Year: 2016

This year’s most hottest toy, Hatchimals, Swear in their sleep

Dan Uff December 29, 2016 0

(CNN/Money): This year's most popular toy, called Hatchimals, is getting a lot of attention from parents lately. It seems that the cute toy is teaching kids something other then how to play - it also teaching them how to swear.

The news follows numerous complaints that Hatchimals are failing to hatch. Hatchimals, which sold out in stores in the weeks leading up to Christmas, live in a plastic egg and "hatch" into interactive creatures that respond to touch. The toys make unintelligible noises and can repeat words or phrases that humans teach them.

As of now, there aren't any restrictions as to what the Hatchimals can repeat.

But the series of videos popping up online are similar, and parents claim the "f**k me" line -- only uttered when the creature is sleeping -- wasn't taught by their children. Some commenters believe the Hatchimals are saying "hug me" instead. Judge for yourself:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_Ui8Pwojeg]

Parent company Spin Master denies the toys are saying "hug me" or swearing on their own. It noted Hatchimals make unidentifiable noises while sleeping.

"Hatchimals communicate by speaking their own unique language, which is made of up of random sounds, and by making other noises, including shivering when they're cold and snoring while they sleep," a spokeswoman for Spin Master told CNNMoney in a statement. "We can assure consumers that Hatchimals do not curse, nor do they use foul language."

Reviews

Consumer Reports standing by its (weird) review of the newest MacBook Pro

Dan Uff December 29, 2016 1

“Consumer Reports has responded to our comment piece on its surprising battery test results for the 2016 MacBook Pro, stating that it stands by its findings,” Ben Lovejoy reports for 9to5Mac.

“I observed that the high-end numbers seemed hard to believe, hitting almost double the battery-life claimed by Apple, and I wondered whether some flaw in the test regimen had led to erroneous results,” Lovejoy reports. “I emailed the organization suggesting that it might like to repeat the tests, but Consumer Reports’ director of electronics testing Maria Rerecich has replied saying that she sees no need to do so.”

“Apple, too, was surprised by the results, Phil Schiller saying that they do not match the company’s extensive lab tests nor field data,” Lovejoy reports. “Rerecich confirmed to me that the organization is working with Apple to try to find an explanation for the highly unusual results.”

Read more in the full article here.

Amazon wins patient for Flying Warehouses

Dan Uff December 29, 2016 0

(CNBC): Amazon.com has been awarded a patent for a giant flying warehouse that acts as a launchpad for drones to deliver items within minutes.

The U.S. e-commerce giant described plans for an "airborne fulfillment center" (AFC) such as an airship or blimp that would float at an altitude of around 45,000. The airship will be stocked with lots of products.

When a customer places an order, a drone or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) will fly down and deliver the package. Amazon insists that this would require little power because the drone would be gliding down rather than having to take off and land.

"When the UAV departs the AFC, it may descend from the high altitude of the AFC using little or no power other than to guide the UAV towards its delivery destination and/or to stabilize the UAV as it descends," the patent filing explains.

Amazon's filing reveals several uses for the warehouse blimp. One example is at a football match where customers may want certain items such as food or merchandise. Ahead of the game, the AFC could stock up on items and deploy these during the game with drones when they are ordered. The airship could also be used as a giant advertising board, allowing customers to order the items on display. All of these can be ordered "within minutes".

The drones would be able to communicate with each other via a mesh network to give information such as weather and route. UAVs could also recharge on the airship.

Amazon's filing explains that the blimp would remain in the air and be refueled and replenished using a shuttle. This could be a smaller aircraft capable of docking onto the AFC and unloading products as well as fuel.

If this plan saw the light of day, Amazon would likely need regulatory approval from aviation authorities which could be complex.

The patent filing was awarded in April this year but only circulated this week. It's not the first patent that Amazon has been awarded regarding drone deliver. In July, a patent showed how Amazon was thinking about tall buildings and structures such as lampposts or churches as docking stations for drones to recharge. Another patent described how drones would "talk" to each other to plan routes and communicate.

Amazon successfully trialed its first delivery by drone in the U.K. earlier this month and is pushing ahead with plans to make this widely available. The U.S. firm files and is awarded many patents but it does not necessarily mean the ideas will become reality.

Microsoft

Android users can now Customize Microsoft’s Contra

Dan Uff December 29, 2016 0

(MSPowerUser.com): Earlier this month, Cortana on Android and iOS got a revamped look. The update introduced a new purple accent for the app which was a bit weird as Cortana, Microsoft, and Windows 10’s brand usually uses the blue-ish accent. Recently, we reported that this will no longer be the case as users will be able to customize the app based on their personal needs. And today, Microsoft released a new update for Cortana on Android allowing users to customize Cortana’s accent color as you can see in the above screenshot.

If you have the latest version of Cortana on Android, you can customize its look by tapping on the Cortana logo in the homepage which will take you to the customization screen where you can choose any of the 4 available accent colors.

This is definitely a very interesting feature as Cortana on Windows 10 devices doesn’t really offer any customization features at the moment. It’s possible Microsoft is using Android and iOS as a testing ground for Cortana’s design — and if the feedback from users about the new design and features are positive, the company may end up bringing the new look and features to Cortana on Windows 10 devices.

As for the app’s new design, it really does look pretty great compared to Cortana’s design on Windows 10. Cortana on Android and iOS looks a lot more polished, and the bright colors also make the app look very cheerful and simply nicer than the old look.