BMW to Release Self-Driving 7 Series this Year.

BMW 7s

BMW ag will dispatch a fleet of autonomous vehicles to U.S. and European cities during this year’s half, successive step in its partnership with Mobileye NV and Intel firm. to introduce totally self-driving vehicles by 2021.

The German auto manufacturer will put 40 of its 7 Series sedans on the road and train them to drive in urban areas, Klaus Froehlich, BMW’s head of development, said in an interview. The goal is to use the gathered information toward manufacturing the iNext, which will supplant the 7 Series because, the BMW brand’s flagship model and be capable of full autonomy four years from now.

Automakers and technology firms are speeding to form partnerships to compete against the likes of Alphabet inc.’s Google, that has clocked a pair of million self-driving miles on public roads, and Tesla Motors inc., with 1.3 billion miles of data from Autopilot-equipped vehicles. BMW is appealing to other carmakers to adopt its approach to help shoulder research prices, speed development by sharing data and guarantee they don’t become also-rans.

“Those who reach the finish line before you will have their tech become the basis of standardization,” Amnon Shashua, Mobileye’s co-founder and chief technology officer, said in an interview. “This is why sharing is important.”

BMW are going to be following Uber Technologies inc. and Volvo Cars in placing autonomous cars on the road, with the latter two firms partnering on test vehicles in pittsburgh and Arizona. other carmakers are reluctant up to now to heed BMW’s call for adopting its platform. Rival Daimler ag has said it prefers to develop its own technology.

Mobileye shares rose as much as 4.4 % to the peak intraday in 3 months and traded at $42.12 as of 1:12 p.m. in new york.

Expensive Tech.

Enabling vehicles to navigate with no human input through cities requires them to see and perceive advanced situations more like individuals do. Jerusalem-based Mobileye brings expertise in cameras that model the environment while Santa Clara, California-based Intel wields computing capabilities to power AI. the companies released details Wednesday in conjunction with CES 2017, the consumer technology show in las vegas.

“If everyone would use an equivalent network, it'll be best,” Froehlich said. “At the start, I think only premium cars will be able to afford such technology.”

Carmakers might participate by shopping for sensors to install in their cars, or go deeper with equipment that helps crowd-source data from an autonomous vehicle fleet, said Kathy Winter, vp and general manager of Intel’s automated Driving Division.

While Munich-based BMW’s main target is individual car owners, the technology will be available for ride-sharing fleets as well, Froehlich said. automakers are pushing into so-called mobility services like car-sharing and ride-hailing to counter alternatives to private vehicle ownership.

Partnership

BMW, that co-owns the DriveNow car-sharing venture with Sixt SE, are jockeying for consumers’ attention against the likes of Uber, Ford Motor Co. and, Volkswagen ag, among others. Google, which separated its self-driving automobile project into a new unit known as Waymo last month, plans to start out a ride-sharing service using semi-autonomous minivans manufactured by fiat Chrysler automobiles NV as soon as the finish of 2017. VW is rolling out Moia, a new division that will concentrate on ride-sharing.

Revenue from car-sharing is projected to surge more than sevenfold to 4.7 billion euros ($4.9 billion) by 2021, according to a study by Boston Consulting group inc. Robo-taxis will make up 40 % of automotive profits by 2030, more than selling vehicles to people, according to consulting company Roland Berger.

Read Also Waymo takes the veil self-driving Technology

Any HTC Vive can now go wireless Plus tracking accessories are coming

HTC Vive

These days are rocky for HTC, who not even a week past was reported to reveal the HTC Vive’s wireless sequel at CES 2017, solely to refute it moments later. Rest assured, the company by no means that shied away from this year’s client electronics Show. In fact, HTC showcased not solely a new subscription service at its presser, however even introduced AN assortment of hardware amenities.

For instance, HTC realizes that with additional and more VR-related peripherals returning to consumers, demand for developer units continues to multiply. That’s why the organisation has determined to unleash the Vive tracker, one accessory that may “make it even easier for developer to model and market” their product, according to Vive GM Daniel O’Brien.

“The Vive tracker is the initiative in growing an ecosystem of third-party accessories that may modify how we have a tendency to interact with virtual experiences and supply consumers and businesses with a vast quantity of content opportunities,” he said.

The tracker itself measures in at solely 85 grams in weight, with a diameter of 99.65 millimeters, and a height of 42.27mm. At CES especially, was absolutely shown off in conjunction with one or two of properly equipped accessories like the world’s first VR camera, various VR shooter rifles, haptic gloves, and training apps for both MLB players and firefighters.

Vive Tracker

HTC desires the Vive tracker to spur an ecosystem of VR accessories. this is often a section of potential that has been astonishingly barren to date as a result of accessories don’t have an established, standardized way to communicate with the receiver and its sensors. Vive tracker ought to solve that drawback, at least for the HTC Vive.
It’s scheduled to release within the second quarter of 2017, though' Valve says it’s freely giving 1,000 to developers the coming days.

Meanwhile, the Vive Deluxe Audio Strap is meant to enhance the standard of 360-degree audio consumption by making it more comfortable and sensible to use. Complete with a combination of intrinsically headphones, and a size dial for a speedier fit, O’Brien claims that the Deluxe Audio Strap can create a “seamless audio answer that also fits more well for Vive users.” This, too, is anticipated to launch in Q2 2017, although evaluation is, however, to be disclosed.

We might not be obtaining the HTC Vive 2 this year, however, wireless is seemly “open-standard,” that means third-party firms have collaborated with HTC to make it happen with this head-mounted display. Because of the HTC Vive X accelerator program that was announced earlier in the year, HTC was ready to work with TPCast, who has devised the very initial wireless adapter for HTC Vive. This is often coming in the second quarter of 2017 for a recommended retail worth of $249. Sadly, it's as if the battery life can only last users an hour and a half, although a five-hour XL version of identical battery can start off “at a later date.”

HTC Vive VS Oculus Rift

Lastly, HTC Viveport (the company’s VR storefront) will soon house a subscription-based platform announced for the company’s headset that caters to VR arcades and different businesses around the world. What’s more, for developers, you don’t need to worry regarding your content being hired while not your permission. Rather, Viveport supports an opt-in model, permitting devs to settle on whether or not they wish their apps on the marketplace.
“For developers, this is often yet another chance for them to achieve broader audiences,” said Viveport president Rikard Steiber. Meanwhile, for VR users, he said that the “way they discover and consume content through popular subscription services for music, films, TV, and games is returning to video game.”
HTC has also revealed that its dedicated Viveport Arcade app, that was undraped last Nov, has swollen worldwide with over one,000 VR arcade locations mistreatment the package.The corporate expects this variety to grow to five,000 by the top of this year.

Use your finger to control Vive's world

2018 Mercedes-Benz G-Class Spied, Close to Production

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

All the camouflage remains in situ, however the revolutionary, boxlike styling of the Gelandewagen simply shines through the psychedelic wrap, with the foremost vital visual modification set to be the marginally wider stance of the vehicle.In the purest German tradition, the foremost vital updates will return beneath the skin. The military vehicle-derived design of this model means that the road manners of the model are less than ideal, even in AMG-massaged G63 trim.


The 2018 G-Class can ride on a brand new platform that is expected to make significant use of aluminium. to start with, the architecture can bring an enormous diet, with the reported diet go between 440 and 900 lbs (200 and four hundred kg). 


Then there area unit the suspension enhancements. coming into the rumor space, we'll mention the G-Class is {anticipated} to change to an freelance configuration. The three-pointed star might build use of its Jewish calendar month tie-up, since the japanese maker has precocious the rear shaft of the double-cab 2016 Navara models with a five-link setup.

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Just as significantly, the G-Wagen may receive an air suspension, with the spring configuration amendmentbringing multiple advantages, like permitting the driver to change the ride height of the vehicle.

Stepping inside the SUV, we'll remind you that a previous spy video has already shown US the dashboard of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, adding to the previously-leaked analog instrument cluster.

In the firepower department, an all-new modular engine family can animated the offroader, with most of the units set to feature a 49-volt mild-hybrid system that may boost potency and scale back turbo lag.

The G63 badge can see the present five.5-liter twin-turbo V8 retiring, with the Affalterbach model receiving a massaged incarnation of the four.0-liter twin-turbo V8 presently found on the G500 and G500 square.

The Second Coming of Christ of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class ought to occur by the tip of the year, thus you must keep tuned for additional news on this rugged terrain matter.

Cyanogen Shuts Down Services

Cyanogen Inc., known for its Android mods and more recently for the Cyanogen OS, announced Thursday that it will shut down its services.

“As part of the ongoing consolidation of Cyanogen, all services and Cyanogen-supported nightly builds will be discontinued no later than 12/31/16. The open source project and source code will remain available for anyone who wants to build CyanogenMod personally,” the company posted on its website. The company has been in the news for its “consolidation” efforts ever since the reports of its laying off 30 out of its 136 employees — about 20 percent of its workforce — surfaced.

Strangely enough, the company still lists open positions for its Seattle office on Glassdoor.

In November, Android Police reported citing sources that the company will be shutting down its Seattle headquarters and move its operations to Palo Alto. The report said that the future of the company’s co-founder Steve Kondik’s remains unclear. Kondik was removed from his role as the chief science officer in October.

The company is expected to move away from the Cyanogen OS and work instead on apps. For this purpose, the company had launched a Mod platform in February 2016.

If you are on Cyanogen OS phones such as the OnePlus One or the Lenovo Zuk Z1, this basically means that you might not receive further software updates. But, as Cyanogen has mentioned on its website, you will be able to source out mods from the CyanogenMod community of developers.

Nokia shares fall on patent dispute with Apple

HELSINKI/BELGRADE, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Nokia shares fell by nearly 5 percent on Thursday in Helsinki as analysts warned a legal battle with Apple could delay for years royalty payments that are vital to shoring up the Finnish company's profits.

Nokia's patent licence contract with Apple expires at the end of the year. This week, both sides have taken legal action - with Nokia accusing Apple of violating some technology patents and Apple complaining of being overcharged - suggesting a new deal will be hard to agree.

Nokia filed further complaints against Apple on Thursday, saying it had now filed 40 patents suits in 11 countries covering technologies such as displays, software and chipsets.

"Nokia has created or contributed to many of the fundamental technologies used in today's mobile devices, including Apple products. After several years of negotiations trying to reach agreement to cover Apple's use of these patents, we are now taking action to defend our rights", " Ilkka Rahnasto, head of Nokia patent business said in a statement.

Patent royalties represent a sliver of Nokia's overall revenue, more than 90 percent of which comes from sales of telecoms network equipment. But the licensing payments are highly profitable at a time when the network business is suffering an industry-wide slump.

"Nokia will likely be granted a better licence deal from Apple. But because of the dispute, it could take years to reach a new contract, and royalties will likely come (as) retrospective one-time payments," said Inderes analyst Mikael Rautanen, who has an "accumulate" rating on Nokia shares.

Once the world's dominant cellphone maker, Nokia sold its handset business to Microsoft in 2014 and focused on its network business as well as a bulging portfolio of mobile device patents.

Wells Fargo Securities analyst Maynard Um, who follows both companies, said the lawsuits were negative for Apple and Nokia due to litigation costs and uncertainty over the outcome.

"The fact that this did not go to arbitration suggests, to us, that the two sides must be far apart in what each party wants," he wrote in a note to clients.

"It appears (Apple) is not arguing the validity of the patents but, rather, the rate it deems fair," he said, adding Nokia could also "choose to file a suit with the International Trade Commission (ITC) to bar Apple from importing handsets into the U.S." Um rates both companies' shares as "market perform".

Nokia's patents cover technology that reduces the need for hardware components in a phone, conserves battery life, increases radio reception, helps in recovering lost phones and enables voice recognition, among other features.

The Finnish firm has forecast the run-rate of its patent and brand licensing sales will be about 950 million euros ($994 million) by the end of 2016, but that it will fall to about 800 million after the Apple deal expires, in the absence of a new one.

Nokia's total sales in 2016 are expected to top 24 billion euros.

Its shares in Helsinki closed at 4.5 euros, and are down some 30 percent since the start of 2016. In New York Nokia shares traded down 0.6 percent at 4.73 dollars.