Microsoft has announced the new developer edition of HoloLens 2. Like the standard version of HoloLens, it’s supposed to cost $3,500, or $99 per month on an installment plan. Additional features over and above the standard HoloLens 2 model are, at this point, puzzlingly light. Signing up for the developer edition will get you $500 in Azure credits and a three-month trial of Unity Pro and the Unity PiXYZ plug-in for bringing engineering renders into Unity’s real-time 3D development platform. If you want the developer edition, you’ll also need to sign up for the Microsoft Mixed Reality Developer Program.
Ford is turning to its softer side to improve the customer experience, or CX. Ford this spring is rolling out an airline-style rewards points program and is training call center reps to be friendlier and more knowledgeable. It will even send a truck to your home or office to do the minor kinds of repair and service work that auto dealers have been losing to Jiffy Lube. Much of this CX initiative is built around the FordPass smartphone app and telematics-equipped Ford cars, SUVs, and pickups using Sync Connect. How serious is Ford Motor Company? The CX efforts fall under the purview of chief customer experience officer Elena Ford, Ford as in the great-great-granddaughter of company founder Henry Ford.
A few car manufacturers use bits and pieces of Android in their infotainment systems, but it’s never been the “Google” version of Android. That’s about to change with the rollout of the Android Automotive OS, which Google has demoed repeatedly during its long development. The Polestar 2, an electric vehicle from Volvo’s new experimental group brand that’s due out this year, will be the first vehicle to run Android Automotive. Google is encouraging developers to dig in and . You may be thinking that Android is already inside many cars, but that’s Android Auto. The new Android Automotive system is different and potentially much more powerful.
We’re probably still years away from truly self-driving cars being a reality, but is pushing the bounds of current technology with its Autopilot system. Its vehicles can drive on the highway, change lanes, and even brake in an emergency without human intervention. The system isn’t perfect, but Tesla thinks it will eventually be able to take you from point A to point B. What about when Autopilot isn’t active? Tesla wants to by implementing some of Autopilot’s features while the self-driving system is disabled. Autopilot on Tesla vehicles uses a combination of radar and cameras to map the world around the car.
For a limited time, the PCMag Shop is selling the Google Home Hub at a massive discount. While this handy touchscreen smart device retails for $149.99, you can save $65 when you make your purchase on the PCMag Shop before Sunday night. • Just like typical smart home assistants, you can use your voice to control your favorite services and smart home devices. But thanks to the 7-inch touch-sensitive display, you can also watch videos, browse photos, look at recipes, and even see who’s at the door thanks to Nest Hello video doorbell support.
For a limited time, you can save $80 off the Samsung T5 1TB portable SSD. With speeds up to 540MBps, USB 3.1 support, and AES 256-bit hardware encryption, this is a top-notch option for those of us who need to travel with a lot of sensitive data. • USB 3.1 Portable External SSD for $169.99 at Amazon (List price: $249.99). Into the Spider-Verse is one of the single best superhero movies of this decade – animated or not. Better yet, the UHD Blu-Ray is already on sale. Right now, you can save 55 percent off the sticker price, and enjoy it in 4K, Full HD, and on streaming platforms.
Google is almost certainly going to announce new, cheaper Pixel phones on the first day of Google I/O next week. Its efforts to keep these phones under wraps have failed spectacularly over the last few months, and it’s time for one final leak before the announcement. Some for the Pixel 3a and 3a XL have shown up, probably from an unlisted product page. Not only do we get a peek at the colors but also the features of Google’s new budget smartphones. The Pixel 3a and 3a XL both use the same general design as the current Pixel 3 flagship.
Back in 2010, “You’re holding it wrong” practically became a mantra after Apple’s iPhone 4 proved to have an antenna problem that dramatically limited reception if the device was held in certain ways. Now Samsung reportedly has a similar and serious problem with the Galaxy Tab 5e. The timing couldn’t be worse, given that the firm is still working out the problems with its nearly launched Galaxy Fold. If you hold the device in landscape mode with the selfie camera facing left, your hand apparently blocks the antenna receiver, leading to a sharp drop in signal strength. This can even result in complete Wi-Fi disconnects.
Server manufacturer Super Micro has been on the defensive since last year when a bombshell report from Bloomberg claimed the company’s hardware had been . While those charges remain unsubstantiated, the company has announced that it will to assuage concerns from its customers. Super Micro will also expand its in-house manufacturing capabilities to further improve security. The original Bloomberg report from October 2018 claimed that security teams at an unnamed US telecom had discovered “manipulated hardware” on Super Micro server motherboards. Bloomberg reported that Chinese agents had implanted surveillance chips via a Guangzhou manufacturing facility, and Super Micro had sent the affected servers to customers like Amazon and Apple, which later detected the spy chips.
