An anonymous reader quotes the Associated Press:
Boeing Co. planned to wait three years to fix a non-working safety alert on its 737 Max aircraft and sped up the process only after the first of two deadly crashes involving the planes. The company acknowledged that it originally planned to fix a cockpit warning light in 2020 after two key U.S. lawmakers disclosed…
Tag: Sensors
Google Offers New Treasure Trove of Air Quality Data To Researchers
An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Google has employed its network of street-view vehicles to also measure street-level air quality in recent years, through an initiative it calls “Project Air View.” Today, it’s making available to scientists and researcher organizations more of the resulting data from that ongoing initiative. The company is releasing an updated version of its air…
NYT: Deadly ‘Misguided Assumptions’ Were Built Into Boeing’s 737 Max
The automated MCAS system in the Boeing 737 Max played a role in two fatal crashes. But today the New York Times reports that a year before they’d finished developing the plane, Boeing “made the system more aggressive and riskier,” and that “test pilots, engineers and regulators were left in the dark about a fundamental overhaul.” While the original version…
Moto Z4 Brings Back Headphone Jack, Is 5G Ready For $500
Motorola’s $500 Moto Z4 is finally official, bringing an updated design with a near-notchless 6.4-inch OLED display, headphone jack, and support for the company’s Moto Mods. Other specs include a Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 processor, 4GB of RAM with 128GB of storage (expandable via microSD to 2TB) and Android 9.0 Pie, with Motorola promising an update to Q in the future. CNET…
Sony Builds IoT Chip With a 60-Mile Range
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Engadget: Sony is quietly launching a chip that could change how e-bikes, cars, street lamps and all kinds of other connected devices can relay information. The module, when installed on any IoT object, will allow it send data to Sony’s proprietary low-power wide area (LPWA) ELTRES network launching this fall. It can transmit up…
Apple Starts Collecting Data For Apple Maps in Canada
Apple has issued a short statement on its website and in various newspapers announcing Apple Maps plans in Canada. From a report: The company plans to drive around the country with cars equipped with a ton of sensors in order to improve Apple Maps in Canada. Apple doesn’t say when it plans to finish scanning Canadian roads and processing data. If…
Phones Can Now Tell Who Is Carrying Them From Their Users’ Gaits
PolygamousRanchKid shares an excerpt from a report via The Economist: Most online fraud involves identity theft, which is why businesses that operate on the web have a keen interest in distinguishing impersonators from genuine customers. Passwords help. But many can be guessed or are jotted down imprudently. Newer phones, tablets, and laptop and desktop computers often have beefed-up security with fingerprint…
Android and iOS Devices Impacted By New Sensor Calibration Attack
A new device fingerprinting technique can track Android and iOS devices across the Internet by using factory-set sensor calibration details that any app or website can obtain without special permissions. From a report: This new technique — called a calibration fingerprinting attack, or SensorID — works by using calibration details from gyroscope and magnetometer sensors on iOS; and calibration details from…
Comcast Is Reportedly Developing a Device That Would Track Your Bathroom Habits
Comcast is reportedly working on a device designed to closely monitor a user’s health. “The device will monitor people’s basic health metrics using ambient sensors, with a focus on whether someone is making frequent trips to the bathroom or spending more time than usual in bed,” reports CNBC. “Comcast is also building tools for detecting falls, which are common and potentially…
Lenovo Launches HoloLens Competitor
Lenovo is launching a new AR-and-VR system targeted at businesses. It’s called ThinkReality, and from the looks and description of the device and platform, it looks like a competitor for Microsoft’s HoloLens. Engadget reports: There are two parts to the new ThinkReality system — the AR headset and a software platform. The ThinkReality A6 is a comfortable 380-gram headset with two…