This upcoming product is either brilliant or foolhardy. German startup AERVIDEO hopes to “democratize the previously inaccessible art of aerial cinematography” by helping you safely throw your phone. Five years ago, the company launched a housing for the GoPro line of action cameras. This accessory, which looks like a rubber lawn dart with a soft box instead of a sharp tip, lets people throw their GoPro cameras around. During the uncontrolled flight, GoPro owners got some unique and amazing aerial video footage. Now, the founders of AERVIDEO want to bring this to the smartphone world. They say they’ve tested it extensively already, even throwing an iPhone off a six-story building. AERVIDEO manufactures the accessory from expanded polypropylene foam, polypropelyene plastic, and carbon fiber. It’s buoyant, so your phone will float at the surface if it comes down in water.
Satechi Offers 20% Off on its 100W USB-C PD Wall Charger
With Apple’s 96W wall charger on delay for the next couple of months, Satechi’s 100W USB-C PD Wall Charger is an ideal alternative. Even better – Satechi is offering 20% off of the charger from September 30 to October 7 with code GAN100. It features next-gen Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology to provide a faster, more efficient charge than before. With up to 100W output, the charger keeps up with even your most intensive tasks with a convenient foldable plug that makes it easy to take with you, wherever you need a powerful charge.
'Total War: ROME REMASTERED' Now Available for M1 Macs
On Thursday, Feral Interactive announced that Total War: ROME REMASTERED is now available on the Mac App Store, complete with native support for Apple silicon. A rebirth of the genre-defining strategy game, ROME REMASTERED comes with an extensive graphical overhaul and improvements to almost every aspect of gameplay. High definition models, textures and visual effects bring the game world to life on modern displays, with 4K optimization, ultra-widescreen and UHD resolution setting the stage for empires to rise again. Also included are two expansion packs which have been given the same remastering treatment as the main game. Recreate history’s most ambitious military campaign in Alexander, or re-write history as marauders encroach on the gates of Rome in Barbarian Invasion.
Quad Lock Releases iPhone 13 Cases For Cyclists
Quad Lock now has cases available for all devices in the iPhone 13 range. These are cases that attach to bikes and provide some extra protection for cycling. They start at US$29.95, with extras like a water-resistant covering also available.
'Before Your Eyes' From GoodByeWorld Games Comes to Mac
In Before Your Eyes, players embark upon a thought-provoking journey with the Ferryman who is tasked with shepherding souls to the afterlife. They move through time by using real-world blinking to interact and progress through the story. Before Your Eyes’ unique blink interaction mechanic offers a novel way for players to control the story and become more immersed, as their progress is determined through their eyes and detected through the player’s webcam. Purchase Before Your Eyes on Steam as part of a deluxe content bundle including the game, its complete soundtrack in MP3 and lossless formats and an artbook with concept art, character designs and insight from the team for US$13.49. The deluxe content is also available separate from the game for US$7.99.
C-SPAN Launches New Video-Based Mobile App
C-SPAN Now is a free mobile app featuring video of the day’s biggest political events. From your mobile device, on C-SPAN Now you can: Watch live or on demand C-SPAN’s complete coverage of the U.S. House and Senate, congressional hearings, White House events, the courts, campaigns and more from the world of politics. Catch up on what’s happening in politics with featured highlight clips. Listen to C-SPAN Radio and discover a variety of compelling podcasts. Watch the three C-SPAN TV networks and the latest episodes of “Washington Journal” and “Q&A.” Find current schedule information for C-SPAN’s TV networks and C-SPAN Radio.
Check Out Your iPhone's User Guide
Whether you’re a seasoned veteran to the iPhone or a complete newbie, it’s nice to have some documentation to check out. This helps you learn all the features on iOS. It’s especially helpful when a major upgrade comes out, and things work differently. I’m looking at you, Safari. As luck would have it, your iPhone’s user guide is just waiting for you in iOS. One need only know where to look. In this case, just open your Bookmarks in Safari, and you’ll find it there. The current version of the iPhone’s user guide covers new features in iOS 15, setting up your iPhone, the basics of iOS, and quite a bit more. Yes, there’s even an entry on customizing Safari’s layout so you can return the tabs and search bar to the top of the screen. Another entry in the iPhone User Guide help you manage your security and privacy. You can also learn about using your iPhone with iPad, iPod Touch, Mac, and PC. There’s a ton more useful information, so be sure to at least give it a glance.
The Future of STEM Is the Batmobile
Yes, you read that right. The future of STEM is the Batmobile. Warner Brothers Pictures has authorized CircuitMess, a company already in the business of making and selling STEM project kits, to produce the first AI-fueled remote control Batmobile. The brains of this car consists of a dual core CPU, computer vision, and artificial intelligence. It will come with its own remote control, but where’s the fun in that? The real joy in this project is the fact that you will be able to program it to drive itself, detecting objects in its way and navigating around them. The Batmobile project will launch on Kickstarter October 5, but the team already has a VIP sneak peek program that you can take advantage of now.
In Which Jon Stewart's Writers Roast Him For Being Old
Let The 'CryptoBot' Shortcut Decide Which Cryptocurrency You Should Buy
Over the weekend I read about Mr. Goxx, the hamster that buys and sells cryptocurrencies. Inspired, I decided to create a shortcut named CryptoBot. It’s a basic shortcut that decides which cryptocurrency you should buy. It’s based on my own interests; I haven’t added a part where it decides what you should sell simply because I’m a hodler and I’m not interested in selling right now. Edit the shortcut to decide which coins you want, edit the price range, create a menu for selling, and let it decide for you. As it works right now, it randomly picks a coin from a list, picks a random number between 10 and 100, and I buy the crypto in that amount through Coinbase. Another idea: Create an automation where this runs on a schedule and call it dcaBot.
'Focos' Update Introduces New AI Engine to Add Bokeh to Photos
The latest update to Focos adds a powerful new AI engine, but this means the app’s size is bigger than before. “With machine learning based on millions of photos, the new generation of AI engine can now provide a close-to-real depth of field for photos of all scenes. All objects in depth map now have perfect details, clear contours & sharp edges. All these advancements make the bokeh effect more real than before. It has huge size of 200 MB and the app size has increased a lot. This is a huge improvement as compared to the previous version of AI engine which was developed two years ago. However, the new function only runs on iOS 14 & 15 with iPhone 8, iPad Pro & later devices.”
'Foundation' Premieres on Apple TV+
Sci-fi series Foundation premiered on Apple TV+ on Friday. The first two episodes are currently available to subscribers, with new ones released weekly. It is all based on the novels by Isaac Asimov, and there could be 70 or even 80 episodes made in total.
The Magic Wireless Charger Nobody Will See
If you want the convenience of being able to charge your iPhone without distracting from your room’s decor, Ikea has just the product for you. The SJÖMÄRKE wireless charger mounts beneath your table, desk, or shelf. The charger works through any material except metal, allowing you to have an invisible charging point for your Qi-compatible device. The surface needs to be at least 5/16-inch (8mm) thick, and can be as thick as 7/8-inch (22mm). You’ll need to provide your own screws or adhesive strips, since Ikea points out “different materials require different screws”. Ikea’s SJÖMÄRKE wireless charger costs $39.99, and is expected to be availble sometime in October 2021.
See a Clip From 'Foundation' Before it Appears on Apple TV+
A never-seen-before clip from sci-fi series Foundation was released, via Sony, a day before the show premieres on Apple TV+. In a connected interview, showrunner David S. Goyer reiterated to Sony’s
Apple Launches 'The Spark' Music Documentary Series With Episode About Cuco
Apple launched The Spark on Thursday. It is a documentary that looks into the creative process behind some of culture’s biggest songs. The first episode features Mexican American sing-songwriter Cuco. He explains how he creates songs and how ‘Under the Sun’ took more than a year to complete.
Microsoft Unveils New Surface Laptop Studio
Microsoft unveiled the new 14.4″ Surface Laptop Studio on Wednesday. Users can alternate between using the device as a laptop or tablet. It also offers Slim Pen storage and charging too, much like the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil. A new video outlines all the available features.
Apple Music Playlist Curated by Deaf People
Apple Music has its first playlist curated by Deaf people. The collection includes music by a variety of artists, including Eminimen, The Commodores, and Kendrick Lamar. It is inspired by the movie Coda, which is available now to TV+ subscribers, and meant to highlight the different ways Deaf people can experience songs.
Watch The Dramatic Trailer For Apple TV+ Series 'Invasion'
A dramatic official trailer for Invasion was released on Wednesday. The much-anticipated sci-fi series lands on Apple TV+ on October 22, as part of streamer’s fall lineup.
Photographer Austin Mann Reviews the iPhone 13 Camera
Photographer Austin Mann has published his review of the iPhone 13 Pro camera. He travelled to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania, to put the device through its paces. He has a video below as well as a written blog post about the camera. “The most substantial hardware improvement in the iPhone 13 Pro camera system is the all-new 13 mm Ultra Wide lens with a much faster f/1.8 aperture (about a stop faster than the f/2.4 Ultra Wide lens in iPhone 12 Pro). The larger aperture means better light collecting ability, which should result in sharper low-light images with faster shutter speeds.”
Make a Smart Doorbell That Tells You Who's Knocking
Not many of us can afford a butler to greet people who knock on the door and announce their visit to us. Even smart doorbells can be out of reach sometimes. However, if you’ve got a bit of DIY skills at your disposal, maybe you can make your own smart doorbell. Even better, with the help of Maker Ryder Damen, you can program it to recognize who’s at the door and tell you their name. Damen’s already “perfected” the project, and gives you a shopping list and the source code to make it work.
