Golden Touch: Gold Infinity unveils unique gold-plated iPhone X
Luxury brand Gold Infinity is teaming up with local celeb Mr. M and, thanks to the sponsorship of German auto maker Audi’s R8 V10 super car, is shining the spotlight on a dazzling, one-of-a-kind 24k gold iPhone X.
This particular iPhone X was plated entirely with a luxurious 3-micron-thick layer of 24k yellow gold, and boasts a gloriously shimmering finish thanks to Gold Infinity’s precision handcraftsmanship.
For the uninitiated, Gold Infinity is the go-to specialist when it comes to customised gold-plating services. From phones and watches to a whole host of other luxury accessories, its unique products are a benchmark of quality and style.
To get more information or to place an order for your own unique gold-plated accessory, please visit www.goldinfinity-luxury.com
Sennheiser’s HD 800 S raises the bar for audio perfection
Six years after thrilling audiophiles with the much-lauded HD 800 headphones, German audio specialist Sennheiser aims to raise the bar yet again with its new and improved model: the HD 800 S.
Boasting the self-same transducer technology that allowed its predecessor to deliver pristine sound quality, the HD 800 S distinguishes itself even further by providing an even greater level of mid and bass reproduction capabilities – a feat that’s sure to delight and charm fans of the brand and the uninitiated alike.
Lovingly handcrafted at Sennheiser’s headquarters in Wedemark, Germany, the new design retains a high benchmark of product quality, having been manufactured utilizing only the most luxurious of materials: the transducer is housed within a special stainless steel gauze, the headbands consist of several layers of attenuating plastic and stainless steel, and the connector contacts are gold-plated to ensure optimum connection.
The pièce de résistance lies in the earcup design, which uses the same high-quality attenuating plastic favoured by the aviation engineering industry for its lightweight durability. A matte black finish completes the look of the HD 800 S, giving it a fittingly futuristic yet luxurious feel.
In the HD 800 S, Sennheiser has brought all its expertise to bear, giving audiophiles a taste of true technical sound perfection while retaining the gold standard of luxury that has become synonymous with all Sennheiser products.
Apocalypse Imminent: Will Artificial Intelligence eventually destroy humanity?
When acclaimed theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking died back in March, his many achievements and convictions were again revisited by the scientific community. Not much attention, though, was paid to his conclusions about Artificial Intelligence (AI) posing the greatest threat to mankind’s continued existence.
Stephen Hawking predicted AI would eventually destroy humanity
During one his many unequivocal statements as to the extent of the threat, he said: “Unless we learn how to prepare for, and avoid, the potential risks, the rise of AI could be the worst event in the history of our civilisation.”
Given Hawking’ intellect and reputation, it would be foolhardy to ignore his warnings. Just what is Artificial Intelligence and why did it make the eminent cosmologist quite so alarmed?
According to John McCarthy, the American computer scientist who first coined the term ‘artificial intelligence’, the answer is straightforward and innocuous sounding: “It’s the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programmes”. In other words, it’s creating computers that have a human-like capacity to think.
Throughout history, this has seemed relatively harmless aspiration on the part of the scientific sector. In 1915, for instance, El Ajedrecista, the world’s first autonomous chess machine made its debut. Although rudimentary, it could play complete games and flag up any illegal moves made by its opponent.
In 1961, things became a little more practicable, with Unimate, the world’s first industrial robot, joining the production line at General Motors’ New Jersey plant.
Machine intelligence may one day far exceed the humans who first devised it
While both these systems were quite basic, Hawking saw them as steps to something far more sinister – the development of machine consciousness. Known by computer scientists as the Singularity, there is a widespread belief that mankind will eventually create an Artificial Superintelligence, a self-aware entity whose technological capabilities and constant self-improving updates would, one day, evolve far beyond the humans who first devised it.
To date, however, no system has passed the Turing Test – an elaborate “interview” procedure that assesses whether any given computer system can interact with a human to the extent that the human believes their respondent is also human.
While that is yet to happen, the current thinking is that a computer capable of passing the Turing Test will been developed by 2029. Just such a prospect has seen a number of luminaries side with Hawking, including Elon Musk, the visionary behind Tesla – a leading manufacturer of electric vehicles and solar panels. Last year, Musk, together with Hawking, was one of 100 scientific luminaries who petitioned the United Nations to ban AI-enabled weapons.
Already, many of AI’s potential military applications have caused worldwide concern. According to a survey conducted by Action Against Armed Violence, a London-based charity, unmanned drone airstrikes killed more than 15,000 civilians in 2017 alone, a year-on-year rise of over 40%.
AI has already insinuated itself into many of our day-to-day interactions
As well as AI’s potential for transforming battlefields, there are also concerns about its impact in the workplace. While some gamely maintain that AI will inevitably create jobs in the future, the consensus is that it will do exactly the opposite.
According to a February 2017 report by McKinsey, global management consultancy, more than 50% of the jobs currently held by humans could be eliminated by 2055, with autonomous systems employed instead.
Despite such glum predictions, not every technocrat is a member of the anti-AI brigade. Welcoming the possibilities opened up by technology, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says: “One reason I’m so optimistic about AI is the improvements it could offer in terms of basic research systems across so many fields – from diagnosing diseases to keeping us healthy, to improving self-driving cars and keeping us safe.”
On a less grandiose basis, AI has also insinuated itself into many of our day-to-day interactions. Almost entirely without ceremony, it has come to play a key role in road and traffic safety, detecting credit card fraud and home and office security.
So, will Artificial Intelligence be an extinction-level threat or a benevolent companion? While both views have their proponents, it could be that the future will ultimately see man and machine not as antagonists but as allies, working more closely together than could have been envisaged just 50 years ago.
Through a process also known as digital ascension, man and machine will become one
Championing this particular view is Ray Kurzweil, Google’s Director of Engineering and the author of the 2005 bestseller The Singularity is Near. Outlining his theory, he says: “While 2029 is the date I have consistently predicted that an AI will pass the Turing Test, I have set the date for the Singularity as 2045. This is the year, I believe, we will multiply our own effective intelligence a billion-fold by merging with the intelligence we have created.”
In a process also known as digital ascension, man and machine will become one, with human consciousness uploaded to a computer mainframe. It may not accord with Hawking’s belief that Artificial Intelligence will destroy humanity, but it does mean that, post-2045, our descendants may not be recognisably human. That alone may prove that much-missed physicist was right to warn us.
Text: Tenzing Thondup
Photos: AFP
Skyroam Solis: A Wi-Fi gadget for world wanderers
In the days before digitality, all the world traveller needed was their passport, stout walking shoes and shiny beads to placate the indigents. Now, of course, things are way more complex, with biometric scans, odd-shaped plug sockets and, most inconvenient of all, lack of access to a handy roaming Wi-Fi gadget for out-of-country explorations, all combining to make you wish you’d stayed at home and watched a Netflix travelogue instead.
Help, however, may well be at hand. At least on the phone network front. For just US$149.99, you can be the proud owner of the internet-in-a-day-glo-orange box, a handy multi-country Wi-Fi gadget you can pop in your carry-on luggage. Officially known as the
Skyroam Solis, this indispensable little gadget is said to offer 4G LTE data connections in more than 110 countries, meaning that accidentally downloading half an episode of Game of Thrones in a Warsaw Travelodge will never again oblige you to part with your least favourite organ just to pay the roaming charge.
To be upfront, in addition to the one-off payment of $149.99, there is a pay-as-you-go charge for your out-of-country connectivity. This ranges from $9 per 24 hours to $99 for a whole month of Wi-Fi wandering. For those juggling a multitude of devices, the system can actually handle up to five simultaneous connections. It also comes with a built-in 6,000mAh powerbank, ensuring that you’ll have several hours of connectivity at least before you have to tackle that incompatible socket conundrum.
You could be forgiven for thinking that there’s very little new in headphone world, at least nothing new that’s vaguely comprehensible to the committed non-audiophile. Upgraded coaxial digital input? Enhanced OTL tube amps? I’ll have a bit of that, squire, as long as it brings out the true majesty of Celine Dion Sings the Hits of John Denver…
Word has it, though, that the Nuraphone, the debut offering from Nura, a three-year-old Melbourne-based high-tech headphone specialist, could actually be genuinely innovative. Kickstarter-funded, personalisation is said to be the key to the unique audio experience the company promises across its array of breathtakingly immodest promotional literature.
Taking as its starting point the fact that no two people ever have quite the same listening experience, the Nuraphone’s core component is a self-learning algorithm. This natty bit of tech is said to study your listening patterns and then adjust its settings based on your responses to low, mid and high tones. After that, a completely personalised and unique sound profile is apparently yours in 60 seconds or less.
In a nod to traditional headphone double-speak, the Nuraphone is also apparently blessed with immersive Inova sonic moulding architecture, which, given its polysyllabic incomprehensibility, just has to be great. Those worried that so much emphasis on high-techery may actually result in a diminished sound quality – it wouldn’t be the first time – can actually rest assured that this is not the case. According to the manufacturer, the headphones are guaranteed to deliver pristine sound quality, with the promise of getting your money back if they don’t.
Here’s something from the home front: Hong Kong-based start-up Origami Labs, a maker of connected devices, launched the world’s first voice-powered smart ring. As if smartwatch technology wasn’t enough, the ORII takes things further by removing the crystal altogether for a “screen-free future”.
Launched on Kickstarter last year, this innovative device puts your phone’s voice assistant at your fingertip. Users can send messages, take calls and handle everyday tasks by simply touching their ear and speaking. Bone conduction technology – used to transmit sound – is the revolutionary idea behind the ORII. Bluetooth also plays a role in transmitting vibrations from the smartphone to one’s finger bone and finally into the ear, allowing users to speak and hear through their finger.
Four Hong Kong-born university friends founded the project, jumping into a wearable technology market that is forecasted to hit US$34 billion by 2020. “Our inspiration came from my dad, who has been visually impaired from a young age,” says Origami Labs CEO Kevin Johan Wong. “He set out to develop voice and text-based technology to help others like him.”
Employing the same technology used in hearing aids, ORII is said to be the next step in voice interface hardware, marking a shift from screen and text-based technology to more voice-activated channels of communication. The ultimate goal is to make people more productive by seamlessly integrating virtual assistants.
Images: ORII
Fuze: The world’s thinnest smartcard is the perfect all-in-one solution
If you thought the Octopus was convenient, wait till you get a load of this. BrilliantTS, a California-based company, just developed the world’s thinnest all-in-one smartcard. Essentially, it lets you lighten your wallet by packing all your plastic – or at least your credit, debit, membership and gift cards – into a single, secure smartcard called Fuze.
Fuze can store the information of up to 30 cards, and although it may sound scary to put all your eggs in one basket, the Fuze has some reassuring security features. Firstly, its remote wipe technology allows users to instantly clear their data online if they lose their card. Secondly, users can track the location of their card if it has been left behind or nabbed. And thirdly, the app lets you manage your finances without having to log onto several different online banking systems; just tap a button to switch out the payment method and you’re all set to swipe your savings away.
Last May, BrilliantTS launched the concept on fundraising platform Indiegogo and raised over US$50,000 (full funding) in just two hours. At the moment, the Fuze is under production, and the perfected prototype will soon be transformed into a mass-produced product; with the first batch already in the works.
If you’re keen on cleaning out your wallet, the Fuze is set to retail at US$160-$210, depending on the version, with pre-orders starting at US$79. The water-resistant, 0.03-inch device uses Bluetooth and NFC technology and comes with a user manual, charging cable, e-charging dock and card e-reader. Happy shopping!
Digital-Age Jeeves: Multimedia Keecker robot is the perfect electronic butler
Move over, Jeeves, there’s a new butler in town. We’re talking, of course, about the new Keecker robot. Dubbed ‘the world’s first voice-enabled multimedia robot’, this long-awaited electronic home companion may just be the perfect gadget for the Smart Houses of today.
A cursory glance at the Keecker robot’s specs already reveals capabilities that seem more at home in an episode of The Jetsons than in our everyday lives. It’s a mobile speaker that can pair with apps like Netflix, Youtube and Spotify, and is capable of delivering up to 117dB of sound.
It’s also a mobile movie theatre, featuring a built-in projector capable of producing HD images up to 78 inches in diameter on any flat surface (walls, ceilings, garage door…). This function also allows users to video-conference loved ones or business colleagues with nary a hint of trouble.
Best of all, the Keecker robot is equipped with a 360-degree camera and sensors that allow it to follow you around the house, while also doubling as a security guard that can patrol your home while you’re not around.
First teased over three years ago, this admittedly adorable Keecker robot finally hit the market late last year with a price tag of US$1,790 for the 32GB model and US$1,990 for the 160GB version.
For more ‘smart’ household gadgets, check out our article on Smart Home Gadgets.
L’Oréal’s UV Sense nail accessory doubles as sensor for harmful UV rays
A continuous slew of ever-more outlandish nail trends have been dominating the beauty industry over the past year. From reflective mirror-finishing to fur-covered stickers and even actual nail piercings, each fad seems more bizarre than the last. Thankfully, L’Oréalis bringing a bit of sanity back into the world of nail art with its newly unveiled UV Sense.
At first glance, UV Sense seems like a rather innocuous, almost unwieldy, nail accessory. But don’t let its looks fool you. This tiny 9mm-wide sticker is actually an innovative sensor that will help wearers monitor their exposure to harmful UV rays.
Built using the latest in miniature technology, UV Sense is touted as the world’s first battery-free wearable electronic sensor. The gadget can retain up to three months of data, which it transfers to the wearer’s mobile phone via Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. In common parlance, that means it can communicate with the dedicated app without requiring any Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.
Users can then monitor how much of the harmful rays they’ve been exposed to, along with helpful tips like when to put on sun block, or which times to avoid being outdoors. All-in-all it looks to be an ideal personal UV monitor.
While it may seem strange for a beauty company to be dabbling in electronics, for L’Oréal, it’s the logical next step in its 80-year quest to promote sun safety, while remaining competitive in the market.
“Beauty trends show that adoption of wearable nail art accessories is on the rise, with an increase of over 65 percent in nail art trends over the last five years,” shares Guive Balooch, Global Vice President of L’Oréal’s Technology Incubator, “[UV Sense] taps into this growing trend, while illustrating our deep commitment to sun-save behaviour and protection.”
With UV Sense’s global release still one full year away, only time will tell if L’Oréal’s innovative melding of technology and beauty will be a viable commercial success. But something tells us it will quickly catch on…
Smart Home Gadgets: Top 3 tech designs to transform your home
With the Digital Age fully upon us, smart cars, smartwatches and smartphones have truly become commonplace. But what technological strides have come about to improve our home lives? We take a look at smart home gadgets and highlight three of our favourites.
It may look like something out of a sci-fi flick, Moley’s robot chef is very much about to become a reality. Set to launch later this year, this automated culinary aid has been programmed with countless recipes to spruce up your home dining experience. BBC Master Chef winner Tim Anderson’s culinary skills are at the core of this robot’s programming, which replays the chef’s exact movements when cooking.
For harried professionals, this is the perfect time-saver with the added benefit of being able to eat world-class cuisine. For that reason, if nothing else, Moley’s robot chef makes our list of top smart home gadgets to buy.
Tired of tossing out expired produce? Exhausted trying to think up recipes for the family? Then Samsung’s innovative Family Hub refrigerator may be perfect for you. The core precept of this new design is to monitor your groceries and culinary needs in the kitchen so you don’t have to.
Equipped with a 21.5-inch touchscreen, interior cameras and connectivity capabilities, this kitchen fixture helps monitor expiration dates, suggests recipes based on your current inventory, keeps tabs of your family’s eating schedule and much more besides. Users can interact with the system via the in-built screen or through its companion app – perhaps on its new Galaxy S9 and S9+ smartphones?
From customizable shower settings and voice-activated mirrors controls to intelligent toilets, Kohler Konnect’s ‘smart bathroom’ design features a slew of innovative smart home gadgets. With its personalisable programmes, it’s the perfect upgrade to any tech-lover’s home.
