Monday, July 12, 2021

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The Morning After: Finally, Virgin Galactic completes its first crewed spaceflight

Posted: 12 Jul 2021 04:15 AM PDT

After oh so many delays, training up its founder, Sir Richard Branson, and some delightful, sometimes petty, banter with Blue Origin (love those "largest windows in space" claims), Virgin Galactic has made it into space.

Or at least, it did, depending on who you ask. Blue Origin's first crewed spaceflight is just days away, and it's pointed out that Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo didn't' really fly in space. The craft reached an altitude of 'just' 53.4 miles. However, the Kármán line (the formal demarcation for space) is 62 miles.

Virgin Galactic SpaceShipTwo completes Unity 22 spaceflight
Virgin Galactic

It's a fair point, even if it comes across a little like sour grapes. While not quite crossing over that line, the mission was to evaluate the SpaceShipTwo's cabin environment, seat comfort and the overall experience it will offer customers. Presumably, this was where Sir Branson's expertise in astrophysics with his myriad companies came to the fore. Two additional test flights are set to launch before Virgin Galactic begins offering paid flights next year.

Watch Virgin Galactic's successful flight right here.

— Mat Smith

​​

A closer look at the FBI's smartphone for criminals

The sting operation wasn't just limited to a chat app.

An illustration picture shows the ANoM logo displayed on the screen of an smartphone on june 8, 2021 in Paris. - Some 250 people were arrested in Sweden and Finland in the global sting on organised crime, authorities said on June 8, 2021, using phones planted by the US FBI, law enforcement officers were able to read the messages of global underworld figures in around 100 countries as they plotted drug deals, arms transfers and gangland hits on the compromised ANOM devices. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images)
OLIVIER MORIN via Getty Images

The phones the FBI sold to crooks for a sting operation weren't just running a custom messaging app — it appears the operating system itself was customized for the sting. Motherboardobtained one of the "Anom" phones — a modified Pixel 4a underneath it all — and its mysterious ArcaneOS has a number of customizations you wouldn't necessarily expect, even for a privacy-oriented phone.

There's no app store, and you can't toggle location tracking. You can't flash the device with third-party firmware to make it behave more like normal phones, either — the bootloader is locked, even though the startup screen tells you the device has been "modified."

For nefarious types you'd expect to see in Mission Impossible movies, less real-life, there's a hidden chat app (accessed through the "calculator" when it worked) and PIN scrambling. There's also a wipe code feature that lets you erase a phone from the lock screen — although it won't explode. Continue reading.

WhatsApp's disappearing messages come to iOS

You'll only see shared media a single time before it vanishes.

After releasing the feature on Android last month, WhatsApp is debuting self-erasing media and texts on iOS, via a new beta release. If you sign up for the beta version 2.21.140.9 on Testflight, you'll be able to send photos and videos that self-destruct as soon as they're viewed and dismissed. Users with access to the "view once" feature will see a dedicated button resembling a timer in the caption input field.

Unlike WhatsApp's disappearing messages, which delete after seven days, photos and videos sent using view-once mode vanish immediately after you close them. That said, there's nothing stopping users from taking screenshots of media, and you won't be notified if a recipient has done so. Some apps, like Snapchat, make this harder to do or inform the user when screenshots are snapped. Continue reading.

'FIFA 22' comes to next-gen consoles on October 1st

It's also coming to previous-gen systems, PC and Stadia.

Kylian Mbappe in 'FIFA 22'
EA Sports

While English fans might not want to think about football for a bit, FIFA 22 is, predictably, on its way, and its centerpiece is a new HyperMotion system. This will apparently offer more realistic animation and gameplay when you game on a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S or Google Stadia. The technology uses machine learning to produce animations in real-time, leading to more "organic" movement.

The game is also coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC (via Origin and Steam), while FIFA 22 Legacy Edition is coming to the Nintendo Switch, although EA didn't outline differences. Presumably, it'll be a less graphically intense version of the game. EA has hinted at a "complete" revamp of the goalkeeper system, a new club creation experience in Career Mode and "reimagined" Volta Football. Continue reading.

Tesla is rolling out its long-delayed Full Self Driving version 9 beta

The semi-autonomous upgrade has been in the works for years.

Tesla is rolling out FSD beta version 9 to Early Access Program users, and while it's still not full autonomy, it does enable numerous Autopilot driver assists, including lane changes and turns. You'll also get revamped visualizations that offer "additional surrounding information."

The update also references a recently activated feature that uses the cabin camera to make sure you're paying attention while Autopilot is engaged. Musk also urged beta testers to be "paranoid" and stay prepared to take the wheel at a moment's notice. Continue reading.

But wait, there's more...

How NASA selected the first Lunar Rover to scoot across the moon

Biden's wide-ranging executive order covers Big Tech, net neutrality and more

Virgin Galactic launches competition to win a ticket into space

'Black Widow' made $60 million from Disney+ viewers during its opening weekend

An iPad mini redesign still rumored for this fall

Sealed 'Super Mario 64' game sells at auction for a record-breaking $1.56 million

Posted: 12 Jul 2021 04:05 AM PDT

Nintendo games have been commanding massive prices at auctions this year. Just days after a rare copy of the Legend of Zelda fetched a record $870,000, an N64 classic has almost doubled that amount. A completely sealed Super Mario 64 sold for a whopping $1.56 million over the weekend.

That may seem like an insane price for a best-selling game that millions of people owned, but the auctioneer says the copy's mint condition sets it apart from your dusty old one. According to Heritage Auctions, the boxed game had a 9.8 A++ Sealed rating on the Wata Scale. That means it's immaculately preserved in the same condition as when it left the factory. Such highly rated games are often described as "Case Fresh." 

Add to that the cultural impact of Super Mario 64, the plumber's first true 3D escapade and a massively successful launch title for the beloved N64 console, and you can see why it broke the seven-figure mark. By comparison, a nearly perfect copy of Super Mario Bros. for the NES nabbed a record $660,000 in April before the Legend of Zelda auction beat it. While a Wata 9.4 A+ Sealed copy of Final Fantasy III pulled in $96,000 a few days ago.

Amazon has a big sale on kid-focused Echo devices and Fire tablets

Posted: 12 Jul 2021 03:25 AM PDT

Amazon has managed to develop a pretty wide range of Fire HD tablets, Echo Show devices, Kindles and Echo Glow lights for kids. Now, it has launched a big sale for all of those products with discounts as high as 40 percent on its Fire 7 Kids Pro tablets, with the latter product now available at just $60 instead of $100.   

Buy Fire 7 Kids Pro tablet at Amazon - $60Buy Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablet at Amazon - $90Buy Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet at Amazon - $130

The Fire HD Kids Pro lineup features bright colors, kid-friendly cases and a two-year "worry-free" replacement warranty if it breaks, but as Amazon puts it, they're real tablets and not toys. To that end, the Fire 7 Kids Pro tablets come with 7-inch 1,024 x 600 displays, front- and rear-facing 2-megapixel cameras, Micro USB ports and 16 GB of RAM, expandable to 512 GB. You also get a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+ with over 20,000 apps, games books, videos, songs and Audible books from National Geographic, Rabbids Coding, LEGO and others. 

The Fire HD 8 Kids Pro model boosts the screen to a 1,280 x 800 model, with 32GB of storage expandable to 1TB, while the Fire HD 10 Kids Pro offers a 10.1-inch 1,920 x 1,200 display with 2-megapixel front and 5-megapixel rear cameras. All the models come with a digital store when kids can request apps and parents can approve them. 

Echo Glow
Amazon

Amazon is also offering it's Echo Glow smart multicolor lamp (above) for kids at $20 rather than $30, for a savings of 33 percent. Paired with an Echo Dot Kids (available together for $55 or $35 off the full price), your kids can change the color of the light with their voice, or "ask Alexa to play music, read stories, and call approved friends and family," Amazon notes. 

Buy Echo Glow smart lamp at Amazon - $20Buy Echo Dot Kids + Echo Glow at Amazon - $55

Naturally, Amazon makes the Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) in a kids version with parental controls, and that device is available for $80 or $15 off the regular price. It features a bright "chameleon" cover and allows kids to ask Alexa to play videos, help with homework and make video calls to approved contacts. As with the tablets, it comes with a year of Amazon Kids+ with access to 15,000 videos, audiobooks, games, music stations and more. You can also get it in a bundle with the Echo Glow for $95, for a savings of 24 percent. 

Buy Echo Show 5 Kids at Amazon - $80Buy Echo Show 5 Kids + Echo Glow at Amazon - $95

Finally, for any young readers in the family, Amazon is offering the Kindle Kids Edition for $70 rather than $110, for a savings of $40 or 36 percent. This model is a 10th-generation Kindle (again, not a toy) with a kid-friendly cover and 2-year worry-free guarantee. It offers a black and white glare-free display, weeks of battery life and a 1-year subscription to Amazon Kids+, with access to the complete Harry Potter series and others like Artemis Fowl. 

Buy Kindle Kids Edition at Amazon - $70

Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked line-up seemingly revealed in extensive leak

Posted: 12 Jul 2021 02:55 AM PDT

The latest in a series of leaks ahead of Samsung's upcoming Unpacked event is the most comprehensive yet. We already had a firm grasp on what to expect — folding phones, a couple of Wear OS smartwatches and new earbuds were outed — but now we can see more of the new products including new color variants. Prominent leaker Evan Blass has tweeted a bunch of GIFs of the purported Samsung devices set to make their debut at the virtual event, expected to take place August 11th. 

On display are the foldable Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Galaxy Z Flip 3, which Blass previously shared pics of in late June; the Galaxy S21 FE, Samsung's follow-up to the solid sub-$700 phone that was glimpsed in April; the Galaxy Watch 4 and Galaxy Watch 4 Classic smartwatches that were leaked recently, too; and the Galaxy Buds 2, the latest addition to the company's growingrange of wirelessearbuds. 

If history is anything to go by, we'll probably see more leaks and teasers (including from Samsung itself) in the run-up to Unpacked. By the time the actual event rolls around, you should be well-versed on what to expect.

WhatsApp's disappearing messages come to iOS

Posted: 12 Jul 2021 01:04 AM PDT

After releasing the feature on Android last month, Facebook is debuting WhatsApp self-erasing media and texts on iOS via a new beta release, according to WhatsApp info site WABetaInfo. If you sign up for the beta version 2.21.140.9 on Testflight, you'll be able to send photos and videos that self-destruct as soon as they're viewed and dismissed. Users with access to the "view once" feature will see a dedicated button resembling a timer in the caption input field, as shown in the WABetaInfo screen capture below. 

WhatsApp self-erasing media
WABetaInfo

Unlike WhatsApp's disappearing messages, which delete after seven days, photos and videos sent using view once mode will vanish immediately after you close them. The sender will be notified when their media has been viewed. 

As WABetaInfo notes, there's nothing stopping users from taking screenshots of media and you won't be notified if a recipient has done so. As a recipient, you can't block the sender from being notified after opening the message, either. 

WhatsApp has promoted the feature as a way to encourage more authentic and intimate conversations. Parent Facebook previously said that select features would be blocked from users who didn't accept its divisive new privacy policy, but it later backtracked on that decision. 

TED will offer exclusive audio chats on Clubhouse

Posted: 11 Jul 2021 02:24 PM PDT

It could be a while before in-person TED talks resume in earnest, but you're about to get an alternative of sorts. The Vergenotes that TED has struck a deal to offer exclusive drop-in audio chats to Clubhouse. The first, the weekly series Thank Your Ass Off, debuts through the platform on July 12th at 11AM Eastern.

The arrangement lets TED sell ads and sponsorships for its conversations. Clubhouse won't take a share, either. It's not clear if the chats will be available as podcasts or other on-demand recordings, although it won't be surprising if there's a way to listen later.

TED already has a thriving podcast business, with over 1.65 million episode downloads per day.

This is a logical agreement for Clubhouse, where some of the more philosophical conversations have already been likened to TED talks. It's also a shrewd move to keep Clubhouse relevant in the face of stiffer competition. Clubhouse's NFL deal lost some of its thunder in light of the league's Twitter Spaces chats. The TED pact reclaims some of that ground, even if the audience doesn't entirely dovetail with that for American football.

Foxconn and TSMC are buying millions of vaccine doses for Taiwan

Posted: 11 Jul 2021 01:49 PM PDT

Foxconn and TSMC are solving a political drama even as they serve their own tech manufacturing interests. The Wall Street Journalreports that the two companies have agreed to buy 10 million Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine doses on behalf of Taiwan's government. The two are purchasing the shots from Fosun Pharmaceutical, the vaccine's exclusive distributor across the Greater China region, after China allegedly "spiked" Taiwan's bid to directly buy the vaccine.

There was pressure to make a deal. Taiwan has largely kept COVID-19 levels low throughout the pandemic, but new cases started surging in late April and prompted rare restrictions on the island. While infections are dropping, Taiwan has only vaccinated about 14 percent of its population. It will need many more doses if it's going to lift restrictions while keeping cases low.

Tech companies like have offered to buy vaccines for employees and contractors before. Apple helped TSMC buy vaccines for its staff, for instance. A purchase this large for the general population breaks new ground, however — the companies are buying enough doses to inject over 40 percent of Taiwan's 24 million people.

Foxconn and TSMC have strong incentives to step in. Outbreaks could hurt their operations, even for those factories and other facilities beyond Taiwan. That could be particularly dangerous amid a global chip shortage and other manufacturing headaches — mass infections and shutdowns could cause further snarls. A vaccine purchase like this could save the companies money in the long run.

Virgin Galactic sweepstakes lets you win tickets to space

Posted: 11 Jul 2021 12:24 PM PDT

Now that Virgin Galactic has flown its founder to the edge of space, it's ready to give everyday people a chance at a similar trip. Virgin and Omaze have announced a sweepstakes that lets you win two seats aboard "one of the first" commercial spaceflights. While you can enter for free, donating to Space for Humanity (a charity making spaceflight more accessible) will give you more entries.

The sweepstakes ends September 1st, and the companies will reveal the winner on September 29th. Just be ready to take some time off from work if you do win. You'll have to go through the same training as any other Virgin Galactic passenger. You do get a tour of Spaceport America for your trouble, though.

Yes, this is a not-so-subtle way to capitalize on Virgin's spaceflight and drum up hype for the company's space tourism efforts. All the same, it's a significant moment for private spaceflight. The notion of winning tickets to space wasn't imaginable in the days when NASA and other government agencies were the only organizations traveling to space — now, it's entirely logical.

'Black Widow' made $60 million from Disney+ viewers during its opening weekend

Posted: 11 Jul 2021 10:46 AM PDT

Disney+ has been shy about divulging sales for Premier Access movies like Mulan, but it's now eager to brag. As AV Clubreports, Disney has revealed that Marvel blockbuster Black Widow raked in more than $60 million in estimated revenue solely from customers paying $30 each for Premier Access. That's more than a quarter of the roughly $215 million Disney expected to make from all sources, including US and international box office sales.

The company also bragged that Black Widow was the largest US box office opening during the COVID-19 pandemic, just besting F9. That wasn't difficult, though, given that movie theaters have routinely struggled to attract viewers when they weren't dealing with widespread closures.

We wouldn't count on Disney providing Premier Access figures on a regular basis, especially as the pandemic continues to (hopefully) subside and more people are comfortable venturing to theaters. To some extent, the media giant needed the $60 million number to make Black Widow's debut sound more impressive. We'd add that it's difficult to compare this against data for rivals like Amazon and Netflix. They don't have equivalents to Premier Access, so they measure success for original movies largely in terms of viewership and new subscriptions.

Nonetheless, this represents an important milestone for Disney as it shifts toward streaming. It's now comfortable mentioning Premier Access numbers after months of staying quiet. Even if Premier Access fades into the background, it's now a significant part of Disney's movie release strategy.

'FIFA 22' brings more realistic soccer to next-gen consoles on October 1st

Posted: 11 Jul 2021 09:30 AM PDT

EA isn't just giving Madden NFL players an upgrade if they play on next-gen consoles. The published has unveiledFIFA 22, and its centerpiece is a new "HyperMotion" system that reportedly provides more realistic animation and gameplay when you game on a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S or Google Stadia. The technology uses machine learning to produce animations in real time, leading to more "organic" movement. HyperMotion also let EA capture motion for pro soccer (aka football) players competing at full tilt, including superstars like Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappé.

The game is also coming to PS4, Xbox One, and PC (via Origin and Steam). A FIFA 22 Legacy Edition is coming to the Nintendo Switch, although EA didn't outline differences.

Thankfully, there are other substantial changes regardless of what platform you use. EA has hinted at a "complete" revamp of the goalkeeper system, a new club creation experience in Career Mode, "reimagined" Volta Football and a FIFA Ultimate Team Heroes item set that represents the tales of legendary players.

FIFA 22 will be released on October 1st for all supported platforms.

As with Madden, it's apparent EA isn't completely ready to drop support for previous-gen consoles. That's not surprising given both the larger player base and shortages that limit the number of PS5 and Xbox Series owners. However, it is clear that the gaming giant wants to offer a strong incentive to play on newer machines. Don't be surprised if FIFA 23 cuts off PS4 and Xbox One players.

Virgin Galactic and Richard Branson complete first fully crewed spaceflight

Posted: 11 Jul 2021 08:40 AM PDT

After tragedy, multiple delays and plenty of rivalry, Virgin Galactic has completed its first fully crewed spaceflight. The Unity 22 mission saw founder Richard Branson join Beth Moses, Colin Bennett and Sirisha Bandla aboard SpaceShipTwo as they tested the spacecraft and conducted experiments. Branson , as you might guess, was there both for the prestige and to gauge the "private astronaut experience."

The flight has included some share of controversy. Blue Origin, whose first crewed spaceflight is just days away, has trash-talked Virgin by arguing that SpaceShipTwo wouldn't really enter space — the craft reached an altitude of 'just' 53.4 miles during Unity 22 where the Kármán line (the formal demarcation for space) is 62 miles. If you're focused on technicalities, Jeff Bezos will be the first corporate magnate to cross that symbolic barrier.

Whether or not you agree, the flight is an important achievement for Virgin. It's the first full test of SpaceShipTwo, and paves the way for commercial spaceflights if and when they start in 2022. Branson's outfit has been generating money with test flights, but it won't fulfill its business ambitions until tourists can finally use their tickets and get a taste of space.

An iPad mini redesign 'should be a go' for this fall

Posted: 11 Jul 2021 07:57 AM PDT

You might not have to wait much longer for an (arguably overdue) iPad mini redesign. As 9to5Maclearned, Bloomberg's historically accurate Mark Gurman claimed in his latest "Power On" newsletter that the revamped small tablet "should be a go" for a fall launch. While Gurman didn't share more details of the design, he previously claimed Apple would drop the home button and offer slimmed bezels — it could effectively be a shrunken iPad Air.

This will be the "biggest redesign" for the iPad mini since the first model arrived in 2012, Gurman added.

The reporter maintained that Apple is still developing a "larger, redesigned" replacement for the 27-inch iMac that would include a future generation of Apple Silicon, although there weren't more details.

The iPad mini has seen few outward changes since its launch. Even the base iPad has gone through more changes over the same period. In that light, Apple might not have much choice — this is as much about catching up with modern design as it is revitalizing sales.

Watch Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic flight here at 10:30AM ET (updated)

Posted: 11 Jul 2021 05:00 AM PDT

Later today, Virgin Galactic will attempt to fly its founder and billionaire Richard Branson, as well as five other individuals, to the edge of space. You can watch the entire Unity 22 mission unfold here, the company's website, as well as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. The company hasn't released an itemized schedule for Sunday's flight yet. But should Virgin Galactic stick to its usual flight plan, the entire mission should take about 90 minutes. Either way, the official livestream is currently slated to start at 10:30AM ET.

Unity 22 will be Virgin Galactic's fourth crewed flight. Outside of beating Jeff Bezos to space, the stated purpose of the mission is to evaluate the SpaceShipTwo's cabin environment, seat comfort and the overall experience it will offer to customers. If the flight is a success, the company plans to complete two additional test flights before starting paid flights next year.

Update 7/11 9:10AM ET: Virgin has delayed the flight from 9AM ET to 10:30AM ET due to overnight weather.
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