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It takes sophisticated software to measure a rocket's health during a launch countdown. (credit: NASA)

During a launch countdown, rockets must be continually checked to ensure that control pumps, motors, fuel levels, and myriad other systems and subsystems are operating normally. It takes sophisticated software to oversee this, and it is this software that will often autonomously make the call to terminate a launch right up until T-minus zero.

As it builds the Space Launch System rocket, NASA is updating this Spaceport Command and Control System software for the Kennedy Space Center. However, a new report by the space agency's inspector general, Paul Martin, finds this decade-long software development effort has fallen behind schedule and is on track to exceed its initial budget of $117.3 million by 77 percent, with cost estimates now increased to $207.4 million. Moreover, the inspector general criticized NASA for not adopting cheaper, commercially available launch software already used by Orbital ATK and SpaceX to launch their rockets.

To develop its new launch software, NASA has essentially kluged together a bunch of different software packages, Martin noted in his report. "The root of these issues largely results from NASA’s implementation of its June 2006 decision to integrate multiple products or, in some cases, parts of products rather than developing software in-house or buying an off-the-shelf product," the report states. "Writing computer code to 'glue' together disparate products has turned out to be more complex and expensive than anticipated. As of January 2016, Agency personnel had developed 2.5 million lines of 'glue-ware,' with almost two more years of development activity planned."

(credit: Xiaomi)

Xiaomi is expanding its horizons, looking beyond cheap yet surprisingly good smartphones and affordable fitness trackers to target the Internet of Things space. The Chinese company announced the Mi Induction Heating Pressure Rice Cooker as the first device in its new "Mi Ecosystem" sub-brand.

The rice cooker is strategic first product. There's no doubt that rice cookers are already crucial kitchen products for many, but according to some reports, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun wanted to create a Chinese-made rice cooker that could stand up against the more advanced (and expensive) Japanese devices from the likes of Toshiba and Tiger. Enter Xiaomi's smartphone-connected rice cooker, which not only cooks rice via pressure and induction heating but is also much cheaper than its Japanese competitors at 999 yuan (about $150).

Another thing to note is that, like Xiaomi's smartphones, the smart rice cooker features a pleasantly minimalist design which will certainly add to its appeal. In addition to using pressure cooking technology, it comes with a gray cast-iron inner pot which will help the rice cook evenly. Users will be able to scan the barcode on their rice bags so the device can best cook the rice according to brand, type, and origin. The app can currently  identify 200 brands, of rice and that library will be expanded in the future.

This aerial view of Monterey Bay from the south was created by combining computer-generated topographic and bathymetric data. Vertical relief has been exaggerated to better show the Monterey Canyon and mountains on either side of the bay. (credit: Monterey Bay Acquarium Research Institute)

Turns out, the government doesn’t take too kindly to the theft of one of its scientific buoys.

According to a lawsuit filed last week by federal prosecutors in California, two commercial fishermen are essentially hostage-takers, as they recovered a loose United States Geological Survey buoy in January 2016 and are now demanding money for its return.

By contrast, the fishermen’s lawyer said on Monday that his clients (one of which is his son) recovered the offshore buoy, which had come loose from its moorings due to a storm. Therefore, because they took possession of the buoy, they became in fact, its rightful owners. The fishermen are not asking for a ransom—now $13,000—but merely a sticker price.

The more powerful version of the PlayStation 4, currently dubbed PlayStation 4K or PlayStation 4.5, will be announced shortly before the release of PlayStation VR in October, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The publication's sources indicate that Sony will not stop production of the original PS4 on release of the new, more powerful version, while also noting that "it is likely" both consoles would share the same software catalogue.

Sony's goal with the console, according to those same sources, is to compete with high-end PC-based virtual reality experiences such as the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, which offer a higher graphical fidelity than the current PS4. While it's possible that a more powerful PS4 will be able to increase the sharpness and graphical effects of PS VR games, the headset itself sports a mere 1920×1080 OLED display, equating to 960×1080 per eye, compared to the higher 2160×1200 screens of the Rift and Vive.

For those not into interested in PS VR, the increased processing power of the new PS4 will allow it to output UHD (4K) resolution, say the WSJ's However, it's not yet clear whether that will only apply to new games, or whether older software will be upscaled too.