How the Le Mans hydrogen racer is shaping up

In preparation for a hydrogen-powered category, Le Mans saw laps from prototypes.

Futuristic race car with its gull wing doors open.

Enlarge / GreenGT's prototype hydrogen-powered racer. (credit: Dhananjay Khadilkar)

Around 400 meters from the buzz of the paddock during this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans stood a tent with two racing cars and a mobile fueling station. Every now and then, people wearing blue T-shirts bearing the logo of "Mission H24" would walk by the cars to attend meetings in a motor home sitting next to the tent.

One of those people was François Granet of the Franco-Swiss company GreenGT. He appeared particularly thrilled because, on the eve of the start of this year's race, the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest), which organizes the 24 Hours of Le Mans, announced a new category of race cars at the Le Mans event for 2025: hydrogen-electric prototypes. The company's forerunners were stationed in that tent.

Creating a category

GreenGT is developing the hydrogen fuel cell powertrain for these cars, which will be designed around a chassis built by Oreca and Red Bull Technologies. "In partnership with ACO, we are helping define the sporting and technical regulations for the new category," Granet said.

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The iPhone 13 is thicker and heavier than the iPhone 12

Plus, more new details revealed by Apple’s website.

The IPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini.

Enlarge / The IPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini. (credit: Apple)

Yesterday, Apple announced its new flagship iPhones: the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. But while Apple's livestream was full of details, some things were left out.

Fortunately, we've learned a bit more from Apple's updated website, including dimensions and weight, some info about specs, and the lineup of older iPhone models that will survive the culling that follows the introduction of a new flagship.

Thicker and heavier

The new iPhones are heavier than their immediate predecessors, and they're a little thicker, too. For example, the iPhone 12 weighed 5.78 ounces, but the iPhone 13 weighs 6.14 ounces. The iPhone 12 Pro was 6.66 ounces, but the iPhone 13 Pro is 7.19 ounces. This holds up across the line. And the iPhone 13 is 0.25 mm thicker than the 12; similar thickness differences are also universal.

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Purism Librem 5 Linux smartphone is getting another (big) price hike

The Purism Librem 5 is one of only a handful of smartphones designed to run free and open source GNU/Linux distributions like Purism’s custom PureOS software. It’s also one of the most expensive, currently selling for $899. But it’s going to get even more expensive soon. In a move foreshadowed earlier this year, Purism recently announced […]

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The Purism Librem 5 is one of only a handful of smartphones designed to run free and open source GNU/Linux distributions like Purism’s custom PureOS software. It’s also one of the most expensive, currently selling for $899.

But it’s going to get even more expensive soon. In a move foreshadowed earlier this year, Purism recently announced that prices will go up this fall due at least in part to rising supply chain costs due to the global chip shortage. Customers who place an order after November 1, 2021 will have to pay $1199. And in March, 2022 the price will go up to $1299.

By comparison, the cheapest Linux phone on the market is Pine64’s PinePhone, which sells for $150 to $200 depending on the configuration.

Today you can buy 6 PinePhones for the price of one Librem 5. Soon a Librem 5 will cost as much as about 9 PinePhones.

To be fair, the Librem 5 does have a slightly more powerful processor and better graphics than the PinePhone. The cameras are also better. But with a 1.5 GHz ARM-Cortex-A53 quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of eMMC storage, it’s not exactly competitive with other phones in its price range.

Purism has been a leading innovator in the Linux phone space though. The company, which has been making Linux laptops since 2015 or so, and first announced plans to develop a Linux phone just a few years after that. It wasn’t until late 2020 that the phone finally started shipping though, and some early customers still haven’t received their Librem 5 phones yet.

From a software standpoint, Purism developed the mobile-friendly Phosh user interface that’s now used by a number of mobile Linux distributions including Arch, Manjaro, Fedora, Mobian, openSUSE, and the company’s own PureOS.

So you could certainly make the case that buying a Librem 5 isn’t just an investment in a smartphone with mediocre specs and work-in-progress software, but also an investment in the development of Linux for phones overall. But with prices going as high as $1299 in the coming months, it’s a major investment.

That said, if you’ve got even more money burning a hole in your pocket you can currently order a Librem 5 USA edition smartphone for $1,999 and receive a phone within two months. That model has the same specs as the normal Librem 5, but it’s manufactured in the United States and Purism promises tighter security thanks to a “secure supply chain.”

via TuxPhones

Librem 5
Display 5.7 inch
1440 x 720 pixel
IPS LCD
Processor NXP i.MX8M Quad
4 x ARM Cortex-A53 CPU cores @ 1.5 GHz
Vivante GC7000Lite GPU
RAM 3GB
Storage 32GB eMMC
microSD
Wireless WiFi 4 (dual-band)
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS (Teseo LIV3F GNSS)
4G LTE (Broadmobi BM818 or Gemalto PLS8)
Ports USB-C 3.0
3.5mm audio
Smartcard
Cameras 13MP rear
8MP front
Battery 4,500 mAh (removable)
Sensors  Accelerometer
Gyroscope
Proximity
Compass/Magnetometer
Ambient Light
Buttons Power
Volume
Hardware kill switches WiFi/Bluetooth
Cellular Baseband
Cameras/Mic
(Turn off all three to also disable IMU+compass, GNSS, ambient light, and proximity sensors)
Dimensions 153 x 75 x 15.5mm
Weight 263 grams
Price $899 (until Nov 1, 2021)
$1199 (after Nov 1, 2021)

Latest Librem 5 news

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Walmart to begin driverless deliveries with Ford and Argo AI

Deliveries will begin in Austin, Miami, and Washington, DC, later in 2021.

Promotional image of woman using self-driving car.

Enlarge / A human collects her Walmart delivery from an autonomous delivery vehicle operated by Ford and Argo AI. (credit: Ford)

It's easy to feel like the autonomous vehicle (AV) industry has settled into the trough of sorrow. The hyperbolic buzz around self-driving cars that was all the rage a few years ago has become tempered as developers discover that not only do humans drive well—which sets a high bar for their robocars—but humans also drive badly in unique ways depending upon where they are. (People drive badly in Las Vegas differently from the way they drive badly in San Francisco, and so on.)

Our streets might not be overflowing with robotaxis as we were promised circa 2017, but here and there, AV companies are beginning commercial deployments. Argo AI, the AV startup heavily backed by Ford, Volkswagen, and others, is one of those companies. On Wednesday, Argo, Ford, and Walmart revealed that they will be working together to roll out last-mile deliveries from the retail giant's stores in Austin, Texas; Miami, Florida; and Washington, DC.

"Our focus on the testing and development of self-driving technology that operates in urban areas where customer demand is high really comes to life with this collaboration," said Bryan Salesky, founder and CEO of Argo AI. "Working together with Walmart and Ford across three markets, we're showing the potential for autonomous vehicle delivery services at scale."

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Razer’s latest mobile gaming accessory: $10 finger sleeves

Gaming hardware company Razer has been dabbling in the mobile space in recent years, with a line of game controllers designed for smartphones, as well as phone cases, wireless charging pads, and Bluetooth headphones. So what’s next? Non-slip gloves for your thumbs, apparently. The new Razer Gaming Finger Sleeve is a set of sleeves designed to […]

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Gaming hardware company Razer has been dabbling in the mobile space in recent years, with a line of game controllers designed for smartphones, as well as phone cases, wireless charging pads, and Bluetooth headphones.

So what’s next? Non-slip gloves for your thumbs, apparently.

The new Razer Gaming Finger Sleeve is a set of sleeves designed to fit over your thumbs or other fingers while you play mobile games on a smartphone or tablet. The idea is to save your screen from sweaty fingers, while still allowing your mobile device to detect taps, swipes, and other gestures.

Razer says its finger sleeves, which are made of a combination of nylon, spandex, and “silver fiber fabric,” offer a “smooth, high-sensitivity” fabric in a “lightweight and breathable” design.

They look kind of goofy, but if they prevent oil smudges from marring your screen and/or making your phone too slippery for responsive feedback while gaming, I suppose they could come in handy.

A pair of finger sleeves sells for $10. And since they’re one-size-fits-all, you could buy a second pair if you want to wear them on more than just your thumbs.

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Recent Ebola outbreak emerged from someone infected 5 years earlier

We knew the virus could go dormant but not that it could do so for five years.

Image of two men in protective garments and goggles.

Enlarge / Health care workers don protective equipment before working with Ebola patients. (credit: Bloomberg / Getty Images)

A large international research group released a paper today suggesting that Ebola viruses can emerge from five years of dormancy to start off a new outbreak of infections. While this isn't the first instance in which Ebola re-emerged from a previously infected individual, the new results extend the timeframe of risk substantially.

At present, we have little idea how and where the virus persists in the human body. But there are now tens of thousands of people who have survived previous infections, so it's an area where more research is urgently needed.

A re-outbreak

The African nation of Guinea experienced a small Ebola outbreak that started in January of 2021 when a nurse fell ill. Due to a misdiagnosis, she was not immediately isolated, allowing the virus to spread. Fortunately, a major outbreak that occurred in the same region from 2013 to 2016 resulted in the local health authorities obtaining sophisticated diagnostic equipment, including the real-time RT-PCR machines that are used for COVID-19 testing. This ultimately allowed the authorities to determine that Ebola was the cause of her illness, identify 15 additional cases, and take measures that brought the outbreak to a halt. In all, 12 of the 16 infected died.

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Backpage founders get mistrial because US overplayed child sex trafficking claims

US focused too heavily on child sex trafficking in case with no trafficking charges.

A gavel and jury box in an empty courtroom.

Enlarge (credit: Getty Images | imaginima)

A federal judge yesterday declared a mistrial in the case against Backpage's founders, ruling that US prosecutors unfairly tainted the jury by focusing too heavily on claims of child sex trafficking in a trial that involved zero charges of child sex trafficking. A new trial will be held.

"'The government, as prosecutors, are held to a higher standard,' said Judge Susan Brnovich from the bench as court opened for what was expected to be the eighth day of the trial. 'Their goal is not to win at any costs, but their goal is to win by the rules,'" according to an Arizona Republic article.

The case against Backpage founders Michael Lacey and James Larkin, and five Backpage executives and managers, is in US District Court for the District of Arizona. The actual charges are for conspiracy, facilitating prostitution, and money laundering. An order confirming the declaration of mistrial was filed, but Brnovich explained her reasoning orally.

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Toronto Film Festival Asks Google to Remove Links to Leaked Netflix Screeners

Last weekend, two screeners of upcoming Netflix movies leaked ahead of their official premiere. “The Power of the Dog” and “The Guilty” are now widely shared on pirate sites, something that has triggered a series of takedown requests. Interestingly, the Toronto International Film Festival, which could be where the films leaked from, is particularly active.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.

tiffScreeners are advance copies of recent movies that are generally sent out to critics and awards voter for review.

Some of these copies end up in the hands of pirates and are subsequently published online. This includes screeners of potential Academy Award nominees, which usually appear around December.

Netflix Screeners Leak

Over the past two years, this trend was broken. In 2020, the first movie screeners surfaced in October and this year the Netflix movies “The Power of the Dog” and “The Guilty” leaked even earlier.

While the leaked films are labeled as screeners, they don’t appear to be the typical award show releases. Instead, release group EVO hinted that they were sourced from a film festival. The name of the festival was kept private but in our earlier report, we mentioned the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) as an option.

TIFF is in full swing and both Netflix titles are on the ‘screening’ program there. This could all be a coincidence but after the films leaked, TIFF was quick to hire a takedown service to have links to the leaked movies removed from Google’s search results.

TIFF Issues Takedown Requests

With these types of prominent leaks, we always keep an eye on online enforcement activities. Initially, we expected that Netflix would be quick to issue a series of takedown requests but, thus far, the Toronto Film Festival has been the most active.

Shortly after the leaks became public, the renowned anti-piracy outfit Web Sheriff sent a series of takedown notices on behalf of TIFF, asking Google to remove hundreds of URLs from its search engine. These links point to leaked screener copies of “The Power of the Dog” and “The Guilty.”

tiff takedown request

The takedown notices are not direct evidence that the leaks originate from TIFF. After all, the festival secured permission to broadcast the titles, so it could be simply be protecting its ‘rights.’

That said, this week’s notices only cover the leaked screeners and they are the first takedown requests TIFF has sent in nearly a year.

No Official Comment Yet

The above makes it more likely that the film festival is inadvertently the source of the leak. We reached out to the festival requesting a comment on our findings and its potential link to the pirated screeners but the organization didn’t immediately reply.

When screeners of “Falling” and “My Salinger Year” leaked last year we identified the annual Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) as a potential source. The leaks appeared shortly after they were screened at the festival, but this potential connection was never officially confirmed.

From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more.

“Melting face,” “pregnant person,” and 35 other emoji approved for Unicode 14.0

838 new characters bring Unicode’s total to a whopping 144,697.

All the potential new emoji

Enlarge / This is the full slate of proposed new emoji for Unicode 14.0. (credit: Emojipedia)

The Unicode Consortium has finalized Unicode 14.0, adding a total of 838 new characters to the standard, which dictates how text and other written characters are handled in most of the world's software. Most notably for everyday users, Unicode 14.0 includes 37 new emoji characters, including multiple hand gestures and additions like "melting face," "biting lip," "troll," "beans," "pouring liquid," "pregnant man," and "pregnant person."

The "pregnant man" and "pregnant person" emoji are important for inclusivity and representation, since some transgender and non-binary people can be pregnant. The "other keywords" for both emoji suggest possible alternate uses like "bloated" and "full." But the emoji names for both characters were specifically changed from "man/person with swollen belly" to "pregnant man/person" back in February in order to be consistent with the name and intended usage of the extant "pregnant woman" emoji.

The finalized list of emoji is the same as the draft version that circulated a few months ago. That list removed a few candidates that could reappear in a future version of the Unicode spec, including "vulture," "crow," "raised little finger," "cooking pot," "chainsaw," and "submarine." The Unicode Consortium is working to limit the number of new emoji added in each new version of the standard to stay "focused on what is useful" and reduce the amount of work that OS and app developers need to do to support new emoji every year.

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