An Apple safety report has given hints at to what the tech giant is working on. Picture: AFP

APPLE’S is famously obsessed with keeping its prototype ideas top secret but a standard workplace safety report could just have spilt the beans on the tech company’s next big thing.

In a report that details the everyday safety incidents at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters is a snippet of information that seems to confirm Apple CEO Tim Cook’s belief that augmented reality is set to be a key focus in the future.

The report, apparently accidentally sent to hundreds of Apple staff instead of just health and workplace safety officers and obtained by Gizmodo, details two injuries that occurred in the past few months while wearing a prototype device.

“After BT4 user study, user advised study lead, that she experienced discomfort in her eye and said she was able to see the laser flash at several points during the study. Study lead referred her to optometrist and secured prototype unit for analysis,” the report says of an incident in February.

A month later, there was a second injury. “Employee reported eye pain after working with new prototype, thought it may be associated with use. He noticed that the security seal on the magenta (outer) case had been broken and had thought the unit may have been tampered with.”

New drone video shows major construction progress at the new Apple Campus in Cupertino, California. Apple recently announced that the new headquarters will open for employees in April and that its auditorium will be named after Steve Jobs. The drone video shows the final work being done on the building that has been referred to as Apple Campus 2. Credit: Duncan Sinfield via Storyful

Cook has been spruiking AR as the focus for the future for months.

Earlier this year, he called it the technology “for everyone: and likely to have as big an impact as the iPhone.”

Last year he said people would “have AR experiences every day, almost like eating three meals a day — it will become that much a part of you”.

The discomfort in the eye seems to suggest that Apple is testing some sort of smart glasses, although iris scanning as part of the facial recognition that is expected to be part of the iPhone 8 is another possibility.

Google Glass promised much and delivered little.Source:Supplied

Snapchat has its own take on smart glasses, with sunnies that double as a video camera. Picture: AFP/SNAP INCSource:AFP

Smart glasses are certainly not new to the tech world, with Google Glass an early product that promised much but delivered little more than giving the world the derogatory term “glasshole”.

Snapchat has its own take on the smartglass model, with sunglasses that shoot round video. Then there was the recent trial in Australia of WaveShades sunglasses that can be used to buy goods.

The workplace reports contain other snippets of information that could reveal what else Apple might be working on, with an employee suffering an injury on a ski trip a suggestion that Apple might be adding skiing to the workout app on the Apple Watch.

Then there is this revelation: an employee performing a test in a chamber at Cupertino dropped the “heavy object” on his toe.

“At that time, he didn’t feel was a big deal, he continued to finish his testing. He just reported to me that is toe is now swollen,” the report says.

Maybe Apple’s next big thing is actually just a really big thing — that’s quite heavy too.

Find out why Rod Chester loves Apple’s new AirPods so much.

Facebook Spaces was announced at the social network’s F8 conference as a way of blending social media and virtual reality. If you own an Oculus Rift (and Touch controllers), you and four friends can enter a virtual world and hang out together.

Unfortunately, hanging out mostly constitutes of chatting, taking “selfies*” and enjoying the virtual world around you. Oh, and it’s not you, per se, but a cartoon caricature that you control; a dead-eyed digital mannequin that smiles blankly at everyone in the desperate hope that you won’t find it creepy.

Unfortunately, Spaces falls into the same trap that so many other platforms have over the years, assuming that people want the digital world to be a surrogate for the real. And that people have the time and energy to sit around talking to a cartoon with their friend’s voice through thousands of dollars worth of equipment.

Whenever a high-minded tech company makes proclamations about the future of social interaction, I’m reminded of Second Life. Founded more than a decade ago, the title was an open world platform that enabled strangers across the world to come together. It was touted as a digital utopia, a place where you were free to create whatever you wanted, whenever you wanted, however you wanted. Your digital avatar could even fly around the Second Life universe, interacting with people from across the globe.

But in reality, this utopianism was misplaced, and the environment, even during its boom years, was stale and empty. People weren’t all that into into communicating with each other, and the platform gradually became a space for people to develop weird forms of architecture. It became little more than a proto-Minecraft, a gallery space or weird and wonderful designs that few would ever notice. Second Life itself still exists, of course, with around 600,000 monthly active users.

A big part of the internet’s job is to bring people together in ways that we wouldn’t — couldn’t — have conceived a few generations ago. We can now learn so much from people all across the globe and share their experiences, dreams and knowledge. Real-time chat platforms, from IRC to FaceTime, have enabled us to gradually bridge the physical distances that separate us. Still, none are a substitute for real human interaction, face to face, in the real world.

Facebook Spaces, on the other hand, places two more barriers between us and our friends: the bulky VR headset and the digital avatar. Then there are the constraints that Facebook places upon its users. At the moment, Spaces users can’t express sadness or anger. The likelihood of this becoming the new normal for social interactions is about as likely as Disney’s recently shuttered Club Penguin becoming the new Facebook.

Facebook is asking us to take a chunk of our most precious commodity — our attention — and give it entirely to its virtual world. But that world is one step removed from that of the internet, full of (literally) fake people in a fake place. In the demo video, friends gather together a surprise birthday party to take a selfie of themselves on an imaginary boardwalk.

But where is the reality and authenticity in you, and three other people, taking an image of some cartoon avatars in a virtual world? Will you expect that future historians will unearth these images and marvel at the experiences that you pretended to have?

I wonder if I’m wrong, and that people will embrace this in the same way that they have taking pictures from inside video games. But then that, at least, shows a journey that you’re going on — and an appreciation of a particularly engaging sight that’s been created within the game. Imagine the reaction of your friends and family when you show them your vacation shots from the Grand Canyon that you didn’t visit.

Even Mark Zuckerberg knows that Facebook’s Social VR demo, as it is, not the future of how we’re going to interact with one another. Both this year and last, the CEO showed off a rough idea for an augmented reality platform that could work in a pair of glasses. There, you’d never need to buy a TV, just use the AR overlay in the lenses on conjure one up on the wall of your otherwise sparse living room.

Unfortunately, that idea is nowhere near ready for the real world, and Facebook VP Deb Liu told the AP that the journey to that hardware was “just one percent finished.” Imagine, rather than exchanging time-sucking pleasantries with a cartoon avatar while standing on a fake mountaintop, having someone sitting on your couch next to you.

You’d be able to speak to them as if they were in the room, despite being on the other side of the world. But with this (almost) real interaction, you would have real eye contact, real body language and all of the other things that we, as humans, need in order to feel comfortable interacting with one another.

The software and hardware just isn’t there for this sort of platform, and probably won’t be for a very long time. But that, not Facebook Spaces, is the vision of social VR that I can get behind.

Click here to catch up on the latest news from F8 2017!

* Technically not a selfie, since it’s not the person taking a photo.

Smartwatches aren’t for everyone and sometimes a traditional watch is just what you want. Washington Square Watches is aiming to bring its designs and U.S. built hardware to the masses by holding a Kickstarter campaign. While the technology in these watches is hundreds of years old, it doesn’t make the technology any less impressive. Making a good mechanical watch takes care and passion. Check out the video below and the Kickstarter link at the end to find out more about Washington Square Watches’ campaign.

Founder Marc Smouha’s goal was to create a sleek and fashionable watch that’s perfect for everyday wear. Our watch can be worn for any occasion and can be customized with interchangeable straps that can be personalized.

Quality will never be compromised and we ensure this by having our product handcrafted here in the US. We vetted manufacturers from coast to coast until we found the right partners we could entrust with this task. This allows us to provide you a quality timepiece at an affordable cost.

To bring this concept of individuality to the next level we are giving you the choice of customizing your watch by offering several options of colors for your watch band. We are also offering you the chance to personalize your watch strap with your initials. This feature will make your watch one of a kind.

A quick-release clasp that allows you to easily swap out your strap at home… No tools required. This feature was added in order to update and customize your watch with our newest bands (Stainless Steel Bracelet, Nylon Strap…)

We currently plan on shipping to all our backers by the end of July. Depending on demand, we may have to push delivery date by at most 30 days. We will make sure that all our backers are kept well notified but our goal is to ship all watches on time.

Due to the fact that all straps are genuine leather, there may be slight variations in color from what is displayed on Kickstarter.

What do you think about Washington Square Watches’ campaign? Let us know in the comments below or on Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

  Source: Kickstarter

Facebook teased how it would create social experiences in virtual reality, and now it’s ready to take things one step further. It just launched a Facebook Spaces beta that lets Oculus Rift owners hang out together (up to four at once) in VR. You can create an avatar that’s as realistic or fanciful as you want, draw 3D objects and show off your personal videos and use 360-degree video backgrounds to liven up your chats. There’s even a selfie stick to take virtual self-portraits. And if a friend can’t use VR, you can bring them into the conversation using Facebook Messenger video calls.

Developing…

Click here to catch up on the latest news from F8 2017!

There are times when it is difficult, or even inappropriate to pull out your phone. But sometimes if you’re expecting an important phone call, email, or some other notification you’ll still want to be able to react quickly. We’ve talked about the Pinn Kickstarter campaign recently, and were lucky enough to get our hands on a near-final piece of hardware to see how it works. In this review, please keep in mind that Pinn is a nearly finished product, but there may still be some small changes to hardware, software, or both. Keep reading to see how Pinn handles your daily communication needs.

Specifications

Pinn includes the following features and specifications:

• Microphone
  
  • Directional Characteristic: Omni-directional
  
  
  • Frequency Range: 100Hz ~ KHz
  
  
  • Output Impedance: 450Ω @ 1kHz
  
  


• Audio Specifications
  
  • Impedance: 16 Ω at 1KHz
  
  
  • Frequency Range: 20-20,000 Hz
  
  
  • Output Sound: 105 dB SPL +1 2dB
  
  
  • Speaker Max Volume: +14 dB
  
  
  • Earbud Max Volume: -9 dB
  
  
  • Speaker Impedance (DC): Receiver: 160hm
  
  
  • Loud Speaker: 80hm (700mW)
  
  
  • Bandwidth: 20 hz~20khz
  
  
  • aptX: High-quality Bluetooth sound, audio codec (CD quality)
  
  
  • CVC: Clear voice capture and noise reduction
  
  


• Compatibility
  
  • iOS 7.0 or above with Bluetooth 4.0 or later
  
  
  • Android 5.0.0 or above with Bluetooth 4.0 or later
  
  


• Earbud
  
  • Dimensions: 22.5mm x 21.8mm x 27.4mm (.88” x .85” x 1.08”)
  
  
  • Weight: 4.59g
  
  
  • Battery: 25 mAh Rechargeable Li-ion Polymer
  
  
  • Charging Time: 120 minutes
  
  
  • Wireless: BT Classic 2.1
  
  
  • Wireless Range: 30 feet / 10 meters
  
  


• Clip
  
  • Dimensions: 21.69mm x 71.59mm x 15.47mm (.85” x 2.81” x .6”)
  
  
  • Weight: 20.5g
  
  
  • Battery: 80 mAh Rechargeable Li-ion Polymer
  
  
  • Charging Time: 140 minutes
  
  
  • Wireless: BLE 4.1
  
  
  • Charged Capsule Support: Clip docking charges
  
  
  • Charging Type: Standard MicroUSB Connection
  
  


• Materials
  
  • Earbuds: PC Plastic
  
  
  • Ear-tips: Silicone
  
  
  • Clip: Aluminum, PC Plastic, Urethane, Silicone
  
  

What’s in the Box

• Pinn — Earbud and Clip


• MicroUSB charging cable


• 3 x Replacement ear tips

All you’ll need to get started

Design

Pinn was inspired by the pager of the early 90s, but it looks a bit more like the elongated Bluetooth headset models. This is somewhat accurate, since it does include a detachable earphone, but there’s quite a lot more to this than just a pager or Bluetooth headset.

The device itself measures about 2 ¾” long and just about ¾” wide at its widest. It tapers slightly towards the front of the device. Pinn is just over ½” tall including the clip but excluding the Bluetooth earbud, and just barely over 1” tall taking the earbud into account.

Pinn is constructed out of aluminum and plastics, with a black plastic ring around the OLED display on the front. The Pinn logo is located just above the display as well as on the removable Bluetooth earbud, while just below the display is the speaker. On the tip of the device, you’ll find a 3.5mm audio port, while on one edge you’ll find the power/escape button and covered MicroUSB charging input. The Pinn team will be tweaking the final design for the charging port cover very slightly to make it easier to open. The other edge includes multi-function up and down buttons as well as a select button.

The Bluetooth earbud is shaped as a rounded trapezoid with a small button on one end and the microphone on the other. The earbud has an LED indicator in the middle of the Pinn logo as well. The earbud has a relatively long “neck” which includes the connection socket where the contact pins on the main body connect to the earbud. At the end is a pretty standard ear tip. The tip is white, which will obviously show dirt, dust, and other contaminates (i.e. earwax) more clearly. The earbud connects to the main body via the aforementioned pins, while two retractable plastic arms grip the earbud, keeping it attached.

The pins and retractable plastic arms that hold the Earbud in place.

On the bottom of the device is the clip. The fulcrum is near the tip of the device just under the 3.5mm jack, so the clip opens near the Bluetooth earbud. The clip opens easily and clamps down pretty securely to keep your Pinn attached to whatever you want to clip it to.

Display

The OLED display is bright and very easy to read. The default state shows the time, battery level, and message status in large letters. When you receive a notification, the screen will display appropriate information based on the type of notification. For example for a text message, the sender’s name will appear on the top line while the message will scroll underneath. Caller ID information will be displayed with a phone icon on the left side, the caller’s phone number (or contact information if they are in your contacts) on the top line and “Incoming Call” on the bottom line. The information displayed will vary based on the notification, and you can set up nearly any app on your phone to display notifications on Pinn, but I’ll talk more about that in the software section below.

Ease of Use

Setting up your Pinn is pretty easy, as it’s really a Bluetooth device at heart. You’ll want to make sure the earbud is docked to the clip before starting. Then, simply power on the Pinn, at which time both the clip and the earbud will enter pairing mode. Pair both items in the Bluetooth settings on your phone and you’re ready to go. Once paired, you’ll want to dig into the app (available for iOS and Android) to set up what types of notifications Pinn should display. One pretty important setting you’ll want to check will be based on how you intend to clip your Pinn. You are able to flip the display 180° in the device settings so that you’re able to see and read the display no matter which direction you clip it.

The clip covers most of the length of the Pinn Clip.

Navigating the different options on the clip are handled via the buttons, and most of them act as you’d probably expect. Tapping the power button turns on the screen, while double tapping the power button brings up the menu. The up/down buttons are, as you’d probably already guessed, used to navigate up/down or right/left in the various option menus as well as controlling volume. The select button selects things, and will also turn on the screen with a double tap. Navigating around through the screens takes a bit of getting used to, but it is really pretty straightforward and has only a very small learning curve.

Software

The app is available for iOS and Android and covers the basics that Pinn needs to work. In the app, you’ll need to provide access to several permissions in order for your Pinn to work properly, and once permitted you’ll have options to either turn on or off various notifications. The basic notifications include call information for incoming and missed calls, Caller ID, Text Messages, and Other Notifications, which allows any other app to push notifications to your device.

The next menu item under “Other Notifications” allows you to choose any additional apps that you’d like to see displayed. You’re given a full list of all installed apps and simply check or un-check the box next to each app to turn notifications on or off. All apps are un-checked by default, so you’ll need to turn on any apps you’d like to see.

The Android app is mostly there to turn notifications on or off and select the apps you’d like to ping your Pinn.

The only settings currently listed are the incoming call ringtone, of which there are five available options. Below that is Find my Pinn, which will make your device beep if it’s within Bluetooth range of your phone (tap once to start, tap again to stop). Below that is a software update option.

There are a few features mentioned in the Kickstarter campaign that at least in this software build aren’t quite ready. The selfie-clicker function, for example, is a bit of a work in progress at the moment. On Android, you’re asked to open the Pinn app and then select the selfie clicker function on the Pinn itself via the menu. As of right now, selecting the selfie clicker (with the app open or closed) starts to open the camera app, but it hangs at a black screen with the camera icon overlaid on my Nexus 6P. This is a known issue, and the team is hammering out a few issues with devices running Android 7.0 or higher. This will be a useful function for some once it is available though.

The app will see updates to add functionality and polish prior to launch, but for now, even in its current state, it does enough to get you up and going.

Performance

After the initial setup, your experience will depend largely on how you expect to use your Pinn. Your first decision will likely be where you plan on clipping it. For the most part during my testing, I’d wear Pinn in the button flap of my polo shirts, and set it on my desk for a quick way to check notifications. This worked pretty well, though I’d sometimes have to move it a bit when driving since my seat belt would go directly across where it was clipped. Wherever you end up clipping, you’ll barely even notice that it’s there. Pinn is very small and light.

Clip and Earbud

I’ll talk more about the mic and audio performance in later sections, but using Pinn to make phone calls or listen to media was pretty effective. I did find that I needed to stick the earbud pretty deep into my ear to ensure that it wouldn’t fall out. This gave me a bit of a problem being able to hit the button on the earbud, as it was jammed back into my ear. Provided you’re in a quiet enough location, I found out entirely by accident (I was driving and just put the earbud in backward) that you can just flip the earbud around so the button is on the front. You’ll need to be in a quiet location though because that puts the mic back in the interior area of your ear.

Reading notifications is easy on the OLED screen. You should not take this as an alternative to staring at your phone while driving, as neither is safe and I’d imagine both could get you pulled over and ticketed, or worse. In appropriate settings though, seeing and reading notifications is easy. The text of the notification will scroll along on the bottom line, allowing you to check your notification without looking at your phone. For more detailed notifications you may still want to grab your phone, but Pinn will let you check and dismiss the easy stuff without getting your phone every time. You can not only read these notifications but also reply using your voice, which is a perfect segue into my next thoughts.

Using voice controls works as you would anticipate. Anything you’re able to do with Siri or Google Assistant/Google Now via the mic on your phone, you can do via the mic on your Pinn. A double tap on the earbud button will invoke Siri or Google Now. Reply to messages, search for directions, Pinn will be able to handle those sorts of things via your phone’s voice controls.

Earbud connectors and multi-function button.

Pinn will also let you know if you’ve wandered too far away from your phone. That was also a bit of a surprise at first. I walked into my house and Pinn wouldn’t stop beeping, until I realized that I’d left my phone in my car, and it was just reminding me of that fact.

Pinn is definitely in a pretty near-final state. Most everything works exactly as it’s supposed to, and a couple of items that aren’t quite ready are actively being worked on. If you’re backing this campaign you’re going to get a functional product when all is said and done.

Sound Quality

I wasn’t expecting too much from a speaker as small as what’s on board here, though, for a speaker of its size, Pinn is able to put out pretty decent sound. You’re obviously not going to get anything earth-shaking here, but for a speakerphone device you can definitely use it for a little bit of music, or GPS directions, or video watching in a pinch. The earbud works similarly well.

I didn’t have any issues on the Pinn that I used for testing, but the team is making a slight change to the earbud for the final hardware that will ship to Kickstarter backers and to retail. They discovered a small air gap during the assembly process that in some instances affected the sound quality of the earbud. Backers should end up getting an even better sounding earbud, though as I mentioned I did not have any problems with what I heard.

Plugging headphones into the 3.5mm jack provides a pretty standard Bluetooth audio experience. Your results will obviously vary based on what you’re plugging in, but the audio quality is what you’d expect from a streaming Bluetooth setup.

Did your phone ditch the 3.5mm jack? No worries, Pinn has you covered.

Running audio through Pinn is especially nice when you’re in public, where you can quickly pop off the earbud and listen to your videos, Snapchat stories, or any other audio without blaring it for all to hear.

Microphone/Voice Quality

The microphone is located on the earbud, so that’s what will pick up your voice whether you have the earbud in your ear, or docked to the clip. Since the earbud is relatively small, I did have callers occasionally need me to repeat myself, especially in noisy surroundings, since the mic is several inches away from my mouth. In quiet areas, callers had no issues hearing and understanding me. Other than the occasional request to repeat myself, callers could hear me clearly, and I could hear callers without issue via the earbud.

Docked into the clip lets Pinn act as a speakerphone, and the same conditions as the earbud apply. In quiet locations, I had no issues at all. Callers could hear me and I could hear callers without issue. In noisier environments, there is again a slight drop but you are still able to hear callers pretty clearly.

Battery Life

If you don’t have a lot of notifications set up, or don’t make a lot of phone calls, your Pinn should run in standby mode for well over a full day — it’s estimated at approximately 38 hours. If you do get a lot of notifications and phone calls you should probably expect to recharge your Pinn every night while you’re sleeping, but should otherwise get a full day of use out of it.

Pinn profile shot.

The earbud should last for around 75 minutes per charge and can be recharged two full times when plugged back into the clip. My phone calls generally aren’t anywhere close to that long, and I really just plugged the earbud back into the clip when it wasn’t in use. I could definitely get a full day on a single charge though, and usually a few days with light use when turning Pinn off at night.

Price/Value

Pinn will ultimately have an MSRP of $199USD, though right now while the Kickstarter is still active you have a few chances to get one for a bit less. The Early Bird tier is still available at $129USD, and the Kickstarter Special gets you in on the action at $169USD. The value you’ll find in Pinn depends very largely on how you’re planning on using it. I see definite value for those who spend a lot of time on the phone or need a quick and easy way to interact with their phone without pulling it out of their pocket all the time.

Wrap Up

Pinn is a unique way to use your phone without actually looking at your phone. It gives you pertinent information at a glance, gives you easy voice control options, and offers multiple ways to make calls or listen to music/GPS directions/etc. It might not be for everyone, but for people that are looking for what Pinn can provide, it’s definitely a solid piece of hardware. Pinn is also successfully funded already, so you won’t have to worry if you’re considering backing the project during its final few days. Give Pinn a look, it does what it says, and does it well.

*We were sent a review sample of Pinn for the purposes of this review.

Pinn

$199 USD

Design

9/10

Display

9/10

Ease of Use

9/10

Software

9/10

Performance

9/10

Sound Quality

9/10

Microphone/Voice Quality

9/10

Battery Life

10/10

Price/Value

9/10

Nailed it

• Solid design


• Easy to read display


• Works as expected


• Very small and light


• Multiple options for audio


• Adds a 3.5mm jack if your phone doesn’t have one

Needs work

• Earbud has to stick pretty deep in your ear


• White eartips show dirt and debris more easily


• Small learning curve to get the hang of the button combinations

The Wear24 features 4G LTE connectivity so you can do a number of things like take calls, send texts and stream music without having your phone by your side. With the latest version of Android Wear, Google Assistant is on your wrist to help with a range of tasks. The Wear24 packs in a 1.39-inch AMOLED display with 290 PPI resolution. It also has a 450mAh battery that allows for wireless charging and the device is IP67-rated for water resistance. That designation means you can dunk the smartwatch in up to 3.3 feet of water for up to 30 minutes before you’ll need to worry about doing major damage.

Google has had its hands full with Android Wear 2.0. After delaying the release from last fall to early 2017, a bug pushed the update back even further for older watches. While a number of existing models have received the update, there are a lot of wearables that have yet to receive all the new features. Unfortunately, that makes splurging for a new device that already runs the software a lot more attractive.

The researchers hooked subjects up with a medical-grade eight-channel muscle simulator (EMS) installed in a backpack. That’s controlled over USB by a VR simulator that works with Samsung GearVR, hand-mounted trackers and a motion capture system. “The major potential here is that this is something you can have with very little hardware,” Lopes explains.

They attached electrodes to users’ forearms and biceps, which automatically apply a mild electrical shock when they touch or lift a virtual object. That tenses the activated muscle, repulsing the users hand and making them feel they’re pushing against a wall or picking up a heavy cube (see the video, below).

It took the team a while to create a realistic simulation. At first, they applied a current to the users’ muscle proportional to their force, “just strongly enough to prevent it passing through [a wall],” the team wrote. However, one participant said that it “felt like a magnet pulling the hand backwards,” in a not-very-realistic way.

Eventually, they arrived at two different simulators. In the first, they cut off the EMS intensity at a certain limit. That allowed users to penetrate simulated objects by about 10cm, a good simulation for foam or other soft things. In the second case, they used a short EMS pulse that actually propelled the user’s hand backwards, never allowing them to push through the wall or other object. (The shocks aren’t intense enough to hurt users, by the way.)

The technology isn’t exactly new, as it has been used for physical therapy and exercise stimulation for years (think of those janky ab stimulators). There are even some companies trying to develop it for entertainment purposes, like the team behind the Teslasuit, which also uses electric muscle simulation. However, Lopes thinks it should be very low profile tech that can even be integrated into regular textiles. “There’s a need for physicality in VR,” he told Fast Co. “The next step is bigger force, more physical sensations.”