Apple says Face ID demo fail was feature actually working as it was designed

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Credit goes to Apple for running on stage demos with live devices and software, even if some of these features are still in beta or pre-release. In the case of the hotly debated Face ID, which now replaces Touch ID on the iPhone X, what seemed like demo fail was actually a security feature kicking in.

A demo by Apple SVP for Software Craig Federighi showing off Face ID for the first time failed to fire when the iPhone X refused to recognize his face and went straigh to the PIN code screen as a means of authentication.

Thinking quickly, a flustered Federighi quickly used a backup iPhone X which recognized him instantly and unlocked instantaneously. Federighi drove the point that the feature works well by quickly demoing it a few times. So, what happened?

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Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheel Bundle now available for Xbox One S

The Xbox One S Forza Horizon 3 Hot Wheels Bundle is available at participating retailers today, including Microsoft Store or Microsoft.com. The bundle is $349 in Canada and includes:

• Xbox One S with a 500GB hard drive – the best value in games and entertainment
• Xbox Wireless Controller
• Forza Horizon 3 with the Hot Wheels expansion – with access to play on both Xbox One S and Windows 10 PC
• 1-month Xbox Game Pass subscription with unlimited access to over 100 Xbox One and Backward Compatible Xbox 360 games
• 14-day Xbox Live Gold trial to experience the most advanced multiplayer gaming network

Google confirms October 4 launch of Pixel 2 with a billboard ad

It's the time of year where all the major companies launch their flagship phones and Google is expected to respond on October 4 with the successor to its Pixel phone. A billboard in Boston was shot by a reader of Droid Life. The billboard states 'Ask more of your phone' followed by the Google 'G' Logo and the date Oct. 4. 

This is certainly exciting news since the original Pixel and Pixel XL were the sleeper hits of 2016 with their excellent camera performance as well as the introduction of Google Assistant (as well as Google Home, Google WiFi, Daydream VR and the new 4K Chromecasts). All of these products are doing well in the market and we should expect various features to be unlocked by software updates. 

As for the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, it seems we're getting hardware from HTC and LG respectively, with LG making the larger Pixel 2 XL and rehashing some of the design cues from its LG V30 flagship phablet. Stay tuned for more news.

Source: Phandroid

Update on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 11:19AM by Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Google has confirmed the event with a press invitation. We'll be covering the event, which is also going to be streamed live on October 4 at noon EST.

Ford and Virginia Tech develop solutions for self driving cars to communicate with pedestrians

Study simulates a self-driving vehicle using a seat suit to conceal the human driver; this enables researchers to explore pedestrian reactions to the vehicle’s external lighting signals used to indicate whether it is self-driving, yielding or about to accelerate from a stop.

Ford and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute are testing a Ford-designed lighting method for self-driving vehicles to signal their intent to pedestrians, human drivers and bicyclists in an effort to create a standard visual language everyone can easily process and understand
 
Developing a way for self-driving vehicles to communicate their intent is essential since cues like hand waves or head nods between human drivers and pedestrians will not necessarily factor in to autonomous driving scenarios.

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