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MediaTek’s latest phone CPUs are built for gaming

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The G90 chips will use HyperEngine game tech that promises to cut back on lag. and interruptions. Like some phones, it can invoke LTE to help out if you have a flaky WiFi connection. It can maintain two WiFi connections on different bands, too. Call and data concurrency keeps your internet access alive if there’s a phone call. MediaTek also vows low touch lag, higher prioritization for processing resources and an image quality engine that supports HDR10 visuals.

Photographers will get support for up to 64-megapixel single- and multi-camera arrays, support for night shots and AI facial detection.

There’s no mention of when G90-equipped phones will ship, although that’s going to depend on individual manufacturers. Really, the focus here is on showing that MediaTek can produce powerful chips you might be happy to use for a round of mobile Fortnite or PUBG. They’re not likely to be fast as the best from Apple or Qualcomm (both of which use highly customized architectures), but they don’t have to be. They just need to show up in lower-cost phones that can offer comparable speed.

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Scientists create contact lenses that zoom on command

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The biomimetic lens are made of stretchy polymer films that respond to the electric signals generated by your eyes when they make a movement, such as blinking. Known as electrooculographic signals, humans are even capable of emitting the electric impulses when they’re sleeping. “Even if your eye cannot see anything, many people can still move their eyeball and generate this electro-oculographic signal,” said lead researcher Shengqiang Cai to New Scientist.

But don’t throw away your reading glasses or binoculars quite yet — it’s still early days. Gizmodo reported that the prototype only functions in a special rig, and test subjects had a series of electrodes placed around their eyes. Scientists hope their invention can be used in prostheses, adjustable glasses and remotely operated robotics in the future.

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Data breach compromises info for 20,000 LAPD officers and applicants

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A message notifying officers over this past weekend didn’t explain the nature of the breach or identify potential culprits. However, the LAPD was concerned enough that it told officers to monitor their financial accounts, get credit reports and file Federal Trade Commission complaints. In a statement, the force said was taking steps to secure data and considered it a “paramount” issue.

This certainly isn’t the largest data breach in recent memory and isn’t known to include particularly dangerous info like payment cards or addresses, but it may be more dangerous than most. Fraud might not be the largest concern — there’s a risk that the hackers could use this data to identify officers and target them for further breaches or in-person attacks. It’s also a reminder that a law enforcement agency’s security is only as strong as the partners it deals with.

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Netflix announces revenge thriller ‘Sweet Girl’ starring Jason Momoa

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Brian Andrew Mendoza will make his feature directorial debut with Sweet Girl. Mendoza and Momoa have worked together for more than a decade, partnering to form their own production company, Pride of Gypsies. Mendoza served as cinematographer and producer in 2018’s Braven and executive produced the Canadian TV show Frontier, which both star Momoa.

The script for Sweet Girl was written by Gregg Hurwitz and Phillip Eisner, with revisions by Will Staples. Momoa, who recently finished production on a film reboot of Dune, said he’s excited to team up with Mendoza on another project. “I’m excited to partner with Netflix once again. I’m putting a dream team together from Brad and Jeff to my best friend, Brian who has been my partner for over ten years. It’s a dream come true to collaborate with him and deliver his vision.”

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Capital One data breach affected 100 million in the US

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Just as Equifax announced a settlement for its massive data breach, Capital One has revealed that someone hacked into its systems earlier this year. According to the company, someone exploited a “configuration vulnerability” that allowed them to access and decrypt customer data affecting over 100 million people in the US, and about 6 million in Canada.

The actual crime occurred on March 22nd and 23rd this year. For about 140,000 people the exposure included Social Security Numbers, and for 80,000 their linked bank account numbers as well. The FBI has already arrested the person believed to be responsible, and the Washington Post points out court documents identifying them as a Seattle-area woman going by the handle “erratic.” According to the New York Times, she is Paige Thompson, a software engineer.

Developing…

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Tool, one of the last streaming holdouts, caves ahead of new album

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Tool is one of the last big streaming holdouts. In fact, you can’t even buy the band’s first five albums digitally (CDs are available on Amazon, though). In 2017, reports indicated that the group might be willing to soften its stance ahead of a new album, especially since it’s the band’s first in over a decade. In an Instagram post today, the group confirmed Opiate, Undertow, Ænima, Lateralus and 10,000 Days would be available “all digital and streaming formats” at the end of this week. No details on specific services just yet, but it’s a safe bet Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Google and Amazon will likely be included.

Frontman Maynard James Keenan’s other bands, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, have long been available on streaming services. In January, Keenan told a fan on Twitter it wasn’t his fault that Tool’s catalog remained absent from the likes of Spotify and Apple Music. Of course, one way to build hype for your new album is to finally give the people what they want.



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Tesla's Megapack is a battery built for the electrical grid

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Tesla's utility-sized energy storage has become a practical reality. The tech company has introduced the Megapack, a container-sized battery meant for "large-scale" storage that could help quickly deploy renewable energy and even replace conventiona…

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Bipartisan highway bill proposes $1 billion for EV charging corridors

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The bill includes $3 billion to support projects that lower highway-related carbon emissions, and states could be given greater flexibility if they meet emissions planning requirements. States can compete for $500 million in additional funding by making progress on reducing per capita emissions, and they can compete for $1 billion to build hydrogen, natural gas and EV fueling infrastructure along designated highway corridors. That last billion won’t necessarily go to EV charging exclusively, but states will likely find EV charging easier to install than hydrogen or natural gas fueling infrastructure.

The bill is proposed by John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.). As Electrek points out, Barrasso has pushed back against EV programs in the past, but he may have signed on as part of a compromise, or figured a few billion is just a drop in the bucket. The legislation is only being introduced today, so it’s too soon to say what the final breakdown will be, but the fact that EV charging and emissions reductions appear in the initial design offers a glimmer of hope.

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Google paid passers-by for face scans to improve the Pixel 4

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The scans were obtained after people filled out consent forms, and included color, depth and infrared data as well as related info like the way a person grabbed a phone from a table. The Soli radar in the Pixel needs the motion data to tell it when to activate face unlock. Google also acknowledged collecting location info at first, but said the data wasn’t necessary and would delete it. The rest of the data will be deleted after 18 months.

As mentioned earlier, face unlock on the Pixel 4 won’t upload data to Google’s servers — it’s storing it in the Titan M security chip. Apple also asked for face scans when it was developing the TrueDepth camera and Face ID, although it collected scans as part of studies and supplemented them as necessary to get a wider range of samples.

The news appears to put to rest concerns that Google was playing fast and loose with facial recognition data. Much like Apple, it’s interested in creating a reliable face unlock system that holds up in real life, where facial hair, glasses, makeup and the basic process of aging can play havoc with face detection systems. If you find yourself more concerned with what’s on your Pixel than getting into it, Google will have accomplished its mission.

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