TWiT News (Audio)

At their Microsoft EDU even, Microsoft announced the new 13.5" Surface Laptop running the new Windows 10 S operating system. The company also made several announcements geared toward the Education market, including Office 365 for Education, View Mixed Reality, and Code Builder for Minecraft: Education Edition. Code Builder will let kids use programming languages like Tinker and Scratch to affect their creations in Minecraft.

Host: Leo Laporte

Guest: Ed Bott

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On the first day of Facebook's F8 Developer Conference, Mark Zuckerberg announced Facebook's shift to augmented reality. Facebook's camera will be capable of recognizing people and objects and add Snapchat-like effects to the world. Facebook is hoping developers will help them take augmented reality to the next level, both using Facebook Camera Effects and the Oculus Rift. Facebook also announced a new social virtual reality app, Facebook Spaces, which will allow users to interact with each other in VR using cartoon avatars. Other announcements included an expanded focus on Messenger chat bots, QR code-like parametric codes, and Messenger Platform 2.0. The latter will add AI, games, music, and more to Messenger.

Host: Leo Laporte

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Samsung announces the Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. The new 5.8" and 6.2" phones feature Samsung's new Infinity Display, 10mn octa-core processors, and dual pixel 12-megapixel rear-facing and 8-megapixel front-facing cameras, both with f/1.7 aperture. Samsung also announced new IoT integrations, the new Gear 360 camera, and Bixby, their new virtual assistant. The Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will be available April 21st, with pre-orders starting tomorrow.

Hosts: Jason Howell and Ron Richards

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Samsung announces the Galaxy Tab S3 and the Galaxy Book at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Host: Leo Laporte

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Networking made easy with Synology. Robots programmed not to hurt people made by Bosch. LG's OLED TV's have come down in price and are paper thin. By developing a safer car Ford is pioneering autonomous driving. The Foldimate is a robot that will fold your clothes for you, and ADT integrates Alexa into home security.

Host: Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ

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Exploring the floor at the Pepcom Digital Experience we found, NextVR who is partnering with the NFL to immerse fans in VR highlights, Anker and the future of portable battery power, Switchmate snaps over existing light switches to bring lighting controls to your phone, and Rohinni is manufacturing micro-LEDs that are thinner, brighter, and more efficient.

• Denny Keens, VP of Content - NEXTVR
• Max Thayer, Product Manager - Anker
• Dean Finnegan, CEO - Switchmate
• Hugh N. Baertlien, VP e-Commerce - Leica Geosystems
• Nick Smoot, Marketing - Rohinni

Host: Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ

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Microsoft's answer to the iMac, the Surface Studio, arrived at the Eastside Studio in Petaluma and Leo Laporte unboxed the elegant workstation.

The versatile machine has a 28" ultra thin PixelSense display, an Intel Core processor, as well as a 1 TB hybrid hard drive with 64 GB SSD. The Surface Pro also packs 8 GB of RAM, as well as Nvidia's GTX 956M. The unique design, with its hinge, allows the user to transform the machine from a traditional desktop to a tablet-like device. The Surface Dial can be used to customize shortcuts and provide a user interface for a variety of programs, including Spotify, Word, PowerPoint and Paint.

Host: Leo Laporte

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In the market for a new ride? Or just interested in the latest automotive tech news available? We checked out some insane custom rides, Chevy's extended electric vehicle the Volt, Ford's EcoBoost motors pack power in a small package, Tim Stevens from CNet's RoadShow explains the future of tech in the automotive industry and BMW makes an Olympic wheelchair.

• Chevrolet, Michelle Malcho- The Volt delivers 53 miles when only using the battery or up to 420 miles with a fuel tank of gas.
• Galpin Auto Sports, Mad Mike - Take a look into the artistic and sometimes strange world of custom cars with Mad Mike from the TV show "Pimp My Ride".
• RoadShow, Tim Stevens - Tim and Padre go over the hot tech from this years AutoShow and where the future of tech is going with the automobile industry.
• BMW Olympic Wheelchair, Brad Cracchiola - BMW carries over years of automotive technology to create the most advanced Wheelchair in the world.
• Ford EcoBoost and Echo Sport, Eric Loefler - Making an engine powerful and economic Ford's EcoBoost technology continues to innovate in a compact package.

Host: Fr. Robert Ballecer, SJ

Guest: Tim Stevens

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At VRDC you'll see what the future of virtual and augmented reality have in store. Jason Howell explores the limits of hardware and software when looking at FOVE's eyetracking VR headset, increase workplace safety with the AR enabled hard hat, fly around the galaxy and have a spaceship battle in EVE Valkyrie, experience movies and music as if you were actually there with the Telepod home theater chair, create your perfect online avatar and take it with you into any game using Morph3D's API, and finally power you VR experience with a powerful and compact PC from Zotac.

• EVE Valkyrie - Andrew Willians, Lead Designer. Find out what it takes to develop a cutting edge game on multiple platforms and include VR so it's not just a gimmick.
• Pico - Jennifer Day, Visual Perception Researcher. An innovative take on how to power and keep a VR headset light, by putting most of the components in a controller.
• Zotac - Kevin Shieh, Social Media and Community Manager. Hardware made for VR, but that keeps cool and quiet with water in a compact form factor.
• Morph3D - Berkley Frei, VP of Strategy and Innovation. Create your perfect avatar for any game, and have it dynamically change with you.
• Telepod - Roy Cannell, Senior Advisor. A personal VR theater that makes you feel like you're actually there.
• Daqri Smart Helmet - Dr. Rajay Kumar. Work safer and smarter using the AR capable helmet capable of data visualization, thermal vision, and guided work instructions.
• FOVE - Lochlainn Wilson, CTO. Changing the way we interact with games and storytelling using eye tracking.

Host: Jason Howell

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Megan Morrone explores Pepcom 2016 and discovers that just about every new device is connected to the internet. Whether it be a camera to watch your pets, a stylish wearable tech that keeps track of your daily routine, a centralized streaming service for all your DVDs & music, a robot that teaches kids to code, a pillow that tracks your sleep habits, or a new way to turn your old non-touch screen computers into touch screen computers. Plus, an assortment of Belkin products to keep your tech powered, or connected.

Host: Megan Morrone

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