youtube app update will change the ui on bigscreens

YouTube may have originated on the desktop (more than a decade ago!), but now mobile and the living room are two of its most important platforms. The latter is receiving an update today: Game consoles, streaming devices like Roku, smart TVs and of course the Chromecast will all get a small but important change. Now, when you load up YouTube, you'll be presented with a variety of different content tabs right at the top of the interface. It's now much easier to flip through topics like sports, news, comedy, music, entertainment and so forth.

Google previously had similar categories hidden in the left-side menu bar, but the company thinks that moving them front and center will help users find content faster and keep them watching longer. The categories themselves have also been refined a bit, with some new additions and subtractions getting to the 14 total you'll find now. It's something YouTube has been working on ever since it started designing its own consistent interface across the big screen in 2013. Previously, YouTube had an open API that device makers could tap into and make their apps, but that led to inconsistent experiences and new features being left behind.

YouTube is one of the most widely available video streaming apps out there, and one of the oldest, as well. Over a decade old at this point, you’ll find YouTube on everything from brand new phones to cheap TV sticks these days. While the mobile version of the app is being left as is for now, a number of major changes have hit the big-screen version in the US with the latest update. The changes mostly apply to the app’s categories, and make things much easier to navigate. Users on game consoles and other devices without keyboards will be glad to know that the updates are also aimed at reducing the need to type.

For starters, categories have been moved from their place in the sidebar. They now sit proudly up at the top of the app’s main screen, reachable in a single keystroke or button press. The selection of categories has been revamped and refined, and a number of them have been removed. Rather than offering less choice for users, however, this change actually sets the stage for the other big new feature; sub-categories. Upon opening up a category, users will be presented with a listing of sub-categories and genres that can get rather specific and mostly depend on current trends and the user’s own YouTube history, much like the My Mix function. There is also a “Top Stories” in each category that shows users the most trendy videos in that category at the moment. In total, there are now 14 categories to choose from when browsing content. Another big change is the addition of a function to seek out live content. Users can check out the new “Live” tab up top to see streams happening right that second in real time, some of which may be viewable by category.

Users of most living room devices that display YouTube should see the changes rolling out gradually within the next few weeks or so, but Apple TV users won’t be getting this update; their version of the app is touted as “feature complete”, so these changes should already be on board. The feature is only in the US for now, simply because curators in each country have to help with making the categories and sub-categories. For now, no timeline has been given for an international rollout.

 YouTube also added a new live streams section. There's a top "live" area that shows you a variety of streams happening right at the moment you're looking, and (in some cases) you can find live streams specific to the top-level categories when you start drilling down.

This update is rolling out today to basically every device that displays YouTube on your big TV. The only notable exception to that is the Apple TV, which has its own YouTube app that integrates with Siri and that Google maintains separately. Apple TV users aren't missing out on anything at the moment. But if you're watching YouTube on pretty much any other device (provided it was made in the last four years or so), the new interface should show up soon.

However, just note that only users in the US will see this change, at least for now. Ali said all of the recommendations need to be localized to get the right mix of content in that's relevant to a particular country. It sounds like eventually other regions will get this update, but for the time being it's restricted to the US.

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided's First PC Patch Arrives

“Deus Ex: Mankind Divided”, the sequel to “Deus Ex: Human Revolution”, is an action-based role-playing game developed by Eidos Montreal and published by Square Enix. The first-person shooter takes place two years after the storyline of the first game, where augmented humans with robotic parts couldn’t control their actions and became lethally violent. You play as Adam Jensen, an augmented human and former security officer, who is working to take down an augmented terrorist group. He is also attempting to find information on a secret society called the Illuminati.

Adam Jensen is practically all robot, and those body parts come with big tactical advantages. You have the option to improve Adam’s augmented capabilities by putting “praxis” or skill points into his preferred abilities. These include increased persuasion, glass-shield cloaking, and better handling of weaponry. The more you play, the more opportunities you will have to unlock new abilities.  For example, remote hacking and built-in heavy armor .“Deus Ex” is definitely not your typical ‘run-and-gun’ game. It requires not only stealth but also a cogent strategy to outmaneuver or avoid deadly enemies. You can also customize your guns and configure the game for your own unique style. Guns can have unique rounds – EMP (electromagnetic pulse) and armor-piercing capabilities can come in handy when fighting certain enemies. The ability to add silencers and laser sights also helps personalize your favorite guns. Non-lethal options are also available for gamers who prefer a stealthier route.

Review of Deus Ex; Mankind Divided

Deus Ex Mankind divided will be available on PC, playstation 4 and xbox one.The PC version the game was launched yesterday with a number of issues, some of which Eidos Montreal hopes to have resolved with its first update.This patch brings the game to v1.0 build 524.7 and focuses on "critical issues users ran into immediately following release." These deal primarily with crashes, not performance issues, as revealed by the following patch notes:

Fixed crashes caused by third-party programs interfering with the game. Fixed crash that occurred after viewing the intro videos. Fixed issue that could cause a crash at the end of the Prague intro scene. Fixed mouse invert setting not being displayed correctly in the options menu.

The patch notes are accompanied by a note regarding performance that goes further than yesterday's suggestion to disable MSAA.

"We are seeing people reporting performance issues when playing the game on Very High/Ultra settings with MSAA set to 2x, 4x, or 8x. We would like to emphasize again that these options are very demanding," Eidos Montreal said. "We recommend everyone that is running at recommended spec or higher to start with the High Preset and MSAA turned off, and then tweak the options to optimize your experience."

It's still unclear exactly what kind of hardware is necessary to make use of the game's highest settings--even those with very high-end hardware are encountering performance issues. The officially released recommended specs only cite the necessary components for running the game at 1080p, which is well below the resolution many PC players are interested in using.

The patch notes go on to state this update should "be an improvement for everyone." If it presents new problems, you can choose to continue playing on the previous version. To do so, go into Mankind Divided's Properties menu on Steam (by right-clicking it in your library) and opting into the beta version labeled v1.0_build 524.6.

The price of tesla just got increased

Tesla

If you're planning on buying a Tesla, expect to pay a little extra for Autopilot.

The electric car maker raised the price of its semi-autonomous driving system from $2,500 to $3,000, Electrek first noticed. The change went into effect on Wednesday.

Autopilot enables safety features like automatic braking and blind spot warnings. But only Tesla owners who opt to pay the extra $3,000 for the Autopilot convenience features get access to all of the self-driving functions like automatic lane change.

As Electrek points out, the price increase could also hint that new hardware is being introduced to Tesla vehicles for Autopilot 2.0. However, Tesla claims the price was increased to better reflect the value of the system and that no new Autopilot hardware is being built into its cars right now.

Even without new hardware, though, it makes sense that Tesla would give Autopilot a price bump because the system is always getting better.

Tesla is able to push out over-the-air software updates to give its cars new features. When the electric car maker rolls out a new update, Autopilot usually gets some fancy new functionalities.

For example, the company rolled out its last big update, Tesla 7.1, in January and cars with the Autopilot convenience function enabled got more autonomous features, including an automatic lane change function and the ability for users to "summon" their vehicle from its parking spot.

The company is expected to roll out another software update, Tesla 8.0, sometime before the end of the year, and Autopilot is expected to get a host of new features. So even though the company may not be adding new hardware right now, it makes sense that it would increase the price.

Yesterday, Tesla announced the absolutely berserk Model S P100D. Officially, it has a 0-60 mile an hour time of 2.5 (!) seconds, thus putting almost anything that isn’t a LaFerrari, a Porsche 918 or a Bugatti Veyron Super Sport to shame. And while we were all oohing and aahing over that, Tesla went and quietly raised the price for the Autopilot features without much notice.

It used to be that you had to pay $3,000 for the Autopilot feature after delivery when you were ordering the Model S or Model X. Today, if you go on Tesla’s Design Studio to customize a car, you’ll see that the price has jumped by 20 percent to $3,500, reports Electrek

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Image Credit: Tesla

This price hike is most likely just Tesla trying to squeeze out a little more profit for itself. It’s doubtful that it’s because of any software improvements. We know that a more advanced version of Autopilot is in the pipeline, but this probably isn’t it.

Electrek asked Tesla for the official justification for the price increase, and was told that “it wasn’t because of new hardware, but to better reflect the value of the product.”

Photos show the aftermath of a Galaxy Note 7 that exploded while charging

Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 7 is far and away the hottest new Android phone of the year at this point, and it’s unlikely that any new handsets set to launch in the coming months will outdo it. The phone’s design is gorgeous, the display is stunning, the Note software suite is still a class leader, and the new features Samsung introduced have made it one of the most sought-after devices of 2016. One eager user discovered a feature that isn’t quite as appealing as the curved display or Samsung’s new iris scanner, and it could have caused serious injury or property damage had the phone’s owner not been so lucky.

A user named “Mr. Ni 666666” on the Chinese forum Baidu posted photos (via Major Droid) of what he claims to be a Galaxy Note 7 that exploded on Tuesday while it was charging. In a series of posts, the user claims that his Galaxy Note 7 was plugged in at night charging when he heard a “sudden bang.” He then discovered his phone on fire, and a series of photos show the aftermath.

Here are the photos he posted:                                  

Samsung has yet to comment on the incident and it’s not clear whether or not there will be an investigation, but it looks like the Note 7 owner was using a third-party microUSB charger rather than the charger and cable supplied by Samsung, so that may have played a part in the incident.

Samsung’s new Galaxy Note 7 ships with a white charger and USB cable, but the user in this case has a black cable that he is using with Samsung’s included USB-C adapter tip. It’s entirely possible that this was a manufacturing defect and the charger had nothing to do with it, but just to be on the safe side, Note 7 owners should probably use the equipment supplied by Samsung until we get to the bottom of this.

Steve Wozniak wants Apple to fix Bluetooth sound issues or keep headphone jack

Apple inventor and co-founder Steve Wozniak is known for expressing his opinions on Apple’s products and telling it like it is. Unsurprisingly, the legendary programmer has some free advice for Apple regarding the iPhone 7’s most important “issue,” the absence of the headphone jack.

Apple is yet to confirm the new iPhone will lack a standard audio connector, but pretty much expects the iPhone maker to kill the aging port.

“If it’s missing the 3.5mm earphone jack, that’s going to tick off a lot of people,” Wozniak told The Australian Financial Review, echoing the worries of many others.

His main concern is with audio over Bluetooth, which he says is inferior to the 3.5mm output.

“I would not use Bluetooth … I don’t like wireless. I have cars where you can plug in the music, or go through Bluetooth, and Bluetooth just sounds so flat for the same music,” he said.

However, Apple is yet to confirm whether the bundled headphones that ship with every iPhone will be wired or wireless. Apple is rumored to either launch Lightning EarPods, or introduce its first wireless headphones this year.

Woz would like to use his current headphone setup with the future iPhone, even if that means buying adaptors for them. “Mine have custom ear implants, they fit in so comfortably, I can sleep on them and everything. And they only come out with one kind of jack, so I’ll have to go through the adaptor,” he said.

On the other hand, it’s likely that the company that makes Wozniak’s favorite headphones will come up with Lightning versions if the market demands it.

But the man who started Apple with Steve Jobs in a garage is convinced that Apple is skating where the puck is going. “If there’s a Bluetooth 2 that has higher bandwidth and better quality, that sounds like real music, I would use [wireless headphones],” he said. “But we’ll see. Apple is good at moving towards the future, and I like to follow that.”

Wozniak also praised the USB-C port, and saying that the new port is going to be “the future,” and implying Apple should use it in smartphones too. Interestingly, Intel has recently explained why audio over USB-C will be so much better than current 3.5mm musical experiences in the near future.

Rumors have been flying about the iPhone 7 and one of the rumors that has some folks a bit concerned is the one suggesting Apple is ditching the headphone port on the smartphone. These rumors suggest that Apple is going to ship the next iPhone with EarPods that have Bluetooth connectivity with the iPhone for steaming music wirelessly. Rumors also continue to suggest that there will be a Lightning adapter that will allow you to connect headphones via the Lightning port.

This rumor doesn't sit well with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Woz recently said that he doesn’t like Bluetooth because the sound is flat compared to a wired connection. He said, "I would not use Bluetooth … I don't like wireless. I have cars where you can plug in the music, or go through Bluetooth, and Bluetooth just sounds so flat for the same music."

Woz says that he would likely use the adapter and continue using his current earphones and noted that he was as attached to his accessories as he is to the iPhone. "Mine have custom ear implants, they fit in so comfortably, I can sleep on them and everything. And they only come out with one kind of jack, so I'll have to go through the adaptor," he said.

He continued saying, "If there's a Bluetooth 2 that has higher bandwidth and better quality, that sounds like real music, I would use it. But we'll see. Apple is good at moving towards the future, and I like to follow that."

Perhaps Woz's Bluetooth concerns will be addressed. Rumors have suggested that the iPhone 7 would use a custom Bluetooth chip inside. That custom chip might have improved sound quality that could lure people who like their music via a wire to a wireless option.

LG releases new designs for its new Bluetooth speakers

LG has a trio of new Bluetooth speakers it's planning to show off at IFA next month in Berlin, and they’re some of the weirder-looking audio products to hit the market this year. Called the PH2, PH3, and PH4, these brightly colored speakers each take on a different shape. You have your standard cylindrical design for the PH4, which is a splash-resistant 16-watt speaker. But move down to the PH3, and you’re in full-blown candle territory. The PH2, on the other hand, looks like an enlarged Oreo cookie.

There’s no pricing yet. But with less-than-stellar battery life (10-hours for the PH4 and PH3, and six for the PH2), expect LG to charge somewhere in the $50 to $120 range, starting at the low end with the PH2. LG says it will start selling the speakers at US retailers this fall.

Opera's free and unlimited VPN service is now on Android

Opera Software has been steadily spreading the free VPN love across device platforms in recent months, and now an Android app joins its iOS and desktop VPN releases.

The Norwegian browser maker on Tuesday launched its Android app on Google Play, allowing users to mask their locations and circumvent third parties from tracking their online activity.

Users will be able to spoof their locations from five countries: The U.S., Canada, Germany, Singapore and the Netherlands.

Like the iOS version released in May, and its desktop browser in April, the VPN relies on Canadian software firm SurfEasy, which Opera acquired in March 2015.

SurfEasy still provides and maintains an Android app offering VPN, but charges after usage crosses 500Mb a month.

This is typical of most VPN services out there, which require a fee after a data ceiling is hit, but Opera says it will operate its VPN service unlimited, at no charge.

But things in life never really do come for free, as Computerworld pointed out after Opera's iOS launch.

According to SurfEasy, quoted in the article, Opera plans to anonymise and sell user data to third parties. Compare this with SurfEasy's own paid customers, whose data is not logged and therefore not going to be sold.

Still, Opera's free VPN offer isn't likely a nefarious plan to collect user data. It's more likely a bid to boost market share for the once-popular browser, whose users total just 2.6 percent globally, according to w3counter's measurement of July 2016.

Google Chrome takes the lion's share at 59.5 percent, followed by Safari at 13.1 percent and Internet Explorer at 10.2 percent.

Chris Houston, president of Opera's SurfEasy division, told Mashable more and more mainstream users are aware of online restrictions, and are using VPN services to access that content. 

He added that more consumer-oriented software offerings are also making it easier to apply a VPN without going through IT support.

Opera says the iOS version has already been downloaded a million times since its release.

curved displays have been confirmed for the coming iphones in 2017

Apple will reportedly release a trio of new iPhones next year, including one premium model with a curved display similar to those used in Samsung devices. That's according to a report from the Nikkei Asian Review, which quotes a source "familiar with Apple's plans." The anonymous tipster told the publication: "There will be a 4.7-inch model, another that will be 5.5-inches, and a premium handset that will be either 5.5-inches or larger equipped with a screen bent on the two sides."

This description is pretty vague, and could mean an iPhone with the more noticeable curves of the Galaxy S7 Edge, or the subtler lines of the Galaxy Note 7. Nikkei also quotes an analyst claiming that Samsung will be a supplier for these new displays. The publication notes that the premium iPhone will also use OLED for its screen — something that's been previously rumored (as well as the curved display), with earlier sources suggesting that a 5.8-inch OLED display is being prepared for the device.

Nikkei notes that it was previously expecting a "premium" 5.5-inch model to be released this year as well, but says that the device was scrapped by Apple, and that the company will instead be releasing a regular 5.5-inch "iPhone 7 Plus" and a 4.7-inch "iPhone 7." It's worth noting that Nikkei's source doesn't mention the fate of the (4-inch) iPhone SE in 2017.

Apple is set to unveil new iPhones early next month. Nikkei’s source backs previous reports from Bloomberg and others that the 5.5-inch model will come with a dual-camera system while the 4.7-inch model will use a single lens. We’re expecting the phones to resemble the iPhone 6 and 6S designs, only with less pronounced antenna lines, the removal of the headphone jack, and a pressure-sensitive home button.

Lenovo announces that its android devices will be preloaded with Microsoft Office, Skype, and OneDrive

Microsoft has announced that its software will be soon be preloaded onto some of Lenovo Android devices. Productivity apps including Microsoft Office, OneDrive, and Skype will be loaded onto selected Lenovo products running Google's operating system, the result of a new patent cross-licensing agreement the two companies signed that covers both Lenovo and Motorola devices.

LENOVO OWNS MOTOROLA

Microsoft has used similar deals many times before, linking up with Samsung, Xiaomi, LG, Sony, Dell, and Asus — among others — to put its apps and services on their Android devices. The details of the Lenovo deal haven't been published, but such patent cross-licensing agreements mean that Microsoft gives up the right to charge hefty royalties for companies that want to bundle its products, in favor of getting its software in front of as many people as possible — in keeping with Satya Nadella's new focus on customer engagement and usage.

Motorola owner Lenovo might have slipped down the smartphone manufacturer rankings this year, but the signing of this newest agreement means that you'll be seeing Microsoft software on devices from most of the biggest tech firms, with the Chinese company still weighing in as the world's largest PC manufacturer. Lenovo didn't confirm which of its products would be the first to ship with Microsoft apps pre-installed, but it said that it expected to ship millions of the Android devices over the next several years.

Android 7.0 Nougat: a more powerful OS, made for you

Today, we’ll begin rolling out Android 7.0 Nougat to Nexus devices. And with more ways to make Android your own, it’s by far our sweetest release yet.

We took a different approach to building and launching Nougat this year. For starters, we invited developers to take a sneak peek at Android N back in March, so they could bring their apps to the new platform earlier. And of course we asked you to help us come up with names for this year’s release, resulting in lots of great ideas, and a delicious unveiling back in June.

Android Nougat reflects input from thousands of fans and developers all over the world. There are over 250 major features in Android Nougat, but we wanted to highlight a few of the features you’ve been most excited about.

More personal;

Providing more ways to customize your phone to fit your personality is kind of a big deal, and Android has been leading the way since day one (Homescreen widgets, anyone?). With Android Nougat, you’ll have even more ways to make your phone your own, including:

Expanded emoji: There are now over 1,500 different emoji built into Android, including 72 new ones, so go ahead: express yourself.
Quick Settings controls: Quick Settings gives you easy access to things like bluetooth, WiFi and the all-important flashlight. With Android Nougat, you can actually control what tiles go where, and move ‘em around to fit your needs.Multi-locale support: Apps can tailor their content based on your locale settings. So if you speak multiple languages, for instance, then search engines can show results in each of those languages. 

Expanded emoji and Quick Settings controls

More productive;

Whether you’re responding to work emails or making plans with friends, Android Nougat helps you multitask with ease with new features like Multi-window, Direct reply, and Quick switch. Multi-window: Run two apps side-by-side. The windows are resizable, too, by simply dragging the divider. Direct Reply: Reply directly to notifications without having to open any app quick Switch: Switch between your two most recently used apps by simply double tapping the Overview button.

Split-screen

More battery;

 smarts Starting with the release of Android Marshmallow last year, we have been making the battery smarter. That’s why we made the Doze feature even dozier with Android Nougat. Your device can now drop into lower power usage when it’s getting jostled around in your pocket or bag while on the move.*

More immersive;

Android Nougat is designed with immersive experiences in mind—including support for VulkanTM (an advanced 3D rendering API) and Daydream (Google’s platform for mobile virtual reality).
VulkanTM: Games will now leap to life thanks to high-speed, next-generation graphics — all powered by your device’s multi-core processor.Daydream: Android Nougat is ready to transport you to virtual worlds with Daydream-ready phones, headsets and controllers — all coming later this year.

More secure;

As always, Android is built with powerful layers of security and encryption to keep your private data private. For new devices coming this fall, we’ve also added new features like Seamless updates, File-based encryption and and Direct Boot.
Seamless updates: New Android devices with Nougat can install software updates in the background which means you won't have to wait while your device installs the update and optimizes all your apps for the new version. And for current Nexus users, software updates now install much faster, so you won't have to wait for minutes while your device reboots. File-based encryption: Android Nougat can better isolate and protect files for individual users on your device.Direct Boot: Direct Boot helps your device startup faster, and apps run securely even before you unlock your device when your device reboots.
And for those of you who also want to use your Android device at work, there are also new security features for using Android in enterprise, which you can learn more about on the Android for Work website.

Coming soon, to a device near you

Today, and over the next several weeks, the Nexus 6, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, Pixel C and General Mobile 4G (Android One) will get an over the air software update** to Android 7.0 Nougat. Any devices enrolled in the Android Beta Program will also receive this final version.

And there are many tasty devices coming from our partners running Android Nougat, including the upcoming LG V20 which will be the first new smartphone that ships with Android Nougat, right out of the box. You can learn even more about Android Nougat at www.android.com/nougat.

Posted by Sameer Samat, VP of Product Management, Android & Google Play

_{*Hey, just a reminder that actual battery performance varies and will depend on a number factors including signal strength, network configuration, battery age, operating temperature, features selected, device settings, and voice, data, and other application usage patterns.}

_{**The Nexus and Pixel C update to Android 7.0 Nougat occurs in stages and some carriers will receive the update later than others. This update will be pushed simultaneously to devices in the Android Beta Program.}

Amazon wants to sell a cheaper music subscription service that will only work on its Echo player

Amazon wants to launch a music subscription service that would work the same way services from Apple, Spotify and many others work: $10 a month, for all the music you can stream, anywhere you want to stream it.

But Amazon is also working on a second service that would differ in two significant ways from industry rivals: It would cost half the price, and it would only work on Amazon’s Echo hardware.

Industry sources say Amazon would like to launch both services in September, but has yet to finalize deals with major music labels and publishers. One sticking point, sources say, is whether Amazon will sell the cheaper service for $4 or $5 a month.

An Amazon rep declined to comment.

The $10-a-month service would replicate features that used to be hard to find but are now common: Unlimited, ad-free music you can play on any device you want and also download for offline playback.

The lower-priced service would represent a novel approach. Other services have tried, without success, to offer subscriptions in the $5 range. But those have usually been variants of web radio services, which don’t let users play any song they want, whenever they want.

That’s also the approach Pandora is taking with a new $5 service it has in the works, which it wants to launch alongside a standard $10-a-month service.

Amazon’s discount service would be different, industry sources say, because it would work like Spotify or Apple Music — unlimited, ad-free music on demand — but it would be constrained to Amazon’s Echo player, and wouldn’t work on phones.

That runs counter to conventional wisdom in the music business, which believes that most people value the ability to take their music with them and play it whenever they want.

The overwhelming majority of Spotify subscribers sign up on phones. And when Apple Music launched last year it focused all of its attention on iPhone users, and eventually on Android phone owners as well.

Amazon launched the Echo — an internet-connected speaker powered by Alexa, the company’s AI software — last year, and reportedly sold a million units. It hopes to sell three million this year and 10 million in 2017, The Information reports.

Amazon already offers an Amazon Music service free for Amazon Prime subscribers, but that service only has a limited catalog of music.

If Amazon launches the music services, it will be the second time it has offered digital media subscriptions as à-la-carte offerings, instead of tying them to its Amazon Prime delivery service.

Earlier this year Amazon started selling its video subscription service, which it offers for free to Amazon Prime subs, as a standalone service for $9 a month.

could this be Faraday Future’s answer to the Tesla Model X

Faraday Future is driving a camouflaged version of a real upcoming production EV in LA,according to Electrek. The site reports that a candid shot of a covered-up SUV is actually a test vehicle from the Californian would-be Tesla competitor backed by Chinese consumer gadget company LeEco.

The vehicle looks like a crossover-style SUV, similar to a Tesla Model X, and this is in line with previous reports that Faraday was looking to field a $100,000-plus luxury sport utility crossover, which would essentially slot right into the market where the shipping Tesla car already plays.

The SUV would be its first production car, after the company unveiled a far less practical, but flashier FFZER01 concept at this year’s CES. The FFZER01 actually looks like something out of Nintendo’s F-Zero futuristic sci-fis racing game series, and has over 1,000 HP and a sub-three second 0-60 mph time – on paper.

The circusshow that is Faraday’s concept EV racer is a far-cry from something you’d be able to use to get your groceries, which is why this test vehicle is so interesting. Faraday has a lot to prove in terms of stepping up as a viable EV company, after all.

iTunes vouchers do not pay off fines

Tuesday, 23 August 2016 - 3:50pm

National News

Police are continuing to remind the public that government agencies will not ask for fines to be paid by iTunes or other vouchers, says Detective Senior Sergeant Iain Chapman.

“Unfortunately, these calls are now being made to look like they are coming from New Zealand numbers, including those associated with Government departments such as Police.

“While these numbers may show a New Zealand number, they are in fact coming from overseas.

“We are seeing a huge numbers of these calls coming through, with over 900,000 calls showing as coming from one New Zealand number over the months of June and July.

“It’s really important to remember that Government agencies will never require or ask you to pay a fine by using an iTunes voucher.

“If you get a call from someone saying you need to pay a fine by iTunes vouchers, Police’s advice is just to hang up.

“We are also seeing a wide range of the public being targeted through these calls, including the elderly.

“If you do have family members or relatives who are not technologically savvy, we do ask that you have a chat with them about this so they do not fall victim to this type of scam.”

If you do have outstanding fines and are concerned, you should find the contact details of the organisation from the phone book or their website and use the generic number listed.

ENDS

Note to media - Footage of Detective Senior Sergeant Iain Chapman talking about this issue: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vb4pyj6gwqjj6zv/scam%20auckland_2you%20tube.mp...(link is external).

Issued by Police Media Centre

Photos of the Playstation 4 slim with exquisite photos

We can confirm that the PS4 Slim is real.

In our bid to confirm the veracity of the images that leaked online last night (more on that below), Digital Foundry's Richard Leadbetter visited the person who claimed to have bought the console from Gumtree.

We also have our own image of the PS4 Slim, below:

The PS4 Slim. Photograph by Richard Leadbetter.

The PlayStation 4 Slim has leaked online.

The new console was first spotted on auction website Gumtree, before being picked up by NeoGAF.

Sony will hold an event on 7th September in New York, where it is set to announce the more powerful PS4, codenamed Neo, and this PS4 Slim.

Twitter user shortmaneighty2, who spotted the Gumtree listing, and NeoGAF user Venom Fox have posted multiple images of the console, showing it boxed, unboxed and compared to the original PS4 console.

Eurogamer understands the PS4 Slim will be released shortly after this event, later in September. We don't know how much it will cost, however, but the expectation is it will be cheaper than the original PS4.

We've asked Sony for comment.

Microsoft recently released a slimmer version of the Xbox One, dubbed the Xbox One S, and has a more powerful console, currently called Project Scorpio, in the works. Nintendo will release its next console, codename NX, in March 2017.

I always wanted Xbox one onesie for christmas

From verge

I've always wanted to be an astronaut. That cool white uniform and blasting off into space seems like way more fun than blasting around virtual galaxies in Destiny. Luckily, Microsoft has me covered.

Microsoft's Australian marketing team, who are presumably fueled by cans of Fosters, have created an Xbox Onesie. It looks like a deflated astronaut spacesuit, but it's perfect if you just want to sit at home on your sofa and order Dominos pizza by shouting at your Kinect. That's my real life after the astronaut dream failed.

You'll be glad to hear the Xbox Onesie comes in both black and white, so you can blend into your environment or stand out and wear it proud. The enlarged pockets mean you can carry around your Xbox One controller even when you take a rest on the porcelain throne after shooting bad guys (don't forget to mute your party chat). These Xbox Onesies are probably even respectable enough to wear down to your local grocery store to stock up on some Doritos or Mountain Dew for that marathonCall of Duty session. Microsoft's press release (yes, really) highlights all the key features:

Enlarged pockets to fit your Xbox Controller and Media RemotesArm pouch to offer quick and easy access to your mobile phone€”Roll-able legs and arms to cater for all temperatures and seasonsForearm grips to prevent slipping on those ‘edge of your seat' momentsExtra-large hood to accommodate headsets for the ultimate gaming sessionsCustomized Gamertag embroidery

Yes, it has rollable arms and legs so you can literally wear it all year long and never have to worry about washing your actual clothes again. There's even an extra-large hood so you can wear a headset or, you know, hide from the world for even considering wearing this monstrosity. I don't care what anyone thinks though, all I want for Christmas is an Xbox Onesie.