Blackberry KeyOne smartphone

Not long ago, I ran into an acquaintance who was defensive about still carrying a BlackBerry.

He didn't have to be. Though their ranks are small, BlackBerry loyalists are an ardent bunch, folks who appreciate all that the once dominant smartphone maker delivered in its heyday, handsets with first-rate physical keyboards, industrial strength security, generous batteries.

BlackBerry has stopped making the hardware. But now there's a new BlackBerry I've been reviewing called KeyOne, the first from China's TCL Communication under a brand licensing agreement with BlackBerry.

The phone was formally introduced in February during the Mobile World Congress trade show in Barcelona.

I'm confident the BlackBerry fan I ran into will love it.

Put me down as liking the phone too, though not to the degree that I'd be willing to swap the best phones on the market today, Apple's iPhone 7 or Samsung's Galaxy S8.

 A WORKAHOLIC PHONE

The KeyOne is an impressive throwback that measures up to vintage BlackBerry strengths, only in a more modern package that uses the Android Nougat operating system, with such up-to-date features as the Google Assistant.

The device is built of sturdy anodised aluminum and has an easy to grip rubbery back with tiny dimples. It stands roughly as tall as the iPhone 7 Plus.

The (1620x1080) screen is protected by Gorilla Glass 4 - nice, but at 4.5-inches, on the small side. And its rather unusual 3:2 aspect ratio means the display is better suited for reading emails than for watching Guardians of the Galaxy, though you certainly could. But there's no mistaking the fact that BlackBerry's have corporate rather than cinematic roots.

The 12-megapixel front and 8-megapixel rear cameras on the KeyOne are perfectly fine but I wouldn't call them exceptional.

And good as the backlit physical keyboard is, after a near decade of composing texts and emails on virtual touchscreen keyboards, I found typing on the BlackBerry comparatively slower and frankly a bit of a chore given its squishy-sized keys. I suspect those of you who've stuck with BlackBerry all these years will see it differently.

VINTAGE FEATURES WITH NEW TRICKS

The BlackBerry crowd will recognise other helpful staples, including the convenient BlackBerry Hub repository for emails, messages, tweets and other communications, BlackBerry's DTEK security software for safeguarding the operating system and your data, and the presence of BlackBerry Messenger.

And even thumb typists will appreciate an assist from the touch screen from time to time. So when you press the "sym" key on the physical keyboard, a virtual touch screen keyboard with all the various symbol options turns up on the screen just above. What's more, as you compose a text or email, a trio of predictive word suggestions you may want to include next appears, a feature that's common to other phones as well.

What's not common is how you might go with one of those word choices. You can lightly slide your finger up against the physical keyboard - it doubles as a kind of trackpad - to practically flick the word you've selected directly into your message. It's a neat parlour trick, and "flick typing" might actually prove to be productive. You can alternatively just tap a word choice.

Meantime while gently guiding your finger along the trackpad, you can also scroll what's on the screen, though frankly I found it just as simple, if not simpler, to scroll by making direct contact with my thumb along the display.

Keyboard shortcuts are another BlackBerry tradition that is a big part of the KeyOne experience. You can customise up to 52 such shortcuts, such as pressing the "c" key to summon the calendar app or the "m" key to text a message to a designated contact.

One feature that I really like is the fingerprint sensor that's cleverly embedded into the space bar, a natural landing spot for your thumb and a fast and accurate way to authenticate your identify.

ALAS, THERE'S ALSO A DOWNSIDE

I too often mistook that space bar for the actual home key, which is the circle that you can tap just above the top row of physical keys.

Meanwhile, BlackBerry has positioned a physical convenience key on the right side of the device that you can customise for an action, perhaps a one-key speed dial to your spouse. But you might also mistake that button for the power button that's on the left side.

Other items on the KeyOne to make note of: the phone has 32GB of memory that's expandable via microSD up to 2TB. The device is fast to charge (via USB-C adapter) and though I didn't conduct a formal battery test, I never had to fret about power.

I don't expect the KeyOne to spark a major resurgence of interest in BlackBerry. But there's a lot to please loyal fans, and other smartphone users intoxicated by the prospects of a physical keyboard experience will also find much to like.

Page Source:www.stuff.co.nz

Afghan security forces and medics at site of suicide attack in Kabul on May 3, 2017

How Much is it Going To Cost Me?

KABUL, Afghanistan -- A suicide car bomber struck a U.S. military convoy in the Afghan capital on Wednesday, killing at least eight Afghan civilians and wounding three U.S. service members, officials said.

Najib Danish, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said another 25 Afghan civilians were wounded in the morning rush-hour attack near the U.S. Embassy, which destroyed several civilian vehicles.

The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement released by the militant group's own pseudo news agency, Amaq.

U.S. Navy Cpt. Bill Salvin, a military spokesman, confirmed that three soldiers were wounded in the attack, adding that they "sustained non-life threatening wounds, are in stable condition , and are currently being treated at coalition medical facilities."

Salvin said the armored personnel carriers that made up the convoy, which are designed to withstand large blasts, returned to a coalition base under their own power, according to the Reuters news service.

The ISIS claim of responsibility came with the terror group's customary embellishment of fact, claiming eight U.S. troops were killed along with "a number" of Afghan forces.

Two U.S. Army Rangers were killed during a raid on an ISIS compound in Afghanistan at the end of April.

 Pentagon investigating possible friendly fire incident

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Pentagon investigating possible friendly fire incident

The Defense Department has identified the slain troops as Sgt. Joshua P. Rodgers, 22, and Sgt. Cameron H. Thomas, 23, and said they were killed by small arms fire during an operation targeting the emir of the ISIS' Afghan branch in Nangarhar province, the Pentagon said.

The Pentagon is investigating whether the soldiers died as a result of friendly fire.

That deadly raid came just a couple weeks after the U.S. military dropped the most powerful non-nuclear bomb ever used on a battlefield -- the MOAB, nicknamed the "

mother-of-all-bombs-killed-dozens-of-isis-fighters-afghans-sayEditUnlink ">mother of all bombs" -- on an ISIS cave network in Afghanistan.

While ISIS claimed the Wednesday attack, the Taliban also just announced the start of its annual spring offensive on Friday, and that group has repeatedly targeted Afghan and U.S. forces in the past.

Afghan forces have struggled to contain the Taliban since the U.S. and NATO officially concluded their combat mission at the end of 2014, switching to a support and counterterrorism role. The U.S. has more than 8,000 troops in the country.

In announcing the spring offensive, the Taliban said coalition and Afghan security forces would be the focus.

© 2017 CBS Interactive Inc.

Track Your Vehicle Using Your Smartphone

With Over 4.5 Million Units Sold Worldwide, This is The Most Affordable Solution to Find Your Lost Items!

Have you ever lost your car on a parking lot? It happens. You park and go shopping. When you get back, you don't have a clue where your car is. Then you start roaming around clicking on the panic button on your car keys so the alarm goes off. It can be frustrating, especially on a hot, sunny day.

No, you don't need to install an expensive GPS system to keep track of your car. That's way too expensive. You would need to pay a monthly subscription fee just to use it. Don't we have enough bills to pay already?

But is there a way to track your vehicle without spending a fortune? Yes, now there is!

A California-based startup company was able to make this a reality. They created a tiny device that works with your smartphone, and it could be exactly what you're looking for!

What is it?

It's called TrackR. It is a state-of-the-art tracking device the size of a quarter. It's changing the way we keep track of the important things in our lives.

How Does it Work?

It's easy! Install the free TrackR app on your smartphone, connect the app to your device and you're ready to go! Simply attach TrackR to whatever you want to keep tabs on. The entire process of setting it up only takes 5 minutes or less.

You can attach it to your keys, briefcase, wallet, your latest tech gadgets and anything else you don't want to lose. Then use the TrackR app to locate your missing item in seconds.

"This device has saved me tons of time and money!"

Forget expensive GPS systems or tracking services. Nobody wants to pay expensive monthly subscription fees. We understand how stressful these things can be, and this is the reason why TrackR was created. This device is your VIP when you need to take care of more important things in life.

Remember the car scenario above? If you have the TrackR, you can just hide it under your car's floor mat, in the trunk or in the glove compartment. Somewhere it won't be found if your car gets stolen.

If you forget where you parked your car, whip out your smartphone and open the TrackR app. Tap on the "lost item" icon on the screen and the app will tell you the exact coordinates of the last known location of the Tracker.

You're probably thinking that this device is very expensive... False! TrackR only costs $29! That's a small price to pay for peace of mind, isn't it?

Where can I buy one?

You can buy it directly from the company's website by clicking here.https://trackr.giddyup.deals/index-02/?utm_source=2303&utm_medium=&utm_content=321&utm_campaign=GU&aff_id=2303&camp_id=11479&sub_id=&contract_id=201&oid=376&sxid=57gf7670k6ua

THE POKEMON Go Promo Code feature has arrived

THE POKEMON Go Promo Code feature has arrived for many fans overnight, however, Trainers will have to wait a little longer to find out the next round of news.

Niantic have been known to be working on several different new features for Pokemon Go and now it appears that fans can expect the latest to launch later this week.

 

While many might have been expecting the new coop experience to be the next big change to the game, the development team appear ready to debut something different.

Pokemon Go promo codes have been anticipated for quite some time, having been found in the game’s master code earlier in 2017.

The promotional codes feature appeared overnight as part of an unannounced Pokemon Go update from Niantic, who have yet to reveal their plans for it.

However, as those who have tried putting in random codes will know, the feature itself is not yet active.

A Pokemon Go promo Code FAQ site run by Niantic is currently available to view, explaining: “Pokémon Go occasionally offers promotional codes through our partnerships and special events.

“Promo codes can be used to redeem items such as Poké Balls, Lure Modules, Lucky Eggs, and more.”

To redeem a promo code:

In the Map View, touch the Main Menu  button.

Touch Shop  button.

At the bottom of the screen, enter the promo code in the text field.

Touch Redeem.

After successfully redeeming a promo code, a notification will display the items added to your inventory.

It appears that more Pokemon Go news will arrive later this week, explaining fully how Promo Codes work in relation to the rest of the game.

Some details have already been revealed by dataminers, who have confirmed that promotional codes will be useable with items, Avatar aesthetics, Candy, Stardust and PokeCoins.

As fans have found out today, promo codes will be redeemed via the in-game shop, while there will also be different versions.

This means that there will be different Pokemon Go promo codes released, some supplied by third parties.

However, it should be noted that Niantic themselves have yet to confirm how they hope to use the new feature in full, although they’re likely to make an announcement later this week.

Pokemon Go Promo Code indicators were first discovered by dataminers back in late March, meaning Niantic have had a long time to flesh out whatever ideas they have before launch.

PAGE SOURCE:www.express.co.uk

Cassini–Huygens

ABOUT THE MISSION

Orbiting the ringed planet Saturn and its numerous moons, the Cassini spacecraft has been and continues to be a keystone of exploration of the Saturnian system and the properties of gaseous planets in our solar system. 

A joint endeavor of NASA, the European Space Agency, or ESA, and the Italian Space Agency, Cassini launched in 1997 along with ESA's Huygens probe. The spacecraft contributed to studies of Jupiter for six months in 2000 before reaching its destination, Saturn, in 2004 and starting a string of flybys of Saturn's moons. That same year it released the Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan to conduct a study of the moon's atmosphere and surface composition. Now in its second extended mission, which goes through 2017, Cassini will make the first observations of a complete seasonal period for Saturn and its moons.

Mission Events

December 30, 2000: Cassini-Huygens takes a six-month swing by Jupiter to pick up speed for its journey to Saturn and collaborates with NASA's Galileo spacecraft to study the Jovian system. 

June 30, 2004: Cassini arrives at Saturn. 

December 13, 2004: Cassini-Huygens makes its first flyby of a Saturnian moon, two in fact: Titan and Dione. For a full list of Cassini's flybys since 2004, visit: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/flybys/ 

December 24, 2004: The Cassini spacecraft releases the European Space Agency-built Huygens probe at Saturn's moon Titan. 

January 14, 2005: The Huygens probe makes its descent through Titan's atmosphere to sample the chemical composition and surface properties of the Saturnian moon. 

June 2008: Cassini completes its primary mission to explore the Saturn system and begins its mission extension (Cassini Equinox Mission). 

September 2010: Cassini completes its extended mission (Cassini Equinox Mission) and begins its second mission extension (Cassini Solstice Mission), which goes through 2017 and will make the first observations of a complete seasonal period for Saturn and its moons. Learn more at http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm . 

December 2011:Cassini uses its synthetic aperture radar to obtain the highest resolution images yet of Saturn's moon Enceladus. 

December 2012: Cassini uses its visual and infrared mapping spectrometer, or VIMS, instrument to track the transit of Venus -- a first for a spacecraft beyond Earth orbit. The exercise is to test the feasibility of using Cassini's VIMS to observe planets outside our solar system. 

March 2013: Cassini makes its last flyby of Saturn's moon Rhea, probing the internal structure of the moon by measuring the gravitational pull of Rhea against the spacecraft's steady radio link to NASA's Deep Space Network here on Earth. 

July 2013: Cassini images a backlit Saturn to examine the planet's rings in fine detail and captures a pixel-size Earth in the process. In a campaign to raise awareness about the photo shoot, NASA encourages Earthlings to go outside and wave at Saturn.

Scientific Instrument(s)

- Cassini orbiter:
- Ion and neutral mass spectrometer
- Visible and infrared mapping spectrometer
- Composite infrared spectrometer
- Cosmic dust analyzer
- Radio and plasma wave instrument
- Cassini plasma spectrometer
- Ultraviolet imaging spectrograph
- Magnetospheric imaging instrument
- Dual technique magnetometer 

Huygens probe:
- Descent imager and spectral radiometer
- Huygens atmospheric structure instrument
- Gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer
- Aerosol collector pyrolyzer
- Surface science package
- Doppler wind experiment

Call of Duty WW2

CALL OF Duty WW2 is not an official World at War 2 style sequel, even though many fans may think otherwise.

Having first focused on fans wanting to find out more about the new game announced for PS4, Xbox One and PC, there are now several new topics being searched for on Google.

One of those is Call of Duty World at War 2, a topic that makes sense but isn’t quite on the money.

By looking at the current search terms on Google, you actually find that in the past hour just as many people are searching for Call of Duty WW2, as our also looking for World at War 2.

However, Call of Duty WW2 is not a sequel to the now classic Treyarch title, Call of Duty: World at War.

But it’s easy to see how fans could get mixed up; both titles are set to share some pretty big similarities, away from just the setting.

World at War focused on both the Pacific Theater and Eastern Front during the war, and follows the American and Soviet campaigns.

Following the launch of the new Call of Duty WW2 reveal trailer, the trending topics connected to the new title have shifted.

Call of Duty WW2, meanwhile, has been confirmed as focusing on a Campaign taking players through Normandy, France, Belgium, as well as other turning points of World War II.

In the World at War American missions, players assume the role of Private Miller, taking part in the Battle of Peleliu and beyond, while the Soviet missions take you to the Battle of Stalingrad and introduce you to Private Dmitri Petrenko and Sergeant Viktor Reznov, names familiar to those that have played the Black Ops series.

Call of Duty WW2 features “Red” Daniels, Private in the 1st Infantry Division, with best friend Robert Zussman, as well as missions coordinating with French resistance leader, Rousseau, and British intel force's Crowley.

And based on the information supplied by Activision, there doesn’t appear to be anything linking this new title to the Black Ops series of games.

World at War was also the game that introduced the world to Treyarch's now infamous Zombies, which was originally included as an Easter egg.

Activision confirmed today that Call of Duty WW2 will have its own Nazi Zombies mode, which will focus on the Third Reich’s attempts to build a new army.

However, when it comes to multiplayer, things will be a lot different between the two games, with Activision expanding on traditional COD online gameplay.

Jeremy Corbyn said on Thursday he would defeat a "cosy cartel"

Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said on Thursday he would defeat a "cosy cartel" at the heart of British politics, casting himself as the anti-establishment challenger in a snap election called by Prime Minister Theresa May.

The pledge, to be delivered via higher taxes on the wealthy and a crackdown on powerful corporations, set the tone for a campaign in which the veteran left-winger will try to defy opinion polls that point to a heavy defeat.

Battling to assert control over his own divided Labour Party as well as to convince the country at large, he sought to tap into widespread voter frustration with the political elite.

"It is the establishment versus the people and it is our historic duty to make sure that the people prevail," Corbyn told party supporters in central London.

"We don’t accept that it is natural for Britain to be governed by a ruling elite, the City and the tax-dodgers."

Conservative leader May sprang a major surprise on Tuesday by calling a June 8 election, three years ahead of schedule, to capitalise on a dramatic collapse in support for Labour and win a stronger mandate to boost her in complex divorce talks with the European Union.

While she tries to focus the debate on Brexit, Corbyn is looking to harness a powerful anti-establishment mood revealed by last year's EU referendum and echoed in the rhetoric of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump during last year's U.S. election campaign.

"How dare they crash the economy with their recklessness and greed, and then punish those who had nothing to do with it?" he said, referring to the 2007-9 financial crisis.

"The British people know that they are the true wealth creators, held back by a system rigged for the wealth extractors."

"EGO TRIP"

He made only a passing reference to Brexit, widely described as Britain's biggest challenge since World War Two, saying he wanted to focus on life after leaving the EU.

"(May) will try to downplay the issues that affect people's lives every day and instead turn the election into an ego trip about her own failing leadership and the machinations of the coming negotiations in Brussels," he said.

Playing to simmering public anger about stagnant wages and businesses that pay low taxes, Corbyn said he would scrap planned cuts to corporation tax and reverse tax breaks for wealthy individuals.

"We will not longer allow those at the top to leech off those who bust their guts on zero-hours contracts, or those forced to make sacrifices to pay their mortgage or pay their rent," he said.

"Instead of the country's wealth being hidden in tax havens, we will put it in the hand of the people."

The political system was biased in favour of large companies, he said. "It is these rules that have allowed a cosy cartel to rig the system in favour of a few powerful and wealthy individuals and corporations."

Last year's vote to leave the EU split Labour's traditional supporter base, which is divided between typically pro-EU inner city voters, especially in London, and working-class voters in less affluent areas who voted for Brexit.

Corbyn, who voted to leave the EU's predecessor in 1975 but supported 'Remain' last year, has been criticised for muddling the party's position on Brexit and failing to effectively challenge May's push for a clean break with the bloc.

Corbyn denied a report published in The Times newspaper on Thursday which said his party could promise a public vote to approve the terms of Britain's EU exit. In a statement his spokesman said such a policy would not be in their manifesto.

A YouGov opinion poll carried out after the election was called showed May's Conservatives on 48 percent, with Labour trailing a distant second on 24 percent. By comparison, ahead of the 2015 general election, which the Conservatives won, polls showed the two parties were roughly level.

Analysis of polling data conducted by The Times newspaper showed May could win a landslide majority of 114 seats, up from 12 last time around.

May, who also backed staying in the EU but has since embraced the notion of life outside the bloc, is pitching her campaign on a promise of stable leadership to deliver a good deal for Britain from exit negotiations with Brussels.

If she can achieve a resounding election victory, that would limit the scope for parliament to block or water down her plan for Britain to quit the EU single market and to prioritise immigration control.

Page Source:www.reuters.com