Episode 320 — Artificial Oblique Hums

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Berlin city street
Photo by Dewang Gupta on Unsplash

Space, the current frontier, AirTags, AI convolutional networks improving game photorealism, explosive propulsion, the Infinite Improbability Drive and a bevy of games.

Andy starts off this episode with his shiny new AirTag experience and reflects on the discussion from last week’s show.  Andy and Michael both consider the rapidity of which the AirTags have been hacked.

Michael R and Andy then launch into deep space.  The co-hosts reflect on the amazing fact that the Voyager spacecraft are still transmitting data after so long, and being so far away from Earth.  After discussing the strange ‘hum’ that’s been detected by the Voyager spacecraft, the pair talk about the Star Trek: Legends game on Apple Arcade and a couple of television shows.  

Switching from spacecraft to aircraft, Michael R and Andy turn their attention to a story from UCF researchers who have had success with a hypersonic detonation engine.  This engine draws power from oblique wave detonation that theoretically could create enough thrust to power an aircraft up to 17 times the speed of sound.  Incredible!

Coming back down to Earth, the cohosts then take a look at the improved photo realism stemming from the Cityscapes dataset in conjunction with a convolutional AI network for Grand Theft Auto V.  Michael R notes that the hills in California light brown while German hills are green, and this had a factor in the machine learning model which tinge the California hills green.

Andy and Michael then make the connection to last week’s episode on generating interiors, and with the combination play of outdoor landscapes (Flight Simulator) to cities (GTA V) to the interior of buildings to have fully livable virtual worlds in only 50 years. 

Demeo is a great example of playing virtually together in the Oculus social/digital realm.  Check out the launch video below.  The pair then close out this week’s episode with D&D, Board Game Geek, genres and categories to indulge your inner game geek.  

Selected Links

AirTags — https://www.apple.com/airtag/ 

Macworld article: AirTag already hacked and reprogrammed — https://www.macworld.co.uk/news/airtag-already-hacked-reprogrammed-3804443/ 

Voyager 1 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_1 

Voyager 2 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_2

Star Trek Voyager (TV series) — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112178/ 

Red Shirts Always Die article: New RPG called Star Trek: Legends launches on Apple Arcade — https://redshirtsalwaysdie.com/2021/04/02/star-trek-legends-new-rpg-launches-exclusively-on-apple-arcade-today/ 

Star Trek Legends (Apple Arcade game) — https://apps.apple.com/us/app/star-trek-legends/id1529664467 

The Independent article: NASA spacecraft hears strange ‘hum’ outside our solar system — https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/space/nasa-voyager-1-space-hum-b1845015.html 

New Atlas article: World first: Oblique wave detonation engine may unlock Mach 17 aircraft — https://newatlas.com/aircraft/oblique-wave-detonation-engine-hypersonic-ucf/ 

The Expanse (TV show) — https://www.syfy.com/the-expanse 

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy wiki: Infinite Improbability Drive — https://hitchhikers.fandom.com/wiki/Infinite_Improbability_Drive 

Enhancing photorealism enhancement paper by Stephan R. Richter, Hassan Abu AlHaija, and Vladlen Koltun — https://arxiv.org/pdf/2105.04619.pdf 

Kotaku article: Grand Theft Auto V Looks Almost Photorealistic Thanks To Machine Learning — https://kotaku.com/grand-theft-auto-v-looks-almost-photorealistic-with-mac-1846882588 

The Verge article: Intel is using machine learning to make GTA V look incredibly realistic — https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/12/22432945/intel-gta-v-realistic-machine-learning-cityscapes-dataset 

Cityscapes dataset — https://www.cityscapes-dataset.com 

Games at Work episode 319 — Tracking Vinyl Discs — https://gamesatwork.biz/2021/05/10/episode-319-tracking-vinyl-discs/ 

Pong — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pong 

Road to VR article: ‘Demeo’ Review – Excellent Tabletop Gameplay Needing More Native VR Touch — https://www.roadtovr.com/demeo-review-quest-2-steam/ 

Wizards of the Coast Dungeon & Dragons — https://dnd.wizards.com 

Board Game Geek andypiper user profile — https://boardgamegeek.com/user/andypiper 

Board Game Geek categories — https://boardgamegeek.com/browse/boardgamecategory 

Carcasonne — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcassonne_(board_game) 

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Episode 319 — Tracking Vinyl Discs

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Record on record player
Photo by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash

Digitizing vinyl, early VR & AR from UNC, Matrix-esque open world generation, App and AirTag tracking, Starship landing success, Loki & Boba Fett on the silver screen.

Michael and Michael start things off with stacks of wax – in this case, a quarter million 78 R.P.M. vinyl that the Internet Archive has digitized.  Check out the show notes for how this was done.  In other, but more recent, digitization, check out the VHS recording of UNC’s Department of Computer Science research into virtual reality and augmented reality from the 1990s.  Michael and Michael marvel at how far we’ve come, and how much things have stayed largely the same in this field.  

A recent Sony patent gives sparks the co-hosts on a conversation about dynamically generating virtual world content.  This innovation creates house interiors via AI.  Following this story is one about the experience of Oculus Home users having all of their interior decorations and furniture go missing.  Backing up, as discussed in the prior week’s episode looms large yet again!  

Next, the co-hosts get into tracking, starting with the news about the iOS 14.5 App Tracking Transparency option.  The default option has this functionality turned on, and a whopping 96% of users leave the option turned on.  For more stories on tracking, Michael and Michael turn to AirTags, with a couple of stories of people changing the form factor of the tags to make them more useful.  In the first case, iFixit drills a hole in the case to allow the AirTag to be affixed to a keychain without an extra holder.  In the second case, the AirTag is completely disassembled to make it skinnier so it may be more easily inserted into a wallet.  Last, in this segment, the interesting hidden AirTag developer menu is shown to provide details on locating AirTags.

For more on intriguing data, the co-hosts discuss an article where a future Apple Watch may have additional sensor information.  Another story is about information your car’s infotainment system could serve up to law enforcement.

In the ‘space is hard’ arena, Michael and Michael celebrate SpaceX’s successful landing of a Starship.  They also celebrate Andy’s inclusion in the May 2021 issue of Linux Format magazine.  

The co-hosts round out this week’s episode with a couple of Slashfilm articles about Loki and Boba Fett.

Selected Links

Open Culture article: How the Internet Archive Has Digitized More than 250,000 78 R.P.M. Records: See the Painstaking Process Up-Close — https://www.openculture.com/2021/05/how-the-internet-archive-has-digitized-more-than-250000-78-r-p-m-records.html 

The Matrix — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/ 

Gaming Bible article: PlayStation Patents Technology That Could Completely Change Open-World Games — https://www.gamingbible.co.uk/news/playstation-playstation-patents-technology-that-could-change-open-world-games-20210505 

Kotaku article: Oculus Homes Ransacked — https://kotaku.com/oculus-homes-ransacked-1846822987 

Games at Work episode 318: Virtually Floating — https://gamesatwork.biz/2021/05/03/episode-318-virtually-floating/ 

MacRumors article: Analytics Suggest 96% of Users Leave App Tracking Disabled in iOS 14.5 — https://www.macrumors.com/2021/05/07/most-iphone-users-app-tracking-opt-out/ 

The Verge article: iFixit drilled a key ring hole into one of Apple’s AirTags in its latest teardown — https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/2/22415831/ifixit-drilled-key-ring-hole-apple-airtag-tile-teardown 

TechCrunch article: Someone already turned Apple’s AirTag into a slim, wallet-friendly card — https://techcrunch.com/2021/05/06/someone-already-turned-apples-airtag-into-a-slim-wallet-friendly-card/ 

The Verge article: Apple’s AirTags have a hidden developer menu — https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/6/22422696/apple-airtags-hidden-developer-menu-back-end-data-how-to-access 

Cult of Mac article: New sensor could turn 2022 Apple Watch into a doctor on your wrist — https://www.cultofmac.com/741467/2022-apple-watch-sensor-blood-sugar-pressure-alcohol/ 

The Verge article: Go read this report on how law enforcement can extract sensitive data from your car — https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/5/22420674/go-read-this-intercept-report-vehicle-forensics-infotainment-personal-sensitive-data-law-enforcement 

The Verge article: SpaceX successfully landed a Starship prototype for the first time — https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/5/22421845/spacex-starship-sn15-successful-landing 

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation 

Slashfilm article: ‘Loki’ Special Look: Tom Hiddleston is Burdened With Glorious Purpose (Again) — https://www.slashfilm.com/loki-special-look-glorious-purpose/ 

Slashfilm article: The Morning Watch: Updated 2021 ‘Star Wars’ Canon Timeline, Boba Fett Returns in Animated LEGO Fight & More — https://www.slashfilm.com/the-morning-watch-updated-2021-star-wars-canon-timeline-boba-fett-returns-in-animated-lego-fight-more/

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Episode 318 — Virtually Floating

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Chair with balloon
Photo by Florian Klauer on Unsplash

Digital humans & deep fakes to personalize movies, a floating chair, importance of OS patches, security and backup.  

Michael and Michael start things off right for this episode with a blog post from Ian “ePredator” Hughes on Digital Humans.  This sparks a discussion on what it might be like to take advantage of deep fake technology to personalize and customize a movie to the viewer’s choices.  Replacing Harrison Ford with another actor in the Star Wars films reminds Michael R of a photo of Pee-wee Herman as Darth Vader.  

Next, a Laughing Squid post of an ingenious floating chair captures the co-hosts’ imaginations.  The build video is cool – and the structure of the chair even more amazing.  A nice little project for our listeners to consider doing.  Check it out!

In the next portion of the podcast, the co-hosts consider a ZDNet article about the Facebook AR neural wristband controller.  This controller captures the neural signals from the brain as they travel down to the hand.  Quite an advancement over 1989’s Nintendo Glove. 

The last set of topics are all about the importance of keeping your operating system up to date on your devices and having current backups.  For the example on security, the pair talks about a malicious 0day bug that leverages a Gatekeeper exploit.  Michael and Michael were both very happy that Shirt Pocket Software has updated it’s SuperDuper! backup application to run under Big Sur.  Have a look at the blog post in the show notes for all the details – the good news is that there is a beta that works: Michael M created a successful backup with his machine over the weekend.

Selected Links

Feeding Edge LTD blog post: Digital humans evolve — https://www.feedingedge.co.uk/blog/2021/04/29/digital-humans-evolve/ 

Pee Wee blog: May the Fourth be with you on this Star Wars Day!!! >> PW as Darth Vader — https://peewee.com/2020/05/04/may-the-fourth/pw-as-darth-vader/ 

IMDb: Altered States movie (1980) — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080360/ 

ZDNet article: Facebook’s ‘mind-reading’ tech startup deal could completely change how we control computers — https://www.zdnet.com/article/facebooks-mind-reading-tech-startup-deal-could-completely-change-how-we-control-computers/ 

ZDNet article (video): Facebook unveils further details about its mystery virtual AR neural wristband controller —  https://www.zdnet.com/video/facebook-unveils-further-details-about-its-mystery-virtual-ar-neural-wristband-controller/ 

Indiegogo: Mudra Band — https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/mudra-band-touch-free-control-for-apple-watch#/ 

Games at Work episode 281: The Sound of the Present — https://gamesatwork.biz/2020/07/27/episode-281-the-sound-of-the-present/ 

Nintendo Power Glove — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_Glove 

Objective-See article: All Your Macs Are Belong To Us — https://objective-see.com/blog/blog_0x64.html?mc_cid=ae2a6d55f2&mc_eid=09c68cf9db 

Shirt Pocket Watch blog post: Finally. — https://www.shirtpocket.com/blog/index.php/shadedgrey/comments/finally/ 

Shirt Pocket Software — https://www.shirt-pocket.com 

iMore article: Apple must rein developers in before they make a mockery of App Tracking Transparency rules — https://www.imore.com/apple-must-rein-developers-they-make-mockery-app-tracking-transparency-rules 

The Verge article: Apple says old Magic Keyboard is ‘fundamentally compatible’ with new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but warns of imperfect fit — https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/29/22410350/apple-ipad-pro-mini-led-magic-keyboard-case-2020-model-fit-accessory-screen-protector 

iPad Pro — https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-ipad/ipad-pro/12.9-inch-display-128gb-space-gray-wifi-cellular 

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Episode 317 — Tags to the Future

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four tags
Photo by Angèle Kamp on Unsplash

Impact of video calls, macOS on iPad, AirTags much more than finding things, terrestrial and extraterrestrial bots and their LEGO models, and Ted Lasso.

The trio of co-hosts has great fun on their video call recording this audio podcast.  They contemplate the impact on your brain with and without breaks.  Then, there’s more fun to be had with this week’s Spring Forward announcements from Apple.  The team imagines what it might be like to have MacOS running on an iPad.  And, using the Wired article as a springboard, Andy, Michael and Michael discuss the importance of AirTags beyond finding lost items.

Next, it’s on to all things robotic, starting off with ANYbotics inspection robot, the ANYmal.  Getting ready for the Star Wars multi-day May the Fourth celebration, the team takes a close look at the new R2-D2 build celebrating Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary.  Another bot was in the news this past week: NASA’s Martian helicopter drone made history with the first powered flight on another planet. Ingenuity also gets the LEGO treatment, with a mini build you can make at home.

The co-hosts wind things up with a recommendation from Andy on the upcoming second season of Ted Lasso, which happens to be filmed near him.  Pretty amazing! 

Selected Links

TechCrunch article:  This is your brain on Zoom — https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/21/this-is-your-brain-on-zoom/ 

Insider article: Zoom calls trigger our ‘fight or flight’ survival reflex because we can’t escape the squares of close-up faces — https://www.insider.com/zoom-calls-trigger-fight-or-flight-survival-reflex-study-2021-3 

The Verge article: Put macOS on the iPad, you cowards — https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/22/22396449/apple-ipad-pro-macbook-air-macos-2021 

Wired article: Apple AirTags are about so much more than finding your keys — https://www.wired.co.uk/article/apple-airtag-uwb 

TechCrunch article: The ANYmal inspection robot gives Spot some four-legged competition — https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/21/the-anymal-inspection-robot-gives-spot-some-four-legged-competition/ 

ANYbotics — https://www.anybotics.com 

Plastic Logic post: Plastic Logic’s colour display revolutionizes smart wearables — https://www.plasticlogic.com/2021/04/20/plastic-logics-colour-display-revolutionises-smart-wearables/ 

Slashfilm article: Cool Stuff: LEGO Gives R2-D2 a Makeover with New 2,314-Piece Set for Lucasfilm’s 50th Anniversary — https://www.slashfilm.com/new-r2-d2-lego-set-lucasfilm-50th-anniversary/ 

Space Explored article: How to build your very own LEGO Ingenuity mini-figure — https://spaceexplored.com/2021/04/20/how-to-build-your-very-own-lego-ingenuity-mini-figure/ 

Mashable article: Watch NASA’s helicopter make its historic first flight on Mars — https://mashable.com/video/mars-ingenuity-helicopter-flight/ 

Variety article: ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 2 Trailer Reveals What’s Next for Richmond — https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/ted-lasso-season-2-trailer-release-date-1234955802/ 

PrintsAndRecreation Etsy shop: Obisanya Richmond Jersey — https://www.etsy.com/listing/986037270/ted-lasso-sam-obisanya-richmond-jersey-t 

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