This week Apple’s Kevin Lynch stood on stage at WWDC 2017 and spoke about the next big update to the Apple Watch. This new update will bring Siri to the Apple Watch, at last. It’ll be like having a digital assistant available all the time – from your wrist. This update also brings a stream of information from Siri – using machine learning to make the best guess at what you’ll want next. This new update includes Watchfaces that can change depending on the time. New Watchfaces will soon be able to change based on location as well. This new update in WatchOS 4 will also allow the Apple Watch to work with a Siri Watchface. Also available is a new Kaleidoscope watchface that turns and transforms when the crown is turned. “You can rotate the crown and get this kind of trippy effect,” said Lynch. Another set of Watchfaces includes characters from Toy Story – Woody, Jesse, Buzz included. In WatchOS 4 is a new Workout app user interface. This new version of the app include auto-set for pool workouts, personalized achievement updates, and smarter coaching. Apple also brought on Lauren Goode to speak well of the WatchOS 4 update with the Workout app. Story TimelineApple releases iOS 9.2, watchOS 2.1, El Capitan 10.11.2, and tvOS 9.1watchOS 3 official, total redesign includes Instant Launch, Activity SharingApple iOS 10.1, watchOS 3.1, and OS X Sierra 10.12.1 betas appear at onceApple watchOS 3.1.1 update pulled over bricking fearsApple Watch Theatre Mode and SiriKit incoming in watchOS 3.2
This update allows NFC in the Apple Watch to work with something outside of Apple Pay. In the demonstration shown by Apple this week, the Apple Watch attained information from gym equipment using NFC. This is called Gym Connect – and it’s not likely the last. This is the first time Apple has allowed NFC in their mobile products to be used for something outside of Apple Pay.This is just a part of what’s to come with WatchOS 4 very soon. Stick around SlashGear’s Apple portal for more information as it arrives. More bits and pieces will arrive later this week!
Story TimelineMicrosoft AI educational 10-course program opens to the publicMicrosoft’s pragmatic AR isn’t sexy, but it will be successfulMicrosoft AI for Accessibility is a $25m fund for smart disability tech Projects that currently rely on transferring data to the cloud, waiting for it to be processed there, and then having the results returned to them will, with the growth of edge computing, be able to do more of that locally. That might be object recognition, or translating languages to text. “In the next 10 years, billions of everyday devices will be connected,” points out Frank X. Shaw, Microsoft’s corporate vice president of communications, “smart devices that can see, listen, reason, predict and more, without a 24/7 dependence on the cloud.”AdChoices广告So, broadening Microsoft’s footprint in edge computing is a big part of the push at BUILD this year. The Azure IoT Edge Runtime is being open-sourced, and joined by the first Azure Cognitive Service for the edge, Custom Vision. That will open the door to AI algorithms that an listen, see, speak, and interpret, all without demanding remote processing. It’s not just theory. Microsoft is working with DJI on commercial drones that can integrate standalone AI functionality. Baked into a DJI Mavic, for example, the drone could fly over seemingly identical pipes but use its onboard artificial intelligence to photograph them, identify damage, and then publish its survey report to Microsoft’s 365 platform. The same technology could be used to help farmers monitor and plan their agriculture and crops, or public services relying on drones to check on crowd safety and more. Another deal, with chip-maker Qualcomm, will see a new vision AI dev kit running Azure IoT Edge. That’ll be used for camera-based IoT solutions, running machine learning and cognitive services downloaded from Azure and run locally on the edge. Microsoft isn’t relying completely on partnerships for its new platforms, mind. Today the company is also announcing Project Kinect for Azure, packaging up the same advanced camera and tracking technology that we’ve seen used with Xbox and HoloLens, and integrating it with standalone processing power for localized AI. It’s a fairly pivotal week for Microsoft. The company finds itself sharing headlines – and developer head-space – with Google, whose I/O conference begins tomorrow. Both are setting out their stall as the linchpin for artificial intelligence and the cloud; each has an argument for why its implementation of machine learning and more should be the one that coders devote their limited time to. Which argument will hit home remains to be seen. “The world is a computer.” So says Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft as the company opens its Build 2018 developer conference today. It’s an important time for the software giant, buoyed by the growth of the cloud but looking to extend that success as needs both niche and wide-spread get more and more demanding. That means more security, more storage, and more devices. 
For Microsoft it’s an opportunity to discuss one of its new obsessions: edge computing. The goal is more silicon in more places, from the infrastructure making up smart cities, to devices as small as the mouse on your desktop. It’s also an opportunity to mesh that with another of the company’s fascinations, artificial intelligence. To say Microsoft is gung-ho about AI is an understatement, but edge computing will help bring it out of the cloud and distribute it more broadly. A key part of edge computing’s value will be its efficiencies in AI inferencing. That is, taking a trained model and then deploying that more broadly.
Oppo has a new Apple AirPods rival, the Oppo O-Free, fully wireless Bluetooth headphones that it’ll be offering alongside its unusual Find X Android smartphone. The new headphones cut the cables completely, with no wires between the lozenge-shaped left and right earbuds. While it’s obviously not the first company to have Bluetooth headphones, Oppo’s do distinguish themselves in a couple of important ways. They’re the first to be announced as using the new Qualcomm QCC3026 chipset, for example, the SoC-maker’s freshly-unveiled platform for more affordable wireless earbuds. The pitch there is that battery life will be much improved – Qualcomm is saying its new chipset cuts power consumption by as much as 50-percent versus the old version – but without sacrificing on audio quality.So, there’s still aptX Bluetooth for higher-resolution audio with compatible devices, but also Qualcomm TrueWireless Stereo support for improving the pairing process, making connectivity more stable while you’re listening, and for improving on power management. In the case of the Oppo O-Free headphones, that means four hours of music playback from a single charge. They’ll come with a carrying case that doubles as a charger, which can recharge the earbuds up to three times, for a total of 12 hours of overall listening.Qualcomm’s biggest promise with the QCC3026 is to make stereo Bluetooth headphones so affordable, phone-makers can choose to bundle them in-box with their handsets as freebies instead of a wired set of headphones. In some cases, Oppo is doing just that. The regular Find X will still come with a traditional wired headset, but the Find X Lamborghini Edition will throw in a set of custom-finish O-Free headphones instead.Those will have a carbon fiber design, matching the car-branded version of the Android smartphone. Of course, you’re also looking at a very expensive handset already. Oppo may be bundling Bluetooth headphones, but it’s also charging 1,699 euros, or the equivalent of around $1,980.Regular Find X handsets won’t be getting the O-Free in the box, but they should be more affordable than many branded wireless headphones we’ve seen. Oppo says they’ll be price at 699 Yuan – or around $108 – when they go on sale in China, which is expected to happen in August. They’ll be offered in blue and red finishes. No word on a US release, though Qualcomm has said it expects more designs using its new headphones chipset to begin showing up in the second half of the year. Story TimelineOppo Find X avoids the notch with a motorized camera arrayOPPO Find X: you can’t have it either
The Philips Hue Adore Bathroom mirror has an included dimmer switch, but can also be controlled using smart assistants like Alexa via the Hue bridge. Unlike some connected Hue lightbulbs, the Adore mirror only glows white. The model was designed for bathrooms, including an IP44 protective construction that can withstand water splashes.The included dimmer switch has a wireless remote control that can be attached to a wall as a switch, but without the hassle of wired installation. The mirror itself, however, has to be wired into place for power. Alternatively, the smart mirror can be controlled using a smart speaker, such as Google Home or Amazon Echo, assuming there’s a Hue bridge in place.As far as specs go, the mirror features an LED bulb, 2400 lumen output, 30,000-hour lifetime, a 22-inch diameter, nearly 12lbs weight, and metal frame. The product has appeared on the Philips Hue website, but doesn’t currently have a price or availability. Hue Home Lighting reports the price as £229.99 in the UK with an August launch date; North America details aren’t clear. The Philips Hue lighting product lineup has expanded with the launch of Adore Bathroom, a wall mirror with a diffused glowing ring around the edge. The model can be mounted on any wall, such as above a bathroom sink, providing a soft glow and warm color as a gentle alternative to flipping on the harsh overhead lights. 
Samsung is embracing color this time around, and fans of black phones may be disappointed to discover that, though there’s a Black Note 9, it won’t be released in the US at first. Instead you choose between Ocean Blue with a contrasting yellow S Pen, or Lavender Purple with a matching stylus. What we liked has stayed the same. You still get IP68 water and dust resistance – regardless of whether the S Pen is docked in its silo – along with USB-C, NFC, WiFi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.0. There’s still a microSD slot, now compatible with up to 512 GB cards. On the bottom you still get a 3.5mm headphone jack, while Samsung’s AKG-tuned stereo speakers sound loud and full-bodied. The display gets a little larger, though, at 6.4-inches. The 2960 x 1440 resolution stays the same as before, and the Super AMOLED panel looks tremendous. If every you needed a reminder why so many companies use Samsung’s displays, the Note 9’s color-rich, bright, contrast-dense screen is it. On the back, the fingerprint sensor has been shuffled down, underneath the camera array, addressing one of the main complaints about the Note 8 in the process. Depending on how you naturally hold the Note 9 you might find it’s mounted a little high up for easy reach: there’s no escaping that this is a big device. Iris recognition and facial recognition are supported too, along with Intelligent Scan which promises to combine iris and face into a single, faster lock. It’s not as secure as iris or fingerprint alone, mind, and I had some trouble getting it to consistently unlock for me.The one thing I was hoping wouldn’t be carried over from the Note 8, though, is the dedicated Bixby button. Not only are you not able to remap the key on the side of the phone to launch something else, unlike previous Galaxy handsets there’s not even the option to turn the button off so as to avoid accidental presses. Sure, there are third-party apps which can assign it to other things, but I’d really prefer to see Samsung relent.Inside, the US gets Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 chipset, while other countries get Samsung’s own Exynos 9810. For the first time, though, there’ll be two RAM options. The $999.99 Galaxy Note 9 – which Samsung sent us – has 128 GB of storage and 6 GB of RAM. Step up to the $1,249.99 Note 9, meanwhile, and you get 512 GB of storage and 8 GB of RAM. Does anybody really need 8 GB of memory in their phone? Perhaps if you’re looking to truly future-proof yourself for the next few years, though then the absence of 5G may rankle. For the moment, though, the Note 9’s Cat.18 LTE and 4×4 MIMO make it one of the fastest-connecting smartphones around, assuming you have the network to suit. The other change you can’t see is Samsung’s cooling system. The Note 8 – and indeed the Galaxy S9 and S9+ – could get fairly toasty in the hand when pushed hard. For the Note 9, Samsung says it has used a considerably larger cooling system, and sure enough it did feel a little less warm after heavy-duty tasks. A smarter S PenThe S Pen may look the same, but inside there’s now a battery and Bluetooth LE for a lot more functionality. As before, you get 4,096 level pressure sensitivity and a 0.7mm nib. It’s IP68 waterproof and dustproof, and the drawing and writing elements still don’t require power. You still get Air Command, with its pop-up launcher that blooms open when you pull the S Pen out, and Screen Off Memo which allows you to jot down a speedy note from the lockscreen. The 6.4-inch screen means there’s plenty of space for handwriting and drawings, and it’s just as easy as before to capture a screenshot or webpage and then annotate it up. The Bluetooth kicks in when the S Pen is away from the screen, turning the stylus into a remote control. It works up to around 30 feet away, and the battery – which recharges in about 40 seconds when the S Pen is slotted into its silo – is good for up to 30 minutes standby or 200 clicks of the side button. Hold down the button, and you can have the app of your choice load. After that, in compatible apps at least, the button works as a trigger. In the camera, for instance, pressing once takes a photo, and pressing twice flips between the front and rear cameras. In the gallery, a single press moves forward one photo, while a double press moves back. The same thing happens in Chrome, moving forward or backward through webpages, and for presentation slides. If you’re listening to music, pressing the button once toggles between play/pause, while double pressing it skips ahead to the next track. It works in third-party apps, too, like Spotify. Even with that, the list of third-party apps which take advantage of the new S Pen functionality is fairly short. Samsung’s hope is that developers will leap on its SDK, and integrate the stylus’ Bluetooth into their own software. For the moment, I generally used it to launch the camera and take photos from across the room, as well as to control music streaming wirelessly via Spotify Connect through some Sonos speakers. Where’s my Pie?The Galaxy Note 9 launches with Android 8.1 Oreo and Samsung’s custom skin, and there’s no public timescale for when we could expect Android 9 Pie to arrive. Now certainly, building in stylus-specific features probably doesn’t make things easy for Samsung. All the same, wondering when you might get Google’s latest OS when you’re spending $1,000+ on a flagship phone seems like something Samsung’s most committed buyers shouldn’t have to worry about. For its part, Samsung tells me that it expects the timeline to echo that of the Note 8’s big upgrade. That launched in September 2017 with Android Nougat, with Android Oreo arriving in March of this year. Based on that, it could be six months or so before you see Android 9 Pie for the Note 9. Part of the problem is that Samsung insists on making a fair number of changes to the Note 9’s software, not all of them welcome. We’re – thankfully – a long way from the days of extreme TouchWiz bloat, but Samsung does still insist on doubling up on some apps. The Note 9 comes with both Samsung’s own browser and Chrome installed; Samsung’s own gallery app and Google Photos; and Samsung’s own email app and Gmail. That said, in everyday use the Note 9 is a fairly streamlined affair when you have everything set up. I dumped the duplicate apps into a folder and ignored them, concentrating instead on trying to coax my handwriting into something better than an illegible scrawl, and thus make the most of the S Pen and Samsung’s note-taking app. Whatever I did, I had no problems with lag or sluggishness; the combination of the Snapdragon 845 and 6 GB of memory left the experience problem-free. Bixby remains a sore point, and though Samsung says its assistant is much improved now, it’s still hardly an AI essential. Third-party app integration is the big news for 2018, but that hasn’t been working smoothly in my testing. To be fair, Samsung tells me that it’s still working on Bixby and promises the experience will be much better when the Note 9 officially launches later this month. A streamlined DeXSamsung DeX was always an intriguing idea – turning your powerful smartphone into a PC replacement, just by connecting an external display – but its reliance on docking stations made it less appealing to road warriors hoping to simply convert a hotel room TV into an impromptu monitor. For the Note 9, Samsung has simplified things. Now, you don’t need a full dock, just a USB-C to HDMI adapter. MORE 1 month with DeX and I almost dumped my PCOfficially, Samsung only recommends its own DeX adapter, but I was able to get the Note 9 running just fine with a generic USB-C to HDMI dongle. In fact, when I plugged in a Huawei MateDock – which has HDMI, two USB 3.0 ports, ethernet, and a VGA output – and plugged a USB-C power supply into it, I was able to get a display, wired keyboard and mouse, and a wired network connection running without a problem. DeX on the Note 9 will work with Bluetooth peripherals, or you can use the touchscreen as a trackpad; the on-screen keyboard will pop up automatically whenever you need to enter text. Still, this ability to get a Windows-esque desktop, with a full-sized keyboard, windowed navigation, and all running from a phone was eye-opening. Honestly, Samsung should bundle a USB-C to HDMI adapter in the box, because I suspect even with the simpler, cheaper approach this time around, a reasonable percentage of Note 9 owners still won’t give DeX a try, and that’s a real shame. An AI photographerContinuing the theme of “something old, something new,” the Note 9’s camera pairs familiar hardware with new software. In this case, it’s the Dual Pixel camera array we saw on the Galaxy S9+ but paired with an updated app that promises a smarter auto mode. Both sensors run to 12-megapixels and have optical image stabilization. One gets Samsung’s Dual Aperture system, with both f/1.5 and f/2.4 lenses that it can physically switch between, either automatically depending on the scene, or manually in Pro mode, depending on lighting conditions. The second sensor has an f/2.4 telephoto lens, for a 2x optical zoom. We’ve seen a wide variety of camera setups on recent flagship phones, from separate color and monochrome sensors, to varying apertures, to doing everything with one sensor and extra-clever software. Honestly, there’s no one “perfect” configuration either. To my eye, the Note 9 does well with everyday scenes, though I prefer the Pixel 2 XL’s faux-bokeh, which does a better job at edge detection, and the Huawei P20 Pro’s low-light shots, which don’t suffer the Samsung’s occasional blotchiness. Samsung’s focus with the Note 9 has been trying to make sure you get the best possible shot in the moment, then. It calls it Scene Optimizer, and it’s basically Samsung’s version of an AI identifying what you’re trying to take a photo of, and adjusting the settings to suit. Point it at a flower, and the Note 9 should recognize that and adjust the color tones, saturation, white balance, brightness, contrast, and other factors accordingly. There are about 20 different scenes it can identify, including food, portraits, animals, greenery, sky, beaches, sunrises, and waterfalls. Samsung isn’t the first to do this, of course. LG and Huawei have both used AI in their camera apps, and as with the Note 9 the results can be mixed. Samsung’s AI makes its decision fast, which is good – you get a small icon in the preview screen indicating what the phone believes it’s looking at – though the changes are fairly subtle. Think punchier colors in photos of flowers, richer greens and browns in greenery scenes, and better contrast in atmospheric dusk images. Hardware and DesignIf it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Samsung’s aesthetic for the Note 9 hardly strays from last year’s Note 8, and you have to know what you’re looking for in order to spot the differences. This year’s phablet is actually slightly shorter, wider, thicker, and heavier, but not to any noticeable degree. Look closer, though, and the Devil is in the detailing. For 2018 that means “dia-cut” tapering to the edges in contrasting matte and gloss finishes. It actually leaves the sides of the Note 9 feeling more smoothly curved and a little more comfortable in your hand. SlashGear uses affiliate links, and sometimes if you buy something we’ll receive a commission on the sale. This does not affect our editorial coverage Value is subjective, and little illustrates that quite so well as the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Long the largest physically of the company’s smartphones, now the Note family pushes Samsung into a new price bracket, too: like Apple’s iPhone X, you’re looking at a $1,000 membership fee if you want access to the Note 9’s exclusive club. In return, though, you’re getting one of the most powerful, full-featured, and at times frustrating Android smartphones around. Story TimelineGalaxy Note 9 release date and price: The fine printThe Note 9 is an island in a sea of notches and trendsGalaxy Note 9 screen gets DisplayMate’s highest grade ever That light-hand approach is good, because there’s no way to revert to the regular photo afterwards. Unlike Samsung’s portrait mode shots, which allow you to subsequently adjust the amount of faux-bokeh and even flip to the regular, wide-angle original, Scene Optimizer’s changes are permanent. In an ideal world you’d be able to turn it on and off by tapping the icon, but instead you have to dip into the settings, switch it off, and then go back to the preview. Samsung’s other change with the Note 9’s camera is Flaw Detection. Basically, if the phone spots that the shot might be blurred, that someone is blinking, that the lens is smudged, or that the subject is back-lit, it will pop up a warning message right after you capture the photo. It’s a small touch, but it meant the difference between a photo of someone with their eyes closed and a much better one with them actually looking at the camera in my testing. Otherwise, this is effectively the Galaxy S9+’s camera, for better or worse. You get 4K video recording at 60fps, but not with stabilization or tracking autofocus at that resolution, nor HDR capture. The front camera is 8-megapixels and captures great selfies, just as long as you avoid the underwhelming portrait mode which you can thankfully turn off.Battery and PowerPhones getting thicker from one generation to the next is a rarity, but Samsung puts the slight increase to good use in the Note 9 by squeezing in a 4,000 mAh battery. That’s a full 700 mAh more than the Note 8. The result is a smartphone that won’t just last a full day, but do so even in the hands of power users. In fact, even with my typical uncompromising use, I generally ended the day with power to spare. Pace yourself – or make use of the power saving features – and you could probably coast through two days before reaching for the charger. There, you have choices too. Samsung continues to support both fast wired and fast wireless charging, with the latter content with both of the most frequently-found standards. Unfortunately you still only get Quick Charge 2.0 for wired charging, and 15W adapter in the box. That seems a little short-sighted given the Note 9’s audience. VerdictIs the Note 9 “overpriced”? It’s definitely expensive, though, as Samsung fans will eagerly point out to you, Apple went there first with the iPhone X. Of course, you could just as easily argue that $1k+ is too much for a phone, regardless of whose logo is on it. Preorder it today, from $999.99, and you’ll get it on August 24. Value and worth depend, inevitably, on how well you’re going to make use of a device. I wouldn’t question you if you spent a thousand dollars or more on the Note 9 simply because you wanted the greatest Android device around, that’s your choice and your budget, but I think it would make a whole lot more sense if you were an avid note-taker, if you were going to replace a laptop with DeX mode, and if your smartphone truly is the centerpiece of your digital life and all the content that comes with that. Most people, even those who would rightly consider themselves smartphone power users, would probably be satisfied with the Galaxy S9+ and saving almost $200 in the process. If the S Pen and a slightly larger battery are worth that extra cash, more power to you. The Note 9 is a supercar smartphone. Like all supercars, you pay handsomely for the privilege of driving a flagship. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Gallery
To be clear, neither of them are saying so, directly or indirectly. But the revenues of the popular TSMC and Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. have been attributed to a more positive outlook for the new iPhones. Both reported a 5.6% rise last month and comes at a time when analysts and even some of Apple’s own suppliers are casting doubts on the long-term profitability of the iPhones, especially the iPhone XR.Half of Hon Hai’s revenue comes from its iPhone assembly while the same only accounts for a fifth of TSMCs. That said, profits within the said period has largely been attributed to stable if not strong iPhone sales, a curious phenomenon considering other suppliers have cut back on output or even revenue outlooks.It isn’t changing some analysts minds, however. Those profits are still slimmer than what they could have been had the new iPhones been selling well. Some even say that iPhone shipments have already peaked, which would cause problems for suppliers, especially in Asia and specifically Taiwan. Apple has stopped reporting iPhone unit sales just last month, increasing speculation that all is not well at Cupertino. If this all sounds like deja vu, you might have been closely monitoring reports on iPhone X sales last year. Apple’s most daring iPhone, it has been reported as both failing and succeeding as far as sales go. This year’s iPhone XS, XS Max, and especially the XR are similarly getting conflicting reports, most of on the disappointing side of the scale. But while reports of Apple cutting back on production due to weaker than expected demand for the phones, two of its biggest suppliers seem to be proving otherwise.
The Ford SmartLink is basically a device that plugs into that port that every car hack or add-on loves: the On-board Diagnostics II port, or OBD II for short. Normally used for, well, diagnostics, the port gives even the oldest of cars (not older than about 2000, though) some added functionality or control via wireless connections.In the case of the Ford SmartLink, owners of cars like the 2015 Ford Fusion or the 2014 Lincoln MKZ will be able to lock, unlock, and even start their cars remotely via a companion mobile app. The SmartLink also offers 4G Wi-Fi connectivity for drivers and passengers for up to 8 devices at once. And since it’s connected via OBD II anyway, it also offers car health information, security alerts, and even location.Of course, it isn’t free compared to having the feature built into the car in the first place. Ford hasn’t announced exact dates and prices, but owners of Ford and Lincoln models from 2010 to 2016 will be able to get the SmartLink from dealerships starting in Summer.SOURCE: Ford The thing about smart cars is that either you have them or you don’t. That is, the model you’re going to buy should offer such features built-in or as a custom option. If you have an older model or a model that doesn’t offer connectivity and smart features, you’re mostly out of luck. Well, not if you own a relatively recent Ford or Lincoln car, in which case you can take advantage of Ford’s SmartLink offer to give your well-used but still great car a stab at modern technology.
Images began to leak in a couple of rather rare events earlier than this week, but starting this week, stuff’s about to go down. One of the most popular images in smartphone leaks today was a photo shared by Evleaks of the Galaxy S10 (also shown above). This image showed the back side of the Galaxy S10 Plus with ceramic exterior – this is one of several versions of the device.It’s likely that a whole lot of the demos shown this week will consist of this most-expensive version of the Galaxy S10 Plus being shown to store executives and demo-givers and such. There’s also word that the Galaxy F, Foldable smartphone might appear – but chances are slim. No use in confusing the message this close to the big event. SEE ALSO: A whole bunch of colors and details of Galaxy S10 handsetsThe Samsung Galaxy S10 will be shown alongside the Galaxy S10E and Galaxy S10 Plus on February 20th, 2019. This event will likely reveal the pre-order and final release dates as well. The pre-order date is most probably set for the same day as the reveal event, on February 20th, while the release date is likely set for right around March 9th, 2019. Earlier today (in the timeline below) we uncovered details of Samsung’s list of next releases – including the Galaxy S10 smartphone trio, a new tablet (a new GIANT tablet), a new set of earbuds, and a new sporty smartwatch. Have a peek at the feature – which focuses on the Galaxy S10E’s non-lite focus right this minute. Samsung representatives are visiting carriers and outlets this week before the big Galaxy S10 event. The Samsung Galaxy S10 and Galaxy S10 Plus are being shown and demonstrated behind the scenes, according to anonymous sources familiar with the matter. These sources wished to remain anonymous because of the obviously sensitive nature of the subject matter – AND YET photos have begun to leak, as well. Story TimelineSources say skip Galaxy S10, wait for Note 10Galaxy S10E real pics leaked: The most flat modelSamsung Galaxy S10 to give WiFi 6 its big start in 2019
Last month, Verizon gave us a fairly vague timeline for its 5G plans in 2019, saying that mobile 5G would launch in 30 cities across the US throughout the year but not really getting specific about the “where” or “when.” Today, Verizon is starting to pull back the veil on its 5G Mobility plans a little bit, announcing launch dates for two cities. It also revealed when Motorola’s 5G Moto Mod will be launching and how much it’ll cost. Story TimelineVerizon 5G smartphone details: Samsung onboardVerizon’s first 5G mobile hotspot will launch in 2019Verizon 5G in 2019: Over 30 cities, S10 5G, and some surprises The first two cities getting mobile 5G service from Verizon are Chicago and Minneapolis. Mobile 5G service – which Verizon officially calls 5G Mobility – will go live in both cities on April 11, just a hair over four weeks from today. Even in Chicago and Minneapolis, it sounds like 5G service will be spotty at the beginning, as Verizon says only “select areas” of both cities will be covered come launch day. READ MORE: Motorola Moto z3 Review: Waiting for 5GGoing hand-in-hand with this announcement, Verizon has also revealed that Motorola’s 5G Moto Mod will be available on April 11 as well, with pre-orders opening tomorrow. When Verizon’s 5G service launches in Chicago and Minneapolis next month, that 5G Moto Mod will likely be the only way to tap into the network. As announced last year, the Moto Mod is essentially a detachable 5G antenna for the Moto Z3. Samsung will eventually launch Galaxy S10 5G as a timed Verizon exclusive, but that won’t be arriving until sometime this summer.Unfortunately, Verizon customers are going to be paying more for 5G. Verizon said in a blog post today that postpaid customers on any of the company’s three Unlimited plans will need to pay an extra $10 a month for unlimited 5G. That fee will be waived for the first three months, which is nice, but if you were expecting Verizon to offer 5G service at no extra cost, this is probably some sour news.AdChoices广告As far as that 5G Moto Mod is concerned, pre-orders open tomorrow, March 14. Though Verizon says that the 5G Moto Mod has a retail price of $349.99, those who pre-order can get one for $50. Verizon is also giving away free Moto z3s to folks who pre-order tomorrow and add a new line of service on a device payment plan, but if you’re not looking to add another line, you can upgrade to the z3 for $10 per month on a device payment plan. It’s worth keeping in mind that you’ll need to be on one of Verizon’s Unlimited plans to even pre-order the 5G Moto Mod when those open up tomorrow, as explained in an FAQ about the add-on. We’ll undoubtedly be hearing more about Verizon’s 5G plans soon, so stay tuned for more, but in the meantime, head down to the comments section and let us know if you’ll be signing up for Verizon’s 5G service on April 11.
Despite having become a smartphone maker itself, Google hasn’t been one to quickly jump on trends. It still has one camera on the Pixel’s back and when it did adopt the notch, it did so in a rather ridiculous manner. So it was quite surprising to find out that it had worked with Samsung to make Android more foldable-friendly. It turns out, it might also be thinking about foldable phones after all. The appeal of having a larger screen with just one phone is hard to deny. The ability to make a proper folding display, however, is even harder. Google may not have the manufacturing chops like Samsung or Huawei to pull it off but when and if it does, it now at least has the legal protection it needs for those foldable devices.Google’s patent shows a few possible designs, all revolving around the limitation of being unable to fold completely flat. One is a more known design where a regular phone folds vertically in the middle with the screen tucked in. The result looks more like a wallet than a foldable phone.Another idea has the device folding twice into three parts. There is still some curvature but the way the folds alternate could result in a more conventional slab with curved sides. One fold has the screen folded in but the other has it facing outward. It’s almost like a hybrid of Samsung’s and Huawei’s opposing “innie” and “outie” designs, respectively.AdChoices广告Of course, a patent is a patent so there’s no assurance Google will even more in this direction, though it would definitely be a waste of a good idea. It would be interesting to see if Google will turn this at least into some prototype. It has been a while since Google invested in such expensive prototypes, like the Google Glasses or Project Ara and that spirit of daring experimentation seems to now be lacking from the company.
Story TimelineApple apologizes for and downplays MacBook keyboard problemsApple Watch battery swelling has finally lead to a lawsuitApple’s keyboard plan to pacify angry MacBook owners just leaked The AC adapters at the center of this recall are actually pretty old. Apple says that they shipped with some Macs and iOS devices between 2003 and 2010, so if you’ve purchased one of these three-prong adapters at any point in the last eight years, you’re probably in the clear. These adapters were also included in the company’s World Travel Adapter Kit, so even if you live outside one of the three regions name above, it sounds like there’s still a chance of owning a defective plug.You can tell if the adapter you have is have is one being recalled or a newer model simply by looking at it. The plugs being recalled are entirely white, with no lettering on the inside slot that connects to the Apple power adapter. Newer models – ones that aren’t defective – have a gray-colored portion that connects to the power adapter and sport a thinner design, so it’s pretty easy to tell which one you’ve got. You can see the differences between the two in the image above.You can find more information about how to exchange your wall adapter over on Apple’s support site. Your three options for requesting an exchange are heading into an authorized Apple Service Center, making an appointment with an Apple Store, or contacting Apple support. For most people, getting in touch with Apple support will probably be the easiest option, unless of course you need a replacement immediately.The replacement process is the same for those who came to own one of these adapters by way of buying the Apple World Travel Adapter Kit. Obviously, you should stop using the defective adapter until you can get a replacement, even if it hasn’t broken yet. Apple has issued a voluntary recall of three-prong AC wall adapters that are meant for use in Hong Kong, Singapore, and the UK. The problem, Apple says, is that these adapters can break and then pose a risk of electrical shock when touched. So far, Apple says that it has identified six such incidents worldwide, so it’s looking to prevent more instances of broken adapters by recalling them now and replacing them with newer models.
This is part of the KHN Morning Briefing, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription. VA Request This Week For $17.6B Stalls Congressional Effort To Reform Agency Talks between the House and Senate over revamping care for veterans were already difficult, but the big spending request complicates the situation.Politico: VA Request Complicates Reform PushAn unexpected funding request from the Department of Veterans Affairs is complicating negotiations over a bill to reform the embattled agency, Florida Republican Rep. Jeff Miller said on Thursday. On Wednesday, Acting Secretary Sloan Gibson told the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs the department needs $17.6 billion to hire thousands of doctors and reduce wait times at VA facilities (French, 7/17).Bloomberg: Veterans Health Deal Stalls As Obama Seeks More SpendingNegotiations in Congress over how to finance medical care for U.S. military veterans are stalled although Republicans and Democrats say completing a deal before next month is a top priority. Talks between the House and Senate, already moving slowly, were further disrupted when President Barack Obama’s acting head of the Veterans Affairs Department told lawmakers July 16 the agency needs another 10,000 workers and an additional $17.6 billion through 2017 (Bender, 7/18). In other VA news -The Washington Post: VA Uses Patient Privacy To Go After Whistleblowers, Critics SayIs the Department of Veterans Affairs hiding behind HIPAA to hit federal whistleblowers? HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. It protects the privacy of patients’ health information. It is not meant to be a weapon against federal employees who expose wrongdoing at VA or anywhere else (Davidson, 7/17).
Fastned gets a foothold for its network in the UKDutch company Fastned has very ambitious goals to build a European network of 1,000 fast charging stations and is already approaching 10% of the plan, having 88 stations up and running.The expansions from the Netherlands progresses in a few directions – to Germany, UK, Belgium and Switzerland. Most recently, Fastned won a second tender in the UK for 5 more charging stations, which will be included in the network (although the infrastructure will be owned by the North East Joined Transport Committee).Fastned Author Liberty Access TechnologiesPosted on March 16, 2019Categories Electric Vehicle News Fastned Fast Charging In The Lens Of Fully Charged: Video Source: Electric Vehicle News Fastned To Install First 20 Fast Charging Stations In Switzerland Fastned To Install Fast Chargers At REWE Region Mitte Supermarkets Each of the five new stations in Gateshead, Blyth, Whitley Bay, Washington, and Kingston Park are to get initially two 50 kW fast chargers. Hopefully, it will be expanded at a later stage to 175 kW.Fastned is already building two stations in the UK, which brings total to 7. More will be installed in the future.“Fastned won a second tender in the UK led by the North East Joined Transport Committee. Fastned will build and operate five fast charging stations (hubs) for electric vehicles across the region. Each station will initially house two 50 kW fast chargers (known as “rapid” chargers in the UK) that will deliver 100% renewable electricity.Fastned intends to build and operate the five fast charging stations in Gateshead, Blyth, Whitley Bay, Washington, and Kingston Park. These fast charging stations will enable fully electric cars to fast charge their batteries and will be added to Fastned’s European network. This network currently consist of 88 stations in the Netherlands and Germany and is expanding rapidly. Two other Fastned stations are currently under development in Newcastle and Sunderland as part of the Go Ultra Low NE programme.”“The project is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the UK Government’s Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). The stations will be owned by the North East Joined Transport Committee. Fastned will manage the stations’ design and construction, and operate and maintain them as part of its growing network.”Michiel Langezaal, CEO Fastned:“Fastned was founded to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, so we are pleased we can start offering fast charging infrastructure in the North East of England. Reliable fast charging infrastructure will make fully electric vehicles just as practical as cars with internal combustion engines. Fastned has the ambition to build a European network of 1000 fast charging stations and aims to build more fast charging stations in the UK.Councillor Martin Gannon, Chair of the North East Joint Transport Committee and Leader of Gateshead Council:“The five rapid charging hubs will help further establish the North East of England as a leader in electric mobility and are very good news for electric drivers in our region. The hubs can provide electric freedom and ease of travelling for local commuters, commercial fleets, and travellers passing through the region.”
The similarities are truly astonishing.Source: Electric Vehicle News
Scrutiny alerts and updates regarding Elek Straub, Platform Speciality Products, Cobalt International, Bombardier, and the Mormon Church.Elek StraubIn December 2011, in connection with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement action against Magyar Telekom, the SEC also charged former Magyar Telekom executives Elek Straub (former Chairman and CEO); Andras Balogh (former Director of Central Strategic Organization); and Tamas Morvai (former Director of Business Development and Acquisitions) with various FCPA and related offenses. (See here for the prior post).The complaint alleged, in connection with a bribery scheme in Macedonia and Montenegro, that the individuals violated or aided and abetted violations of the FCPA’s anti-bribery, books and records, and internal controls provisions; knowingly circumvented internal controls and falsified books and records; and made false statements to the company’s auditor.Unlike most FCPA individual defendants (criminal or civil), the individuals mounted a defense (see here) and the SEC was put in the rare position of having to prove an FCPA case. A motion to dismiss was filed (largely on jurisdictional and statue of limitations issues) and in February 2013 the court denied the motion to dismiss. (See here for the prior post).Put in a position to prove its case, the SEC ultimately dropped its claims that the individuals bribed Montenegro officials. (See here).The case proceeded through discovery and competing motions for summary judgment were filed. In late August 2016 oral argument on the motions were heard as to the following issues:statute of limitations issues;the jurisdictional element of the FCPA’s anti-bribery provisions including whether a key document in the SEC’s complaint was indeed in furtherance of a bribery scheme or merely a legitimate business document;general personal jurisdiction issues; andtwo of the SEC’s claims that do not necessarily involve bribery, but rather falsification of books and records and false statements to auditors.As highlighted in posts here and here, in September 2016 the court denied the motions for summary judgment and in doing so rejected the SEC’s position that it may pursue FCPA violations that occurred out of the limitations period on the basis that those violations were similar in character to and part of the same alleged “scheme” as violations that occurred within the limitations.Trial was scheduled to begin in May 2017.As highlighted in this prior post, last month without admitting or denying the SEC’s allegations, Morvai agreed to resolve the action by agreeing to pay a $60,000 civil penalty and other remedial relief.As recent docket entry states:“The Court is in receipt of a single-page joint letter dated March 10, 2017 informing the Court that Plaintiff U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and Defendant Elek Straub have reached “an agreement in-principle” to resolve the SEC’s claims. (Doc. No. 301.) The parties report that the settlement is contingent upon approval by the SEC, which typically takes about six weeks. While the parties wait for the Commission to vote, they request that “all proceedings with respect to Mr. Straub be held in abeyance,” including three motions in limine to which the SEC’s responses are due today and four motions in limine to which Mr. Straub’s responses are due today. The parties’ request is DENIED. Unless and until there is an executed settlement and dismissal of all remaining claims, the parties shall comply with the Court’s prior scheduling orders. Of course, if the parties are confident that their agreement in-principle will result in settlement, they may choose not to respond to the pending motions in limine. But the Court will not re-open pre-trial motion practice if the settlement negotiations do not produce a consummated agreement, and trial will commence on May 8, 2017 absent such an approved settlement.”Platform Speciality Products GroupAs highlighted in this previous post, in March 2016 Platform Speciality Products Group disclosed:“In connection with the implementation of internal controls at Arysta, a newly acquired subsidiary, we discovered certain payments made to third-party agents in connection with Arysta’s government tender business in West Africa which may be illegal or otherwise inappropriate. We have engaged outside counsel and an outside accounting firm to conduct an internal investigation to review the legality of these and other payments made in Arysta’s West Africa tender business, including Arysta’s compliance with the FCPA. We contacted the SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice to voluntarily inform them of this matter and we are fully cooperating with these governmental authorities as the investigation continues and as they review the matter. Although the internal investigation is ongoing, based on the results to date, management does not currently believe that the amount of the payments in question, or any revenue or operating income related to those payments, are material to our business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.”Recently the company disclosed:“As previously disclosed in our 2015 Annual Report, in connection with the implementation of our internal controls, policies and procedures at Arysta, following our acquisition of that business in February 2015, we discovered certain payments made to third-party agents in connection with Arysta’s government tender business in West Africa which may be illegal or otherwise inappropriate. We have engaged outside counsel and an outside accounting firm to conduct an internal investigation to review the legality of these and other payments made in Arysta’s West Africa tender business, including Arysta’s compliance with the FCPA. We contacted the SEC and the U.S. Department of Justice to voluntarily inform them of this matter and fully cooperate with their review of the matter. The SEC has advised that they have closed out the matter, and the U.S. Department of Justice has advised that they have no further requests at this time. Our internal investigation is largely complete. Management does not believe that the amount of the payments in question, or any revenue or operating income related to those payments, are material to our business, results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.”See here for a long-standing proposal when a company voluntarily discloses an FCPA internal investigation to the DOJ and/or SEC and when one or both of the enforcement agencies do not bring an enforcement action.Cobalt InternationalAs highlighted in this prior post, Cobalt International, long under FCPA scrutiny for its business practices in Angola, prevailed over the SEC in early 2015.Yet, Cobalt is again under FCPA scrutiny by the SEC for its business practices in Angola. Recently, Cobalt disclosed:“In connection with entering into our RSAs for Blocks 9 and 21 offshore Angola, two Angolan–based E&P companies were assigned as part of the contractor group by the Angolan government. We had not worked with either of these companies in the past, and, therefore, our familiarity with these companies was limited. In 2010, we were made aware of allegations of a connection between senior Angolan government officials and one of these companies. In 2011, a formal order of investigation was issued by the SEC related to these allegations and, to avoid non–overlapping information requests, we voluntarily contacted the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) with respect to the SEC’s investigation and offered to respond to any requests the DOJ may have. We were notified in January 2015 that the SEC’s investigation had concluded and that the SEC did not intend to recommend any enforcement action. In February 2017, we received a letter from the DOJ advising us that the DOJ has closed its investigation into our operations in Angola. This formally concluded the DOJ investigation and no regulatory action has been taken against us as a result of these investigations. On March 13, 2017, the SEC informed us by telephone that it had initiated an informal inquiry regarding Cobalt related to the Sonangol Research and Technology Center (the “Technology Center”). As background, on December 20, 2011, we executed the PSC under which we and BP are required to make certain social contributions to Sonangol, including for the Technology Center. On March 13, 2017, we also received a voluntary request for information regarding such inquiry. We believe our activities in Angola have complied with all applicable laws, including the FCPA, and we will cooperate with the SEC’s inquiry.”As highlighted in this August 2014 post, Global Witness issued a press release stating:“BP and its partners including Houston-based Cobalt have contributed US$175 million over the past two-and-a-half years to fund a project in Angola known as the Sonangol Research and Technology Center (SRTC), with another US$175 million due to be paid by January 2016. Global Witness asked BP and Cobalt to provide any information that confirms the SRTC exists. The companies did not provide this information in their responses. BP stated that Sonangol, Angola’s state-owned oil company, “has informed BP that the SRTC is still in planning stage.” Cobalt said they “monitor the progress of our social contributions in Angola, including the Research and Technology Center” but did not provide any further information about the project. Global Witness asked Sonangol for information to confirm the existence of the SRTC, but the company did not respond. We commissioned interviews with well-placed industry insiders, but none of them could confirm that the SRTC exists. Global Witness is calling on the Angolan authorities to disclose where this money has gone.”BombardierThe Montreal, Canada based manufacturer of trains and planes with a class of common shares traded “over the counter” in the U.S. is under scrutiny for alleged conduct in Sweden. As highlighted here:“Prosecutors with Sweden’s anti-corruption unit [recently] announced they had arrested Evgeny Pavlov, a 37-year-old Russian national, in connection with a 2013 railway procurement deal by a Bombardier-led consortium in Azerbaijan. The consortium won a US$288 million order to design, manufacture and install a double-track line on the Kars-Baku corridor connecting Asia and Europe.[…]In the statement, the Swedish prosecutors said they had spoken with other Bombardier employees and obtained email evidence following a raid on the company’s office in October. “Despite the fact that Bombardier was in fifth place in terms of price, they won the 2013 tender when competitors that had offered a better price were disqualified by the rail authority in Azerbaijan,” the prosecutors said.”Mormon ChurchNothing something you see everyday, but Secular Coalition for America Rights and Equal Rights are requesting a DOJ investigation into whether the Mormon Church violated the FCPA in connection with Indian visas. FCPA Institute – Boston (Oct. 3-4) A unique two-day learning experience ideal for a diverse group of professionals seeking to elevate their FCPA knowledge and practical skills through active learning. Learn more, spend less. CLE credit is available. Learn More & Register
TweetShare92ShareEmail92 Shares“Movements need people. (That would be you),” writes anti-ageism activist Ashton Applewhite. “Movements need purpose. (To make the world a better place in which to grow old. And, while we’re at it, to be young, or have a disability, or be queer or non-rich or non-white.) And movements need tools.”OldSchool.info, Ashton’s collaboration with pro-aging activists Ryan Backer and Kyrié Carpenter (that’s us!), has all three: passionate people, an important purpose, and a unique set of tools. It’s a clearinghouse of free and carefully vetted resources to educate people about ageism and help dismantle it. Our goal is to catalyze a movement to make ageism – discrimination on the basis of age– as unacceptable as other kinds of prejudice.A “clearinghouse of anti-ageism resources” isn’t the sexiest phrase, so we were delightedly surprised by the enthusiastic reception when OldSchool launched last summer. We’ve heard from all kinds of people—from the general public to people in aging services, from teachers and artists to administrators and activists—that the site fills a real need.”OldSchool.info exposes ageism’s toxic effects, and impresses with the magnitude of those dynamic individuals and organizations who fuel the anti-ageism movement,” wrote Wendl Kornfeld, a member of NYC Gray Panthers and the Radical Age Movement (both of which are listed under organizations on OldSchool.)The OldSchool team has been hard at work and now there is a much more expansive and interactive site which just launched with:Robust search! (We’re sort of surprised no one called us out for launching without it, and now there’s a lot more to search for.)Double the Resources. A big thanks to all of you who made submissions. New Sections: PODCASTS and CAMPAIGNS, including global anti-ageism initiatives that launched in 2018.Rating, Commenting, and Contact. Now you can rate individual resources, leave a comment, and contact the creators.Seamless submission form makes it easy to submit an anti-ageism resource of any type.OldSchool is chock full of amazing resources and growing all the time.Would a handout of “fast facts” about ageism come in handy? See B Stigma-Free’s handsome poster & handout. Podcast junkie? Give The Big Middle’s exploration of longer midlife a listen. Are you a parent or a grandparent? Find a curated catalog of pro-aging children’s books on the A is for Aging blog. Interested in the intersection of ageism and sexism? Read Look Me In the Eye, Old Woman, the book that got there first. How about an irresistible three-minute animation, Imagine A World Without Ageism, that covers a remarkable amount of ground? Or perhaps you need a public speaker? Elizabeth White addresses the financial crisis facing millions of older Americans. “Older people can be the most ageist of all,” Ashton points out, “because we’ve had a lifetime of absorbing ageist messages without realizing it. And unless we stop to question them, they become part of our identity. That’s internalized ageism.” We can’t challenge bias unless we’re aware of it, so the first essential step is to examine our own attitudes towards age and aging. It’s not easy, so we need tools. Use Harvard University’s “Project Implicit” to calculate your own level of implicit age bias about aging. (Spoiler alert: we’re all ageist.) Or think about how you use the words “young” and “old” and whether age actually has anything to do with the feeling or attribute you’re describing. The Old School Clearinghouse belongs to everyone and is an ongoing, evolving collaboration. Noodle around. Think of something that belongs here? Use the new streamlined “Submit” form to send it our way. See something we’re missing? Create it and tell us about it. “OldSchool.info is a game changer,” says Marlene Krasovitsky, Director of Australia’s EveryAGE Counts anti-ageism campaign. “It allows those of us working to change the culture of aging to connect, learn from each other, and build on each other’s efforts.” Yes, yes, yes.Related PostsFrom Ageism to Age PrideAshton Applewhite stands before a room of dozens of people expecting to hear the same ‘ol spiel. Instead, she poses a question: “What is every person in this room going to become?” When no one offers an answer she continues. “Older. The prospect has an awful lot of us scared…A New, Powerful Tool to Defeat AgeismAshton Applewhite, activist and author of This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism, recently delivered an 11-minute barn-burning TED Talk called “Let’s End Ageism” that is the clearest and most concise, entertaining, and impactful introduction to the scourge of ageism I’ve ever heard.Declaring Independence From AgeismThis Fourth of July lets declare independence from ageism! It won’t be an easy revolution. Like the colonial British Empire, ageism won’t roll over without a fight.TweetShare92ShareEmail92 SharesTags: a is for aging activism Ageism Ashton Applewhite big middle elizabeth white gray panthers look me in the eye radical age social justice stigma
Jun 14 2018A new study published in the Journal of Music Therapy reveals promising findings for the application of improvisational music therapy in assuaging the multidimensional acute pain of adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). This study, conducted by University Hospitals Connor Integrative Health Network’s music therapist Samuel Rodgers-Melnick, MT-BC, investigated the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a single-session electronic music improvisation to diminish pain intensity and improve pain relief and mood in adults with SCD.”Sickle cell pain is complex, affecting patients physically, emotionally, and socially,” said Jane Little, MD, Director of the Adult SCD Clinic at UH Seidman Cancer Center. “Our results support the value that music therapists contribute to our patients’ overall pain management and experience of care, just as they reinforce patient education and coping strategies. We find that patients typically respond better to a varied strategy, rather than medications alone.Related StoriesMathematical model helps quantify metastatic cell behaviorAbcam Acquire Off-The-Shelf Diploid Library of Over 2,800 Knockout Cell LinesStudy: Megakaryocytes play an important role in cell migration”We are very enthusiastic about music therapy, and its promise for improving the lives of people who have sickle cell disease.”In the randomized controlled trial, patients with SCD being treated in UH Seidman Cancer Center’s Acute Care Clinic were assigned to one of three 20-minute conditions: a session with a music therapist, an iPod to listen to pre-selected music themselves, or no music at all. While passively listening to music improved mood, music therapy had a significantly stronger impact on aiding in pain management for patients actively engaged with a music therapist. Rodgers-Melnick created the music therapy interventions in patients’ preferred genres: rhythm and blues, gospel, soul, hip-hop and jazz.”When you are socially and cognitively engaged in music therapy, it has a greater effect on your mood and the way you experience pain,” said Rodgers-Melnick. “Music almost works like pain medication when people are engaged in the experience.”In this inherited anemia that renders the red blood cells stickier and more fragile, sickle cell patients experience bouts of sudden, severe pain compounding chronic pain. Rodgers-Melnick compares it to a traffic jam in the body, spiking unpredictable and intense pain. Dr. Little indicated that this disease can result in significant damage to organs, blood vessels and nerves over time.”We want to use music therapy to improve pain management across the board, not just to manage acute crises,” said Rodgers-Melnick. “There are many possibilities for this approach.”In a previous study, Rodgers-Melnick developed the BEATS (Build/Educate/Advance/Transition in SCD) program to provide educational tools through music to empower sickle cell patients. UH Seidman Cancer Center established a Bridge Clinic, complete with lively BEATS music therapy session, to guide SCD patients from adolescence to adulthood.Source: http://www.uhhospitals.org/
Source:https://www.scripps.edu/news-and-events/press-room/2018/20180809-VIC-ebola-outbreak.html Aug 10 2018A one-two punch of powerful antibodies may be the best way to stop Ebola virus, reports an international team of scientists in the journal Cell. Their findings suggest new therapies should disable Ebola virus’s infection machinery and spark the patient’s immune system to call in reinforcements.”This study presents results from an unprecedented international collaboration and demonstrates how 43 previously competing labs can together accelerate therapeutics and vaccine design,” says Erica Ollmann Saphire, PhD, professor at Scripps Research and director of the Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Immunotherapeutic Consortium (VIC).From 2013-2016, West Africa faced the deadliest Ebola outbreak the world has ever seen. By the time the outbreak was declared over, 11,325 people had died. The VIC is an international group of the world’s leading virologists, immunologists, systems biologists and structural biologists working to stop an outbreak on that scale from ever striking again.The VIC researchers aim to understand which Ebola-fighting antibodies are best-and why. The hope is that the most effective antibodies can be combined in a therapeutic “cocktail.” Unlike an Ebola vaccine, these cocktails could be given to those already infected, which is important for stopping a disease that tends to emerge unexpectedly in remote locations.Ollmann Saphire and her colleagues in the VIC have published more than 40 studies in just the last five years. This landmark study is the first-ever side-by-side comparison of 171 antibodies against Ebola virus and other related viruses, known as filoviruses. All antibodies in the panel were donated by different labs around the world, and many had not been previously characterized in such extensive detail.”Through the VIC, we could test a larger pool of antibodies in parallel, which increased the potential to detect statistically significant relationships between antibody features and protection,” says Saphire. “We used this global pool of antibodies to evaluate, and streamline, the research pipeline itself.”Related StoriesResearchers succeed in conquering chronic infection with hepatitis B virusScientists discover weakness in common cold virusStudy reveals how dengue virus replicates in infected cellsIn addition to identifying links between antibody target locations and activity, VIC researchers tested this huge pool of antibodies to reveal which antibodies “neutralized” the virus, why neutralization assays so often disagree, and whether or not neutralization in test tubes adequately predicted how well these antibodies would protect live animals from Ebola virus infection. Unexpectedly, neutralization alone was not always associated with the protective ability of an antibody.Notably, the scientists found nine antibodies that protected mice from infection without neutralizing the virus in test tubes. These antibodies likely fight infection by interacting with an infected person’s immune system, helping orchestrate a better immune response to the virus.This “immune effector” activity is featured in the team’s companion study published simultaneously in Cell Host & Microbe. “The ability to evoke an immune response will likely represent a new avenue of study for therapeutic antibodies for Ebola virus infection,” says Sharon Schendel, project manager for the VIC and science writer in the Saphire lab.From the large body of results, VIC member and Scripps Research faculty member Kristian Andersen, PhD, and his graduate student Karthik Gangavarapu developed a network describing how each antibody feature correlates to protection, which can serve as a guide to predict whether newly identified antibodies will have therapeutic value. Saphire says the next steps for the VIC are to further test promising antibody cocktails in non-human primates. The team will also pursue engineering of antibodies that carry signature features to better drive immune system response.