Robot burger-flipper starts first day on the job in California restaurant

They say that robots will eventually take over the workplace. As they get “smarter,” robots would start to branch out from the assembly line and say, start flipping burgers at some diner in California.

Flippy is an AI-driven kitchen assistant developed by Miso Robotics and the owner of CaliBurger, the establishment where Flippy is currently at work, reports Engadget.

This robotic burger connoisseur is not only able to flip burgers but also put them in buns. It uses cameras, sensors and deep learning software to find ingredients around the kitchen without additional reconfiguration.

Flippy’s sensors also help it to keep track of the patties’ temperature and cooking time. Once cooking is done, it lets its human boss top off the burgers with cheese and other toppings.

“Much like self-driving vehicles, our system continuously learns from its experiences to improve over time,” said David Zito, CEO of Miso Robotics.

Flippy is currently on “probation” in Pasadena but, once this is done, more Flippies will be deployed to over 50 CaliBurger locations in the next two years. Existing staff in these branches will be reassigned to the dining room while others will be trained to operate the new mechanical assistant.

Next thing we’ll know, robotic cooks will be arguing with unsatisfied customers regarding some extra machine oil topping that they did not ask for. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Samsung Galaxy S8 rumored to have 6-inch screen

Evan “Evleaks” Blass has done it again. As Samsung tries to keep the lid tight on its upcoming flagship smartphone, a mostly complete spec sheet has been leaked by the prominent phone leaker.

Engadget reports that while the leaked spec sheet is still very much in rumor territory, Blass has had a good track record so far. That said, it’s interesting to see that the Galaxy S8+ will be getting a very large 6.2-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED display. That is just 0.1mm shy of Lenovo’s 6.3-inch monster-of-a-phone, the Phab2. It’s even larger than the retired Galaxy Note 7.

Unlike the Phab2, the supposed Galaxy S8+ might actually be a lot smaller, thanks to Samsung’s super slim bezel design. After all, previous reports stated that Samsung is not quite done with the Note line and a phablet-sized flagship phone would essentially render any Note device in the future redundant.

The rest of the items listed on the spec sheet are hardly attention grabbers. An iris scanner, LTE connectivity, 4GB RAM, 64GB internal storage, and a 12-megapixel rear camera are all fairly standard for high-end devices.

Since Samsung won’t be launching the Galaxy S8 at the Mobile World Congress next week, we’ll just have to wait and see what innovations and gimmicks they will come up with to differentiate their device from the crop of flagship phones fresh from the congress. Alfred Bayle/JB

source: technology.inquirer.net

Kodak puts out new camera-centric smartphone named Ektra

Despite struggling through bankruptcy back in 2013, Kodak is slowly trying to get back on its feet with a new smartphone that carries the name of one of its classic cameras.

Named after the Ektra 1941 rangefinder, its new smartphone is a camera-centric device that’s wrapped in artificial leatherette and has a curved grip on one end as well as a dedicated shutter button. It also has a very obvious lens protruding in the back with a 21-megapixel Sony sensor, reports Engadget.

Build-wise, the Kodak Ektra (2016) certainly looks like a classic camera. The company is hoping it will appeal to photography enthusiasts who would also own DSLRs or high-end compact cameras. Phone manufacturer Bullit has been tasked by Kodak to make the device more photographer-friendly. This means that it includes a camera app with a Scene Selection Dial for accessing different modes.

Snapseed has been placed as the default photo-editing app. The device will also have Kodak-curated app recommendations that include Adobe Lightroom, Prisma and VSCO.

As a smartphone, the Ektra is equipped with a deca-core MediaTek Helio X20 processor and 3GB of RAM. It has an internal storage of 32GB but can be expanded up to 128GB through a MicroSD. It also has a 3000mAh battery with “Pump Express” quick charging. It has a 5-inch 1080p display and comes with Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box.

The Kodak Ektra (2016) will retail for £449/€499 (P26,247) in Europe this coming December. The US market will have to wait as a Kodak spokesperson says they will have to monitor market demand before making any decisions. Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

BMW shows off no-helmet concept motorcycle

BMW’s 100th birthday has prompted the company to unveil its latest concept vehicle that it claims to be smart enough to ensure the rider’s safety, thereby eliminating the need for the cumbersome helmet.

The Motorrad Vision Next 100 concept motorcycle certainly looks the part of a futuristic vehicle. It even gets rid of the traditional instrument cluster in the front and simply employs a visor that displays information and data relevant to the rider, reports Engadget.

As for its safety features, BMW states that the key is a self-balancing system that will allow the bike to stay upright even when not moving. It would eliminate the rider’s ever-present tendency of falling over, trusting instead the bike’s balancing system while pushing the limits even further.

While the balancing system will help prevent crashing due to rider error, the question is what if the rider was thrown off the vehicle? Unless the bike can somehow sense the absence of the rider and automatically try to catch the individual, authorities may still require some form of helmet or protective measure before anyone will be allowed to ride this smart vehicle.

BMW has not hinted the power plant for this concept vehicle, saying only that it would be a “zero-emission” bike. Given the trend of electric vehicles, it wouldn’t be too far off to assume that the Motorrad Vision Next 100 will be electric.

source: technology.inquirer.net

New Polaroid digital camera with built-in printer ships October

Polaroid is a brand synonymous with instant-print photographs as well as the “retro feel” that goes with it. With the success of the Polaroid Snap, the company follows through with an updated version of its digital camera, which comes with a few nifty features.

The new camera is called Snap Touch and, like the original Snap, is equipped with an inkless printing system that lets users print out physical photos instantly like the Polaroid Instax camera. The main difference with this new model is its touchscreen panel and Bluetooth sensor, reports Engadget.

Snap Touch is more than just another digital version of Polaroid’s Instax camera. The Bluetooth connection allows the device to also act as a portable printer. Photos can be sent from a smartphone over a dedicated app through Bluetooth and have them printed on the Snap Touch.

Pre-orders are now available over at the Polaroid website and shipments will begin in October. Do keep in mind that Polaroid’s inkless printing system accepts only ZINK inkless paper, which costs about $10 a pack.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

iPhone 7 Plus and jet black variants sold out

Despite the negative reactions to the missing earphone jack on the iPhone 7, Apple still managed to sell a generous amount of its new smartphone, so much so that people who didn’t pre-order the jet black version will have trouble picking one up from Apple stores.

According to an Apple statement, the company has already allocated all of its iPhone 7 Plus stock and sold all of the jet black iPhone 7 versions, reports Engadget.

“Beginning Friday, limited quantities of iPhone 7 in silver, gold, rose gold, and black will be available for walk-in customers at Apple retail stores. During the online pre-order period, initial quantities of iPhone 7 Plus in all finishes and iPhone 7 in jet black sold out and will not be available for walk-in customers,” Apple told TechCrunch.

Apple partners as well as carriers will have differing stock levels and may be better equipped to handle customer orders.

Even online orders are indicating a 2-3 week waiting time so customers may need to exercise some patience until backlogs get cleared up and more supply is made available.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Apple iPad gets storage upgrade without price hike

People from different parts of the world were focused on Apple’s event wherein it unveiled the much-awaited iPhone 7. Little did the public know that there was another surprise waiting for them as Apple dropped the prices for the iPad and upgraded storage capacities.

The changes weren’t announced on stage but Apple iPad models will now start with a minimum 32GB of storage while maintaining the same prices as the previous 16GB models. iPad Pros will max out at 256GB of storage, reports Engadget.

However, there will be some variations in the prices depending on which model customers are looking for, particularly between those iPads with WiFi only or cellular capabilities.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Iris scanner ups security level of new Samsung Galaxy Note

Samsung’s Unpack 2016 unveiled the latest Android device, which has a built-in iris scanner.

The new Galaxy Note 7’s iris scanner will not only provide security but also access to mobile banking and other activities through the new Samsung Pass feature, reports Engadget.

Samsung indicated that it is working with Citibank, US Bank, Bank of America, among others, with regards to the implementation of the device’s new feature.

Samsung has been working on the iris scanner for the past five years and apart from unlocking the Note 7, it also provides other security measures. It can also lock folders, apps and other contents in the device. In a way, it is a step up from fingerprint scanners and toward further integration of biometric security into mobile devices.  Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Facebook users face privacy issues with new AI system

Facebook will be launching a new artificial intelligence system to improve format sales posts and offer personalized content to their users, according to Engadget.

The new AI system is called DeepText, and is designed to analyze what Facebook users type on posts, messages, and other information on a user’s profile.

While this new system can benefit users by providing more content that interests them, it also has some serious implications as far as privacy is concerned. Said issues will have to be further investigated once the system makes its debut. Alfred Bayle

source: technology.inquirer.net

Internet browser Opera launches free built-in VPN for secure surfing

Internet users usually dodge firewalls and conceal an IP address by installing third-party softwares to ensure privacy while surfing.

Now, a browser offers premium and secure internet browsing.

Opera, an internet browser, has invented a developer version of its desktop web browser with a built-in Virtual Private Network (VPN) support. A user can simply flick a virtual switch to enjoy 256-bit encrypted connection that hampers third party sites or government agencies to obstruct internet content a user cannot access and insulate the users’ connection details, according to a report by tech sites Gizmodo and Engadget.

Opera wrote in a blog post, “We are the first major browser maker to integrate an unlimited and free VPN or virtual private network. Now, you don’t have to download VPN extensions or pay for VPN subscriptions to access blocked websites and to shield your browsing when on public Wi-Fi.”

VPN complicates government and third parties to monitor data by directing users’ internet traffic to other countries through servers.

Currently, users of Canada, Germany, and the United States can utilize unlimited amount of data with the built-in VPN. The built-in VPN feature is available for Windows and OS X.

Opera envisions to launch the feature in other countries in the next few months. Gianna Francesca Catolico, INQUIRER.net

source: technology.inquirer.net