked off Skype’s Translator preview , which, as the name suggests, can automatically translate speech in real-time. While English and Spanish are the only supported spoken languages at the moment, the feature can also translate instant messaging chats in 45 languages. Microsoft first showed off Skype’s Translator, which relies on machine learning to handle its language gymnastics, back in May . And it seems to have made quite a bit of progress since then — at least, according to a tooth-achingly sweet video (see below) between high school students in the US and Mexico. The feature’s only available on Windows 8.1 devices at the moment, and don’t expect flawless functionality since it’s just a preview. But it’s a sign that even aging software can still make your Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy dreams come true. Comments Source: Microsoft

Dropbox makes it easy for workmates to edit Office files

In November, Dropbox users gained the ability to edit Office files from within the app, thanks to its partnership with Microsoft. Now, the company has launched its first set of Project Harmony tools so groups of workmates can take advantage of that feature — but only if they’re Business users part of Dropbox’s early access program. These features, which were first previewed when the company started letting users link their business and personal accounts, can make team projects, well, more bearable than usual. Each Word, Excel or Powerpoint file now comes with a Dropbox “badge” on the margin, and clicking it reveals options that shows each user who else is editing. It also shows if the other person has saved a newer version and includes an option to generate a link without having to leave the document, spreadsheet or presentation. Dropbox didn’t mention anything about a wider release, but seeing as the company calls these tools the “first phase” of Project Harmony, it probably has more in store to help prevent workplace tiffs. Filed under: Misc , Mobile , Microsoft Comments Via: Venturebeat , GigaOm Source: Dropbox for Business

View original post here:
Dropbox makes it easy for workmates to edit Office files

Ford’s revamped SYNC infotainment system is built for speed

Ford has revealed its latest SYNC connected car system, promising smartphone-like performance, conversational voice control and a simpler interface. The SYNC 3 will feature a much brighter touchscreen than previous versions with multi-touch capability for pinch-to-zoom and other functions. It’ll also feature larger onscreen buttons and high contrast fonts to avoid any fiddling. The interface help road warriors to futz less as well, with three zone choices on the home screen: navigation, audio and phone. In addition, a “one-box search” is designed to give Google-like simplicity when searching for locations or contact info. The auto giant also said that SYNC 3 will have much sharper graphics and be as responsive as a smartphone or tablet for most functions. That said, the system was designed to be used first and foremost with voice control, and now accepts much more conversational commands. For example, a driver can just say “Play ‘Good Times Bad Times'” to hear the Led Zeppelin song, without having to name the album or genre as before. SYNC 3 now supports Siri voice commands as well, allowing iPhone users to activate it with a push-to-talk button on the steering wheel. You’ll no longer need to say or type an exact name or address, either. For instance, you can now enter “Detroit Airport” to get directions if you don’t know the official name, or give a business name like “Starbucks” rather than the address. Ford has also touched up its AppLink system, making it possible to select apps compatible with the SYNC 3’s vehicle-oriented interface. Compatible apps like Spotify or Pandora will function in a completely different way on SYNC than on a phone or tablet. After you log into your account, you’ll be able to use voice recognition and menu buttons to control music or perform other functions. The company told me that it has over 70 compatible apps so far, and expects to bring hundreds more over the next year. To update apps, SYNC 3 now has a WiFi receiver that can log onto your home network or a smartphone hotspot. The new system will be available across Ford’s US vehicle lineup starting next year, and roll out elsewhere by the end of 2016. Filed under: Transportation Comments

Read this article:
Ford’s revamped SYNC infotainment system is built for speed

BitTorrent needs your help to build its peer-to-peer browser

BitTorrent is looking for Alpha testers for a new product called Project Maelstrom, and what that is may surprise you: a browser based on the company’s peer-to-peer sharing technology. What does that mean, exactly? Well, the company’s keeping details hush-hush at this point (though it did release a picture of what Maelstrom could look like above), but if the browser works just like a torrent client, then it will most likely load websites from peers instead of from servers. BitTorrent believes that its success could not only protect people’s privacy online (no servers means it won’t be easy spying on your activities), but also help maintain net neutrality and keep the web open. Part of its announcement post reads: How can we keep the Internet open? How can we keep access to the Internet neutral? How can we better ensure our private data is not misused by large companies? How can we help the Internet scale efficiently for content? The power of distributed technology that underpins BitTorrent and all of our products has long been an example in this regard and bringing more of this power to the web is only natural as these challenges loom. Project Maelstrom is still in the very early stages, though, so whether a P2P-based browser will work remains to be seen. It’s unclear how the company even plans to monetize it, because when TechCrunch asked about advertisements, a spokesperson replied that it’s “too early to tell.” Still, this isn’t BitTorrent’s first foray outside torrent clients. In addition to the Sync file-sharing service it launched in 2013, it also introduced a paywalled TV and music service called Bundle and a chat messenger named Bleep earlier this year. And yes, all of them use peer-to-peer technology, as you might have guessed. If you want to lend a hand in shaping a new type of browser, you can sign up as an Alpha tester on the company’s website. Filed under: Internet Comments Source: BitTorrent

Ken May

Tag: waiting