Author: Richard

Jeff Bridges’ lauded “Hell or High Water.”

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The Small Cameras On Coca-Cola Machines Aren’t Intended For Dispensing Beverages

It’s undeniable that the Coke machines with a touchscreen, referred to as Coca-Cola Freestyle, are impressive since they enable you to blend and choose from over 100 beverages. Coke even offers the capability to dispense your creation touch-free through an application. However, if you take a closer look, right above that touchscreen is a small opening, and inside is a miniature camera lens.

As mentioned by Fortune, these cameras are equipped with “future capabilities for motion sensing and facial recognition,” yet they don’t seem to be utilized at present. Cameras have become ubiquitous these days, including at Costco gas stations to deter card skimmers. But what purpose would a soda dispenser serve with a camera? Based on patent filings by former staff of the beverage giant, it’s reasonable to infer that it’s primarily focused on customer sentiment analysis.

This corresponds with a project Coke previously engaged in with the MIT Senseable City Lab, aimed at analyzing the vast quantities of data gathered by the over 15,000 Coca-Cola Freestyle machines across the United States. Although the cameras were not employed for this purpose, data such as time, location, and user preferences were collected to supply thorough insights into consumer behavior.

Utilizing Coke Freestyle machines for data collection

As of this moment, there are no indications that these Coca-Cola Freestyle machine cameras are operational. The majority of the data gathered by these machines seems to pertain to user interactions, such as what beverages consumers are selecting, when they are making their purchases, and what combinations are being created. Thus, while there is no evidence that Coke is applying these cameras for facial recognition, it remains unsettling to think about machines quietly observing and tracking us.

Similar to the new AI capable of monitoring you in surveillance footage without ever seeing your face and the “WhoFi” system that can follow your body using Wi-Fi. Although the Freestyle cameras are inactive, it is still uncertain what precisely Coca-Cola plans to do with all that data — apart from identifying new popular flavor combinations, such as Orange Vanilla Coke. The company reportedly invested over $1 billion in the development of its Freestyle machines, but it is likely that this expense will eventually be offset through the collection, management, and sale of data.

For many years, Chromebooks have been the leading choice in the budget laptop category. Nevertheless, with the introduction of the MacBook Neo, Apple establishes a new standard for computers priced below $599, offering exceptional built quality, a high-performance processor, and several additional features such as a quality webcam and a complete operating system, unlike Chromebooks which operate solely with Google Chrome. While budget shoppers looking for a $150 option may not be swayed by the MacBook Neo, those inclined to invest around $500 may find it challenging to resist upgrading to a Mac, since even pricier Chromebooks don’t compare to Apple’s design.

For instance, a Samsung Galaxy Chromebook may provide an aluminum finish, or you might opt for a 2-in-1 model from Lenovo or Acer, enabling you to use your Chromebook as a tablet as well. However, these options could exceed the $600 threshold, risk delivering subpar performance, lackluster finishes, or potentially come with a poor webcam. Additionally, a more significant distinction between a MacBook and a Chromebook is the operating systems: macOS versus ChromeOS.

Even if the MacBook Neo didn’t boast aesthetic appeal, it would still run macOS. Chromebooks are designed primarily for online use, relying heavily on cloud services like Google Docs. Thus, if you need to work offline, they won’t perform as effectively as a comprehensive operating system like macOS. Moreover, the range of apps on ChromeOS is more restricted. For instance, Adobe Photoshop or advanced editing tools aren’t as readily accessible compared to their availability on macOS. Initial reviews suggest that the MacBook Neo performs admirably in photo and video editing tasks, surpassing what most Chromebooks can handle.

Apple also claims that for local AI tasks and web browsing, the MacBook Neo’s A18 Pro vastly outperforms the latest Intel Core Ultra 5, which is a much better processor than what most Chromebooks possess. Given that Apple manages both the hardware and software for its MacBook Neo, it’s evident why this laptop delivers superior performance relative to Chromebooks and other Windows laptops in a similar price bracket.

Naturally, although shoppers can find certain Chromebook models offering up to 16GB of RAM, superior OLED displays, and additional features, the price can reach a point where purchasing a refurbished MacBook Air or an M2 or M3 model may be a more sensible option than acquiring these ChromeOS devices.

What makes the MacBook Neo particularly appealing is Apple’s focus on the educational sector, a realm that Chromebooks have previously dominated. With a $499 educational price point, students receive a device featuring an aluminum finish, quality keyboards and trackpads (though it lacks the Force Touch found in other Apple MacBooks), a powerful processor that is even more capable than the M1, a decent webcam, and complete macOS compatibility. For an additional $100, users can also upgrade to 512GB of storage instead of the standard 256GB, along with Touch ID support.

Early reviews indicate that the speakers are surprisingly impressive, even though they are side-firing. The 13-inch LCD display from Apple has also received positive feedback, despite not supporting P3 Gamut, which would enhance color vibrancy. Nevertheless, the general consensus appears to be that if you are searching for a laptop to accompany you in the coming years—whether you are starting college or seeking a reliable daily device—the MacBook Neo is the top choice for non-technical users who prefer a laptop that won’t underperform after just a couple of years.

convert an outdated smartphone into a functional webcam. Naturally, with everyone relying on smartphones these days, there’s nearly no necessity for webcams at all. You can conduct video calls, participate in conference calls, or attend meetings, all through your phone. However, if you prefer to sit at your desk and utilize a more conventional setup without spending on a dedicated webcam, there’s an alternative trick you can execute. You might be able to utilize an older dash cam and configure it similarly.

It’s essential to understand that this won’t function with every dash cam available. This is due to the requirement for USB connectivity between the camera and the computer. What you need is a camera that operates on UVC (USB video class), the protocol that enables cameras to interact with a computer or different devices, particularly during video and audio streaming.

The straightforward method to verify is to connect your dash cam to your computer via USB and observe if a mode-select screen appears. If such a screen does not show up, just confirm if the computer acknowledges the camera. Most operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, should detect a UVC camera and allow you to select and utilize it as such. If the dash cam is recognized as a mass storage device or USB storage, it likely does not support UVC. You can also consult the original user manual or documentation for your dash cam.