Salt Lake City police detective Jeff Payne didn't have a warrant to draw blood from an injured patient at the University of Utah Hospital’s burn unit. He also didn't have the patient's consent to draw blood. And the patient was not under arrest. That means none of three conditions that would allow the hospital to draw blood from the patient had been met, so Nurse Alex Wubbels calmly refused the Detective Payne's order. But Detective Payne apparently thought his violent, bullying demeanor would suffice in lieu of a warrant. As Nurse Wubbels was talking to her supervisor on her mobile speakerphone in front of Detective Payne, her supervisor told her not to draw the blood and warned the detective not to threaten the nurse. This triggered Detective Payne and he suddenly lurched forward and grabbed the nurse. Things got worse from there.
Nurse Alex Wubbels politely stood her ground. She got her supervisor on the phone so Payne could hear the decision loud and clear. “Sir,” said the supervisor, “you’re making a huge mistake because you’re threatening a nurse.”
Payne snapped. He seized hold of the nurse, shoved her out of the building and cuffed her hands behind her back. A bewildered Wubbels screamed “help me” and “you’re assaulting me” as the detective forced her into an unmarked car and accused her of interfering with an investigation.
The explosive July 26 encounter was captured on officers’ body cameras and is now the subject of an internal investigation by the police department, as the Salt Lake Tribune reported Thursday. The videos were released by the Tribune, the Deseret News and other local media.
On top of that, Wubbels was right. The U.S. Supreme Court has explicitly ruled that blood can only be drawn from drivers for probable cause, with a warrant.
Wubbels, who was not criminally charged, played the footage at a news conference Thursday with her attorney. They called on police to rethink their treatment of hospital workers and said they had not ruled out legal action.
Salt Lake police spokesman Sgt. Brandon Shearer said Detective Payne is still on active duty but that he has been "suspended" from the department’s blood draw unit.
Ágnes Herczeg developed her artistic style through the practice of traditional lacemaking. The results combine found items like coconut shells and wood with delicate lace forms. (more…)
In his most recent work DeGraff draws from the silver screen, exhibiting on paper the fantastical geographies from 35 of cinema's most acclaimed titles. Each map includes the pathways that main characters follow throughout the film, so you can track Dorothy’s journey along the Yellow Brick Road, the Ghostbusters through New York City, or Vincent Vega in Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. Below is a map of Middle-Earth; the printed book has close-up images detailing certain areas of the map.
Crafted from paper and cleverly constructed, each whimsical creature puts a paper twist on karakuri, or mechanized puppets. Like traditional karakuri, each figure's movements are prompted by human touch. This means that when pressed, poked, or prodded in certain places, the puppets come alive. Whether they're shedding surprising disguises, showcasing amazing acrobatics, or coming out of their shells (literally), the animals exhibit both the capabilities of the kirigami craft and Nakamura's creative approach to paper dolls.
Sometimes it’s hard to find the right words to say. In those moments...sticker away! With the latest Gboard for Android update, you can now easily share our new downloadable stickers or Bitmoji in any app that supports image pasting, including your favorite messaging apps on Android. Whatever you’re feeling—happy or sad, silly or sleepy, courageous or cuddly, wired or weird—you can find a way to say it with stickers.
To get started, make sure you’ve got the latest version of Gboard, Google’s keyboard for Android. The new update will be rolling out over the next few days, so check back in a day or two if you don’t see it today. Once you’ve updated Gboard, download some sticker packs or the Bitmoji app from the Play Store. Then, whenever you’re using Gboard to chat or type, just tap on the emoji button then either the sticker button or the Bimoji button to easily search and share your favorite stickers and Bitmoji.
We’ve worked with closely with a handful of partners to make an awesome collection of stickers available—including Mickey Mouse, NBAmoji, Google Allo selfie stickers, Disney Princesses, Hello Kitty, Garfield, Star Wars™, and more. Whether you're on the basketball court or a galaxy far, far away, it’s easier than ever to add some fun to your conversations. To get new sticker packs any time, just tap the “+” button when you’re in the sticker tab of Gboard or by visiting the Play Store.
We’ll be adding even more sticker packs will be added in the coming weeks, so make sure to check back regularly. Try it out—a sticker is worth a thousand words.
UE's latest water-resistant Bluetooth speaker is cute as a button! The Wonderboom is a compact Bluetooth speaker with big sound, a lovely design, and an IPX7 rating, meaning it can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes — it's perfect for the shower. I've been testing this speaker and have been very impressed with its low end. The bass is surprisingly warm for such a small unit, and its size, again, is perfect for the shower.
Given its size, the Wonderboom does have a bit of trouble at higher volumes, with clarity capping out around the halfway mark on my phone's volume. That being said, half my phone's volume is plenty loud outside the shower and almost too much in it, so you don't need to crank it at all.
It comes in six fun colors, and we'll just hope the price comes down below its current $100 to make it a bit more competitive.
This tadpole-looking device was conceived by the folks at Polk Audio to be as versatile as possible. The tail-end of the speaker is bendable, making it easy to wrap around shower curtain rods or even your shower head pipe, meaning there is always a convenient place to put it.
The Swimmer's waterproof rating is even greater than it needs to be for use in the shower. It can be submerged in up to 3 feet of water for half an hour without suffering any damage, meaning it can even fall into the tub when you're taking a bath.
The sound quality is not bad; although, there is very little bass, which isn't a surprise when you're talking about something this small. The Polk Audio BOOM Swimmer will only cost you around $19.
The Photive Hydra is perfect for people that want a shower speaker and are more concerned about sound quality than convenience. Sporting a passive subwoofer and two 40mm drivers, the Hydra delivers a fuller sounding low-end, while still providing pleasing, clear treble.
Its IP66 rating won't allow the speaker to be submerged, but it can handle water jets and splashing just fine, making it more than durable enough to withstand your daily shower.
At roughly $35, the Hydra is a little bulkier and bigger than most of the other speakers on the list, but it's still compact enough to fit on the edge of your tub or on your shower caddy.
The SoundBot SB510 is perfect for people who want an easier way to control their music while they are listening in the shower.
The simple interface on the front of SoundBot will let you control playback or adjust volume with just a tap of its buttons, meaning you don't need to get out of the shower and touch your phone to change songs. Plus, there is even a speaker and microphone for taking calls, so you won't miss anything important just because you're bathing.
Its water-resistant rating only protects the SoundBot from splashing; however, It installs super easily with a suction cup that is attached to the back of the speaker, so you should have no problem finding a place for it that's out of harm's way. Plus, for $15, it's the cheapest speaker on our list.
The Ultimate Ears Roll 2 has an IPX7 rating, meaning submerging it in up to 3 feet of water for about half an hour won't cause any damage, so your daily showers won't affect it at all. Plus, on the back, it comes with a bungee cord loop, making it easy to wrap or tie the speaker around your curtain rod or shower head, so it stays out of your way while you're headbanging in the shower.
The UE Roll 2 does come with a couple of improvements over its predecessor model. It has better sound, regarding both volume and quality, than its predecessor, and it also has an increased Bluetooth range of 100 feet, meaning your phone or tablet doesn't even have to be in the hot, steamy bathroom while you're getting clean.
The UE Roll 2 will cost you about $99 at full price; however, it's a very popular product and often goes on sale, so make sure you look out for those deals!
The first thing you will notice about the Braven Mira is the impressive sound quality for such a small device. It manages to stuff two drivers and a passive radiator into its small protective housing, giving the Mira the ability to sound full and provide some decent bass for about $63.
The hook on the back of the speaker allows it to hang easily from your shower head or it can even be used as a kickstand, allowing it to sit nicely in the corner of your tub. Plus, the battery lasts for up to 12 hours of playback, so even the longest shower takers should get more than enough time between charges.
Its waterproof rating is IPX5, meaning it can handle being hit by the stream from your shower head, which is more than enough protection for the average user.
Although it's another speaker you will need to rest on a shelf or the side of your tub, the Fugoo Sport is an awesome device that carries a starting price of about $99.
The thing that stands out the most is its 40-hour battery life. If you are truly using this in just the shower, you could probably go for weeks without needing a charge. With a waterproof rating of IP67, not only can you submerge the speaker in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes, but it's also dust-proof, meaning dirt and other particulates won't cause you any problems.
On top of it all, the sound quality is very good. The Fugoo Sport has six drivers that are spread out across all four sides, giving you clear, well-balanced 360-degree sound.
Taking the UE Boom 2 into your shower is absolutely no problem as it has a very high water-resistant rating, allowing it to be submerged in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. It's also protected against dirt and mud, but you can hand-wash the speaker with warm, soapy water just in case it gets messy.
UE Boom 2's battery will last you approximately 15 hours of playing time, which should amount to a lot of time in the tub, and has a Bluetooth range of 100 feet, making sure your phone, tablet, or PC doesn't have to be anywhere near the water. Plus, if you truly want the Boom 2 to live up to its onomatopoeic name, you have the option to set up another one to make a stereo pair and really raise the roof.
The UE Boom 2 doesn't come cheap, as its full retail price is $199; however, much like other UE products you can often find the UE Boom 2 on sale for as low as $149.
“Holy crap. I have never, in my entire career as an ant researcher, seen *anything* like this,” tweeted Alex Wild, curator of entomology at University of Texas at Austin, in response to the image below. Of course, Wild told me, it is all perfectly logical. “They actually love floods,” says Wild. “It’s how they get around.” Fire ants displaced by water form rafts; a lot of fire ants displaced by a lot of water will form really big rafts. But still! The sheer size of them is incredible.
Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant is best known for being on its Echo line of speakers, but it's available on both iOS and Android. There's a dedicated Alexa app on both of those operating systems, but only iOS has Alexa built into the main Amazon app.
Google Assistant is coming to a lot of third-party devices later this year.
Amazon opened up Alexa to third-party developers last year, resulting in a series of products powered by the retailer's digital assistant. Google followed suit earlier this year by making the Google Assistant SDK available to developers, and we're now starting to see the first thrid-party products powered by Google Assistant.
At IFA, the company is showcasing three speakers powered by the digital assistant and is announcing integration with LG's home appliances, including washing machines, dryers, and vacuums.
First up is Anker's Zolo Mojo, a cylindrical speaker with two microphones. The $70 speaker looks like a miniaturized version of Google Home, with a set of touch-sensitive controls at the top. Anker sub-brand Eufy recently launched a $35 Alexa-powered speaker called the Genie, so it's not surprising to see the company roll out a device powered by Assistant. The Zolo Mojo will be up for sale in late October.
Assistant will also be making its way to Mobvoi's TicHome Mini — which was announced back in May — and Panasonic's SC-GA10. Panasonic's offering has two 20mm soft dome tweeters and an 8cm woofer, and is set to deliver Hi-Fi audio. The SC-GA10 will make its debut in early 2018.
Google says that availability will vary based on the device, but most speakers should be up for sale later this year in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, Germany and France.
Google is also partnering with the likes of LG to integrate Assistant with the company's home appliances. With the integration, you'll be able to control LG's vacuums, washers, or dryers by issuing voice commands via an Assistant-powered device — an Android phone, smart speaker, or the iPhone. For instance, you can say, "Ok Google, start vacuuming" to get your LG vacuum to start cleaning the house.
More devices powered by Assistant will be announced over the course of this week, so keep it locked to Android Central for all the details.
Previously, if you wanted to watch content from Amazon Prime on your Android device, you had to jump through several hoops and sideload several APKs. Amazon is changing all of that as it has uploaded its Prime Video app to the Play Store for users from all over the world to download…
Alexa will be able to communicate with Cortana, and vice versa.
Amazon and Microsoft are teaming up to integrate their digital assistants. You'll soon be able to talk to Cortana by saying, "Alexa, open Cortana" from an Alexa-powered device like the Echo, and vice versa.
The integration opens up new functionality for both digital assistants, giving customers the ability to access the unique capabilities of each platform. Cortana is deeply integrated with the Office suite, and Alexa users will soon be able to access that information — which includes booking a meeting, viewing upcoming calendar events, reading work emails, setting reminders, and more.
Microsoft is set to launch Cortana-enabled speakers later this year, and teaming up with Amazon gives Cortana the ability to leverage Alexa's vast trove of skills, including the ability to control smart home products and ordering items on Amazon.com. From Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella:
Ensuring Cortana is available for our customers everywhere and across any device is a key priority for us. Bringing Cortana's knowledge, Office 365 integration, commitments, and reminders to Alexa is a great step toward that goal.
Bezos said that the integration allows both digital assistants to complement each other:
The world is big and so multifaceted. There are going to be multiple successful intelligent agents, each with access to different sets of data and with different specialized skill areas. Together, their strengths will complement each other and provide customers with a richer and even more helpful experience. It's great for Echo owners to get easy access to Cortana.
By pooling their resources, Microsoft and Amazon are better positioned to go after Google Assistant and Siri, but both companies seem amenable to partnering with the competition.
According to The New York Times, the partnership between Microsoft and Amazon kicked off last May, with Jeff Bezos noting that he would welcome a similar integration with Google and Apple. Nadella echoed a similar sentiment, stating that both companies will hopefully be inspired by Microsoft's partnership with Amazon.
The integration itself is set to go live sometime later this year.
It was always a matter of time, but now Alexa has the ability to turn Echo devices into multi-room speakers that many owners have long been clamoring for. Starting today, the feature is available for Amazon Music, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, and Pandora, while support for Spotify and SiriusXM is said to be "coming soon." This so far only applies to users in the US, UK, and Germany.
Any combination of Echos, Echo Dots, and Echo Shows can be used in a multi-room setup.
Looking back at my original Amazon Echo Dot review headline, I was either being remarkably prescient (OK, maybe not that remarkable), or trying to be a little too clever. But in any event, I was right.
An inch and a half of Alexa may be all you need.
If you need any more proof, look no further than the sheer number of Echo Dots (or is it Echoes Dot?) I've purchased. I've got a three in my home. Another in the office. Gave one to my parents and my in-laws this past Christmas.
If that's not a rousing endorsement, I don't know what is.
But let's start at the beginning. What is the Echo Dot? It's a very simple connected speaker, close to an oversized hockey puck at 3 inches in diameter, and about 1.3 inches high. It has Wifi to connect to the Internet, and Bluetooth to connect to anything else.
Four buttons are found up top — volume up and down, a button to kill the microphones should you want to make sure the Dot's not listening in, and an "action button" to make Alexa listen straightaway. (It's also used to get the Dot back into setup mode.)
That's actually a change from the first-generation Echo Dot, which sported a rotating collar (like the full-size Echo) for adjusting the volume. An LED ring still lights up that collar and helps show which direction Alexa is listening. That light also shines in different colors, particularly if you've employed Amazon's Alexa calling. (And messaging.)
The whole thing's still powered by Micro-USB. For most folks that's probably just fine (and it still comes with its own power cable). But for those of us who are trying to cast aside Micro-USB and go all-in on USB-C, that'll be something to hope for in the next-gen Echo Dot.
Aside from switching power cables (and that's admittedly a small complaint) I'd love to see Amazon class up the overall design of the Echo Dot a bit for the next release. We've seen how much a little bit of curvature can do with the Eufy Genie, which is in most every other way an inferior Echo Dot. But the expanded waist and tapered top look more sophisticated.
While I said that Alexa herself — the software underpinnings that allow the Echo Dot to do what it does — has grown a bit in the year since the Echo Dot was first released, the way you talk to her hasn't really changed. Say her name, and she appears. (Unless you've changed it to "Computer," like this guy did.) Ask her a question, and she answers. Maybe. (Amazon still lags behind Google when it comes to the depth of knowledge.) Ask her to do something (nicely, folks!) and she does it, providing that she's got the proper Alexa Skill enabled, and your accounts are all synced up.
Amazon did the Dot first, and it did it right. What more do we need than a better-looking Dot?
That's still the biggest barrier to entry for a lot of this — installing Skills and connecting accounts. It's not insurmountable, and for the more nerdy among us (hi, I'm Phil, nice to meetcha) it's a normal part of online life. But for, say, my parents, who are pushing 70? It's a little bit of a leap. What can Amazon do about that? I don't know.
Probably the biggest change since our first Echo Dot review is the price. The second-generation model came with a pretty steep discount, dropping the Dot from $90 to $50. And it's not uncommon to find it on sale for $40.
That is what's helped make the Echo Dot a true impulse buy. It's what removed any reservation from my voice (and my typing style, I suppose) when I say "Just buy one."
At the worst you have a $50 alarm clock and timer that can also read you the headlines and play music and do all kinds of other stuff. A ridiculous amount of stuff for $50, really. And that's before you start adding on other Alexa Skills, like controlling lights and sprinklers and pretty much anything else anyone wants to add.
If you don't want to wait for Amazon to redesign the Echo Dot before you can get one that looks better, maybe check this out. Amazon sells $10 cases that the Dot drops into, making it look not so much like a glossy plastic hockey puck and more like, erm, a glossy plastic hockey puck that's inside a more stylish case. Fabric isn't bad, and leather is way cool.
From collecting seashells for the inlay, harvesting tree sap for the lacquer, to adding the final touches, creating these stunning lacquer boxes in traditional Korean style takes about a year. (more…)
They don't come as a set, sadly, but these unicorn-shaped power banks are offered in white and black for $15 each. About three inches wide and one deep, they've got good reviews from buyers, so aren't doomed to become paperweights after the second recharge cycle.
Back in December of last year, Fitbit paid $40 million for Pebble. Considering Pebble's entire future product lineup was cancelled as a result of the buyout, many hoped that Fitbit would at least offer a similar product in the future. The company's new smartwatch is finally here - the Ionic - as well as two other new fitness products.
Fitbit Ionic
Let's start with the Ionic. It has a color LCD touchscreen, but can supposedly still last around four days on a single charge (when you're not using GPS).
To feature the Play Store and run Google’s first-party apps, Android manufacturers have always had to meet certain requirements. Google is now better showcasing them by branding phones and tablets that follow certifications as “Certified Android devices.” This more public initiative also coincides with Google Play Protect branding being featured on retail packaging.
Almost a year after the app's initial release, Google updated Allo to work with a desktop client earlier this month. Like WhatsApp, the desktop app runs in your browser, and uses your phone as a proxy to send/receive messages. But for some strange reason, the app is currently limited to Chrome users. If you don't use Chrome, or simply don't want to keep an Allo tab open 24/7, this unofficial web wrapper might be for you.
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android games that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous week or so.
The whole thing's still powered by Micro-USB. For most folks that's probably just fine (and it still comes with its own power cable). But for those of us who are trying to cast aside Micro-USB and go all-in on USB-C, that'll be something to hope for in the next-gen Echo Dot.
Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous week or so.
