APPLE PRESENTS ITS FIRST REALITY HEADSET

 Apple's fall 2022 keynote should be particularly eagerly awaited. The Cupertino company should indeed unveil its first headset dedicated to augmented reality, believes analyst Ming-chi Kuo, specialist in the brand.

Relayed by the American media MacRumors and 9to5Mac this Friday, this announcement corroborates rumors advanced for two years already on this project. If Apple has not confirmed or denied this information, we know that the Apple firm has never hidden its ambitions in augmented reality since it puts forward its ARkit to offer applications based on this technology. for his iPhone and iPad.

Above all, Ming-chi Kuo brings forward interesting new technical data on this subject. According to this analyst, the headset would include a chip as powerful as a MacBook M1, while a second, less powerful processor would be in charge of information related to the headset's sensors (position, direction of gaze, etc.).

“Six to eight modules would be in charge of displaying virtual information superimposed on reality,” he says. Finally, Sony would provide two 4K Oled displays (one for each eye) for this headset.

AN AUTONOMOUS DEVICE?

And if some experts believe that this headset could work with a remote module to slip into his pocket, or even an iPhone, Ming-chi-Kuo for his part, says that it will be a stand-alone system. “If the AR headset is positioned only as an accessory for the Mac or iPhone, it will not be conducive to product growth. An AR headset that works independently means it will have its own ecosystem and offer the most complete and flexible user experience, ”he explains.

More generally, augmented reality should be widely popularized by this type of device. If Microsoft is a pioneer in this area with its Hololens headsets, some brands also offer mixed reality headsets, like HP or HTC. It remains to be seen what Apple intends to offer and if the firm will focus on products that are easier to use, wireless and lightweight.

BEST WIRELESS HEADPHONES OF THE YEAR

 With or without noise reduction, in-ear or extra-ear, stereo or 3D audio compatible, wireless headphones are making their mark on the high-tech market. Here is our selection of the best models of the year for the Christmas holidays.

•  SONY WF-1000XM4
  
  
  

Sony's experience in audio technology is well established and the latest headphones from the Japanese group bear witness to it. The WF-1000XM4 are in-ear headphones delivering immersive sound with a beautiful sound presence. A dedicated mobile application allows you to configure every aspect for a tailor-made audio experience. Active noise reduction is one of the best on the market. A downside, however, about the memory foam ear tips which, although effective in isolating themselves from the world, do not facilitate their insertion into the ear canal. However, different sizes are offered. Remains a premium and flattering product for audiophiles.

•  TECHNICS EAH-AZ-60
  
  
  

Crowned with an excellent reputation among music lovers, Technics has just marketed headphones that do justice to its expertise. The premium subsidiary of Panasonic presents the EAH-AZ60. Their shape is particularly well thought out to adapt to the ears and the delivered sound enjoys finely tuned acoustic capabilities. The stereo here is superbly rendered, while the microphones ensure clear audio calls. No need for long speeches to appreciate.

•  APPLE AIRPODS 3
  
  
  

Having become the benchmark for the general public in the shelves highlighting wireless headphones, the AirPods are getting a facelift this year. Apple is launching a 3rd generation of its flagship models. More compact than the original AirPods, these new headphones are inspired by the famous AirPods Pro, but do not borrow the silicone tips or active noise reduction. The sound quality remains there and the bass, very present, is contained to offer a balanced sound rendering, even with 3D Audio Spatial sound. A sure bet that should quickly become a bestseller like its big brothers.

•  KLIPSCH T5 II
  
  
  

American brand well known to lovers of good sound, Klipsch offers one of the best pairs of in-ear headphones out there. The T5 II are delivered in a case entirely in brushed metal, giving excellent protection to the headphones, but also a premium side that we must salute. Its case, inspired by the famous storm lighters, provides more than twenty-four hours of autonomy to the pair. We also appreciate the careful packaging of the set which also contains six pairs of tips of different sizes to enjoy good listening comfort. Sound side, these Klipsch T5 II deliver a song pleasant to the ears, with a well balanced performance, knowing how to be comfortable on almost all types of music, the mids and highs are heard.

•  SENNHEISER CX TRUE WIRELESS
  

The German sound specialist Sennheiser is offering the CX True Wireless this year. Slim and with a clean design, Sennheiser's in-ear headphones deliver precise acoustics. The stereo audio rendering turns out to be balanced with bass that does not weaken unlike other models competing at this price point. They remain compatible with most audio formats. The CX True Wireless does not offer active noise reduction, however, but their in-ear design is already helping to lower ambient sound. On trial, we can also salute its autonomy. The two headphones thus last for nine hours when they are active, while their case ensures them to last for up to twenty-seven hours.

MANUFACTURERS WILL NO LONGER BE OBLIGED TO PROVIDE EARPHONES WITH THEIR SMARTPHONES

 The law aiming to "reduce the environmental footprint of digital" removes for smartphone manufacturers the obligation in force since 2010 to provide headphones in the box.

It was a French specificity. Since the law of July 12, 2010, smartphones cannot "be marketed without an accessory to limit the exposure of the head to radioelectric emissions during communications". In short: manufacturers are obliged to integrate a hands-free kit into the box, and therefore headphones.

This obligation will come to an end soon when Parliament adopted in early November the bill "aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of digital technology" which notably provides for the decried introduction of the private copying "tax" for refurbished smartphones.

But as explained by Frandroid, the other major change provided for by this text appears in article 14. This one "indeed removes this obligation to provide headphones during the sale of cell phones", confirms to the specialized site Patrick Chaize, LR senator from Ain at the origin of the law.

From now on, smartphone manufacturers will only have to "ensure the availability of headphones compatible with the terminal model during its marketing period." In other words: it will be necessary that the customer can easily buy these headphones in the trade.

"Significant source of waste"

To justify the end of this obligation of smartphone manufacturers, Patrick Chaize invokes the environmental argument:

"Wired headphones, which are systematically supplied with smartphones, are a major source of waste, even as the market for better quality headphones and listening systems, whether wired or wireless, is expanding," he explains. he.

As for the health issue, he recalls that "bodies of international expertise, such as the International Health Organization (WHO) have so far refuted the existence of a cause and effect link established between exposure to electromagnetic fields produced by telephones and chronic pathologies ".

META: A HOMONYMOUS START-UP CLAIMS $ 20 MILLION ON FACEBOOK

 The new name of the Facebook group could cost Mark Zuckerberg dearly. A start-up by the name of Meta PC offers to give up its name for the modest sum of 20 million dollars, or more than 17 million euros.

The name Meta chosen by Facebook had already been registered by the start-up specializing in computer hardware in August 2021, three months before the giant Facebook. However, while Meta PC has been the fastest to file its case with the Patent and Trademark Office, neither application has yet been accepted. An absence which means that the brand name does not yet belong to the start-up.

On its Twitter account, the start-up reacted with humor to Mark Zuckerberg's announcement. It read, "Damn Zuck?" Just tell us you want us to go out together. " However, despite this hint of humor, Meta PC is not going to let go of its name without a fight.

META, AN EXPENSIVE NAME

If the name has not yet been officially assigned, Meta PC would agree to drop it in exchange for financial compensation of $ 20 million. An offer that has not been officially confirmed by the founder of the American start-up.

The Meta logo has also been criticized for being very similar to that of M-sens, a German migraine-fighting start-up.

On Twitter, the brand reacted with humor, tackling the American giant: "We are very honored that Facebook has been inspired by the logo of our application on migraine - perhaps they will also be inspired by our privacy procedures. data."

The Facebook group has been criticized for many years for its management of the personal data of users of its applications. Whether that will change with the appearance of Meta remains to be seen.

Facebook will stop working on its facial recognition system

 Facebook will scrap its facial recognition system and delete one billion face prints, the parent company announced on Tuesday, in response to serious privacy concerns.

The company said in its blog that this change "will represent one of the largest shifts in the use of facial recognition in the history of technology."

The move "would remove more than 1 billion people from individual facial recognition templates," said Jerome Bisenti, vice president of artificial intelligence for Facebook's new parent company Meta.

The announcement came as the social network faces one of its worst crises ever, with internal documents leaked to American journalists, lawmakers and American regulatory bodies.

"There are many concerns about facial recognition technology in society, and regulators are still in the process of introducing a clear set of rules governing its use," the parent company, Meta, said in a statement.

"Amid this ongoing uncertainty, we believe that limiting the use of facial recognition technology to a narrow set of cases is appropriate," the statement added.

The company did not clarify when this new procedure, which is used by more than a third of the site's visitors daily, will enter into force.

The statement explained that ending this system "will lead to the deletion of more than one billion face prints from the forms used."

As the social network faces an unprecedented crisis linked to a data leak, it changed the name of the parent company to "Meta" in an attempt to move beyond being a social network tainted by scandals, to its vision of virtual reality for the future.

New technology for self-driving cars

 One of the things that hinders the spread of self-driving cars is that they can't see humans, cars, or any other obstruction that is parked outside the range of the car's camera.

To solve this problem, experts from Australia are developing a new technique based on "X-rays" called "collaborative or collective visualization" (CP).

The new technology, developed by iMOVE, an Australian government-funded research center with support from the University of Sydney, is nearly three years old.

CP technology consists of smart stations, roadside camera systems, and advanced sensors that are equipped with cars, enabling them to communicate with each other and send data in order to warn of the presence of humans or cars in a critical viewing angle.

For example, at a busy intersection, vehicles may use this technology to share what they see with other vehicles.

Researchers explain to the Daily Mail, Tuesday, that self-driving vehicles are powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that is trained to detect pedestrians in order to know when to stop and avoid collision.

The Australian Government-backed 'Intelligent Transport' programme, has piloted the new technology on public roads in Sydney.

“This innovation is a game-changer for both human-operated and autonomous vehicles, which we hope will greatly improve the efficiency and safety of road transport,” says Professor Eduardo Nebot, from the Australian Center for Robotics at the University of Sydney.

In one test, the technology-equipped car was able to visually track a pedestrian whose appearance was obstructed by a building, as information about the person's presence was sent by another car whose cameras spotted the person's presence.

Upcoming Apple Watches and Phones Will Call Emergency When You Have an Accident

 Leaks reported by media outlets revealed that Apple will add a feature to its future devices that will make it able to call the 911 emergency phone when the user has a collision.

According to The Wall Street Journal, today, Monday, the company is expected to announce this feature next year.

Smart devices will have the ability to detect collisions using the accelerometer chip that will be embedded in the devices, which can sense any changes, sharp increases in gravity or sudden strong movement of the user's body.

The newspaper added that Apple has been testing the feature over the past year, and has collected data from many users.

She explained that the tech giant in California used emergency call data, which was previously made by owners of an Apple phone or watch with 911, in order to improve its fault detection algorithm.

It is noteworthy that the Apple Watch 4 was the first to add a fall detection feature, and now it is being developed to detect collisions.

Fall detection has saved many lives, most recently in March when a teacher fell into a puddle while skiing.

Apple’s contributions to the health sector have been numerous in previous years, as as part of the “iOS 15” operating system, Apple introduced a feature that measures a person’s stability in walking through the “Health” application.

The Apple Watch 6 was the first smartwatch to include a reader to measure the level of oxygen in the blood.

Apple is also working to detect whether a person is depressed by detecting signs of how a person uses their smartphone.

And in 2019, CEO Tim Cook said Apple's greatest achievement would be "health."

WHATSAPP: THE APPLICATION WILL BE INACCESSIBLE ON THESE PHONES FROM NOVEMBER 1

 Be careful, if you have a smartphone that is more than five years old, you may no longer be able to use Whatsapp. As of November 1, the application will stop working on around 40 devices.

On its site, the social network explains that terminals equipped with versions prior to Android 4.1 and iOS 10 will see their messaging deteriorate. The reason ? These operating systems were released eight and five years ago, respectively, and are therefore now considered too old to support future updates to the application.

Thus, users of these old phones will no longer be able to update, but they will still be able to use the application after November 1. However, some features will gradually become unavailable until the application stops working for good.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF OBSOLETE SMARTPHONES:

Alcatel: One Touch Evo 7, Archos 53 Platinum, HTC Desire 500, Caterpillar Cat B15, Wiko Cink Five, Wiko Darknight, Lenovo A820, UMi X2, Faea F1 and THL W8

Apple: iPhone SE 2016, 6s and 6s Plus

Huawei: Ascend G740, Ascend Mate, Ascend D Quad XL, Ascend D1 Quad XL, Ascend P1 S and Ascend D2

LG: Lucid 2, Optimus F7, Optimus F5, Optimus L3 II Dual, Optimus F5, Optimus L5, Optimus L5 II, Optimus L5 Dual, Optimus L3 II, Optimus L7, Optimus L7 II Dual, Optimus L7 II, Optimus F6, Enact , Optimus L4 II Dual, Optimus F3, Optimus L4 II, Optimus L2 II, Optimus Nitro HD and 4X HD, and Optimus F3Q

Samsung: Galaxy Trend Lite, Galaxy Trend II, Galaxy S2, Galaxy S3 mini, Galaxy Xcover 2, Galaxy Core and Galaxy Ace 2

Sony: Xperia Miro, Sony Xperia Neo L and Xperia Arc S

ZTE: Grand S Flex, ZTE V956, Grand X Quad V987 and Memo

A "huge jump" for Apple's profits and record revenues in the third quarter

 The American giant Apple announced, on Thursday, that its profits in the recently ended third quarter achieved a "huge jump" thanks to large revenues that came less than analysts' expectations, however.

The iPhone maker said its net profit was $20.5 billion on revenue of $83.4 billion, a record for the quarter ending in September.

"We delivered record revenue across all of our geographical divisions and product categories despite the uncertainty in the economic environment," said the company's chief financial officer, Luca Maestri.

Apple's stock fell more than 3 percent to $146.75 in after-market trading after the revenue figures were announced.

Last month, Apple launched a new set of iPhone phones before the festive season at the end of the year.

It is unlikely that Apple will be able to meet its production targets for the new iPhone before the holiday season due to the global shortage of electronic chips, according to recent reports.

And Bloomberg Network quoted informed sources that the company was planning to produce 90 million iPhone 13 phones before the end of the year, but it will now have to reduce production to 80 million phones because suppliers “Broadcom” and “Texas Instruments” will not be able to meet the demand.

In late July, Apple CEO Tim Cook warned during the quarterly earnings announcement that the shortages in supply chains will have more effects on the current quarter than in previous months.

He pointed out that the global shortage of electronic chips had an impact on all sectors of the industry, not just Apple, due to the massive demand higher than expectations.

Apple is also facing pressure from regulators and software developers to cut its commissions on the App Store, the only outlet for its highly sought-after mobile devices worldwide.

Facebook changed its name to "Meta"

 The head of the Facebook group, Mark Zuckerberg, announced on Thursday that the name of the parent company of the giant social network was changed to "Meta".

"We've learned a lot from the issues related to issues related to social networking and living on closed platforms, and now is the time to take advantage of all these lessons to contribute to building the new chapter," Zuckerberg said during a developer conference.

He added, "I am honored to announce that starting today our company name will be 'meta'. Our mission remains the same, to bring people together, while our apps and brands will not change."

The change, announced weeks ago, appears to be an attempt by the tech giant to improve its image after a series of problems.

And the “Verge” website, which specializes in technology affairs, revealed that the company will change its name during the annual “Connect” conference to be held today, Thursday, while expectations failed to conclude with the new name.

The founder of "Facebook", accused by a former employee of putting profit above users' safety, chose the name "meta", which means "after" in ancient Greek, to show that "there are additional things to be built".

Observers considered that changing the name may distance the parent company from the accusations that were recently leveled on its Facebook site, after the Wall Street Journal reported a number of internal documents that showed details of the company's handling of a number of controversial issues.

The whistleblower, Frances Hogan, who provided the Wall Street Journal with these documents, appeared in a hearing before the US Senate, in early October, and presented her testimony about what she described as breaches within the company and placing profits a priority over the interests of users, while Facebook denied these accusations. .

The Verge's journalist, Alex Heath, stated that his sources indicated that the new name was kept secret within the company's walls, and that it was hidden even from high-ranking managers.

It is not new for technology companies to change their names according to their goals. In 2015, “Google” changed its internal organization to become under a parent company called “Alphabet”, to indicate that it is no longer limited to search engines, but rather expanded to include a huge group of companies specialized in Different sectors, from smart cars to health technology.

A TESLA COMPETITOR UNVEILS AN AMAZING FLYING CAR CONCEPT

 XPeng, a Chinese electric vehicle maker and Chinese competitor to Tesla, has unveiled a stunning flying car concept slated for 2024, as well as a total autonomous driving system in 2023.

Although the flying car concept does not yet have a name, it looks like a “supercar of the future,” with an aerodynamic design and partially covered rear wheels, says Tomsguide.

The interior is high-tech with a digital screen integrated into the steering wheel, a huge vertical canopy. The concept’s many simulated images also allow viewing of the interior, featuring a central divider and independent flight controls.

XPeng, a Chinese electric vehicle maker and Chinese competitor to Tesla, has unveiled a stunning flying car concept slated for 2024, as well as a total autonomous driving system in 2023.

Although the flying car concept does not yet have a name, it looks like a “supercar of the future,” with an aerodynamic design and partially covered rear wheels, says Tomsguide.

The interior is high-tech with a digital screen integrated into the steering wheel, a huge vertical canopy. The concept’s many simulated images also allow viewing of the interior, featuring a central divider and independent flight controls.

The car has a folding rotor mechanism that deploys on either side of the gullwing doors when the car is parked, and then its two blades deploy, allowing the car to perform vertical takeoffs and landings.

As for its total autonomous driving system, from start to finish, it will feature an impressive number of cameras and sensors integrated into the vehicle. This will allow the on-board computer to recognize, classify and identify the position of objects around the car.

NEW GOOGLE MOBILES BET ON DESIGN TO STAND OUT

 PIXEL 6 AND 6 PRO: THE NEW GOOGLE MOBILES BET ON DESIGN TO STAND OUT

This is Google's big comeback in the premium mobile sector. The American giant unveiled this Tuesday, October 19, its two new smartphones, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro. Two devices that aspire to walk on the Apple and Samsung flowerbeds and which give themselves the means to do so.

While the Pixel 5s made their mark last year in the mid-range market, its two successors inherit an attractive design that sets them apart in a very uniform market. Google is thus marketing its two versions at prices of 649 euros for the Pixel 6 and 899 euros for the Pixel 6 Pro.

Their distinctive sign comes down to a wide band occupying the dorsal surface and incorporating a first-rate photo block. If the more affordable Pixel 6 incorporates a 50 Mpixel wide-angle main sensor, a 12 Mpixel 114 ° ultra-wide-angle and a laser sensor for autofocus, the Pixel 6 Pro adds to that a fourth telephoto sensor of 48 Mpixels incorporating a 4x optical zoom. If on paper, some photo equipment seems to be better supplied by the competition, especially for the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or Apple's iPhone 13 Pro, Google is adding here its know-how in terms of photo algorithms to promise a quality dive superior with an almost professional rendering.

A NEW HOME PROCESSOR

The image part is also supported by a brand new in-house processor. Called Tensor, it helps perfect and manage creative photographs, especially for moving subjects. For example, it is possible to take a picture of a runner or a child playing and get motion blur, while the main subject remains in focus. A nice evolution of the bokeh effect (background blur) that most smartphones now integrate.

In addition, the night mode is here promised as more relevant with a management of the sharpness and the noise better compensated by the artificial intelligence of the device. Another fun little tip, the Pixel 6 has a "magic eraser" feature. The idea here is to make photo editing easier to erase unwanted elements with a gesture. If, for example, you take a picture of your companion and passers-by slip into the background, all you have to do is select them by passing your finger over them and they disappear, replaced by the appropriate background. Bluffing.

On the front side of these two smartphones, Google is betting on two screen sizes. The Pixel 6 thus sports a 6.4-inch OLED screen, while the 6 Pro stretches up to 6.7 inches, both incorporating a discrete punch 8-megapixel and 11.1-megapixel camera, respectively. Another point differentiating these two screens, the Pixel 6 incorporates a Full HD + panel, while the 6 Pro, premium requires, is in QHD +.

During the presentation of its new mobiles, Google also highlighted a new function aimed at preserving battery life. The manufacturer announces that its two mobiles can provide 24 hours of autonomy in the context of normal use, but also promises up to 48 hours by activating the "ultra battery saver" function. This is a system restricting the use of the smartphone to only applications useful for its use. Convenient for travel.