Tesla driver dies in Autopilot crash

A Telsa Model S has been involved in a fatal crash while in Autopilot mode. Not the first Autopilot accident, as shown in this video, first published on 25 May.



Apparently, the Autopilot system was confused when the car it was following changed lanes to avoid the stopped van. Perhaps most significantly, afterwards, the driver was quoted as saying, “Yes, I could have reacted sooner, but when the car slows down correctly 1,000 times, you trust it to do it the next time too. My bad ...” – Electrek http://electrek.co/2016/05/26/tesla-model-s-crash-autopilot-video/

Wired reported on a transcontinental US trip which ended in Manhattan on Wednesday 21 October 2015. Autopilot was engaged for 96 percent of the trip. One of the drivers, Alex Roy, was later quoted:

‘Autopilot caused a few scares, Roy says, largely because the car was moving so quickly. “There were probably three or four moments where we were on autonomous mode at 90 miles an hour, & hands off the wheel,” & the road curved, Roy says. Where a trained driver would aim for the apex – the geometric center of the turn – to maintain speed & control, the car follows the lane lines. “If I hadn’t had my hands there, ready to take over, the car would have gone off the road & killed us.” He’s not annoyed by this, though. “That’s my fault for setting a speed faster than the system’s capable of compensating.”’ – Wired https://www.wired.com/2015/10/obviously-drivers-are-already-abusing-teslas-autopilot/

Take home message from the above, is that while Autopilot is able to reduce the driver’s workload, it is not yet ready to be solely responsible for safety. This is consistent with its status as a beta release. When used responsibly, as described by Alex Roy, Autopilot is safe to use, while always remembering that is an aid, not a replacement for the driver.

Tesla's response to the fatality:
https://www.teslamotors.com/en_AU/blog/tragic-loss?redirect=no

The Verge:
http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/30/12072408/tesla-autopilot-car-crash-death-autonomous-model-s

The Guardian:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jun/30/tesla-autopilot-death-self-driving-car-elon-musk

Thanks to Miemie & Glenn for this item. / National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA opening preliminary evaluation performance Autopilot recent fatal crash occurred Model S first known fatality over 130 million miles Autopilot was activated all vehicles in the US fatality every 94 million miles worldwide fatality every 60 million miles National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA action preliminary evaluation determine system worked according to expectations standard practice Tesla informedNational Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA incident immediately after it occurred vehicle divided highway Autopilot engaged tractor trailer drove across the highway perpendicular Model S Autopilot driver noticed white side tractor trailer against brightly lit sky brake was not applied high ride height trailer combined positioning across the road extremely rare circumstances impact caused Model S pass under the trailer bottom of the trailer impacting windshield Model S Model S impacted front or rear trailer high speed advanced crash safety system prevented serious injury numerous other similar incidents Tesla disables Autopilot by default requires explicit acknowledgement system is new technology public beta phase enabled drivers activate Autopilot acknowledgment box explains Autopilot assist feature requires keep hands steering wheel at all times maintain control responsibility your vehicle Autopilot engaged car reminds the driver always keep your hands on the wheel be prepared to take over at any time system makes frequent checks ensure driver's hands remain on the wheel provides visual audible alerts if hands-on is not detected gradually slows down until hands-on is detected again ensure every time the feature is used used as safely as possible more real-world miles accumulate software logic accounts for increasingly rare events probability of injury will keep decreasing Autopilot getting better not perfect requires driver remain alert used conjunction driver oversight data unequivocal Autopilot reduces driver workload results statistically significant improvement safety compared purely manual driving crash loving family saddened loss friend Tesla broader EV community life focused on innovation promise of technology believed strongly Tesla’s mission extend our deepest sympathies family and friends /

Doppler’s wireless earbuds let you remix the sounds of the real world

Here One buds from Doppler Labs will be available in black & white
Credit: Doppler Labs/Wired

What do you look for in earbuds? Whatever it is, Doppler Labs’ new wireless earbuds, Here One, have it all – & more.

Of course, you want them to take phone calls, stream music & interact with Siri &/or Google Now – & Here One can do all of that. In addition, they allow you to manage & augment the sound of the real world.


Here One app – notice presets to manage background noise in offices, aircraft & restaurants
Credit: Doppler Labs/Wired

Some things you can do with Here One:

● noise cancellation – raised to a whole new level – attenuate all the sound – or just specific frequencies

● remix the music at a concert – drums overpowering the rest of the band? – turn them down to hear all of the music

● noisy environment? Here One has three directional microphones per ear, so using the companion app, control the direction & frequency of sound, to separate out the voice of the person you are talking to

● turn down the noise of the city, to hear your music, without being run down at the next crossing

If Apple does ditch the 3.5mm audio socket in the iPhone 7, Doppler Labs' Here One earbuds may be just the ticket.

Wired:
http://www.wired.com/2016/06/ones-earbuds-way-just-wireless-headphones/

The Verge:
https://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/6/28/12043946/here-earbuds-wireless-bluetooth-doppler-augmented-reality

Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/bradauerbach/2016/06/28/doppler-labs-launches-here-one-not-only-a-volume-knob-in-a-loud-world-a-supercomputer-in-every-ear/#32050c347649

Pre-order at the Doppler Labs web site:
https://hereplus.me/ / Doppler Labs company straight-outta-science-fiction earbuds let you control volume world new product Here One wireless earbuds tweaking sound mix concert tuning out subway noise One everything expect standard set of wireless headphones even more stuff on top of that Here One buds will cost $299 ship in November Doppler Here Ones set of wireless headphones stream music take calls interact with Siri Google Now pair of headphones Doppler’s Here buds Here One buds do even better filter change the noise of the real world companion app change frequency response tune out baby screams train screeches turn up the volume people in front of you multiple directional mics three directional mics Here One buds sound editing even more powerful Doppler not a medical device Doppler CEO Noah Kraft false binary people either can hear or can’t hear first set up your Here Ones customization customisation process software learn particulars of your ears hearing attenuate sound specifically for you mix real-world sound whatever you’re listening to Doppler calls layered listening jamming headphones into your ears drown out the world sound as though music’s playing speaker a few feet away whoever you’re talking to on your bike still hear the cars flying by Doppler’s a number of companies working on truly wireless headphones Here One among the most comfortable and usable Doppler interesting engineering wireless headphones executive chairman Fritz Lanman soon enough everyone from Apple Samsung Microsoft try sell you wireless earbuds Doppler’s put a computer in their ears soundtrack sound track sounds of the city /

iPhone 7 to ditch 3.5mm audio socket? – Rumours persist – update

Pssst – check the plug
Credit: TechRadar
__________

Update 25 August 2016

The Woz not impressed – “If it’s missing the 3.5mm earphone jack, that’s going to tick off a lot of people.”

Bluetooth? – “I would not use Bluetooth … I don’t like wireless. I have cars where you can plug in the music, or go through Bluetooth, & Bluetooth just sounds so flat for the same music.” – Steve Wozniak, Co-founder of Apple

More at the Australian Financial Review
http://www.afr.com/technology/mobiles-and-tablets/apple/steve-wozniak-says-apple-must-fix-iphone-7-bluetooth-or-revive-its-headphone-jack-20160821-gqxwsg#ixzz4I6wk11Ub
__________

In January of this year, a furore was created when a rumour surfaced that Apple would ditch the 3.5mm audio socket in the iPhone 7. Over 200,000 online petitioners asked Apple not to.

Almost 6 months later those rumours persist.

One concern is that an iPhone with only one Lightning port & no 3.5mm socket, will not be able to charge & use headphones at the same time. A likely solution will be adapter(s) with two Lightning sockets &/or Lightning + 3.5mm sockets. Some manufacturer will probably produce an adapter with all of these.

Apple’s Macbook 12" with only 1 USB-C port + 3.5mm has already spawned multiple adapters, including its own USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (USB-C + HDMI + USB-C) & the Marble mutiport adapter (2 x USB-C + 2 x USB-A + HDMI + Micro SD reader + mains power adapter).

More:

Ditching iPhone headphone jack annoys everyone except Apple
http://www.smh.com.au/technology/technology-news/ditching-iphone-headphone-jack-annoys-everyone-except-apple-20160627-gptaxb.html

How your current headphones can work with the iPhone 7 even if it ditches the audio jack
https://bgr.com/2016/01/11/iphone-7-headphone-jack-workround-adapter-converter/

iPhone 7 may include EarPods with headphone jack + Lightning to 3.5mm adapter
http://9to5mac.com/2016/06/20/iphone-7-may-include-earpods-w-headphone-jack-lightning-to-3-5mm-adapter/

If Apple does release an iPhone 7 without a 3.5mm socket, & you don’t want to follow suit, it would be a good time to grab one of the iPhone 6 variants. If the 7 is as uninspiring as some are suggesting, this may be an attractive option:

Wait for 8? More evidence iPhone 7 will be a boring upgrade
http://www.techradar.com/au/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/iphone-7-rumors-apple-design-2016-1323759 / iPhone thinner iPhone 7 rumor mill Fast Company design ditch standard 3.5mm headphone jack make phone thinner Japanese website Mac Okatara November Fast Company 9to5 Mac anonymous sources lend extra weight to the claim Apple developing different potential accessories replace ubiquitous 3.5mm EarPods ship iPhone headphones connect via Lightning port spec Apple defined Lightning headphones 2014 charge phone listening to music phone support wireless charging Apple Watch Android Windows phones completely wireless headset Apple Beats acquisition no wire connecting headphones iPhone no wire connecting left and right earbuds together Apple testing replacement headphones solutions market dongle standard headphones dropping headphone jack thinner phone important extra battery space freed up relatively deep headphone jack dumping old technology drive adoption new technology typical Apple behavior ubiquity 3.5mm jack guarantee consumer pushback Internet petition 200,000 people signing Apple dump 3.5 mm jack plug every computer tablet phone buy billions 3.5mm headphones guarantee a painful transition ditching ditch abandon iPhone headphone jack annoys everyone except Apple furore continues Apple doing away with ditch abandon eliminating standard 3.5mm headphone jack plug technology If it ain't broke don't fix it industry changing its products consumers knee-jerk reaction upset about the rumours garment-rending chest-beating these reports last surfaced in January kerfuffle Apple changing charging cable Lightning cord plug socket headphone port industry standard something Apple uses con arguments buy new stuff new headphones new attachment modify old headphones buying a $1000 phone include Lightning-enabled headphones with every phone particularly soulless money grab tighten Apple's control accessory market digital music Nilay Patel these headphones tacitly support DRM digital rights management keeps you from being able to freely move media files between devices get rid of the analogue headphone jack motivation support anything analogue argument anyone making Lightning headphones will require certification from Apple Beats support new standard more control for Apple a bad thing for consumers open standard closed standard leads to confusion and higher costs for consumers add a second Lightning port to the phone Apple wants to make more room inside the phone can't charge your phone have your headphones plugged in at the same time one-port MacBook power port double duty USB-C sound quality can be better over a Lightning port manufacturers headphones lossiness of today's music make the iPhone thinner create more room in the iPhone bigger battery thinner iPhone boost battery official Apple charging case consumers not user-friendly Apple track record weeding out legacy technologies disk drives CD drives old 30-pin charger makes its customers happy Apple's pros cons for Apple change always on their own side /

Malware found in apps that can root 90% of Android phones

Antivirus provider Trend Micro has named this family of malware apps Godless. Some of them are available in Google Play. They contain malicious code capable of secretly rooting almost all phones running Lollipop (5.1) or earlier. This includes an estimated 90 percent of all Android phones.

After achieving root, a Godless app may:
● respond to remote instructions
● install unwanted apps
● install backdoors
● spy on users

http://arstechnica.com/security/2016/06/godless-apps-some-found-in-google-play-root-90-of-android-phones/

What you can do to protect yourself:

● update to a version of Android more recent than Lollipop – if available for your device

● avoid using third-party app stores – apart from Amazon

● avoid apps from unknown developers

● install a check root app – there are a number on Google Play – their purpose is to allow a user to determine if a device has been successfully rooted – it won't provide any protection against a Godless infection, but will allow you to determine if your phone has become a victim – unless you have rooted the phone yourself

/ Godless apps Google Play root 90% of Android phones malware family packages large number of exploits give all-powerful root access researchers detected family of malicious apps some available Google Play contain malicious code secretly rooting estimated 90 percent Android phones recently published blog post antivirus provider Trend Micro Godless malware family has been dubbed collection of rooting exploits works against virtually any device running Android 5.1 or earlier estimated 90 percent all Android devices found app stores Google Play installed more than 850,000 devices Godless infected app malicious code installed vast repository of exploits root device it's running on app functions like exploit kits root kit hacked websites identify specific vulnerabilities individual visitors' browsers serve drive-by exploits Trend Micro Mobile Threats Analyst Veo Zhang Godless exploit kit uses open-source rooting framework android-rooting-tools framework various exploits arsenal used to root various Android-based devices two most prominent vulnerabilities targeted kit CVE-2015-3636 PingPongRoot exploit CVE-2014-3153 Towelroot exploit exploits deprecated relatively unknown security community root privilege malware receive remote instructions app download silently install mobile devices affected users receiving unwanted apps unwanted ads threats install backdoors spy on users first Godless apps stored rooting exploits binary file called libgodlikelib.so infected device app installed device screen turn off proceeds rooting routine successfully roots device installs app all-powerful system privileges can't be easily be removed install system app implements standalone Google Play client automatically downloads installs apps client leave feedback in Google Play fraudulently improve certain apps’ rankings more recent Godless apps download rooting exploit payload server located at malware can bypass security checks Google Play other app stores later variants install backdoor root access silently install apps affected devices various apps in Google Play utility apps flashlights Wi-Fi apps copies of popular games contain malicious rooting code Trend identified name Summer Flashlight installed app recently ejected from Google Play Evil twin Trend post researchers large number benign apps Google Play elsewhere corresponding malicious versions share the same developer certificate potential risk users non-malicious apps upgraded malicious versions knowing about apps’ new malicious behavior note that updating apps outside Google Play violation store’s terms and conditions Godless latest Android malware rooting bugs persistent foothold on handsets researchers discovered family 20,000 trojanized apps powerful exploits gain root access Android operating system root exploits aren't automatically malicious deliberately use them expand capabilities devices bypass restrictions imposed by carriers manufacturers root exploits have ability circumvent key Android security protections users should run them only after thoroughly researching specific app that's doing the rooting Android users should avoid using third-party app stores notable exception Amazon's downloading stores, avoid apps unknown developers /

You are what you eat – & your children & grandchildren are too

Credit: Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

There is growing evidence that our biological inheritance due to our genes, is rivalled by our biological inheritance due to the microbes in our digestive tract.^1,2

Tim Spector, professor of Genetic Epidemiology at King's College London & head of the British Gut Project, recently revealed some amazing new insights about the human digestive tract when interviewed on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) radio:

The microbes in a human digestive tract, together
● are approximately the size of the liver
● number around 100 trillion!
● collectively known as the microbiome
● impact our digestion, our immune system & our brain
● can switch genes on & off

● are changed by our diet – by this means, what we eat impacts our health directly & also indirectly by its impact on our microbiome

● are passed from mother to offspring in a normal birth

Through this chain of interaction, our diet can impact future generations.

Podcast of the interview at: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/blueprintforliving/food-and-our-genes/7512020
__________

¹ “When gut bacteria change brain function”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/02/when-gut-bacteria-changes-brain-function.html

² “How too much fat & sugar + too little fibre is making us sick”, http://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2014/08/how-too-much-fat-sugar-too-little-fibre_23.html

/ growing evidence biological inheritance genes biological inheritance bacteria microbes digestive tract Tim Spector professor of Genetic Epidemiology King's College London head British Gut Project human digestive tract interviewed ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation bacteria bacterium microbes human digestive tract gut approximately size liver 100 trillion microbiome digestion immune system brain psychology psychological switch genes on off changed diet what we eat impacts health directly indirectly impact microbiome passed mother offspring normal birth chain of interaction diet impact future generations Podcast /

Beware “premium SMS”

Credit: androidslots.co.uk/

Happened across this on Whirlpool:

“Hi all recently I've noticed that occasionally when I open an app, I'm greeted with a static advertisement that can be closed with a small x on the top right, just prior the app actually opening. The ad is usually for some mobile game.

“Does anybody know how to remove this?

See the original at: https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2540738

And then this:

“Briefly I had been charged “third party charges” by Telstra. Apparently I had “subscribed” to something that would cost me $X to send a message to them, but it would cost me $XXX when the send a message to me. $XXX being much more than $X. I am still tyring to figure out what is their “standard” charge. I have 5 lots of $5 charge for 2 days in May, and more to come next month. The provider is MBLOX PTY LTD. Does anyone know them or have similar experience?”

See the original at: https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1925467

Seemed like something to avoid, so I Googled, “Mobidol ads”.

Found this on a service provider, “Crowdsupport”, forum: https://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/General-Mobiles/Mobidol/td-p/530835

No encouragement there. Or here: https://community.giffgaff.com/t5/Help-Support/Mobidol-scam/td-p/14947371

Or here: https://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/blogs/2015/july/citizens-advice-scams-awareness-month

Lots of unhappy draftees here: https://twitter.com/hashtag/mobidol

What can you do?
● avoid

● have your service provider bar, “premium SMS” – you may have to phone them – many service providers have an app which allows this to be set

/ scam Mobidol text SMS premium service Telstra Optus fraud fraudulent bill for these charges charged third party purchases phone kids must have accidentally done something bill phone received no messages from this company history billing us for absolutely nothing Telstra deduct these amounts off your bill websites complaints scam notices 1800 number mblox pty ltd bill Telstra locking premium SMS crap ALL mobile cell phones lodging complaint TIO Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman ombudsman /

Autonomous, 3D-printed bus for inner city mobility

Local Motors’ 3D-printed, autonomous, electric shuttle, Olli
Credit: Express Computer

Autonomous vehicles hold the potential to enable many efficiencies & economies in society.^1,2,3,4,5 One take on the autonomous vehicle is the Olli autonomous electric shuttle from Local Motors.

Economies of the Ollie concept include:

● reduced investment in vehicles due to sharing

● no inventory held by the manufacturer, as an Olli can be 3D printed in 10 hours, & assembled in just one more

● reduced energy consumption & carbon footprint due to electric drive⁶

http://www.theverge.com/2016/6/16/11952072/local-motors-3d-printed-self-driving-bus-washington-dc-launch

https://www.engadget.com/2016/06/16/olli-driverless-ev-local-motors-ibm-watson/

Thanks to Karl for this item.
__________

¹ “Fireside chat with Google's Sergey Brin & Larry Page (video)”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/fireside-chat-with-googles-sergey-brin.html

² “We have seen the future & it is delightfully dull”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/03/we-have-seen-future-its-delightfully.html

³ “Driving (or kind of not driving) a Tesla Model S with Autopilot”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2015/10/driving-or-kind-of-not-driving-tesla.html

⁴ “Volvo claims it will have “deathproof” cars by 2020”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/01/volvo-claims-it-will-have-deathproof.html

⁵ “Is it the beginning of the end for the rear-ender?”, https://hhg2tech.blogspot.com/2016/01/is-it-beginning-of-end-for-rear-ender.html

⁶ “Why does an electric car generate less carbon dioxide than a petrol powered one?”, https://hhg2t-long.blogspot.com/2011/06/why-does-electric-car-generate-less.html

/ Ollie Olli IBM Watson powered driverless autonomous electric EV electric vehicle bus 3D-printed vehicle seat 12 passengers cute driverless bus roaming streets Washington DC Olli autonomous electric minibus designed Local Motors sell 3D-printed cars this year automaker designed 12-seater 12 seater self-driving self driving system IBM use Watson's capabilities control EV's features AI artificial intelligence Watson tell Olli where you're going natural language ask questions how the technology works Olli Local Motors test the bus cities outside US Berlin Copenhagen Canberra ride trial runs local authorities EV your city driverless public vehicles legally shuttle passengers summon Olli app smartphone mobile device just like Uber Local Motors plans app company co-founder John Rogers building hundreds micro-factories all over the world 3D print Olli Ollie 10 hours assemble in one /