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One Plus helps tackle sleeplessness!

26th November 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by marcusbronzy

Sleepless nights zzzz

Ever take your phone to bed with you? Leave it on the bedside table? However, do you also find yourself having sleepless nights? Well almost a 1/4 of the population in the UK has trouble nodding off. The reason? Spending too much time on their phone at bedtime. With 86% of millenials reporting that they have sleepless nights due to staying up too late on their phones. The dreaded blue light is the culprit as it is suspected to reduce sleep hormone melatonin and One Plus are helping to tackle this issue!

So why…..

Smartphone manufacturer OnePlus has found that nearly 1 in 4 UK adults (23%) have experienced sleepless nights. Due to being on their phone before bed.

This is backed up by wider studies by a University of Harvard Study, claiming that the main suspect is the blue light emitted from displays of digital devices. Therefore preventing the body producing melatonin, the main hormone for sleeping, naturally.

86% of millennials report sleeplessness from staying up on their phones. Which is the largest affected age group. Nearly 1 in 6 (15%) of this 18-34 age group are on their phones between 11pm and 3am.

Furthermore, the older you are the less likely you are to be affected. A quarter of 35-44 year olds experienced trouble sleeping, 17% of 45-54 year olds and just 9% of over 55’s.

What else…

The bedroom (38%) is 2nd to the living room (47%) as being the most common place we use our phones. A quarter of us use the special screen mode to restrict blue light emissions, whilst 29% of adults have never used the feature. Londoners (51%) are the most likely to be on their phones in bed. While the Welsh come in second at 43% and the North East in 3rd at 42%.

 

 “While these results are not surprising, it is eye-opening to read that taking a phone to bed is causing sleepless nights for so many.

We know that blue light inhibits sleep because the short wavelength stimulates sensors in the eyes to send signals to your brain’s internal clock, tricking it into thinking it’s daytime. Blue light is beneficial in daylight hours as it boosts mood, reaction times and concentration but in the evening, the recommendation is to avoid screen time for an hour before bedtime to help increase melatonin levels.

For those who struggle to not use digital devices in the evening, it’s important to look for technology that is helping to restrict blue light and we would encourage the need for tech companies to more mindful of this issue and work to find a solution” Lisa Artis, head of The Sleep Council

One Plus tackling the issue….

One Plus commissioned the research as they are pledging to tackle the blue light phenomenon. New models all feature technology to help tackle or limit the blue light. Such as the E3 display panel which reduces the blue light by 42%. While Dark Mode ensures low-light conditions, which make it easier on your eyes. Furthermore Zen mode from One Plus keeps distractions at bay for 60 minutes!

“Technology should be there to improve life, not get in the way of it, or for that matter, a good night’s sleep.  

 Which is why OnePlus is dedicated to helping people focus on what matters to them. It’s led us to continue to invest in industry leading screen technology, which has allowed us to bring a 90 Hz display with key features like the E3 panel, Dark Mode and Zen Mode, keeping distractions at bay by disabling access for up to 60 minutes”. Kate Parkyn, Head of EU Strategy & UK Marketing at OnePlus 

 

 

Source: OnePoll survey of 2,000 respondents in UK.

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Seagate Game Drive PS4 – MORE GAMING FOR YOU!

26th November 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by billywright

 

Ever needed more space for your games? Have an ever expanding library of great games? Well Seagate have recently released a brand new external hard drive to solve those problems. The Seagate Game Drive for PS4 will boosted storage and offer game portability for all of your favourite games!

Seagate Game Drive just works!

The Seagate Game Drive comes in a 2TB capacity and will enhance your PS4 gaming capability! Furthermore it is as simple as plug and play! The Game Drive is officially licensed by Sony Interactive Entertainment and offers graphical branding. Which consequently mimic and complement the PS4 console design!

 

“Games can average 40GB per title, so even the highest-capacity internal console hard drives available can be maximized quickly…Seagate’s new Game Drive for PS4 offers a storage upgrade so users can keep saved content while expanding their ability to download new games and add-ons.”Jeff Fochtman, vice president of marketing for Seagate. 

 

The Seagate Game Drive will be instantly recognised by the PS4 and will install in less than 3mins. How quick and easy is that!

It is compact and efficient and better yet, it doesn’t need a power cord. Helping to improve portability if you ever wanted to take your games to a friends house.

Instant portable access for up to 50 games (We’re looking at you Read Dead Redemption 2 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 100gb+ installs!) and add ons for both PS4 and PS4 Pro.

The new 2TB capacity Game Drive for PS4™ consoles is available for £79.99 by clicking here!

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The NEW Ford Mustang Mach-E

18th November 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by marcusbronzy

 

The New Mustang – Hands on / 8 Great things about it!

We got an exclusive hands on with the Ford Mustang Mach – E at it's launch event in LA.Here are 8 great things about the vehicle that is the spear head of the future of Ford's and Mustangs EV Adventure!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Sunday, 17 November 2019

We recently went to LA with Ford to check out the all new Mustang Mach-E and it is fantastic! It comes with two battery pack sizes, three power outputs, the Mach-E can come in either rear-wheel drive or a all-wheel drive and the first edition series will be available in limited numbers and will be unique! Furthermore there will be two optional technology packs and comes in eight different exterior launch colours. Plus not only that, but an all high-performance GT version will also be available at a later date! While the All-New Mustang Mach-E will only be available to purchase online at the Ford online marketplace.

First Edition…what is it?

The first edition versions will be fully equipped with all options and have the following features (they’re pretty cool!)

  • AWD
  • 337 PS
  • 99 kWh battery
  • Available in three exterior colours including one exclusive First Edition colour (Grabber Blue Metallic)
  • Body styling kit with body-colour detailing
  • Unique First Edition scuff plates
  • SENSICO seat covers with red or blue stitching (depending on exterior colour)
  • Full-length panorama roof
  • Technology Pack +

Specifications

Powertrain, Performance, and Key Dimensions

MACH-E

AWD

First Edition

Drive

RWD

AWD

AWD

Battery pack size* (kWh)

75 99

75 99

99

Power (kW/PS)

190/258 210/285

190/258 248/337

248/337

Torque (Nm)

415

582

582

Vehicle range (km) WLTP estimated

450 600

420 540

540

Acceleration 0-100 km/h (seconds)

<8

<7

<7

Top Speed (km/h)

180

Kerb weight (kg)

1993 2111 2086 2218 2218+

Length (mm)

4712

Width (mm)

1881

Height (mm)

1597

*Battery packs come with an 8-year/160,000 km warranty.

Exterior Colours Availability

  • Absolute Black
  • Iconic Silver
  • Rapid Red
  • Star White
  • Infinite Blue
  • Space White
  • Carbonised Grey
  • Grabber Blue Metallic (exclusive for First Edition)

Note: Exclusive First Edition vehicles will only be available in three colours: Rapid Red, Carbonised Grey, and Grabber Blue (exclusive for First Edition). After all First Edition vehicles have been sold, Grabber Blue Metallic will no longer be available. Grabber Blue Metallic First Editions come with exclusive blue interior stitching, and Rapid Red and Carbonized Grey come with red interior stitching.

Ford Mach-E Technology

As you’d expect the Ford Mach-E comes equipped with a TON of tech…customers can choose between the following two optional technology packs:

Technology Pack

10-speaker B&O Sound System
Hands-free tailgate
Traffic Sign Recognition
Advanced Active Park Assist with 360° Camera  Active Drive Assist with Lane Centring

Technology Pack +

(this includes Technology Pack content plus these additional features):

Eight-way power memory front seats with advanced memory (standard on AWD)
Perforated SENSICO premium feel comfort seats with coloured stitching
Power-foldable door mirrors with puddle lights (standard on AWD)
Full-length panorama roof

New Technologies

The All-New Mustang Mach-E will be available with the following new technologies:

  • 15.5-inch touchscreen and 10.2-inch Full Digital Cluster –New to the segment these technologies will provide a premium HMI experience
  • One-pedal drive –One-pedal drive accelerates the vehicle and utilises regenerative charging to slow the vehicle to a standstill if required
  • Front Trunk –Offering 100 litres of stowage space, it is waterproof and fully washable similar to the new Ford Puma MegaBox
  • Phone as a Key –The user’s mobile phone replaces a conventional key fob, enabling drivers to unlock the car as they approach the vehicle without any action required
  • Key fob-free entry and ignition –A key-pad in the B-pillar allows the car to be unlocked using a personalised code. With a different personalised code entered on the HMI screen, the vehicle can even be started
  • Passenger doors can be opened using a push button. This will unlock the vehicle, inform the customer about the status through a green lit lock sign on the B-pillar, and will enable the customer to pull the door open.
  • Over-the-air updates –Software updates can be received over-the-air and vehicle data can be transmitted to the cloud (within the boundaries of local data protection regulations)

    Advanced Connectivity Features

  • FordPass Connect
  • Ford SYNC 4 with Connected Navigation and Natural Voice Control
  • Stolen Vehicle Alert/Tracking/Immobilisation
  • Local Hazard Information
  • AppLink Remote Control
  • Wireless integration of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
  • Smart Home Integration (Alexa) – Smart devices that are connected to Amazon Alexa can be controlled from within the vehicle

Driver Assistance Technologies

A suite of advanced driver assistance technologies will be available on the All-New Mustang Mach-E:

  • Active Park Assist 2 with 360° Camera
  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go, Speed Sign Recognition and Lane Centring
  • Auto High Beam
  • Blind Spot Information System
  • Cross Traffic Alert With Active Braking
  • Driver Alert
  • Evasive Steering Assist
  • Glare-free high beam
  • Intelligent Speed Limiter
  • Lane-Keeping System
  • Post-Collision Braking
  • Pre-Collision Assist with Pedestrian Detection
  • Rear-view camera
  • Reverse Brake Assist
  • Reverse Park Aid

Additional Features

  • Hands-free tailgate
  • Wireless charging pad

Features highlights by series

MACH-E

 AWD

(features additional to rear-wheel drive)

First

Edition

(features additional to AWD)

18-inch alloy wheels

19-inch alloy wheels

19-inch alloy wheels

LED Mustang-inspired signature taillights

Adaptive LED Mustang- inspired signature headlights with glare-free high beam

Full-length panorama roof

10.2-inch Full Digital Cluster & 15.5-inch touchscreen

Eight-way power memory front seats

Hands-free tailgate

Phone as a Key

Contrast-coloured heated power-foldable door mirrors with puddle lights

10-speaker B&O Sound System

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go

Red brake callipers

Exclusive exterior colour options

Up to 150 kW DC high power charging

Dual-Motor All-Wheel Drive

Active Park Assist 2 with 360° Camera

Ford Mach-E Charging

Charging is a vital part of electric vehicles and the Ford Mustang Mach-E gives you everything you need to get up and running again. It will come with a Ford Home Charge Cable for AC charging at home, on holiday or even when visiting friends. By supplying you with a 2.3kW home socket cable.

You will also have a Public Charge Cable which will give access to public charge points with power up to 11kW. Furthermore it can be charged via high-power DC charges at a maximum of 150kW.

  • AC Home Charging
    A home socket can be used to charge the vehicle using the Ford Home Charge Cable. You will also be given several adapters to use other power sockets such as a blue camping socket.
  • Ford Connected Wallbox Charging
    If you order a Ford Connected Wallbox you’ll be able to charge your car with up to 11 kW which will help to reduce charge times. Better yet it’s incredible safe as the Ford Connected Wallbox has integrated fault protection and a variety of smart features.
  • DC Charging
    The Mach-E can be charged up to 130kW for the 75kWh battery pack and up to 150kW for the 99 kWh battery back. Why’s this important? Well you can add up to 93km with just 10mins of charge time. Also, you can charge your car up to 80% in 38mins approx with the 75kWh battery pack and 45mins for the 99kWh battery pack.

Ford are also founding members and shareholders in the IONITY consortium. They aim to build 400 high power charging stations in key European locations by the end of 2020. Helping to significantly reduce charge times for all electric vehicles!

Ford Mach-E and Mobile Apps

Ford have partnered up with NewMotion and by using connectivity with the FordPass Connect on-board modem, the FordPass app will highlight to their drivers public stations in Europe. You can see where they are, initiate and pay for charging services right within the app.

Furthermore drivers can monitor their vehicles charge status remotely. Furthermore by using the FordPass Power My Trip feature, you are able to plan a trip whilst considering the current charge state. If the vehicle requires charging you will be given charging points along the way which make it the most efficient trip for you as possible. Not only that the app will also highlight points of interest to help make the most of the time you have whilst it’s charging!

Ford customers in Europe can push pre-planned routes from their phone to their vehicle over the air. Driving itineraries created elsewhere can be seamlessly downloaded to the vehicles sat nav. This means drivers can get in and set off on their chosen route!

Ford Mach-E Tech Specs Rundown….

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Ford Mustang Mach-E Behind The Scenes!

An exclusive look at Ford #MustangMachE Launch Behind The Scenes!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Sunday, 17 November 2019

FAQ’s From Ford

How much will it cost?

GERMANY: Prices will start from €46.900 for the RWD version, going up to €66.800 for the First Edition

UK: Prices will start from GBP 40.270 for the RWD version, going up to GBP 58.000 for the First Edition

NORWAY: Prices will start from NOR 412.000 for the RWD version, going up to NOR 589.000 for the First Edition

FRANCE: Prices will start from €48.990 for the RWD version, going up to €69.500 for the First Edition

NETHERLANDS: Prices will start from €48.425 for the RWD version, going up to €69.440 for the First Edition

[Note: Mach-E GT pricing not available until later]

When will it be in European dealerships?

It will be in selected European markets in the autumn next year. It will also be sold in North America and China.

When does the pre-ordering start?

The pre-ordering for European customers will start with the reveal event on November 18th for our priority markets Norway, Germany, UK, France, Netherlands and Switzerland.

Can people buy this car on the internet only – without going via a Ford dealer?

Mustang Mach-E is being sold using a new online purchasing process. Customers can choose to do this at home, or to go to a Ford dealer and run through the online process with dealer assistance. Delivery of the car will happen via a Ford dealership.

What version will be available – will you do AWD and FWD?

Customers can choose between AWD and RWD versions. No FWD.

The car looks big – what are the dimensions and the weight?

The car is 471 cm long, 188 cm wide, and the height is 160 cm. weight is between 1993 kg and 2218 kg, depending on battery size and whether it’s AWD or RWD.

Will it be sold in all markets across Europe?

Yes, eventually. We have identified our top markets as Norway, Germany and UK as they have the highest demand. The other priority markets are France, Netherlands, and Switzerland. These are the markets with the largest existing customer acceptance for all-electric vehicles. Other European markets will follow soon after.

Will it be built off an existing or new platform?

The vehicle is built off an all-new all-electric architecture.

How many versions will you be offering customers, and will they all be available at launch?

Ford will offer six different models in Europe: RWD (two battery sizes, early 2021), AWD (two battery sizes, late 2020), First Edition (late 2020) and GT (2021).

Are there any differences between the US and European version of Mustang Mach-E?

Visually and technically the cars are identical. There are some minor differences due to legal requirements and in the marketing packages offered. Specifically:

  • Headlamp technology for Europe is different (includes glare free auto high beam), but this isnot visible. Indicators are also fitted to meet European requirements.
  • The Mach-E badges are different, as the “4” in Mach-E4 X is not used for Europeanvehicles. Instead European vehicle will get an AWD badge on the liftgate.
  • The US offers wheels with aero shields, which Europe doesn’t offer. Non-aero shield wheeldesigns are otherwise identical.
  • US offers a black coloured roof, which Europe doesn’t offer on base and AWD.
  • The US will offer a light interior and a black interior on Base and Premium. Europe onlyoffers the light headliner on Base (including a-pillar, rest of pillars is black) and black interioron AWD and First Edition.
  • The package tray is standard in Europe, in the US it’s optional.
  • US vehicles will contain satellite radio, European versions will have DAB+.

What is the targeted maximum range in Europe?

We are targeting a range of up to 600 km (370 miles) under WLTP for Europe.

The New Ford Mustang Mach-E

We recently attended the launch of the new Ford Mach-E. Here is some more info about it!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Sunday, 17 November 2019

 

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Electric Vehicles Charging Points In The UK

15th November 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by billywright

 

Our environment is under threat and we should do everything we can to help the world. Our friends over at carwow are doing a lot to help promote sustainable, green automotive solutions for this! Electric Vehicles is one important way to do this!

We all like the thought of an electric car but we always are thinking where can we charge up?! Well the guys over at car wow have developed an interactive Electric Car Charging Map to help electric car owners find their nearest electric vehicle charging station!

Check out the interactive map, it’s pretty cool! By clicking here: https://www.carwow.co.uk/electric-cars/charging-points

It will tell you how many charging points there are at a location and how much it will cost! It may be easy to find one as there’s 20,000 charging points in the UK and it’s growing!

Does it cost to charge?

It varies and will depend on a manner of things such as your car, the batteries it takes and where you get your electricity from. Some public charge points ask for a monthly or yearly subscription, while others use a pay as you go model. While some are FREE! However a rule of thumb is, it will be cheaper to recharge the electric car than your petrol one.

How does it work?

There’s 3 different types, rapid, fast and slow charger. These are categorised by their power outputs. Thus, how fast they will charge your vehicle.

Rapid charger

This is the fastest way to charge your electric car. Rapid AC chargers have outputs of 43kW and a Type 2 connector. Rapid DC connectors have atleast a 50kW output. While Tesla Superchargers have a 120kW output and are Rapid DC. Using a rapid charger it should take between 30-80mins to charge to 80%

Fast charger

This is the type of charger you will see at most public places. These will be between 7 and 22kW. Fast Chargers will have Type 1 or 2 connectors and will take between 3 – 4 hours to charge.

Slow charger

These chargers have a three-pin plug. Similar to the home charger many electric vehicles owners have installed in their house, it can take up to 10 hours to fully recharge EVs at one of these locations. However, all the latest charging points in the UK have a universal Typ2 2 socket.

Type 1 / Type 2 Connectors

A lot of the UK sockets have the Type 2 socket. This has a flattened head and will charge at a faster rate than the Type 1. While both Type 1 and Type 2 cables are able to be fitted with adapters. This allows them to be connected to charging stations with either socket.

What is kWh for cars?

A kWh is the value which is equivalent to power in kilowatts multiplied by the time in hours, assuming the energy is transmitted at a constant rate.

So, therefore a kWh price is the EV equivalent of the price per litre of fuel. The price per kWh will show you how much it will cost to recharge the car at different stations.

To work out how much it will cost to charge your electric car from empty to full, you take the unit price for the electricity and multiply it by the kWh capacity of your car’s battery.

The price will always be a little less because the car will never go to completely empty and you may not have time to charge it full.

How many kWh does a car use?

This all dependes on things like weight and how they’re driven and different electric cars use different amounts of energy.

Also the size of the battery will be rated by how many kWhs it can hold. The Tesla Model 3 Long Range has a 7k kWh battery. So therefore it can store 75kWhs of electricity.

Electric vehicles do have an official range but as with fuel based cars, depends on external factors such as how you drive it. Driving it quickly like fuel based cars will use up the electricity faster and decrease the range.

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2000 VS 2020

15th November 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by billywright

So 2020 is right around the corner, which is a whole 20 years ago! So our friends over at OnePlus decided to compare what we did with technology to what we do currently and beyond. It’s quite eye opening to see how far we’ve come since the year 2000 and the Millenium Bug. Who remembers THAT! How scared were we? For nothing! Anyhow, without further adieu check out below how far we’ve come!

2020 vs 2000 – In 2000 we:

  1. Played snake….in 2020 we play the piano on the OnePlus 7T Pro
  2. Blackberry messaged….in 2020 we say what’s up on Whatsapp
  3. Called a premium rate number to get a ringtone such as Ms. Jackson, in 2020 our phone is on perma-mute
  4. An sms costs around 12p….in 2020 the only people who send sms are Dominos (but who can resist 50% off?)
  5. Our mobile phone batteries lasted around three days….in 2020, we’re shouting across the office “who’s got a charger I can borrow?”
  6. The o2 was called the Millenium Dome and o2 was called BT Cellnet…and in 2020 the Millennium Dome & BT Cellnet are both called o2 – Orange is now EE and One2One is now T-Mobile
  7. We had to use a digital camera to take a phone, as camera phones didn’t exist… in 2020 digital what! Camera phone cameras are so advanced, there’s no need for a traditional camera of a lower res
  8. Apps meant a uni or job application… in 2020 the app market is worth an estimated $71.3 billion
  9. We used to upload our holiday photos from a digital camera into Facebook albums…nowadays we let everyone know we’re on holiday by posting our hotdog legs and pina colada on Instagram
  10. We walked around with a mobile phone and a Diskman…we currently stream til’ our heart’s content on a smartphone

Credit: OnePlus

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Google Pixel 4 – Astrophotography

12th November 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by marcusbronzy

We recently attended a one off urban astrophotography event hosted by Google. All to highlight Google Pixel 4 Astrophotography! We headed up to The Shard and headed out to “The View” and took some incredible shots. The iconic London building even shut off all of the lights for us! They turned off the lights for one hour to allow us to all get closer to the stars and capture the constellations.

Google partnered with the Royal Observatory Greenwich (ROG) for the event, which was very impressive! Astronomer Tom Kerss stopped by to talk about the cosmos and the history of astrophotography. With Google Pixel 4’s Night Sight, a brand new feature which allows us to see into space and capture the Milky Way. Consequently bringing astrophotography to everyone!

In London

New research shows that over a quarter of Londoners (26.7%) said they lived in a city where they can’t see the stars but wish they could! The percentage was higher than any other city in the UK!

Google worked alongside a fantastic team of social experts to look at 3o,000 UK instagram posts. Of which were related to things stars. For example the #NightSky hashtag. Therefore they were able to find out which of the most popular images were from what parts of the capital. As a result Google were able to identify which where the top 10 London locations for Night Sky photography!

Top 10 most popular Night Sky locations in London: 

  1. Tower Bridge
  2. The Shard
  3. The London Eye
  4. The Royal Observatory Greenwich
  5. South Bank
  6. St Paul’s Cathedral
  7. London Bridge
  8. Sky Garden
  9. The 02 Greenwich
  10. Millennium Bridge

So where have you been and are you going to take a look at the night sky tonight?

“Our research has shown that over 10% of Londoners can’t remember the last time they looked at the night sky. We want to inspire people to spend more time looking up at the stars. With enhanced Night Sight on the new Pixel 4, anyone can take incredible pictures of the galaxy – and where better to demonstrate this than in the UK’s tallest building, The Shard.” – Nick Clark, Product Manager for Google Pixel 4

“With so many people living in urban areas it may seem like our connection to the night sky is lost, but even in the glow of London lights the brightest stars, planets and the Moon can still be seen with the naked eye. These days we take photos of everything and it’s incredible that we can now capture the stars using just the smartphone technology in our pockets.”  – Tom Kerss, Astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich

Google Pixel 4 Astrophotography – Photos

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Domestic Robots – Do YOU trust them?

5th November 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by billywright

 

 

 

7 in 10 Americans would totally trust a domestic robot to do their chores, according to Yahoo.

Yet, what about Brits? How do we feel about domestic robots?  

(A domestic Robot is an autonomous Robot that is primarily used for household chores)

Specops Software wanted to find out how we Brits felt about robots doing chores so surveyed 2,424 British consumers. They found out something quite the opposite to our American counterparts.

The survey consisted of the questions based on the characteristics of domestic robots. Specops wanted to identify the elements British people believe would make “ideal” robot for the home.

Some of their findings included:

  • 61% of people do not want domestic robots to read emotion
  • 88% of Brits would like the ability to modify their domestic robot
  • 39% of Brits would be likely to purchase a domestic robot, if available now
  • 82% of people would prefer a domestic robot with gender neutral characteristics
  • 82% of people do not want domestic robots to have access to personal, private data

So it looked like us Brits don’t like the idea of Robots doing our chores for us! With many of the statistics being based around privacy based concerns such as reading emotion and access to private personal data.

So, 77% of Brits do not want human-like robots in the home and: 

  • 61% of people do not want domestic robots to read emotion
  • 88% of Brits would like the ability to modify their domestic robot
  • 39% of Brits would be likely to purchase a domestic robot, if available now
  • 82% of people would prefer a domestic robot with gender neutral characteristics
  • 82% of people do not want domestic robots to have access to personal, private data

Domestic Robots Emotion

The most interesting statistic that Specops found was that 39% of Brits agree that it would be an asset for domestic robots to be able to read emotion. With the most favourable emotions ranking as most favourable to be read:

  1. Stress (60%)
  2. Fear (40%)
  3. Happiness (40%)

Functionality wise, 59% of Brits would like domestic robots to memorise what they see and do. While 41% would prefer robots forgot what they see and did instantly.

Aesthetics

But how do we want our robots to look? Well us Brits want domestic robots to look:

  1. Mechanical (65%)
  2. Be neutral in colour (53%)
  3. Have round, soft edges (29%)
  4. Be small and compact (53%)

While, a whopping 82% of people surveyed would like a domestic robot to have gender neutral characteristics (male 6% / female 12%)

We would also like to be able to modify the domestic robot if it were to exist (88%) most favourable modifications:

  • Ability to change its voice or noises (100%)
  •  Wipe its memory instantly (87%)
  • Download apps to increase its knowledge and performance (80%)
  • Extend or add different parts (60%)
  • Change its “skin” / outer casing (27%)
  • Zap or radiate when touched by something unknown (7%)

82% of us believe that the most effective use for a Robot is for security and surveillance.

Cleaning and use as a personal assistant came in a close second at 76%. Entertainment ranked 3rd at 65%, Cooking 53% in at 4th, companionship ranked 5th at 35%, furthermore guidance and advice 6th at  24%, healthcare  7th at 18% and Childcare came last at 6%


(
Specops Software)

 

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Ocean all electric affordable car by Fisker!

5th November 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by billywright

 

Fisker recently revealed that they are planning to release an affordable electric SUV in 2021. This SUV is called “Fisker Ocean”, they’ll build a show car and debut a “fully running production intent prototype sitting on the actual, completely engineered platform” on the 4th January 2020.  When they reveal the “Fisker Ocean” it will be during a private event. However, it will be livestreamed so everyone can watch.

Recycling

What separates the Fisker Ocean from many other electric vehicles is that it will have a full length solar roof. Therefore extending the vehicles range. Fisker believes that the solar panel will provide up to an extra 1,000 miles worth of energy and clean miles a year. To further highlight Fisker’s belief in recycling, the carpeting will be made of fishing net which have been pulled from oceans. While vegan materials will be used for the interior.

Fisker are releasing it’s own mobile app on November 27th to lease the vehicle with no long term contracts. They will take early reservations and tell us more information about “Ocean” on the same day.

Fisker have previously said that the SUV will cost >$40,000, therefore making it one of the relatively affordable EV’s on the market. The target range for the SUV will approximately be 250 to 300miles. While it may come with an 80kWh lithium-ion battery.

While, Fisker’s Ocean sub-$40,000 electric car will debut on January 4th, 2020, production is stated to begin by the end of 2021. With the first set of high volume deliveries to take place in 2022.

(Engadget)

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Mavic Mini – A Vloggers Dream!

31st October 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by marcusbronzy

 

DJI Introducing Mavic Mini

This is a MUST for all filmmakers! DJI Mavic Mini!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Thursday, 31 October 2019

 

DJI have released their latest drone. However, this time it’s small. Very small. The foldable Mavic Mini is the lightest and smallest model that DJI have released. It weights 249g and comes with a whole host of features. That makes flying drones and aerial photography fun and accessible for everyone. The size of the Mavic Mini too doesn’t require FAA registration either!

Mavic Mini has a range of 2.5miles (4km) and has a flight time of 30mins. GPS recievers and downward visual sensors allow for precise hovering and stable flying. It has 2.7k video and 30fps which is a higher resolution than the Mavic Spark (1080p)!.

However, it doesn’t have obstacle avoidance or quickshots (pre-programmed flight photography). The Mavic Mini is designed for simple every day use, fun, quick set up and go. Not your high end filmmakers. Think of this one for your vlogging arsenal.

You can get the Mavic Mini in 2 different options.

One option, a standard option, comes with the Mavic Mini, remote controller, one batter, extra propellers and accessories for $399.

The Fly More Combo comes with all the things available in the standard but with a 360 degree propeller cage, 2-way charging hub, 3 batteries, 3 sets of extra propellers and a carrying case. All that for $499.

Available on November 11th by clicking here!

(Engadget)

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AirPods Pro – Music To Your Ears

29th October 2019/in Gadgets / Tech/by marcusbronzy

 

AirPods Go Pro

Airpods Go Pro!

Posted by How To Kill an Hour on Tuesday, 29 October 2019

 

The AirPods Pro are here and they offer noise cancellation and hands-free access to Siri for $249. There was a bunch of design changes as the stems are shorter, there’s silicone tips to offer a better seal and a wider bigger charging case. (Which is still wireless charging!) Furthermore Apple magic helps you fit the buds perfectly. The use of the Ear Tip Fit Test will examine the seal for each ear, determining which size tip is best!

Apple says the AirPods Pro “superior sound quality” with audio feature called Adaptive EQ. Adaptive EQ will automatically tune the low and mid range frequencies to suit each person’s ears. AirPods pro have an amplifier on board for “pure, incredibly clear sound” and extended battery life. Bass will be produced down to 20Hz to create an “immersive” audio quality for the listener.

Active Noise Cancellation

Active Noise Cancellation works by employing two microphones on each earbud which continuously adapt the level of noice cancellation to your ears. One mic will listen to ambient sound around you, while the other will pick up any additional sound inward. Continuously analysing the sound 200 times per second! Impressive! Furthermore to promote safety, Apple have included a ‘transparency mode’.

This is for when you need to hear what’s going on or you need to chat to someone. You can activate it on the earbud itself via the force sensor or through the control center. The force sensor can also be used to play/pause, skip and answer calls. However volume adjustments will need to be done on your iPhone.

Battery life is 5hours with active noise cancelling turned off and 4.5hrs with active noise cancelling turned on. With the included wireless charging case, you can expect up to 24hrs of total listening time.

AirPods cost £249, begin shipping on 30th Oct and you can purchase your own here

Also, keep up to date with everything How To Kill An Hour by signing up to our newsletter by clicking here!

So, let us know what you think of the show by clicking here!

Click here to subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see more amazing ways to kill time!

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