Facebook Launches Lifestage App for School Teens

With a purpose in mind of targeting high-school goers, Facebook, the social media giant has launched a new iOS app known as Lifestage which requests the user to fill in their biographical details which is then turned into a virtual profile video and is shared immediately with their school networks.

Lifestage which is a standalone iOS app for individual under 21, requests users for their happy face, sad face, likes, dislike, best friends, best book and much more. The users however, instead of filling the biography test with script tend to shoot videos, which later on Lifestage tends to turn into video profile where others in their school network can view.

The app enables users to find video profiles that have been generated by other users in their school enabling them to know more about their classmates, their shared interests and much more, as conveyed by Facebook in a recent blog post. The post also mentioned that each time someone tends to update their page; it would show up in a feed prompting the others to check on it. Since all the posts are public, there is no choice of restricting viewing the same. The purpose, according to its inventor, was to connect members of the same school.

Privacy – A Matter of Concern

An expert had informed BBC that the lack of privacy was a matter of concern. School members could view each other’s profiles once the individual school had reached a registration of 20 members and above. Users above the age of 21 were only capable of viewing their own profiles according to the Tech Crunch website. But the app has cautioned that it cannot guarantee if all its users seem to be sincere. It states that they cannot confirm that people who tend to claim to go to a certain school really go to that school and all videos uploaded to your profile tend to be fully public content.

There is no messaging functionality forLifestage, though users could display their contact details from the other sites like Snapchat and Instagram. Presently on the iTunes store, the app has a 2.5 star rating with comments which describe it as `kinda sorta creepy’ and `confusing’. Around 8% of Facebooks’ US users seem to be between the ages of 13 to 19, according to the statistics website Statista which had been designed by a 19 year old, Facebook product manager, Michael Sayman.

Being Open Could Get in the Way of Getting Connected 

He had mentioned in a Facebook post that the app had been based on the original social network of early days. Way back in 2004, Facebook had been about `who I am’ where his relationship status could be posted and share about his favourite music. It was a way of expressing himself. Presently since Facebook has progressed so much more, there are chances of exploring that concept of `who I am’ once again, though for Generation Z in 2016. Dr Bernie Hogan from Oxford Internet Institute had informed BBC that the absence of privacy settings could tend to be unpopular.

He commented that the `lack of privacy settings on the app in its present condition is symbolic of Facebook ideology which is to stay open and connected as much as possible’.He further added that from their point of view it is a great idea though at times being open could get in the way of getting connected. This is already a known fact, since people tend to be reluctant in sharing things online if they have to share it with all. It also seems that they are attempting in pushing the boundaries of what is thought to be appropriate to share online and then walk back when faced with public criticism.

Two New PlayStations Could Signal Major Change in Console Industry

Sony’s Release of Two Model of PlayStation

Wall Street Journal’s report has shown that early next month, Sony would be releasing two models of PlayStation which will be a high-end model having improved graphics together with latest version of the standard model of console. Images of a thinner console with PlayStation 4 branding from someone claiming to have the new device, had been published by Verge. On Forums at the gaming site of NeoGAF, others have also posted same photos demanding to show the latest PlayStation model.

No immediate respond to request for comments on the rumours has been provided by Sony. Nonetheless the company had confirmed that it has been working on an updated PlayStation which has been code-named Project Neo. However the report of Wall Street Journal seems to be the first indication that the firm is intending two models in the near future.

It is not known whether the images which had been published by the Verge and on the forums could be two separate models or if either of them could be the Project Neo model. However if Sony intends to do as suggested in the report by Wall Street Journal release of two models, it would be utilising the same game plan like its arch-rival Microsoft, in its gaming world.

Microsoft’s Xbox One S

Microsoft had made an announcement in June of a slimmer version of the Xbox One, known as the Xbox One S, which is presently on sale. It is said that the company, had confirmed at the same time that it would be releasing next year, a much powerful version of the Xbox, known as Project Scorpio. The PlayStation 4 as well as Xbox One had first hit the market in 2013, three years back.

These companies generally tends to wait at least for a period of five years for the release of new hardware and shorter the break between totally latest models annoys some consumers who had dropped to around $400 on the latest console some years back.

However, in the case of Sony and Microsoft, the new models have provided the firm with an opportunity in capitalizing on technologies which have become more conventional in the past. The Xbox One S, for instance is said to be compatible with 4K video, offering a super high-resolution image, while Scorpion tends to support full 4K gaming. Neo is said to rumour to be 4K compatible but Sony has not provided any details before the launch of the console.

New Consoles – Higher Quality Experience for Virtual Reality

With the provision of devices which can stream 4K video, seems vital for Sony and Microsoft. The overall market has developed for gaming in the past few years. Both the companies have been attempting to capitalize on huge prospective audience which is done by promoting their consoles as a valuable entertainment device for the complete family instead of only dedicated video game performers.

Their attempts comprise of supporting as well as starting streaming video service. Nonetheless the new consoles are also expected to provide a much higher quality experience for virtual reality that has attracted the attention of the game developers and is anticipated to be a foremost focus for the next stage of gaming.

Get Your Photos Looking Better on Facebook

Facebook Compress Images – Appear Smaller in Size

If one tends to use Facebook, they would possibly upload an image at some point of time and though Facebook is good for sharing, it is also inclined to use some pretty callous compression which seems to make your images appear like crap. Having a large source of photos on the Web, it is not amazing that Facebook tends to hire heavy compression to its 250 billion images they have a tendency to store. Facebook is enormous and millions of images tend to get uploaded to Facebook daily which could be a great amount of data for them store.

Hence, in order to lighten the burden, Facebook is inclined to compress these images which make them appear smaller in size but it could also ruin the quality of the image. Usually when an image tends to pass around the internet, downloaded or re-uploaded and shared to a group of different services, it could turn out to be offensive. Facebook is said to mechanically resize image that are uploaded to the site though one can change it in the settings of their account. The user should be aware that uploading bigger image file would take up extra data and if one is on a metered plan, from your carrier, they need to keep a tab on their monthly outgoings.

Lossy Compression – Condense Size of File

The dominant photo file format, JPG, tends to utilise a form of `lossy’ compression, which means that it tosses out image data in order to condense the size of the file. If one has even toyed around with `Quality’ slider in Photoshop one would possible comprehend the compromise in the size of the file as well as image fidelity.

The revealing signs of JPG compression are `Blocky’ looking segments of an image, especially around edge detail or rise in colour. The compression is mainly obvious when a graphic is said to have hard edges like white type against a classified background. When one saves a JPG you should resave a JPG (when Facebook tends to convert your image on their server, and these compression artifacts seem to be more prominent. Uploading images over Wi-Fi connection tends to be faster and cheaper unless the user is on a slow network together with a data allowance. If the user has been using the Facebook app on Android phone, he could go to your news feed page and tap on the `More’ button which seems like three horizontal lines, towards the top of the screen.

You could scroll down on the list of icons to Help & Settings area and opt for App Settings, tap the button next to Upload HD Photos. Utilising the iPhone version of Facebook app, you could tap the three-lined `More’ button at the bottom of the screen, tap Settings and opt for Account Settings in the menu which tends to pop up. In the category list in Settings, tap Videos and Photos.

On the next screen which appears, go under `Photo Settings’ and turn on the button near `Upload HD’. In order to have your photos looking their best, the Help Centre at the site recommend to size them to widths of 720 pixels, 960 pixels or 2,048 pixels along with HD Photos setting support. With the HD Photo setting activated, some bigger images will not appear in full resolution since Facebook tends to have a maximum width of 2,048 pixels for normal pictures.

Should You Charge Your Phone Overnight?

Recurrent Charging – Toll on Lithium-Ion Batteries in Phone

Is overnight charging of your phone a good idea? There seems to be a short as well as a long answer to this query as The New York Times had recently discovered. If the user seems to be the type of a person who tends to change phones every two years or so, it would possibly not make much difference to the battery life of the phone if left to be charged overnight. According to experts, these people are not aware of the damage done to their phone batteries when they need a new device.

Edo Campos, a spokesman for Anker states that recurrent charging tends to take a toll on the lithium-ion batteries in the phone and it is not because they have been overcharged which produces phone charger. Smartphones seems to be smart and know when to stop charging. Android phones and iPhone are said to be furnished with chips which tend to guard them from absorbing extra electrical current once they are completely charged. Any damage due to overnight charging of the phone with an official charger or an off-brand charger should be insignificant. However, the act of charging is itself considered to be bad for the battery of the phone.

Charging Fast - Limits Life Span of Battery

Most of the phones tend to utilise technology which enables their batteries to receive more current faster. The founder, chief scientist and chief technical officer of the wireless charging company Ossia, Hatem Zeine has informed that the technology permits phones to regulate the amount of charge which a charger has the potential of providing. The technology is said to permit power to pulse in the battery in specific modulation, increasing the speed where the lithium ions in the battery tend to travel from one side to the other thus causing the battery to charge much more quickly.

However, this procedure inclines to also lead lithium-ion batteries to disintegrate quickly than they would otherwise.Mr Zeine informs that when you charge fast all the time, you are likely to limit the life span of the battery. Mr Seine advises that if one considers preserving a lithium-ion battery beyond the lifetime of the phone or tablet they could use a charger which is meant for a less powerful device but he does not guarantee that it would work.

Temperature Beyond 95°F – Permanently Damage Battery Capacity

He adds that if one utilises an iPhone charger on an iPad Pro, for instance, it would charge very slowly. If the electronics seems right, they could actually preserve the battery since one is always charging it slowly. Mr Campos advises that individuals who are keen on preserving their batteries should ensure that their phones do not get overheated since high temperatures could further stimulate the lithium-ion in the batteries which could lead to faster deterioration.

Apple’s website has mentioned that the temperatures beyond 95 degrees Fahrenheit could permanently cause damage to the battery capacity.Mr Zeine and Mr Campos have both noted that considering the continuous demand for new cell phones, charging them overnight may not be a matter of great concern for several people.

 Mr Campos quoting a 2015 Gallup survey which showed that 44% of smartphone users intended to upgrade their devices as soon as their providers permitted it, generally after a couple of years, the length of time it takes for batteries to show signs of wear, had mentioned that all this actually does not make much of a difference for the consumers.

Google Duo Makes Video Calling Between Operating Systems Easier

Google’s Duo – Video Calling App

For years, Apple and Google had been competing with each other for dominance over mobile users, with Apple submitting its greater devices such as the iPhone. Google on the other hand had battled back with its Android operating system together with a sequence of mobile apps which seemed to quite flexible and well-matched with broader set of devices than the apps of Apple.

Recently, Google had featured that strategy with the release of its new mobile app, the Duo, a video calling app which is said to be a direct substitute to the FaceTime of Apple. The app tends to fit precisely in the playbook in mobile of Google.

Google had progressively provided its software as well as internet service comprising of Google Maps, Google Docs and Google Photos to iPhone users and all these apps had been convincing substitute to the proprietary apps of Apple such as Apple Maps, Photos and Notes since they tend to function on a broader variety of devices inclusive of Macs, Android devices, Windows PCs and iPhones.

FaceTime can only be utilised to call others having the Apple devices though Duo enable the user to place video calls between Android as well as iPhone users and substantially increases the number of people with whom one intends to have a video discussion.

Great Product/Increase Use of Video Calling with Android Users

Google had mentioned in a statement in an indirect shot at Apple that one should not have to worry about whether your call can connect or if your friend is utilising the same type of device one is using. It is no wonder that almost half of U.S. adults do not make video calls on mobile.

All this encouraged the strategy of Google in attracting iPhone users over to Android. It is said that Google’s apps usually tends to operate better on Android devices than the iPhones and hence more users seem to get hooked on the core apps of Google with less reason for being loyal to Apple.

The head of communication products, Nick Fox had stated that the top priority with Duo was to create a great product and to increase the use of video calling with Android users. However he adds that making the Android much more attractive than the iPhone owners had been a secondary motive. He informs that the appeal of Duo was that it seemed to be simple to use, was fast and much more extensively accessible.

Switching – Android to iPhone – Highest

He commented saying that their view is video calling and should work for all. If one can only call half the people they know, that is very limiting. Apple does not seem to be concerned by the moves of Google.

When the falling sales last month had been reported by the iPhone maker, Timothy D. Cook, chief executive of Apple had highlighted that the rate where people were switching from Android-based devices to iPhone had been the highest the company had ever seen.

He had mentioned in a call without revealing the precise figure that their year-to-date iPhone sales to switchers were the greatest they have seen in any nine-month period. A spokeswoman of Apple had refrained from commenting beyond the comments of Mr Cook.

Putting a Computer in Your Brain is no Longer Science Fiction

Kernel – Small Chip Implanted in Brain – Neurological Damage

Bryan Johnson, a technology entrepreneur, like several in Silicon Valley foresees a future wherein intelligent machine could perform many things such as drive cars on their own and anticipate our requirements before we tend to ask. From his modest office in Venice Beach, his science-fiction-meets-science start-up, Kernel has been building small chip which could be implanted in the brain in order to assist people suffering from neurological damage which could be the result of strokes, Alzheimer’s or concussions.

Top neuroscientists building the chip call it a neuroprosthetic and hopes that in the long run it would be capable of boosting intelligence, memory as well as the other cognitive responsibilities. Johnson admits that the medical device will take several years but he can afford to wait. In 2013, he had sold his payment company, Braintree to PayPal for $800.

Earlier Mormon raised in Utah, he expresses regarding the project with missionary like passion and focus. He further added in an interview regarding the company that he had not spoken openly before, stating that `human intelligence is blocked-in relationship to artificial intelligence and the blocked-in is the degeneration of the body and the brain and this is a question of keeping humans front and centre as we progress’.

Support Cognitive-Enhancement Businesses

Johnson is said to be one out of a set of leading entrepreneurs who is of the belief that Silicon Valley could pay a role in financing large-scale scientific encounters, the types which could intensely enhance home life that could go further than building software. Several of their ventures have been drawn from the values of software.

 Venture capital firms such as Y Combinator, Andreessen Horowitz, Peter Thiel’s Founders fun, Khosla Ventures and several others, in the last two years had invested in start-ups which centred on `bio-hacking’, with the idea that one can engineer the body as one would, a software program.

They have subsidized the companies which focus to arrange the bacteria in the gut reprogram the DNA one is born with or conduct cancer biopsies from the blood samples. They have also supported cognitive-enhancement businesses such as Thync that tend to build headset which sends mood-altering electrical pulses to the brain as well as Nootrobox which is a start-up making chewable coffee complement that associates doses of caffeine with active elements in green tea, thus leading to a accurately planned, zenlike high.

Speed up Scientific Breakthrough

It seems easy to discharge these attempts as the hubristic, techno-utopian illusions of self-involved choice are of the belief that it could challenge death and human deterioration. Though there is no lack of hubris in Silicon Valley, it is also sure that some of these projects would speed up the scientific breakthrough and seal some of the gaps which may have been left in the process of declining public subsidy for scientific study, according to the professor of bioethics and medical humanities at North-western University, Laurie Zoloth. Besides this, techies have been encouraged by the statistic that several biological as well as health challenges progressively comprise of data-mining together with computation which look more like problem than one would know to resolve them.

Kernel is said to be a cognitive improvement and the concept depends on the work of Theodore Berger who was a pioneering biomedical engineer directing the Centre for Neural Engineering at the University of Southern California and is said to be the chief science officer of the start-up.

Airline Cabins Of the Future- A New Golden Age of Travel

Air Travel Experience Renovated with Technology

In comparison to the air travel photos of the 1960s which portray smartly attired, champagne sipping passengers in a spacious airliner cabins, the present scenario is that of cramped seats with overcrowded airports which appears that our flying experiences seems to be gradually getting worse. The aviation industry has invested immensely in order to demonstrate sentimental passengers, the mistake.

Though the aircraft may seem to be the same to those of the supposed wonderful years but each aspect of air travel experience is being renovated currently, with the use of technology. At the front position we have the aircraft cabins and the fundamental to their transformation is that of a wireless connection. With every passenger practically using a smartphone, tablet or a laptop, the inflight Wi-Fi tends to open up new means of commitment with the travellers and redefine their flying experience.

Mobile technology has already being playing an important part in improving travel accompanied with electronic boarding passes to last-minute bids on biz upgrades on class. Other airlines such as KLM had also begun sending boarding passes as well as flight alerts, through dedicated airline Facebook Messenger chat bot.

Inflight Entertainment/Personal Devices

However, the one area wherein mobile could be accurately transformative is the inflight entertainment together with personal devices being a gateway to a range of up-in-the-air services. Though built-in-in-flight entertainment systems seem doubtfulto disappear, especially on long-haul flights, they could work in tandem with the own devices of the passengers.

Panasonic had unveiled Waterfront, earlier in 2016 which is a system that permits passenger in utilising their mobile handset in order to control the built-in entertainment of the aircraft. Aerospace companies Thales and B/E have also been utilising mobiles in personalizing passenger experiences.

On syncing the handsets, the seats tend to know the preferences of a passenger and could also restart a movie at the precise place they could have left in the earlier flight. Some of the airlines are discarding the implanted entertainment systems completely and are opting for he handsets of the passengers in delivering inflight entertainment, which is a change that significantly lessens aircraft weight and more cabin space.

Cost Effective/Flexible Means of Quality Inflight Content

Internet connection is not needed and passengers could only link their devices to an in-plane network. AirFi, Netherlands-based is mostly preparing low-cost airlines which tend to fly short-haul single-aisle aircraft often and does not have entertainment systems. The portable wireless system of the company beams pre-loaded content on the devices of the passenger.

The AirFi terminal tends to perform like a normal Internet router which is lightweight and can be installed in a luggage compartment with ease. Job Heimerikx, AirFi CEO had stated that it is cost effective as well as a flexible means of providing quality inflight content to the short haul market. He further added that `there are customer service and a commercial angle to the system and passenger could access a broad range of movies together with other kind of entertainment though they could also utilise it to order food or shop duty free.

It seems like an evolution of the traditional inflight magazine but since it occurs at online stores, one could make it really personal’. This conception tends to flourish on obtaining a captive audience.

Capture the benefits of Java Logging

Java Logs Specific Formation/Analysis

Provision of accurate information in leading one’s business to great height could be easy if the right approach is utilised. Machine data provides the incredible valuable statistics regarding your business operation and with the help of friendly platform, things tend to get easy in accomplishing your goal. Logmatic.io helps in real time BI solution for online marketers, with their plan of action. Individuals could send in their choice of logs and the powerful processing is taken care of by the service provider.The need of any installation or agent does not arise since it tends to run completely on the cloud. You could follow the simple guidelines wherein your logs can be integrated with easy and centralized into the log analysis platform:

• Any kind of logs, machine events or metric from any location can be sent 
• The need of any Logmatic.in proprietary code on the server is not essential. You have the choice between agentless or a log shipper 
• Scale on demand without automated overage penalties 
• Establish information utilising logical fields tag sets and metrics

Java Provides Plenty of Logging Libraries

Java tends to provide plenty of logging libraries beginning from java logging Util to some classy ones like the SLF4J and Log4J2 wherein to make it more multifaceted, each open source library tends to come with its specific logging standards which is said to enhance a layer of complexity to java logs specific formation as well as analysis. Java logging seems difficult to manage due to stack traces which have a tendency of getting split into multiples lines making them complex to link to the unique log event.

Java tend to take a tailored as well as extensible approach for logging and though it offers a basic logging API through the Util logging package. One could use instead one or more substitute logging solutions which tend to provide various methods in creating log date but share the final goal in delivering logs from your application to the desired destination. Java logs could be swiftly controlled making it a dominant tool for Devs as well as Ops which are likely to pay attention to app in production. Utilising the json format could also assist in handling the java logs accurately.

Mapped Diagnostic Context - MDC

Logging in json seems to be a decent notion for Java logs and using the json format could be beneficial in dealing accurately with java logs. Since java logs tends to be fragmented into multiples lines, the parsers could find it challenging in relating them to the original log event. Logging can be great and it informs the administrators as well as the developers of what takes place at a particular time but the user needs to embellish them with appropriate elements.

 In order to enhance log events, in Java the user could re-write messages in your code while introducing = systems. Alternative choice in improving the logs is to utilise Mapped Diagnostic context – MDC of Java which are great though for certain reasons only string form are permitted and hence offering numerical values for metric along with MDCs does not seem to be a good choice.

Microsoft Office for iPhone Gets Drawing Support for Your Fingers

iPhone – the Use of Finger to Write/Draw/Highpoint Documents

Microsoft had optimized its Office suite of apps for the iPad Pro and the Pencil stylus of Apple though the company had put off on any inking provision in Office for iPhone.Recently Microsoft had updated Word, Excel and PowerPoint for iPhone to add a new drawing tab choice. Similar to the Windows and iPad alternatives, Office on iPhone would now enable the use of the finger to write, draw and highpoint documents.

In Word in iPhone, the draw tab is said to be hidden away though once it is located you will able capable of choosing it from the certain objects, like a pen, highlighter or an eraser. Moreover the thickness as well as the colour of the pen can be adjusted and can be used freely to mark on documents.

In the case of Excel, one would be able to mark freely on cells and PowerPoints inking integration, it enables you to draw on slides with the help of the fingers. The new update to Office for iPhone is made available in Apple’s App Store. The iPhone’s screen being smaller than the iPad and the laptop it means that with regards to editing certain things, the screen size does not reduces it.

Office Apps – Word/Excel/PowerPoint

In the case of Microsoft Office, Microsoft has introduced a feature which enables the user to draw on the screen with their fingers, though this had been limited only to the iPad where the IOs devices were considered. Microsoft has eventually got around to updating its iPhone app with the introduction of the same finger-drawing feature.

This would be applicable to the complete suite of Office apps like Word, PowerPoint and Excel. As per Microsoft, `use your finger to write, draw and highlight with the tools in the new Draw tab’. This would make it much easy for the user in drawing shapes or making rough explanations, or focus on certain thing on the documents, spread sheet or presentations slides. Beside the finger-drawing feature the update is said to bring about assistance for Citrix in storing as well as accessing the documents.

Qualifying Office 365 Subscription for Creating/Editing Documents

With regards to Microsoft PowerPoint, users would be capable of adding notes and information together with their slide and be much ahead on their latest presentation. The potential of adding comments with the help of finger input seems much easier and practical taking into consideration the fact that changes need to be made at some point of time and nothing seems more convenient as an input tool than our finger which tends to streamline the entire process.

In order to get the latest update, you could go to the App Store and update the Microsoft Office Suite tools for the latest versions for your iPhone. While the apps are said to be available free of cost, for downloading, users would require a qualifying Office 365 subscription for creating and editing documents. Microsoft tends to roll out the latest update as well as new functions though one should yet get the up-to-date finger input selections very soon,

Twitter Turns Your Photos Into Ads With Promoted Stickers

New Branding Tool – `Promoted Stickers’

Twitter followed Snapchat with the addition of applying stickers with embedded hastags and the business reasoning appears that brands would be capable of providing stickers with their own built-in hastags in order that one could promote for them, enabling them in tracking your stickered tweets.

The initiative of the company’s Promoted #Stickers had been announced in a blog post recently with Pepsi since the special partner as well as the choice was available to `select dealers with accomplished accounts. They are inclined to advertisers as a big opportunity for brands in driving brand affinity together with raising an awareness of their message - `happy brand-affinity driving’.

The search of Twitter of becoming a profitable business which could be utilised by some of the biggest brands in the world is in progress and recently the company has introduced a new branding tool known as `promoted stickers’.

Twitter has named that `promoted stickers’ though basically they are branded sticker, subtly branded stickers. The roll-out is said to be a part of PepsiMoji campaign, which is the soft drink maker launched, providing users in 10 markets admission to custom Twitter stickers.

Stickers Innovative & Searchable

At the moment it is enabling advertisers in providing sponsored sticker that would be appearing up front in the list of stickers which the users could place on their photos. Twitter states that at the moment, `brands could design four or eight stickers such as accessories together with other props, in order that users could add to their own photos.’

Featured in the #Stickers library would be the promoted options, which would provide brands with an opportunity of raising awareness and drive the brand affinity through Twitter. The stickers of Twitter are said to be somewhat innovative where each one is searchable.

As per Twitter, it tends to make it easy for people in creating conversation regarding events and get the experiences of what tends to happen at the moment. #Stickers tend to act as visual hashtag which means that photos with the brand’s sticker could be linked and discovered by anyone who seems to tap your brand’s sticker.

Offering Advertisers Sponsored Stickers

Twitter had reckoned out of making money from a feature cloned from Snapchat less than two months back and is now enabling advertisers in offering sponsored stickers which would be appearing up front in the list of stickers that the users could place on their photos.

The new ad format was recently kicked off with sponsorship from Pepsi that had paid for eight custom stickers, out of which six are strange smiley faces; one is a trophy and just one that has a Pepsi logo on it. Twitter would be permitting advertisers to purchase either four or eight custom stickers at a time which would be appearing in the featured section that tends to appear first at the time of adding them to a photo.

Promoted stickers, just like all Twitter stickers would also be searchable and hence one would be able to click on the Pepsi graphic to see what purpose people seem to be using it. Up to now, it’s to say, `Hi, I am an advertising executive who worked on this Twitter/Pepsi integration’.

New Computer Programme Replicates Handwriting

Software – `My Text in Your Handwriting’ Programme

In the present world which is controlled by the QWERTY keyboard. Computer scientists of UCL have come up with software which may ignite the return of the handwritten word by studying the handwriting of any person and tend to imitate it precisely. The scientist have generated `My Text in Your Handwriting’, a programme that is said to semi-automatically test a sample of handwriting of a person which could be a small paragraph, generating new text stating that whatever the user desires, would be as though the author had handwritten it. Dr Tom Haines of UCL Computer Science had stated that the software had lots of valued application.

 For instance those suffering from strokemay be capable of formulating letters with the need of illegibility or the one sending flowers as a token of gift could send a handwritten note without even going to the florist. Besides this, it could also be utilised in comic books wherein a part of handwritten content could be translated into various languages without the need of losing the original style of the author. The machine learning process, published in ACM Transactions on Graphic and funded by the EPSRC, has been built around glyphs, which is an explicit example of a character.

Authors Create Various Glyphs – Element of Writing

Authors tend to create various glyphs in representing the same element of writing, the way one individual tends to write an `a’ would generally differ with the way others tend to write an `a’. Though the writing of an individual tends to have some variations, each author seems to have a recognisable style which demonstrates in their glyphs together with their spacing.

The software absorbs what is stable through the style of the individual and reproduces it. In order to produce the handwriting of an individual, the program tends to analyse and duplicate the specific character choices of the author, its pen-line texture as well as colour, inter-character ligatures, the joining between letters, the vertical and horizontal spacing. Dr Oisin Mac Aodha, co-author of UCL Computer Science had stated that till now the only way to create a computer generated text which is similar to a particular person’s handwriting could be by utilising an applicable font.

System Adequately Flexible

The issue with these types of fonts is that it frequently tends to clear that the text is not penned by hand and that loses the character as well as the personal touch of a handwriting part of the text. What has been invented is what removes this issue and could be utilised in a wider variety of personal and commercial situations.

The system is said to be adequately flexible where the samples from historical documents could be utilised with the minimum effort and hence the scientists have scrutinized and simulated the handwriting of figures like Abraham Lincoln, Arthur Conan Doyle and Frida Kahlo. In order to assess the efficiency of the software, the team had requested people to differentiate between handwritten envelopes and the ones created by their automatic software where the people were baffled by several of the envelopes.

This resulted in being fooled by the computer generated writing by 40% of the time. Taking into consideration how conclusive the computer generated handwriting seems to be, some are of the belief that the method could be beneficial in forging documents, though the team clarified that it seems to work both way and could be essentially supportive in distinguishing forgeries.

Audi Vehicles to Talk to U.S. Traffic Signals in First for Industry

Audi Technology – Vehicles to Coordinate with Traffic Signals

Audi, the German manufacturer is developing a technology which would enable its vehicles in the United States to coordinate with traffic signals, permitting a more stress-free trip, which is said to be the first commercial use of the nascent technology in the car industry. Audi of America, owned by Volkswagen has handpicked 2017 Q7 and A4 models built after June 1, 2016 to be furnished with its vehicle-to-infrastructure technology.

Recognized as `V-to-I’, in the industry, the technology enables traffic signals together with the other infrastructure to interchange safety accompanied with other operational data, wirelessly to vehicles through the cloud. Ultimate applications of the technology that tends to continue for testing across the globe by manufacturers as well as transportation agencies would be beneficial in mitigating crashes thus dropping jamming on highways and roads.

Pom Malhotra, general manager of the connected vehicles division of Audi had commented that this is their foray into V-I and this is designed not as a safety feature but a comfort and convenience feature. Malhotra states that the system of Audi permits the vehicle to exhibit a countdown before a red light tends to turn to green and being aware of how much time one has before the light could change to green could relieve much of the apprehension of waiting.

Traffic Line Information – New Line of Ground-Breaking Connected Car

The countdown also tends to display on the dashboard if the vehicle decides that it would not be capable of making an approaching light before turning to red, to enable the drive to apply the brake. On waiting for the red light to turn to green, the display tends to disappear a few seconds before it turns to green, compelling the driver to be aware of the intersection and regulate when it is safe to go ahead, informs Malhotra.

Traffic light information seems to be the new line of ground-breaking connected car improvement by Audi. Audi had been the first manufacturer in 2010, to provide a broadband enabled vehicle and since then, Audi connect tends to continue to enlarge on its industry leading services and potentials. Towards 2014, it had been the first manufacture to provide 4G/LTE Broadband connectivity.

Planned partnership as well as proprietary scalable infotainment architecture has enabled Audi to constantly provide its customers with the latest in solutions to mobile connectivity. An executive has informed that the future applications of the technology could envisage it to be linked to the navigation system of the car or its stop/start roles.

Manufacturer’s Efforts to Leverage Technology

Another possibility is that the traffic signals could direct the vehicle to maintain a certain speed to match the flow of traffic lights. Audi intends to roll out the competence this year, in five to seven U.S cities with cities to be switched on one by one.

The company has not revealed which of the cities would be the first. The manufacturers of car have been making efforts to leverage technology inclusive of vehicle-to-vehicle communications – `V- to –V’, enabling vehicles to talk to each other, in order to decrease accidents and to improve overcrowding. Organizing such types of schemes could be challenging since both V-to-I and V-to-V technologies tend to need safe communication infrastructure as well as close assistance with municipalities together with transportation agencies.

 The President of Audi of America, Scott Keogh had stated that `continuous innovation in connected car services as well as advanced driver assistance systems which enriches and improves the customer experience is at the core of the Audi brand and our collective future.

Increase Engagement With Mobile Apps

The mobile access to the internet is a dynamic platform that is used a variety of ways. The entire cycle of browsing, engagement, and purchase happens through apps on mobile devices at an increasing rate. Here is a look at how you will be able to increase engagement and conversion for your brand with the Instagram, Pinterest, and Wanelo mobile apps.

Instagram

The format of the Instagram app lends itself perfectly to mobile use. When people see images on the app that truly engage them, a majority will take some kind of action in response. This can range from liking the image to following the account, to purchasing a product. Content from a business such as Hamptoncreek not only communicates the ethos of the brand, it engages with colorful and appealing content.

Make it Dynamic

To fully utilize the power of Instagram, an extra layer of relevancy can be added in the form of dynamic advertising. This enables a business to harness data from a user’s online behavior to target what products are relevant to that individual consumer. If a prospective customer has browsed your offerings elsewhere online, when they come to Instagram they will see products that are relevant to them. This all happens in something called the carousel ad format.

Carousel ads provide more advertising options and flexibility by providing more information and images for those people who want to learn more about a particular image. A user who wants to learn more about the features of a product or service can choose to swipe left and access this additional content while still staying on the Instagram app.

Drive Traffic in Pinterest

Pinterest helps millions of people discover more about things that they are interested in. Through the power of visuals, users get ideas, make plans for projects, and find things to purchase. A business presence on the Pinterest app needs to communicate your brand through inspiring and entertaining visuals. When you have connected on that level, you can then show your followers why you are an expert in your product or service.

In It for the Long Term

For the length of engagement time per pin, Pinterest has a much longer life than Facebook or Twitter posts. People who are contemplating a big project or purchase will build large boards for months at a time and look at images in them repeatedly to figure out their plans. People who are using Pinterest to explore their passions and hobbies curate their boards for years. This results in added value for the content you put on Pinterest.

The tutorial site wikiHow has used Pinterest to build its online presence by building boards highlighting their instructional content. They see the app as a long term partner for their website’s growth. By judiciously pining their most engaging content on Pinterest, they are able to generate referral traffic several times larger than what they get from Facebook. Many times wikiHow edits and polishes older but still relevant content so that it will best present itself on the Pinterest app. WikiHow is also careful to pin content that fits in with their brand. They also use analytics from Pinterest to find viral content from their website.

Wanelo

With a mostly female audience that is made up of fifty percent millenials, Wanelo is a shopping platform that is reaching into the future. Users of Wanelo are coming to shop and purchase on their mobile devices. Both new and experienced retailers with their own commerce sites have been flocking to the app due to its conversion rates that are higher than industry standards. Many of the small businesses on Wanelo feel that the app with millions of users has made them just as visible as huge conglomerates. The effectiveness of selling on Wanelo will increase even more with the advent of being to sell directly on the app.

To enable your business to sell merchandise from the Wanelo app, you need to submit your product feed to them. The app will then sync up with your inventory and enable your customers to complete their purchase right on the app.

With more mobile devices appearing in the marketplace every day, the time is now to utilize mobile apps that will grab the attention of your audience and turn them into customers. Interactive platforms that use innovative ways to easily convert visitors into consumers are the apps that achieve the best results in mobile internet solutions for business.

Mozilla Firefox 48 Out Now with Multi-Process Electrolysis

Firefox 48 –Designed to Enhance Stability/Security

Firefox 48, after seven years of progress is eventually enabling a multi-process feature which is similar to what Internet Explorer as well as Google Chrome has been offering as stable feature from 2009. Firefox 48 has recently shipped two long anticipated new features which have been designed to enhance the stability as well as security of the browser. Running their rendering engines in a distinct procedure from the browser shell, IE and Chrome have been steadier as well as secure.

To bring about a similar multi-process competence to Firefox, Mozilla had begun in 2009, the Electrolysis project, but the organization had taken longer than Apple, Google and Microsoft in shipping this feature. The delay of Mozilla was partially driven by altering importance in the organization and Electrolysis progress had been on hold in 2011 before it was restarted in 2013 and partly due to the historic extension architecture of Firefox which made this type of split-up difficult to accomplish. The old extensions of Firefox invasively tend to interfere with fragments of the browser and several assumed equal access to the rendering engine as well as to the shell of the browser.

Rollout of Electrolysis Controlled Conventionally

The developers of Firefox had to create a new extension system as well as create shim layers to provide the developers with a temporary system to continue assisting their old extensions. The multi-process system of Firefox even after all this time does not seem to match its peers. The roll out of Electrolysisis being controlled conventionally in spite of its successful beta. It is said that for the next few days, a part of a percent of Firefox 48 users by default would have Electrolysis turned on.

If this rollout turns to go well, the multi-process feature would be roll out to around half of all the users of Firefox 48 and would be prolonged in handling extensions which are known to be compatible in Firefox 50. Thereafter Electrolysis will be rolled out to the users of Firefox 51 with touchscreen devices, right-to-left languages as well as disable accessibility software thus making it accessible to most of the users of Firefox.

Rust Language of Mozilla – Similarity of Performance

The multi-process feature of Firefox still tends to fall short of what Chrome, Edge and Safari do, since it would be utilising an individual process for each tab. The other browsers employs one process for single tab which means that not only does a crash in the renderer seems to guard the browser shell, but also averts any contagion between tabs where one tab crashing seems to cause another one to perish.

Moreover, it also stops any leakage of data between tabs and provision for one process for each tab is presently due to be available in the first half of 2017. Once this has been accomplished, the extensions would be moved to single processes as well. Rust language of Mozilla is said to be designed to give the similarity of performance as well as control as C++ though minus the weakness of the C++ to security errors.
Rust code has been developed by the company to replace the C++ code which tends to presently handle difficult media formats and this replacement code is being shipped in the stable version of Firefox 48.

Researchers Printed Energy Producing Photographs

Picture/Text Can be Inkjet Printed as Solar Cell

Manufacture of solar cells have been done for a long time from economical substances with various printing procedures and biological solar cells and dye sensitized solar cells in particular have been appropriate for printing. A solar cell that comprises of both solar as well as non-solar sources of light like photons from incandescent bulbs is said to be a photovoltaic cell. Essentially the strategies requires to satisfy two roles namely photogeneration of charge carriers – electrons and holes, in a light captivating substance and separation of the charge carriers to a conductive contact which tends to transmit the electricity.

The conversion is said to be the photovoltaic effect and the arena of research linked to solar cells is called photovoltaic. With the process established in Aalto University,researchers have invented a system where any text or photograph could be printed as a solar cell. As per Aalto University News website, Janne Halme, University Lecturer commented that they wanted to take the idea of printed solar cells further and see if the materials could be inkjet-printed as pictures and text like traditional printing inks. Utilising the latest technologically advanced expertise, any picture or text can be inkjet-printed as a solar cell and when light is captivated in an ordinary ink, it causes heat.

Darker the Colour, More Electricity Produced

Photovoltaic ink though coverts a portion of that energy into electricity and the darker the colour, the more electricity tends to get produced since the human eye is said to be sensitive to that area of the solar radiation spectrum that has the maximum energy density. The most effective solar cell is thus pitch-black. The purpose of a colourful patterned solar is to combine the other properties which tend to take the benefit of light on the same surface like in the case of visual information and graphics.

For instance, this kind of solar cell, installed on an adequately low-powerelectrical device, could be a part of its visual design while simultaneously create the required energy, contemplates Halme. In the case of inkjet printing, the photovoltaic dye can be printed to a shape determined for a selected image file and could be adapted precisely with the darkness and transparency of the various sections of the image.

Postdoctoral Researcher Ghufran Hashmi has commented stating that `the inkjet-dyed solar cells were as effective and long-lasting as the corresponding solar cells prepared in a traditional way and endured more than one thousand hours of constant light and heat stress without signs of performance degradations’.

Progress of Decorative Product Building Integrated Solar Cells

The electrolyte and dye which seemed to be the best had been obtained from the research group in the Swiss Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, the place where Dr Hashmi had worked as a visiting researcher. Doctoral Candidate Merve Ozkan informs that the most challenging thing was to obtain appropriate solvent for the dye and the right jetting parameters which gave accurate and uniform print quality.

The results of the research have given rise to new possibilities for the progress of decorative product-building-integrated solar cells. The results had been published in the Energy & Environmental Science, the most renowned journal in energy research. The research had been financed mostly by the Academy of Finland and the SELECT + Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctoral Programme of the European Union.

Hackers Hijack a Big Rig Truck’s Accelerator and Brakes

Discoveries of Unsettling Set of Tests – Industrial Vehicles

In recent years, when cyber security researchers had revealed that they could hack a Chevy Impala or a Jeep Cherokee in disabling the brakes of the vehicles or hijack their steering, the outcome seemed to be a distressing wakeup call to the customer automotive industry. At the Usenix Workshop on Offensive Technologies conference, a team of University of Michigan researchers intended to present the discoveries of unsettling set of tests on industrial vehicles.

On sending digital signals in the internal network of a hug rig truck, the researchers were in a position of doing everything from change the readout of the instrument panel of the truck, trigger unintended acceleration or to even disable a form of semi-trailer’s brakes. The researcher also discovered that evolving these attacks was in fact easier than consumer cars due to a common communication standard in the internal networks of several industrial vehicles, ranging from cement mixers to tractor trailers to school buses.

One of the researchers from the University of Michigan’s Transportation Research Institute, Bill Hass has stated that these trucks tend to carry hazard chemicals and large loads. They are the backbone of the economy. If one could cause them with unintended acceleration, it would be too hard to figure out how many bad things could occur with it.

Unintended Acceleration – Tap of a Laptop Keyboard

A video of the researchers portrayed the consequences of unintended acceleration with only a tap of a laptop keyboard. The researchers had targeted several of their attacks on a 2006 semi-trailer though they had also attempted some hacks on a 2001 school bus. On connecting a laptop to the vehicles through their on-board diagnostic ports, they observed that they could look up most of the commands utilising the J1939 open standard which is said to be common to heavy vehicles.

This enabled them in duplicating signals on the networks of vehicles without the laborious reverse engineering other car hackers had to perform in order to replay commands within consumer vehicles, that lacked the calibration of industrial trucks. The other Michigan researcher, Leif Millar had commented that if one desired to hijack someone’s car, they would need to have the knowledge of the make and model and then adopt the attack. With trucks it seems to be all open so it is easy to craft an attack.

Disable the Brake of the Engine of Truck

It was for this reason that their complete truck-hacking project that had started as a University of Michigan class assignment had taken only two months. For the big rig truck that the J1939 standard permitted them in sending commands which accurately altered the statistics of almost any portion of the instrument panel. For instance they were capable of taking-off a full tank of gas when the truck was short of fuel or even avert a warning that the truck would be running out of compressed air in its air brakes, leading the vehicle to apply the emergency brakes without warning.

They could completely disable the brake of the engine of the truck, at 30 miles per hour or less, compelling the driver to rely on other form of brakes which is known as foundation brakes that tends to get overheated and fails. Most upsetting was the fact that the researchers managed to speed up the truck against the will of the driver on sending signals tricking the power train commands of the vehicle to limit the acceleration of the truck or max out its RPMs in any gear. They observed that they stopped short of attempting to put an end to the engine of the truck though they guessed it was a possibility.

Alter: A Creepy Humanoid with Complete Control over Its Limbs and Facial Expressions

Humanoid Robot – Control over Limb Movement/Facial Expression

A creepy humanoid robot with total control over its limb movement as well as facial expression has been unveiled by Japanese scientists and the robot named `Alter’ has been implanted with electronic sensors which tends to imitate the neural network of the human brain. The arms, head and the facial expressions of Alter,is said to be controlled by these sensors that gives the robot a random pattern of movement, which is weirdly identical to a human.

Besides that Alter can also sing converting the casual movement of its fingers into a lingering synth melody. According to sources the big claim of Alter is that it is run by neural network wherein neural networks tend to be software which utilises information in making decisions on their own, informed by decisions which have been shown already. Here the form of neural network tends to shift between a set of movement mode and `chaos’ mode that moves the bot depending on proximity of people, humidity, temperature and noise. It is a difficult method of making the robot to move on its own though the movements seems to be merely conservative.

Gestures Set by 42 Pneumatic Actuators

The gestures of Alter are set by 42 pneumatic actuators together with `a central pattern generator, a network that imitates neurons which can sense proximity, temperature and oddly humidity. Though the unbalanced gestures of Alter do not seem as yet humanoid, there is something certainly upsetting about the robot which can reason for itself. Researchers have stated that Alter is an attempt in creating a robot which can `will’ for itself to move and the head, arm movement and posture can adapt and alter according to choice of the system.

For instance, the torso tends to shudder if the proximity sensors seem to identify lots of people around. Kouhei Ogawa, Osaka University Professor had stated that the amazing thing regarding Alter is its capability of predetermining its own movements. He had informed RT News that Alter does not look like a human and does not really move like a human but it positively tends to have a presence.

Designing Alter – Significant Scientific Achievement

Professor Ogawa had mentioned that designing Alter had been a significant scientific achievement. He had informed engagdet that making android talk or interacts for 10 minutes presently needed an incredible amount of hard work only to program something to react for so long.Alter is said to be kept on display at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation in Tokyo till August 6. The disturbing part of Alter is the fact that only a portion of its hands and face are covered with silicon to look alike to skin though several of its mechanical components are left exposed for people to wonder at its complex movements.

Though the irregular gestures of Alter do not seem as yet human, there is something certainly worrying about the robot which can think for itself. At the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, Alter had been unveiled to the public on July 29 in Tokyo. Alter had been designed at the Osaka University and the University of Tokyo by the engineer. The movement of Alter has been described as weird by one of the researchers who has not been involved in the project.

Seven Amazing Facebook 'Secrets' You Probably Didn't Know About

We all tend to use Facebook in order to get connected and be in contact with our friends, acquaintances and relatives who could be at any location of the world. Some of the features may tend to impose on us. Most of us may not be aware of some of the awesome features which have not drawn much of our attention. There are a few hints, tricks and tips which several users are unaware of Facebook though it has been around for over a decade. Facebook which is a social media behemoth, tends to have more than 1.44 billion active users per month where American seem to spend about 40 minutes daily on it which accounts for almost 20% of overall time online. However in spite of all the usage, there seems to be several features which the user may not realize Facebook tends to have. Here one can get some insight from the Facebook inbox right to getting a preview into the lives of strangers across the world:

1. See all who have rejected your request

If the user wants to know who have rejected their friend requests on Facebook there is a method in doing so. Devoted users of the social network for several years would have come across one or two rejections in creating a friend list which could comprise of ex-primary school mates, work colleagues as well as distant relatives. The process tends to take less than 60 seconds which can be done by opening Facebook, in the browser and not the app. Then you could click on the friend request tab and select `view all’ in the drop down menu and finally click on `view sent requests’.

2. Connect with strangers around the world 

You may have come across excess of Facebook Live videos coming into your New Feed during the past months though there is another lesser-known live streaming feature on the site. On clicking the icon on Live Video below the App section on the left-hand navigation bar the user has the capability of accessing people’s feed that tend to record clips all over the world.
3. Access your `other’ box

When Facebook considers that something could be possibly a spam, it tends to diverts it to your Message Request inbox where it could remain endlessly. You could view these messages by opening up Facebook Messenger on your phone and click the `Me’ section towards the bottom right of the screen and go to the `People’ section. Select `Message Requests’ and hit the link `See filtered messages’.

4. Play the secret football game 

Facebook had launched an addictive football game, at the beginning of June in order to celebrate the summer of Soccer as Euro 2016 had started. To play the football game, you could update your Messenger version and send a football emoji to any of your friends. On tapping the emoji once it is sent, you could start playing
football.

5. View all photos your friends have liked on Facebook 

A Simple way of viewing every photo you have liked on Facebook and the photos your friends, family and many other have liked is by heading to the tool bar towards the top the Facebook profile and explore `Photos liked by me’. If you wish to view all the photos your friends have liked then you could type in `Photos liked by, followed by the name of the person. You could also filter the images according to the year, place and who they had been posted by. Besides these you could also look out for posts which could have been hashtagged in Facebook by just adding the tagged word towards the end of the web address for instance https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/. You would get various results on typing post with hashtag `clarkson’ in the search box of Facebook. It could be worth attempting it.

6. Play Chess 

You could also play chess by utilising Facebook Messenger. On opening a conversation with an individual you intend to play with, just type `@fbchess play’. Then a board tends to appear and your opponent is invited to make the first move. You could select a piece by using K for king, Q for queen, B for bishop, N for knight, R for rook and P for pawn.

7. Remotely log out of Facebook

If the user tends to remain logged on to Facebook on a public computer, through oversight, you could log out from another location by going to Setting-Security to where you’re Logged In and hit `end activity ‘in order to log out.

Conclusion 

Facebook had been created in order to help viewers to get connected with their colleagues, friends, family and relatives and many others. The fact is that it is even better when one tends to get connected with them on their own terms.

Hackers Breach the Ultra-Secure Messaging App Telegram in Iran

Telegram Accounts Hacked – Susceptibility of SMS Text Message

According to Reuters, over a dozen Iranian Telegram accounts, like the messaging app having a focus on security have been compromised in the last year due to the susceptibility of an SMS text message.They have recognized around 15 million Iranian users’ phone numbers, which seems to be the biggest known breach of the encrypted communication systems as informed by cyber researchers to Reuters.

 According to independent cyber researcher Collin Anderson and Amnesty International technologist Claudio Guarnieri, studying Iranian hacking groups for three years has informed that the attack which had occurred this year, had not been reported earlier, has endangered the communication of activists, journalist together with several others in sensitive positions in Iran, where Telegram is said to be utilised by around 20 million users.

Telegram tends to endorses itself as an ultra-secure instant messaging system since all the data is encrypted from beginning to end which is known as end-to-end encryption. Various other messaging services comprising of Facebook Inc., WhatsApp state that they have the same proficiencies. Telegram, which is headquartered inBerlin, states that it has 100 million active subscribers and is extensively usedin Middle East, inclusive ofthe Islamic State militant group and in Central and Southeast Asia as well as Latin America.

Authorization Code –Diverted by Phone Company/Shared with Hackers

According to Anderson and Guarnieri, the susceptibility of Telegram is in its use of SMS text messages in activating new devices. When a user tends to log on to Telegram from a new phone, the company directs them with an authorization code through SMS which can be diverted by the phone company and shared with the hackers, according to the researchers.

Equipped with the codes, the hackers can now add new devices to the Telegram account of the user enabling them to read chat histories together with the new messages. Anderson had informed during an interview that they had over a dozen cases where Telegram accounts have been negotiated through ways that sound like fundamentally coordinated with the cellphone company.

According to the researchers, Telegram’s dependence on SMS verification tends to make it defenceless in any country where the cellphone companies are possessed or profoundly influenced by the government.

Iranian Hacking Group – Rocket Kitten

Telegram spokesman stated that customers could defend against these attacks by not relying on the verification of SMS. Telegram enables though it is not essential that customers create passwords which could be reset with the so-called recovery emails.

The spokesman, Markus Ra has informed that if one has a strong Telegram password and the recovery email is secure, the attackers can do nothing about it. The researchers believe that the Iranian hacking group Rocket Kitten is responsible for the Telegram breaches based on resemblances to the setup of past phishing attacks credited to the group.

There is a prevalent rumour that Rocket Kitten tends to have ties to the Iranian government. John Hultquist, managing the cyber espionage intelligence team at the security firm FireEye, of Rocket Kitten has informed that `their focus generally revolves around those with an interest in Iran and defense issues however their action is completely global. With regards to Telegram attacks, it has also been suggested by the researchers that SMS messages could have been conceded by Iranian cell phone companies, which is an industry that has prospective links with the government

Google Partners with Glaxosmithkline on $700 Million BioElectronic Venture

Google to Partner with GlaxoSmithKline – Bioelectronics Medicines

As per a recent joint announcement, the parent company of Google will be partnering with GlaxoSmithKline – GLAXF, which is the leading pharmaceutical firm of British and would be launching new company developing bioelectronics medicines. The two companies intend to put in as much as $700 million for the next seven years in the new venture which would be named Galvani Bioelectronics.

The life science division of Alphabet, Verily would own 45% of the venture and Glaxo with 55%. Bioelectronic medicine is said to be a new field of research aimed on implanting minute devices which could change electrical signal in the nerves in treating chronic conditions. Several biological processes tend to be controlled through electrical signals which are transmitted from the nervous system to the organs of the body.

Glaxo had stated that the early-stage research in its laboratories recommend that distortions of those signalling pathways were involved in many long-term ailments comprising of diabetes asthma and arthritis. The assurance is that these devices are much more effective as well as economical for the patient than the prevailing treatments. In August 2015, Google had officially launched a standalone business devoted to life science a few days after the company had announced the corporate restructuring which had developed Alphabet and rebranded it as Verily in December.

New Technologies from Early Stage R&D to Clinical Testing

Google’s co-founder, Sergey Brin had mentioned in a post announcing the new division last year that they would continue to work with the other life sciences companies in order to move new technologies from early stage R&D to clinical testing and hope to transform the way they detect, prevent and manage disease. Earlier, Alphabet had partnered with Johnson & Johnson – JNJ, in the development of enhanced robotic tools for surgeries.

 The efforts tend to be ambitious for a company which has been building its name assisting people search the Internet instead of helping doctors explore for cures. Initial attempts of improving smart contact lenses and a Star Trek-style diagnostic device had been disapproved as more of hype than reality, by some in the scientific group. However, for Google, there is real money at stake here. Verily together with Nest and Google Fiber seems to be the three businesses in Alphabet’s risky `Other Bets’ division which is said to be really generating some revenue.

Possibility for New Beneficial Modality/Old-Style Medicines/Vaccines

A net loss of around $859 million on that division had been reported by Alphabet which had also comprised of expensive activities such as self-driving cars for the quarter ending in June. Glaxo has stated that Galvani Bioelectronics would be bringing together the knowledge of drug discovery of Glaxo and development with the expertise of Verily in reducing low-power electronics, building software for clinical applications and data analytics. Initial process would be concentrated on developing miniature electronic devices in testing out the concept in humans for the first time, according to Glaxo.

Glaxo’s head of vaccines and chairman of Galvani Bioelectronics, Moncef Slaoui, stated that the treatment would work on attaching tiny electronic devices to individual nerves and if successful the approach would provide the possibility for a new beneficial modality together with old-style medicines and vaccines. Kris Famm who tends to head up Bioelectronics research at Glaxo would be the president of the new company with Andrew Conrad as the chief executive of Verily who would be on Galvani’s board.

These Robots Are Chains of Tiny Magnetic Beads

Healing with Magnets – Microscopic Surgical Robots

Healing with magnets could someday be considered as a genuine solution if the magnets tend be microscopic surgical robots. Operating the same magnetic fields which had been portrayed in controlling the swimming motion of microscopic robots, a team of engineers at Drexel University had proven the capability of assembling and disassembling chains of minute magnetic beads.

According to a study co-author, presently an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Utah, Henry Fu informed Live Science that if they tend to have these simple geometries as building blocks it can be put together to make more complicated shapes which could do more things.

The expectation is to ultimately utilise these remotely controlled chains named modular microrobots, in the human body for the purpose of medical use like delivering directed medicines or performing surgeries on a small, non-invasive scale according to the researchers.

Various combinations as well as shapes of the spherical beads could mean better adaptability. Fu stated that the beads, for instance could be transported to an area in the body with ease in one configuration, though it could then be deployed into various shapes to move through various tissues or perform precise tasks.

Chains Viewed under Microscope/Remotely Operated

A researcher in the Nanorobotics Laboratory at Polytechnique Montreal, Charles Tremblay, who is not involved in the study, had informed Live Science in an email that the project seems to be a good idea. However he also commented that some of the challenges comprise of the need for visual feedback and transparent medium, to exercise the robots.

Researchers view the chains under microscope and remotely operatethe micro-swimmers by modifying an array of three solenoids, electromagnets which tend to produce controlled magnetic field and when it is rotated, the chains tend to swim through liquid. A chain of three beads just about 10 microns long, for perception, the width of an normal hair of human around 100 microns, is said to be the simplest of the micro-swimmers which the team seemed to work with. It makes them a bit bigger than bacteria which Fu had researched earlier. He comments that he had looked at the fluid mechanics of how bacteria tend to swim. The principles seem to be the same irrespective if you are a robot or a living thing.

Scratched the Surface with Proof of Principle

The researchers worked out methods of building the chains without the magnets resisting each other and disassembling the chains seems to be comparatively easy. The scientists observed that more drawn out chains seemed to swim speedier when turned at the same recurrence as the shorter one, displaying at a fundamental level that typical progresses could have various services.

 There could be various possible procedure of the globule but according to Fu they are not at the phase where they know exactly what shape is needed to get to, towards the end.Fu has stated that `you spin them around fast enough and they will fall apart’. He further added that they had just scratched the surface with a proof of principle and that is what makes it exciting. There seems to be plenty of possibilities.

How the World’s Thinnest Laptop Measures Up to the MacBook Air

HP Spectre – Thinnest Laptop – Impressive Machine

The HP’s Spectre laptop the thinnest laptop in the world is said to be only 0.3cm thinner than the MacBook Air and is considered to be one impressive machine. The HP Spectre is 1.4cm thick weighing around 1.1 kg while the 13” MacBook Air is said to be 1.7cm thick and weighs 1.8 kg. Overlooking the minor variances with regards to dimensions and weight, HP Spectre has taken the technology and the design to an incomparable level.

The MacBook tends to have simple design with all the laptops of the tech company, in silver, pink, grey or gold casing with the Apple logo towards the centre of the lid. But the HP Spectre has utilised artisan materials together with outstanding skill in the creations of an expensive looking device.

Carbon fibre and aluminium skill has been used in the device with a two-tone finish on the gold-coloured spine which is the first thing appealing to the eye. The HP logo in gold towards the centre of the lid is also attractive against the black background. The piston hinges cleverly crafted that have been used to life and lower the display, have been hidden within the laptop when the lid is closed.

Vulnerable to Fingerprints

The golden spine is said to be vulnerable to fingerprints and those with OCD could find their finish to be troublesome in keeping it spotless. While the Apple’s MacBook is driven by a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, the HP Spectre is said to have a 2,5GHz 6th Gen Intel Core i5 as well as i7 processors which means that the Spectre is somewhat faster with regards to the daily task and is also equipped better to handle additional complex things like editing images or video.

The manufacturer has utilised breakthrough hyperbaric cooling technology to ensure that the HP Spectre is capable of handling the performance provided by the i7 processor without overheating, which tends to actively draw in cool air, instead of just venting out heat.

Both the laptops are said to come with full size, backlit keyboards together with all-glass trackpad that seem to have little to no variance in its functions. Besides this both the laptops tend to have 8GB of memory and also have standard 256GB of storage that can be organized to 512GB flash storage.

Operating System Differs

The MacBook Air tends to have a slightly improved battery life of up to 12 hours while the HP Spectre seems to have only nine hours. With regards to audio, the MacBook Air has the standard stereo speakers that have been utilised by Apple.

The HP Spectre on the contrary tends to have stereo speaker custom-tuned in partnership with specialists at Bang & Olufsen. The speakers is stated to have an audio boost giving outstanding clarity as well as more dynamic sound and on using both the devices, the HP is said to be much more remarkable.

Apparently the operating system tends to differ with MacBook utilising OS X and the HP Spectre utilising Windows 10 and the connectivity provided by the devices also tend to differ. The MacBook Air has two USB 3 ports, a thunderbolt 2 port and a MagSafe 2 power port together with a headphone jack.

 The HP Spectre, on the flip side has opted for three USB Type-C ports, which is a next generation industry standard providing ultra-fast data transfer speed along with device charging and video output.