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Adidas expands beyond Parley with new recycled plastic fabrics

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Adidas has also committed to reducing the company’s carbon footprint by 30 percent (compared to 2017) in 2030, a few years after it fully transitions to recycled polyester. By 2050, it’s hoping to achieve climate neutrality.

The company says Primeblue and Primegreen will help it ditch non-recycled plastics completely within the timeframe it set for itself. Primeblue contains Parley Ocean Plastic, a fabric made from plastic waste from the seas, and is already being used for some of its goods. The company will also release an Adidas x Parley capsule collection, including an Ultraboost 20 variant, as part of its Super Bowl-week promotions this year. Meanwhile, Adidas will start using Primegreen, a fabric that also contains no virgin (or newly created) plastic, later this year in its products.

James Carnes, Adidas VP for Brand Strategy, said in a statement:

“We believe that through sport we have the power to change lives, and we are dedicated to creating that change. Since 1998, we’ve been developing and introducing innovations to END PLASTIC WASTE. Our commitment to eliminate the use of virgin polyester in our products by 2024 helps us get one step closer to being a more circular company.”

The new fabrics’ introduction is part of Adidas’ Recycled Loop strategy, which focuses on using recycled plastics for products. Adidas has two more strategies in its bid to stop contributing to plastic wastes, though. Its Circular Loop strategy focuses on products that were “made to be remade,” such as its fully recyclable Futurecraft Loop running shoes. Finally, Adidas’ Bionic Loop strategy is all about the company’s ambition to create products that can be reused and remade before they’re returned to nature.

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Google spent a record sum rewarding researchers for hacking its products

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Google’s Vulnerability Reward Programs (VRP) have been around since 2010, designed to reward researchers for discovering bugs and flaws that Google might have missed. The initiative has expanded steadily since then to cover its other products, including Chrome and Android, and last year the company extended its Google Play security reward arm to include not just the top eight apps, but any app that’s had more than 100 million installs. This netted researchers $650,000 in rewards in the second half of 2019 alone. In total, Google has paid out more than $21 million since its VRPs were launched.

It’s a lot of money, but it makes good financial sense — despite its best efforts Google can’t be on top of every single potential vulnerability, and rewarding benevolent bug bounty hunters is likely a lot more cost effective than dealing with the fallout of a nefarious hack. Plus, of course, the program helps to incentivize bright young minds into the sector.

It’s hardly surprising, then, that other companies have followed suit. Tesla hands out big cash prizes — and even cars — to anyone that’s able to crack its vehicle security system, while Apple‘s bug bounty program offers single payouts of up to $1 million. As hackers become increasingly sophisticated and technology continues to permeate every area of our lives, it won’t be a surprise to anyone to see the value of bug bounties skyrocketing, and even more companies launching their own initiatives.

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MIDI 2.0 overhauls the music interface for the first time in 35 years

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MIDI

And it’s about time for a new standard, while the 5-bit DIN cables used in the 1980s couldn’t handle high resolution audio, the MIDI 2.0 spec is ready for any digital connector you’d like to use, and will start by targeting USB ports. That allows for far more accurate timing, and far more resolution by upgrading messages from seven bits to as much as 32-bit.

It should also make instruments easier to use, with profiles that will automatically set up gear for its intended use and a feature called Property Exchange that uses JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) to send over more detailed configuration info. You’ll spend less time shuffling through presets and more time simply making music, plus some of these features can be used even on older MIDI 1.0-spec hardware. As Reverb.com notes, there’s still room for improvement on things like networking multiple devices, but it represents a massive upgrade over the old standard, and will be useful for anyone trying to make a Grammy-winning album, whether it’s in their bedroom or a fully-kitted studio.

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Google could add call recording to its Android Phone app

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Some US states require that all parties consent to a call and it looks like Google is trying to cover itself there. First it displays a consent disclaimer to the caller. “When using the call recording feature, you are responsible for complying with applicable laws related to the recording of calls. Please be aware that many jurisdictions require the consent of both parties for such recording,” the prompt states. Then, a voice announces to both parties that call recording has started and ended.

As XDA Developers notes, the Phone app will show a “record” button during any phone call once the feature is implemented. Tapping on that will start a recording, and presumably trigger the disclaimer to verbally inform both parties.

Transcription would be a godsend to many users who need to record interviews, meetings and more. Since Google already does that via Recorder, it clearly wouldn’t be difficult to implement in the Phone app. However, the APK doesn’t indicate exactly how it would work, only that the feature could exist.

These features are still in testing and haven’t been implemented yet, so they may or may not appear in future versions of the Phone app. In addition, they may only come to Pixel devices in certain territories — though Xiaomi, for one, has already said that it will pre-install the Google Phone app.

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DOJ is trying to stop US VoIP carriers from hosting foreign robocalls

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According to the DOJ, their VoIP services serve as the entry point for foreign-made calls that mostly come from India. They take payments for facilitating those calls and passing them to American consumers, allowing the fraudsters to mask their real numbers with emergency or government agency lines. These bad actors scare recipients into sending them money by threatening to terminate their social security benefits, to arrest them for tax fraud and to deport them for not filling out immigration forms.

Robocalls have become such a huge issue that various government agencies, including the FTC and the FCC, are finding ways to kill them. Especially since they tend to target the elderly and other vulnerable individuals.

The defendants in the first case are TollFreeDeals.com and sipretail.com, as well as their owners Nicholas and Natasha Palumbo from Arizona. For the second case, the defendants are Global Voicecom Inc., Global Telecommunication Services Inc., KAT Telecom Inc. (aka IP Dish) and their owner Jon Kahen of New York. The Justice Department says both operators ignored repeated warnings about the fraudulent nature of the calls they were carrying.

Together, the defendants were allegedly responsible for an enormous number of robocalls a month. The operators in the first case alone, the DOJ’s announcement says, funneled 720 million calls to American consumers within a 23-day period.

US Attorney Richard Donoghue said in a statement:

“We are using all available tools and resources to stop foreign call center scammers — and for the first time their U.S.-based enablers — from conning elderly and vulnerable victims in New York and throughout the United States. Protecting individuals from schemes that result in catastrophic losses to the victims is a priority of this Office and the Department of Justice.”

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‘Pokémon Go’ online battle feature starts rolling out

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The preseason leagues — namely, the Great League, the Ultra League and the Master League — will allow Niantic to observe how people are playing and make adjustments for the first season of competitive play. It could help the company determine the ideal season length and rating threshold for ranks, among other things.

To be able to play in the leagues, you’ll have to walk five kilometers to earn your entry and unlock five online matches. You can do that three times a day, if you want to battle as many trainers as possible and don’t mind the exercise. However, you can also use your PokéCoins to pay your way in via the Battle Now feature if you can’t complete a five kilometer walk. The farther you are to the goal, the higher the price is. You’ll also be able to encounter Pikachu Libre, a type of Pikachu that wears a lucha libre costume, when you play in the Go Battle League.

Niantic says it will provide updates as soon as it’s able regarding the feature’s rollout, so you may want to keep an eye on Pokémon Go’s social media channels for future announcements.



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Lime knows when you’re riding its scooters on the sidewalk

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A future update may even show a map indicating just when Lime detected sidewalk use.

It’s not certain how likely you are to see the detection used elsewhere, although it’s already accurate enough (95 percent) that it may just be a matter of time.

Lime can’t really force riders to the street. Its sidewalk detection could be more effective than an earlier safety campaign that relied on ads and freebies, though. Moreover, Lime noted that this could help the cities as a whole. It intends to share data with the city to help offer “infrastructure improvements,” including more dedicated bike lanes. Even if you never hop on a two-wheeler, you might see some benefits before long.

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Google Translate is getting a transcribe mode for lectures, speeches

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Upon launch, the feature will need an internet connection — the translation will take place on Google’s servers and not on your devices — and will only work on live audio captured through the phone speaker. According to The Verge, the feature will constantly evaluate words, changing translations based on sentences’ context and adding punctuations as it goes along. You can probably expect some weird translations at first, though Google said it’s bound to significantly improve as it learns from people’s transcriptions.

At the moment, CNET says the feature is being tested in several languages, including Spanish, German and French. It’s expected to roll out in the coming months, but Google told Engadget that it doesn’t have a set timeline yet. A spokesperson also told us that it will initially be available on Android devices.

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Google’s latest stab at messaging may be an all-in-one business app

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The app would be part of the G Suite productivity tools run by the Google Cloud team. That would be part of the appeal — companies could have just one or two apps to manage instead of several.

Google has declined to comment on the apparent leak.

The incentives aren’t hard to see. Many companies will use Google for services like Calendar, Gmail and Docs, but turn to Slack or other apps when it’s time for workplace discussions. This could give G Suite customers a reason to go all-in with Google. Whether or not customers are willing to bite is another matter. Google has routinely struggled to offer consistent, compelling messaging apps, and there’s no guarantee companies won’t just shrug their shoulders and carry on using the hodge podge of services they rely on today.

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Mini’s 2020 Cooper SE zips around town powered by electrons

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The SE is a Mini Cooper through and through; its design is based on the existing Mini 3-Door layout. Aside from its body sitting 18mm higher to accommodate the battery pack, the SE is nearly identical to its internal combustion bretheren. That battery offers 34.2 kWh capacity which, when compared to the Tesla S 100D’s 100 kWh battery, is tiny. It’s comprised of 12 cells arrayed in a T-shape which runs under the rear seats and up between the fronts.

Interestingly, while the battery adds a significant amount of weight to the vehicle, replacing the even heavier internal combustion engine (ICE) nearly offsets that increase. In all, the SE tips the scales at 1365 kg (~3009 lbs), just 145 kg heavier than the standard Cooper S. But what’s really cool is that since the battery adds so much mass, the SE’s center of gravity is actually 30 mm lower than the S. You can certainly feel the difference when aggressively cornering — there’s noticeably less body roll and less squirreliness from the vehicle’s short wheel base.

Since the SE is electric, its initial acceleration is fantastic. The 184HP SE can hit 60kph from a standing start in just 3.9 seconds. However, that speed advantage quickly levels off as running 0 – 100 kph (~62 mph) comes in at at 7.3 seconds (the 2019 Cooper S 1.5L does it in 7.7 seconds and the turbocharged 2.0L notches 6.5 seconds). What’s more, the SE will be limited to just 150 kph (~93 mph) so don’t expect to win any high speed chases driving one of these.

Unfortunately the limited battery capacity also translates into an equally limited range. BMW, who has owned the Mini brand since 2000, estimates that drivers will only be able to squeeze 235 – 270 kilometers (~146 – 167 miles) out of a full charge. That’s not unexpected, given the size of the pack, but still a bit disappointing. You’re clearly not going to be able to take this on long excursions through remote regions, but the Cooper’s were never designed to be touring cars. As an urban getaround or midrange commuter, the SE really hits its stride. On a single full charge, you could theoretically drive from San Francisco to Palo Alto and back for a full work week.

Plus, since there isn’t much battery to charge, it tops off quickly. The SE can be recharged using a household 110V socket, a 240V wallbox, public charging stations, or fast direct-current charging up to 50 kW. It takes around 3.5 hours using a 11kW Type 2 connection but as little as 35 minutes if you can find a 50kW DC fast charge station.

Your available range between recharges may be limited but the SE’s performance all but guarantees you’ll have a blast while behind the wheel. I was granted an opportunity to drive the new Cooper SE through Miami and Ft Lauderdale last week — two cities where the traffic patterns on both surface streets and freeways regularly oscillate between bumper-to-bumper gridlock and Mad Max Fury Road levels of driving insanity.

I drove past multiple vehicle fires and multi-car collisions on the I-95 during the five hour demo drive. Did I stick around to rubberneck? Heck no, I stomped on the accelerator and got past the flaming wrecks as fast as possible before some inattentive yahoo watching the cars go up in smoke came barreling up my tailpipe. Figuratively of course, EVs don’t have tailpipes.

And with the SE, that quick escape was a cinch, especially when running the vehicle in Dynamic (sport) mode. You need only tap on the accelerator and the SE will take off like a shot. I had no issues getting up to freeway speeds, overtaking vehicles, or catching up to traffic after not noticing the light change. Dynamic mode does tend to chew through the vehicle’s power reserves so I set the SE to Mid for a majority of the trip. It’s much easier on your battery supply but the drop off in performance is noticeable. It’s not bad, but I found myself silently urging the SE to accelerate faster after switching down from Dynamic. If you are low on power or want to stretch your range as far as it will go, the SE also offers Green and Green+ driving modes which further reduce draw at the expense of performance.

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