Robot Guards will take your photo!

Robot Guards will now take your photo if you attack it. In various places in America robots are roaming about to monitor places such as banks, casinos, malls and hospitals. Earlier this month in Hayward California, a security robot captured video of an alleged attacker before it was knocked over.

Knightscope who make the robots say that they weigh a total of 398lbs. That’s alot! Knightscope tells The Verge that there are 75 robots deployed in 15 different US States, and a report at Vox suggests that they won’t be replacing human guards any time soon. Slack has two robots from Cobalt to help secure it’s offices, but real human guards are still there.

The bots do simple on-duty tasks such as scanning a doorway. While humans need to intervene if it detects some tomfoolery. Futhermore the bots from both Knightscope and Cobalt don’t have any weapons so won’t be able to use force.

(The Verge)

They don’t have weapons now but we wouldn’t be surprised if things like tazers and batons where implemented into the robots at some point in the future.

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Apple Shelves Walkie Talkie Feature

The walkie talkie feature on Apple Watches has been a well received feature and Apple were looking to bring a similar feature to iPhones! The new technology would have let people send text messages to other iPhones over a 900MHz radio spectrum. A spectrum that is typically used for dispatchers in the utility and manufacturing industry. The new feature would have brought walkie talkie esque abilities to iPhones. Without the need for WIFI of Mobile internet according to The Information.

However, the feature would have been different to the current walkie talkie feature on the Apple Watch. The information reports that Apple and Intel were working together on the project. It would have seen intel chips in future iPhones before it was shelved. Internally it was reportedly known as Project OGRS “ogres”. This would most likely have been in reference to patents which were filed a year ago which eluded to an Off Grid Radio Service.

Why did Apple Shelve it?

Why was it shelved? Well, The Information report says that the the internal champion on the project Rubén Caballero, left Apple earlier on in the year. Coupled with Apple settling with Qualcomm, and Apple’s expected move from Intel modems to Qualcomm put an end to it. Apple going with Qualcomm over Intel was so significant it caused Intel to sell it’s entire smartphone modem business. Which Apple purchased for $1Bn

This feature does sound pretty cool to be fair and maybe we’ll see this type feature in the future. Maybe with that there would be no excuse to not texting back, “I didn’t receive your text” wouldn’t fly.

(The Verge)

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Boondoo Mount

We have recently been given the Boondoo action camera mount on the Mate X electric bike and it was fantastic! If you are an extreme sports fan and like to get out on your bike for example, in the woods or in the streets and want to capture every moment. The Boondoo action camera mount should definitely be installed on your kit!
It has a whole array of functions to help you capture your best moments. Such as various degrees of tilt and pan movements. Which are easily adjustable too, no tools required!
Design

360 DEGREE PAN FUNCTION

Boondoo has a super easy snap lock system that will help you adjust the angle, without even stopping or slowing down! To pan simply lift the mount with one hand, dislocating the locking gears. Twist the mount to find your new angle, drop it to snap back in place. Easy!

 

 

 

 

 

180 DEGREE TILT FUNCTION

Boondoo has a cool tattleproof tilt, which allows you to also find the angle and not have to stop. Simply press the gear-lock button to release the tilt lock, tilt the camera and release! Dotted markers are on the mount to help you pick which angle your in.

 

Compatibility

Boondoo can be used with GoPro cameras, or any action camera that uses a GoPro mount or adaptor.

Tech Specs

SPECIFICATIONS

  • Dimensions: 3.6″ x 1.7″ x 1.0″ (92mm x 44mm x 25mm)
  • Weight: 2.9oz (82g)
  • Materials: Aluminium, Nylon and Stainless Steel
  • Pan Angle Stops: 8 angles – 0, 45, 90, 135, 180, 225, 270, 315, 360 (0)
  • Tilt Angle Stops: 7 angles – 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180
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MATE X – COOLEST E-Bike

We recently got to have a play on the MATE X bike and, well, it’s a different breed. It’s a BEAST of an e-bike. BIG CHUNKY  4″ tyre, 20″ Wheels, BIG CHUNKY frame and very very fast! Their website states that Big is Beautiful. They’re not wrong at all! They’re right. Very very right!

The MATE X bike is very different to all the other e-bikes that we’ve tested. As as soon as you lay eyes on this machine you can immediately tell just how commanding the bike is. It’s HUGE! The features definitely match is size too. You can go off the regular road and into the beat and track. Thanks to the bigger frame and all terrain wide rim PHAT tires. It’s also built beautifully and comes equipped with a ton of state of the art features and components. The most suprising thing about this beast? It can fold. Yes it can fold. Simply fold the frame and the steam, adjust the seat post and it is done! Furthermore the MATE X will take you wherever you like – up to 75 miles (120 km).

 

 

MATE X Quick Features:

  • COMFORT SADDLE
  • FRONT & REAR SUSPENSION
  • 7-SPEED GEAR
  • DISC BRAKES
  • 6-SPEED COMPUTER
  • 1-CLICK FOLDABLE PEDAL
  • FOLDABLE STERN

The Mate X Bike – The coolest E-Bike

The MATE X bike may look big and chunky but the design is very minimal and has a very very clean look. To complement this look the way that you shift gears is made very simple. They’re built into the grips, so simply twist your wrist to change gear! Not only that the brake levers are easily accessible.

Want to know how fast you are going? How much battery life you have left? How far you’ve travelled? Simply refer to the impressive water and dustproof LCD backlit display on the front of the bike. You can even customise it to your liking! Plus the bike has up to 6 different speeds too. Starting at 0 which gives riders no help at all, moving all the way up to 5 which is full assist. There’s even a built in USB charger! The innovative new speed charger allows for quicker charging, efficient battery consumption!

The Ride

The ride on the MATE X bike is silky smooth too. That’s thanks to the front and rear suspension of the bike. The suspension is very smart as it has an adjustable preload to match the weight of the rider and their riding style. The suspension even has a mechanical lock out for riding smooth roads!

The wide tyres are huge which also help with improved control and handling. The 4″ tyres help reduce the risk of puncture and improves safety on the road. Need to stop safely? The Tektro mecanical disc brakes help with that and only require a single finger to operate, giving the user very strong braking power! Don’t press too hard otherwise you’ll fall off! Ease on that brake!

The bike itself may look big and heavy but it only weighs 50lbs (26kgs), the frame itself is only 6lbs (2.7kg) too! Most of the weight comes from the huge battery:

  • Powerful battery – 48v of lithium ion battery with built in handle and fuse for easy removal from frame.
  • 48v 14.5 aH model (696Wh) offers assited travel of up to 40-60miles
  • 48v 11Ah (528Wh) offers up to 30miles with full electrical assistance
  • It has a plug and play wiring system, allowing easy servicing, maintaining, replacement and repair very easy! Even connect lights and other accessories through it!

(Mate X)

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Google Maps AR

Ever wondered how cool it would look if navigations to places just appeared right in front of you? Well that’s becoming a reality, kinda. Google is bringing augmented reality walking directions. It will be called Google Maps Live View. It is available on Android and iOS, if you have beta capabilities. We think Google Maps AR version is going to be incredible!

We first blogged on Google Maps AR when it appeared on Google’s Pixel phone’s earlier on this year. It showed real time navigation of Google Maps through your phone’s camera.

Simply hold your phone up next to the streets and your surroundings. It will then display arrows and directions overlaid on top of the camera view. Making it so much easier to get to places.

How To: Google Maps AR

So, Android owners whose devices support ARCore or iPhones which support ARKit will be able to access Google Maps Live View beta this week. You can test Google Maps Live View by:

  • Searching for a location you want to walk to or tap it on a map
  • Tap on the directions button at the bottom
  • Select walking directions at the top of the screen
  • Tap on the new Live View option at the bottom of the screen

Google is adding a whole host of new features to it’s mapping service. The tech giant want Google to be the place where you plan your trips from start to finish and is adding loads of features, this just seems to be the coolest one yet.

(The Verge)

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Benro 3XS Lite

Don’t Know Your ABC From Your OEM? Technical Car Terms You Might Want To Know


Heading to the mechanics is one of those things in life that can be intimidating, nerve-wracking,
and financially draining at the same time. When heading to the mechanics, the main concern is that they can pull your car in for seemingly trivial reasons. But when you head to the mechanic, one of the ways that you can get one up on them is by knowing your terminology. So if the car needs to go into the shop soon, perhaps you should arm your lexicon with a few of these terms…

 

Drag Coefficient

Fuel economy is one of those things that is on everyone’s lips, especially if you are buying a used vehicle. While you could go to car dealerships and really get to grips with the fuel economy of a vehicle, and they talk about all the cars being better, you can always bring this term into play. In essence, it refers to the amount of air resistance that a car will get while being in motion. This factors into a car’s fuel economy. The less drag coefficient your car has, the better MPH it gets.

 

OEM

Car sellers like Affordable Cars need to keep on their toes in terms of terminology, so you could throw this one into the mix! Standing for Original Equipment Manufacturer, this is vital when purchasing a used car. This term refers to the fact that it is an original part from the maker, not any other marketplace thereafter. If you are looking for a used car, that has been pieced back together, you could question the OEM. 

 

 

A, B, C Pillars

If you ever look to buy a used car, this is in relation to the divisions between the car windows. The A-pillar is each side of the windshield, the B-pillar is between the driver and passenger windows, and the C-pillar is towards the rear of the vehicle.

 

Brake Bias

It’s actually not what you think. This is nothing to do with brakes in a technical sense. It’s to do with the diamond distribution of braking power. So it could either be at the front of the car or the rear. When there’s an issue with the mechanic, you could very well question this and sound like you know what you’re talking about!

 

Camber

This is the setting depending on which direction a wheel tilts. When visiting a mechanic, or buying a used car, depending on the camber setting, it results in a different feel to the vehicle. It’s possible to have the setting adjusted based on your own unique preference. But beware, setting your camber in a certain way can cause the tire to wear down over time.

 

Bed-In Brake Pads

As cozy as this term sounds, it’s to do with brake pads requiring a “bed-in” process. This improves their brake performance. This is done by putting a layer of transfer film between the rotor and the pads. Installing new brake pads is vital for the safety of any vehicle, and if you need to get new brake pads it’s worth checking if the pads need a bed-in process.

 

ili Laptop Stand

We been trying out this super cool sustainable laptop stand called ili. It’s really cool and to our surprise, really functional as it folds down for easy transportation!
Now Laptops allow us to work freely but can be blamed for work related back, neck and shoulder issues. The ili Laptop stand is one way in which you can prevent those sorts of aches and pains! By simply placing the laptop at eye level and using a separate keyboard and mouse!

Lightweight

So as laptops are quick and easy to move about, you got to have a quick and easy laptop stand right? Of course you do! That’s where the ili comes in. It is light portable, easy to assemble and packs really small!

It will elevate your laptop to eye level and the unique design will allow you to place your keyboard underneath the laptop itself. Giving you a clear view of both whilst bringing you closer to the screen. Therefore preventing lean and any back issues!

ili Laptop Screen, Bonuses!

With the ili Laptop stand you can even stand up to work, just simply tilt your screen back. Better yet, when used like this, there’s no need for a separate keyboard and mouse!
You will hear your speakers better when using the ili laptop stand & as the microphone is at eye level (and thus voice level) you will be able to talk to people better on Skype! It will even look more natural if you are video calling!
You may even see an increase in productivity with stands like the ili laptop stand! Better yet, you can be even more productive as the airflow underneath the laptop is increased. Therefore allowing for natural cooling and ventilation!

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Soli: Pixel 4’s Weird (but wonderful) Feature!

Today Google announced something really ******* COOL! They showed off 2 brand new features that’s planned for their upcoming Pixel 4 device. It will include a ‘Soli’ sensor. Which is a mini motion sensor radar. Soli has been worked on for 5 years and will sit at the top of the screen next to the earpiece. Google outlined in a blog post that Soli will combine unique software algorithms and hardware to recognise gestures. It will also detect when a user is nearby.

Jedi Powers

So basically you DON’T NEED TO HOLD THE PHONE to control it!

With Pixel 4 you’ll be able to skip songs, snooze alarms and silence phone calls with the wave of your hand.

DID YOU HEAR THAT WE CAN CONTROL THE PHONE WITHOUT TOUCHING IT!

 

 

Google Pixel 4 Soli

 

Along with Soli and Motion Sense, Pixel 4 brings face unlock. However, in Google’s version of Face Unlock, you won’t need to lift the device in front of your face or even swipe to get to the home screen. Also it will work in any orientation! (Even upside down!)

Furthermore, Soli can proactively turn on the face unlock sensors when you reach for the phone and it will unlock and open when it recognizes you.

Privacy is also a huge factor and everything is processed on the device. It doesn’t save images (of your face) nor does it share them with Google. All the data is stored in Pixel’s Titan M security chip. Soli sensor data is also processed on the device and not shared with Google either.

So, I don’t know about you but I’m off to practice my Jedi Powers

(MobileSyrup)

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Marcus Bronzy on BBC Radio London