LG has announced that its second smartwatch, the G Watch R , will soon be able to receive notifications and other information over Wi-Fi.
The new feature will arrive with a firmware over-the-air update over the next few days along with the latest version of Android Wear , and will negate the need for a Bluetooth connection to users’ phones for receiving alerts.
That should help users save a bit of their phones’ battery life as well. It’s a small, but handy update for owners of LG’s first smartwatch, that went on sale at the end of 2014 for $299 .
➤ LG G Watch R
UK aviation authority issues ‘drone code’ to stop idiots interfering with commercial flights
Drones are cool. Flying drones in a way that ends up interfering with the flight path of passenger planes and other important air traffic is straight up moronic.
Unfortunately, because (a minority) of drone fans are unable to get that into their heads, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued stronger guidance. Inevitably, the rules are being referred to as the ‘drone code.’
CAA spokesperson Tim Johnson told the media :
The ‘drone code’ says operators should keep their drones within a line of sight – a requirement that has existed for some time – and at a maximum height of 121 meters (400 ft).
Drone users can be prosecuted under the Air Navigation Order 2009 if they fly their gadgets beyond the line of sight (defined by the legislation as 500 meters horizontally or 121 meters vertically).
The updated rules also warn operators to exercise “common sense” and avoid flying near aircraft, helicopters, airports and airfields.
The CAA has also said it supports efforts by drone makers to build geo-fencing into their products , preventing them from flying in certain areas or going above a certain altitude.
Seven suspected incidents of drones entering commercial flight paths have been logged in the UK since May 2014, including the pilot of an Airbus A320 landing at Heathrow reported a near miss this month .
Of course, there have also been the hoaxes, like this one by a digital effects company that showed a drone striking a flight in the US .
➤ Civil Aviation Authority [via ITV ]
Read next : How to use drones legally – a beginner’s guide
The New York Times is sending over 1m Google Cardboard headsets to subscribers
The New York Times is trying something a little different to ramp up its readership: virtual reality .
The newspaper will be sending over a million Google Cardboard sets to its subscribers so they can try out its new virtual reality app – mostly print customers, but a ‘selection of Times digital subscribers’ as well.
Along with the VR app, to be released on November 5, the NYT will debut a documentary called ‘The Displaced,’ which follows the stories of children affected by war. You can also expect a couple more films later in the year, as well as some 360-degree ads from Mini and GE.
And if you don’t have a VR headset, you can still view the 360-degree content by waving around your phone, or watch the boring old 2D versions online.
It’s an interesting move by the Times to try and get ahead of the burgeoning VR craze – particularly considering it’s primarily a text-and-images publication – but only time will tell whether that will help attract new readership.
The headsets are going out on November 7, so expect a little surprise in your IRL mailbox soon if you’re a subscriber. Of course, you can still use your own headset too if you have one lying around.
➤ The New York Times Launches NYT VR; Delivers Over One Million Google Cardboard Viewers [Business Wire]