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iPhone 8 Infrared Face Detection and General Device Design Revealed in HomePod Firmware

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Late last week, Apple released early firmware for its HomePod smart speaker, which won't be launching to the public until December. HomePod will run a version of iOS, and the firmware released by Apple corresponds to iOS 11.0.2.

One iOS developer has dug into the firmware and discovered that it also contains hints of what we can expect for other devices. Most importantly, the firmware includes numerous references to infrared face detection within the BiometricKit framework that is currently home to Touch ID authentication, supporting claims that the iPhone 8 will rely at least in part on facial recognition. Developer Steven Troughton-Smith has also confirmed these discoveries.

Within BiometricKit are new "FaceDetect" methods addressing such circumstances as faces being too close or too far from the camera, the presence of multiple faces, and more.


Other references point to infrared capture in BiometricKit, pointing toward the rumored infrared sensors on the front of the iPhone being involved in capturing images for authentication, rather than using visible light through a traditional camera.


Various references point toward the code name for this functionality being "Pearl," while the code name for the iPhone 8 is "D22." The iOS 11.0.2 HomePod firmware also includes a glyph for this D22 device representing an iPhone that looks much like the rumored iPhone 8, featuring a full-front display with a notch cut out at the top for the earpiece and sensors.


The iPhone 8 is expected to debut around the usual September timeframe, but availability may be delayed somewhat due to production difficulties. Apple has reportedly been trying to incorporate Touch ID fingerprint sensing beneath the device's display, but some rumors have suggested Apple has had difficulty achieving that goal and may instead switch to facial recognition for authentication purposes.


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July 30, 2017 at 09:29PM

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Apple seeking to diversify iPhone OLED supply beyond Samsung with LG investment, postulates analyst

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With rumors swirling about an Apple investment in LG Displays to crank out OLED screens, an analyst report suggests that the iPhone maker is seeking to make LG a secondary supplier of iPhone screens in 2019 and 202 to cut back on the need for Samsung screens.



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July 30, 2017 at 08:31PM

Scientists may have found a Neptune-sized alien moon

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Astronomers have found an abundance of exoplanets, but no exomoons. Despite ongoing efforts, the tiny celestial bodies have just been too elusive to detect using modern technology. However, researchers might have just hit paydirt. They've used Kepler Space Telescope data to discover signs of what looks like a Neptune-sized moon orbiting a planet in the Kepler-1625 system, 4,000 light years away from Earth. They were tipped off to the companion when they noticed dips in brightness (indicative of an object transiting in front of a star) around a planet during three of its transits. It's a very promising piece of evidence, but we wouldn't bet money just yet -- there's some homework left to do before the discovery is validated.

Right now, there's only the Kepler telescope data to work with. It's one of the strongest candidates for an exomoon to date (most candidates fail quickly), but not so bulletproof that you'd stake your life on it. The scientists want to collect measurements from the Hubble telescope before they can make an authoritative statement one way or the other. This is probably an alien moon, but you never want to rule out the possibility of another object.

Of course, a bona fide exomoon wouldn't be shocking. Ask anyone with a passing interest in space and they'll probably argue that moons are common in other star systems, if just through sheer numbers. Rather, it could represent a big milestone in how humanity studies space. Where the focus so far ha been on spotting the largest objects, this suggests that astronomers might have some success looking for the minutiae of a system. And that's more important than you think. Earth's Moon increased the chances for life on its host planet (by stabilizing the rotation and shielding it from asteroids), so it's conceivable that an exomoon might produce a similar effect.

Via: Phys.org, BBC

Source: ArXiv.org

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July 30, 2017 at 08:30PM

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Apple Pressing LG to Add OLED Display Production for 2018 iPhone, Limiting Samsung's Leverage

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Amid reports Apple is investing billions of dollars to help LG begin production of OLED displays for future iPhones, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued a new report sharing his take on the situation.


According to Kuo, the OLED display panel for this year's "iPhone 8" has been the "single most troublesome component for Apple in terms of bargaining power," as Samsung is currently the only company with design and production capabilities to make the displays. To counter Samsung's advantage, Apple is working hard to support LG's efforts to ramp up similar expertise and capabilities.

We think Apple is therefore committed to having LGD geared up for its OLED iPhone display business in 2018 as it seeks to reduce supply risks. Even though LGD may likely start off with minimal initial penetration in 2018 (we estimate no more than 4-6%), the effort, with the full commitment of both Apple and LGD, will help LGD mature during the process and steadily gain supply share from 2019 onward. This will in turn continuously boost Apple’s bargaining power on OLED prices.

Kuo predicts LG will capture 10–20 percent of iPhone OLED display production in 2019 and up to 20–30 percent in 2020, helping to diversify Apple's sourcing and limit Samsung's leverage.

While LG will have expertise at production of the display panels themselves, Kuo predicts Foxconn subsidiary General Interface Solution (GIS) will be brought on board to assist with lamination processes. GIS would also offer expertise in production troubleshooting and vertical integration with Foxconn, so it would be an ideal partner for accelerating LG's growth in Apple's display supply chain.


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July 30, 2017 at 07:21PM

Chinese scientists created the largest virtual universe

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A team of Chinese scientists put the world's faster supercomputer to the test by using it to create the biggest virtual universe. They're calling it a "warm-up exercise" for the machine called Sunway TaihuLight, which used 10 million CPU cores to crunch numbers for the simulation. According to South China Morning Post (SCMP), an English-language newspaper based in Hong Kong, Sunway's universe was five times bigger than the simulation ran by astrophysicists from the University of Zurich back in June. The downside was that it only lasted for an hour, whereas the Swiss simulation lasted 80.

Simulations of the cosmos can help astronomers look for the most promising regions of space to investigate and could shed light on its mysterious components, like dark matter and dark energy. The Chinese team's simulation, in particular, recreated the birth and early expansion of the universe, around tens of millions years after the Big Bang. Unfortunately, they had to stop after they reached that point: Team leader Gao Liang said the supercomputer had other clients in line that day.

SCMP says Chinese-made supercomputers typically have major weaknesses and rarely run at full capacity. The team must have found a way to maximize Sunway's powers, because the project reportedly stretched the machine to the limit without breaking it. Gao is hoping to run a simulation from the birth of the universe up until the current era -- it's now around 13.8 billion years old -- but they might wait until Sunway's successor is ready before launching their next attempt. The next-gen supercomputer will apparently be 10 times faster than Sunway and could be up and running sometime in 2019.

Source: South China Morning Post

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July 30, 2017 at 07:06PM

SoundCloud is close to getting a lifeline

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It's grim times for SoundCloud between massive job cuts and talk of mismanagement, but help might be coming soon... at a steep cost. Bloomberg sources understand that SoundCloud is in "advanced" talks to sell stakes in the company to two (as yet unnamed) private equity firms. The deals would ensure the streaming music service stays afloat, but it would also hand majority control to outside companies. In essence, SoundCloud would be giving up its vaunted independence in order to keep the lights on.

The insiders stress that the deals aren't set in stone, and there's good reason to be cautious when SoundCloud's Spotify negotiations reportedly fell apart. However, SoundCloud isn't exactly in a position to hold out for better deals given its trouble generating revenues.

The potential loss of control underscores SoundCloud's problems, and the challenges of the streaming music business as a whole. SoundCloud built its reputation on free DJ sets, podcasts and rough cuts, and it has regularly had trouble both monetizing those free offerings and developing a subscription service you'd actually want. At the same time, it also doesn't have a financial safety net to let it take risks like Apple or Google can. If a streaming service doesn't have the luxury of a bigger business to back it up (and isn't named Spotify), it faces an uphill battle -- it has to rack up market share while still turning a healthy profit.

Source: Bloomberg

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July 30, 2017 at 05:36PM

Russian censorship law bans proxies and VPNs

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It's going to be much harder to view the full web in Russia before the year is out. President Putin has signed a law that, as of November 1st, bans technology which lets you access banned websites, including virtual private networks and proxies. Internet providers will have to block websites hosting these tools. The measure is ostensibly meant to curb extremist content, but that's just pretext -- this is really about preventing Russians from seeing content that might be critical of Putin, not to mention communicating in secret.

Accordingly, the President has signed another law requiring that chat apps identify users through their phone numbers after January 1st, 2018. Some messaging clients already encourage you to attach an account to a phone number, but this makes it mandatory -- Facebook and others can't reject the idea if they're prefer to give you some kind of anonymity. The measure also demands that operators limit users' access if they're spreading illegal material.

The timing likely isn't coincidental. Russia is holding a presidential election in March, and banning technology like VPNs will make it harder for voters to see news that questions Putin's authority. Likewise, you may be less likely to organize a protest if you know that the police can trace anonymous chats back to you through your phone number. As with China's VPN crackdown, Russian officials are trying to control the online conversation at a crucial moment to make sure the powers that be go unchallenged.

Via: RadioFreeEurope, Reuters

Source: Gov.ru (translated 1), (2)

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July 30, 2017 at 04:06PM

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The best probe thermometer

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By Michael Sullivan

This post was done in partnership with The Sweethome, a buyer's guide to the best homewares. When readers choose to buy The Sweethome's independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

After spending 12 hours testing probe thermometers and speaking with experts—including cookbook authors, chefs, butchers, and a New York City Department of Health employee—we think most cooks just need a regular meat thermometer. But if you're set on getting a probe thermometer to measure the temperature of food while it cooks, we recommend the ThermoWorks Dot. In our tests, the Dot was the fastest and most accurate at reading temperatures. Its simple design and straightforward controls made it easier to use than the competition.

How we picked and tested

After testing 11 probe thermometers for this guide, we think the ThermoWorks Dot (center) is the best for most people. Photo: Caroline Enos

A good probe thermometer should quickly and accurately give a temperature reading so that you know when your food, particularly meat and poultry, is safe to eat. It should have a wide temperature range to accommodate both oven and grill use, and it should be intuitive to operate. Longer probes will ensure that you're reaching the thickest part of large roasts, or the bottom of a saucepan for frying or for making candy.

For this guide, we tested 11 probe thermometers with temperature ranges between –58 ºF and 572 ºF and probe cables that can resist up to 712 ºF. We looked at three main types:

• Basic thermometers with a single probe that display readings on a digital unit
• Dual-channel thermometers that have two probes (one for taking the internal temperature of the meat and another for reading the ambient cooking temperature) and display readings on a digital unit
• Remote probe thermometers that display readings on battery-operated wireless receivers or through smartphone apps via Bluetooth

To check the accuracy of the thermometers, we inserted their probes into a ceramic mug filled with ice water (32 °F), which is what most manufacturers recommend for proper calibration. We also tested the probes in a pot of boiling water (212 °F) and in a stockpot of 130 °F water maintained by a sous vide circulator. We timed how long each thermometer took to register the correct temperatures.

To test the durability of the probe cables at high temperatures, we used our finalists in a screaming-hot, 650 °F to 700 °F grill. After our initial round of testing, we used the remaining contenders to monitor the temperature of oven-baked chicken pieces to get a feel for their usability.

We also evaluated the strength of the magnets on the back of the digital receivers to see how well they could stay attached to the side of an oven or grill, and measured the distance from which remote probe thermometers could function before losing their wireless connection.

Our pick: ThermoWorks Dot

Our pick for the best probe thermometer is the ThermoWorks Dot. Photo: Caroline Enos

We recommend the affordably priced ThermoWorks Dot probe thermometer for its impressive accuracy and ability to read temperatures quickly. Compared with the others we tested, it was the easiest thermometer to use, thanks to its simple, intuitive design and large digital display. The Dot's wide temperature range makes it ideal for both oven and grill use, and its strong magnet kept it securely attached to the side of our oven. The Dot also had one of the longest cables—about 48 inches—of the models we tested, and its 4½-inch probe will have no problem reading the internal temperature of large roasts.

In our tests, the Dot was the fastest thermometer to read temperatures accurately. On average, it was able to read 32 °F in about 8.5 seconds and 212 °F in about 5.5 seconds. Its thermistor sensor has an impressively wide temperature range of –58 °F to 572 °F (and a cable that can withstand 700 °F for short periods). The Dot was one of only three tested models that were accurate to the degree in a stockpot of 130 °F water maintained by a sous vide circulator.

The ThermoWorks Dot doesn't come with a metal clip that attaches the probe to the side of a saucepan for tasks such as frying or candy making, but all ThermoWorks accessories (including probe clips, grate clips, and air probes) are sold separately. It also comes with a two-year warranty, and the probe is replaceable. The Dot lacks a backlight and a timer, but with everything else the Dot has going for it, we didn't feel these omissions were dealbreakers.

Also great: ThermoWorks ChefAlarm and Smoke

For probe thermometers with more features, we suggest getting ThermoWorks's Smoke (left) or ChefAlarm (right). Photo: Caroline Enos

If you want more features, such as a backlit screen and volume adjustment, we recommend two other models by ThermoWorks, the ChefAlarm and the Smoke. Both thermometers were very accurate in our tests, and both have longer probes than our main pick, but we found that they were slightly slower at reading temperatures. They both offer the same impressive temperature range as the Dot, from –58 °F to 572 °F for the probe and up to 700 °F for the cable.

In our tests the ChefAlarm took a couple of seconds longer than the Dot to read temperatures, but it was just as accurate. The timer on this model is a nice addition (it can handle countdowns as long as 99 hours, 59 minutes), and the backlit screen is handy for outdoor grilling at night. The ChefAlarm also allows you to set the minimum and maximum temperatures, which have corresponding alarms to alert you when they're reached. The two strong magnets on the back of the unit keep it in place when attached to the side of an oven or grill; the digital unit is also hinged, so you can lay it flat or adjust it to a specific angle. However, in spite of the ChefAlarm's various benefits, we think most people will be fine with our pick.

Like the ChefAlarm, the Smoke has a backlit screen and volume control. But in contrast with our other picks, the Smoke can operate via a wireless receiver and has two channels to accommodate multiple probes: one probe to take the internal temperature of the meat, and an air probe for measuring the ambient temperature of the oven, grill, or smoker. The Smoke also allows you to set the minimum and maximum temperatures for each probe, which sound corresponding alarms when the set temperatures are reached. In our tests, the Smoke maintained its wireless connection for an unobstructed distance of 350 feet. We don't think you need these features, but if you really want them, the Smoke was the best model we tested that offers them. Considering that this thermometer is also $60 more than the Dot, we think the Smoke makes sense only for grill and smoker enthusiasts.

Coincidentally, all of our picks are manufactured by ThermoWorks. They were far and away the best thermometers we tested. None of the other models compared with our picks in terms of speed, accuracy, and ease of use.

This guide may have been updated by The Sweethome. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from The Sweethome: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

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July 30, 2017 at 02:36PM

This App Works Like Tinder, Except It's for Making Platonic Friends

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When you’re in high school and college, you make a few friends pretty much every day. However, once you graduate, cultivating new friendships, or even meeting people you might want to potentially be friends with, gets a little more difficult. Now there’s an app for that. Called Patook, it’s designed to work a lot like Tinder, except everyone you meet is in the market exclusively for platonic friends — flirting isn’t even allowed on the platform. It’s been in beta for the past year and became available to the public this week.

At first blush, the idea seems kind of insane—except it’s something I could actually see myself using a few years ago. Six years ago I relocated from North Carolina to San Francisco. I was thirty, worked a 9-5 job, and knew exactly one person in the city: my brother’s ex-girlfriend from middle school. Not exactly the makings of a wonderful social life.

I was lucky enough to work in a profession where I was invited to tons of networking events, so I managed to eventually meet people and make some friends, but it was tough road full of awkward Meetup groups and trips to bars alone. How do you even begin to make friends as an adult? As someone that had a huge friend group back home, I had no idea how to even start.

With Patook, you start by either connecting your Facebook account or signing up for the service with your email address.

I signed up by connecting my Facebook account, which is the easiest way to make things happen. From there you’re asked to pick some of your pics from Facebook to appear on your profile and answer a few questions comparable to anything you’ve ever filled out on a dating profile. For instance, it asks what you do for a living, what some of your favorite things to do are, and what kind of people you’re hoping to meet on the app. All the questions are optional, so you don’t have to share details you don’t want to.

After that, it’s just like Tinder. You swipe to the left if you’re not interested in meeting someone, and to the right if you are. That someone could be a man, woman, or even a couple. During my short time on the app I came across quite a few married couples who had just relocated to SF, and like me a few years ago were looking to meet some new friends. When it’s a match, you’ll be connected and can start a chat within the app. If you hit it off, then just like Tinder you can set up a time to meet offline.

The app’s algorithm will detect flirty messages and not even deliver them (and the sender can get banned), so in theory you’ll be safe from getting hit on while using it, although if there’s one thing the internet has taught me, I’m sure someone will figure out how to make that happen. That said, if you just moved to a new place, or just want to break free of your core friend group, then it could be a decent way to find a new buddy.

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July 30, 2017 at 02:06PM

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Hans Zimmer has joined Blade Runner 2049 to help compose the score

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July 30, 2017 at 01:34PM