Motorola Launches New Moto X Range, Next Generation Moto G

Motorola is all set to give competition to the rivals who had aggressively introduced new mid budget phones at affordable price points. Motorola has launched its successful flagship Moto G and Moto X Smartphone to compete both at the low and high end of the highly competitive Smartphone market. Motorola has introduced two new versions of its high end Moto X and a new version of Moto G Smartphone. With this it is taking head on against the popular products from rival Chinese manufactures and esteemed Samsung and Apple brands.

The new Moto G brings more features at low price point

The earlier version of Moto G launched in 2013 showed how a great Smartphone experience can be provided at a low price point. But this time around Motorola had even better by bring enhanced specifications at affordable range without comprising on the user experience. Moto G offer irresistible user experience coupled with amazing specifications, which a consumer can think about.

Moto G comes in 2GB RAM and 16GB Internal storage as well as 1GB RAM and 8GB internal storage variants. Moto G new version is dust and water resistant, supports dual Sim cards and both can be used to access 4G connectivity. It comes up with a large 5-inch HD IPS display screen including Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The latest stock Android Lollipop will found on this device. This device is motorized by 1.4GHz quad core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor. The cameras are also upgraded to 13 Megapixel on the back with dual flash and 5 megapixel snapper at the front.

Moto X Style Steps up the high end Smartphone user experience

Moto X Style is an enhanced and beautiful version of the flagship Smartphone which is coupled with a highly powerful hardware under the hood. It features a QHD screen display of 5.7 inches coupled with latest powerful Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 808 Hexa core processor and Android 5.0 OS. Motorola has clocked this premium processor at 1.8 GHZ to provide an exceptional performance in handling multi tasking. Moto Styles offers 3GB of RAM and comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage variants along with external storage expansion support via MicroSD card.

Motorola has laced the Moto X Style with a 21 megapixel front camera having dual CCT flash with capability of shooting videos at 4K resolution. For selfie Moto X have 5 megapixel snapper. Moto X Style has a marathon battery of 3000mAh, which can provide 30 hours of standby in a single charge. On connectivity front, it has 4G LTE, 3G, WiFi and other options.

Moto X Play: a commendable upgrade over last year’s model 

Moto X Play's features a 5.5-inch display of FHD 1080p screen and comes loaded with a 3630mAh battery. Moto X comes with latest Android Lollipop 5.1 coupled with 2GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage. A similar camera of 21-mega pixel and 5 megapixel selfie cameras will be found on the device.

Motorola flagships Moto X Smartphone are serious contenders to take on the likes of premium devices launched by the Apple and Samsung in the recent past.

Terrain-based virtual camera tilting, and applications thereof

Terrain-Based Virtual Camera Tilting & Applications

Google has recently been awarded U.S. Patent for Terrain based virtual camera tilting and application. Systems prevailing in navigating via a three dimensional environment tends to display three dimensional data which comprises of a virtual camera defining what kind of three dimension data to display.

The virtual camera has a viewpoint based on its orientation as well as position and by changing the viewpoint of the virtual camera one can navigate through the three dimensional setting. Environmental information system could be one form of system which utilises a virtual camera in navigating through a three dimensional setting. It is a system for the purpose of storing, recovering and manipulating and display spherical three dimensional model of the Earth.

The three dimensional model could comprises of a satellite descriptions surface which could be mapped to terrain like canyons, valleys and mountains. In the terrestrial information system, the virtual camera tends to view the spherical three dimensional of the Earth’s model from various perspectives and the internal viewpoint of the model of the Earth tends to portray the satellite images though the terrain could be difficult to view. While on the other hand, ground level viewpoint of the model may portray the terrain in detail.

Method of Swooping Between Perspectives

To changeover from aerial viewpoint to a ground level perspective, U.S. Patent Application by Varadhan et all explains a method of example of swooping between perspectives, describing reduction of distance between the virtual camera as well as the target in determining a tilt value based on the condensed distance.

The virtual camera is then positioned as per the tilt value as well as the condensed distance. A method is available for swoop navigation and in cases where the terrain seems to be flat; a viewpoint which is parallel for ground could not be much interesting to a user than in instances where the terrain differs in altitude. On applying single swoop trajectory to a complete three dimensional environment which could comprise the flat as well as the rugged terrain, could lead to incidents where the swoop trajectory would not provide an optimal user experience.

Embodiment to Change Swoop Trajectory

To manage with the variation in terrain, embodiments tend to change the swoop trajectory based on the terrain inside the view of the virtual camera. A virtual camera could be positioned at an angle comparative to the upward normal vector from the target, to swoop into a target, the angle of which may be stated as a tilt angle.
As per the embodiments, the tilt angle could rise more quickly in areas of high terrain variance for instance, mountains or cities with high buildings, than in areas with less variance in terrain such as flat plains. In order to determine the level of terrain variance in an area, embodiments could weight terrain data with higher detail more deeply than terrain data with less detail.

Moreover, the tilt angle could also be varied depending on the amount of terrain variance even if the camera is otherwise static and/or the tilt angle may be varied at the time of another manoeuver rather than a swoop.

How To Set Up Your Own Raspberry Pi Powered VPN

Virtual Private Network – Secure Internet Connection

Websites often tend to track where a user has come from and watch where they head off next.A Virtual Private Network tends to secure your internet connection from prying eyes and is dangerous for several users, especially those travelling or intends to use unsecured wireless network.

A VPN is a network of computers which are connected securely irrespective of the different locations and all utilising different connection methods. The advantage to a VPN is that allcomputers on one are securely connected to one another and their traffic encrypted, keeping it away from prying eyes.

Another benefit to a VPN is that all the computers on one are efficiently on the same network which means that they tend to communicate as though they are next to one another and plugged in to the same router. With the help of Raspberry Pi project, one could control the VPN. In other words, the Virtual private network or VPN helps in browsing the internet more secretly by routing the traffic through a server which is not the point of origin.

Internet Browsing Encrypted & Secure

There are several companies offering services with various degrees of security, cost and if interested in getting technical with some basic coding and a Raspberry Pi computer which comes at a cost of £30, one could build their very own VPN server at home.

A VPN extends one private network into a public places and if one is using Starbuck’s Wi-Fi connection; the internet browsing is encrypted and secure. There are several ways of setting up a VPN with paid services as well as free services though each solution are determined by the way the VPN provider tends to charge and operate as well as the types of VPN options they provide.

The cheapest and the easiest option in keeping the data secureis to refrain from public Wi-Fi. BBC has published a guide in creating your own personal virtual private network in order to browse the Web from a mobile device without the prying eyes of anyone intending to sell your data. They have offered step by step detailed instructions to set up a DIY VPN server with Raspberry Pi.

Download Open VPN Connect for iOS/Android

One would need a Raspberry Pi or Pi 2, an 8GB MicroSD card, a SD card reader a 5v mini USB power supply like a smartphone charger, an HDMI monitor, together with a USB keyboard, an Ethernet cable accompanied with good amount of free time, for the project. Remaining of the instructions would involve various other software which needs to be downloaded and installed, steps in setting up security passwords together with generating keys, configuring networks as well as keys with more coding related steps.

At the end of the project, the user can download Open VPN Connect for iOS or Android on the smartphone or the tablet which enables to input the new privacy configuration in the mobile device. The most important part would be in setting aside the time which would be essential in getting through all the installation as well as security setup, the process of which is quite a length one. Nonetheless, for the sake of more privacy on the Internet, it is worth the extra efforts put in.

Znaps – A Simple Designed Solution in Charging Phone

If one has ever had the opportunity of using the MacBook’s MagSafe connector or the Apple Watch’s magnetic charging cable, they would get to know how convenient a magnetic power connector could be when compared to the iPhone’s charging system.

A Toronto based company known as Znaps has come up with a way out that brings about convenience to both the iPhone as well as Android phones with a Kickstarter campaign that is in progress of turning the smartphone’s charging port as well as cable into a magnetic charger. It seems similar to Apple’s MagSafe power connector that enables the user to plug and unplug easily, the power connector to a laptop with satisfying magnetic snap.

Moreover, it can also detach if and when someone tends to trips on the power cord. Znaps is a simple designed solution which tends to transform a charging cable utilising a pair of easy adapters which plugs into the Lightning or microUSB port towards the bottom of the mobile device and to the end of the cable. As the two adapter are in place, one can `snap and charge’ or snap or sync, without even looking.Znaps seems to bring about an enhancement to the iPhone and Android devices though consumers would need to wait for some time before it is made available to the customers.

Znaps Connector Compatible with Lightning/MicroSD Ports

Founders of Znaps had turned to Kickstarter in order to raise funds for the purpose of support in putting the adapter into production. The campaign being barely a quarter of the way through with only 24 days remaining where Znaps has already collected $437,295 out of its $94,221 goal which is 464% of Znaps’ goal.

The Znaps connector is said to be compatible with Lightning and microSD ports and is also reversible. This means that one will not have the need to fiddle with it in order to fit it in the right position since the Znaps, which is a tiny magnetic adapter adapts into the device’s charging port – Lightning for iOS devices, MicroUSB for Android, together with a separate magnetic adapter that fits over the cable connector.

Thus the user could just place the phone’s charging port close to the charging cable and it snaps in with the power of the magnet. It can get disconnected without much damage if it is pulled on the phone while it is still being charged.

Water Resistant – Power to Protect Sensitive Area – Power Socket

Besides this the Znaps is water resistant having the power of protecting the most sensitive areas on the phone which is the power socket wherein the adapter tends to lower the risk of any water damage to the phone. The Znaps magnetic adapter comes at a cost of $9 and wheninserted in the iPhone 6 or any other iOS or an Android device, it helps in charging the device instantly.

Due to the magnets in the adapter and cable, one can charge the mobile device by bringing it near the cable that tends to snap into the right position. The shipping of Znaps would probably begin somewhere in November and those interested in MagSafe type of charging technology for their iPhone or Android phone could pre-order the Znaps adapter or they could fund the Kickstarter campaign, opt for a custom pledge and get hold of their Znaps adapter by the end of November of in December.

AI Triumphs at Pictionary-Like Sketch Recognition Task

Sketch-a-Net – Sketch Recognition Job

Softwareknown as Sketch-a-Net accurately identifies a sample of hand drawings which has been developed by researchers in London and this artificial intelligence system – AI, has beaten human at sketch recognition job.

The researchers recommended that their program could be adapted in helping police to match drawings of any suspects involved in any crime incidents, though according to computing experts,a lot of work needs to be done. Earlier sketch recognition attempts have examined drawings as completed work wherein specific features were extracted and thereafter classified in the same way the photos tend to be analysed.

The Sketch-a-Net could make use of the information about the order the hand strokes were made in. Whenever computer equipment is utilised in the development of a drawing, the follow-on data comprises of information with regards to when each line was made and where, wherein the team at Queen Mary University took the benefit of this added statistics.

 According to Dr Timothy Hospendales, from the University’s Computer Science department, states that the `normal computer vision image recognition looks at all of the pixels in parallel, though there is some additional information offered by the sequence and there is some regularity in how people do it’.

AI Software Achieved Score of 42.5% Accuracy

He has informed BBC that in the case of an alarm clock for instance, people usually tend to start by drawing the outline of the device before adding in the hands and then creating dashes to represent the hours. He further added that different shapes have `different ordering and that is what the network learns to discover’.

The drawings in the test were from a collection of around 20,000 sketches that were known as the TU-Berlin dataset that had been utilised in earlier image recognition jobs. On examining the image library, Sketch-a-Net seemed to have a certain edge in determining some of the drawings’ finer details.

For instance, it was capable of matching drawings of birds to the description `seagull, flying birds,standing bird and pigeon, than human were.Dr Hospendales states that it has been described as being capable of solving the game Pictionary which he presumed was a nice explanation. The AI software achieved a score of 42.5% accuracy at that definite task when compared with the volunteers’ 24.8%.

Used in Matching Sketches of Suspects

The researchers recommend that their software could be utilised in matching sketches of suspects. According to Prof Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey’s Computing Department, he defines the research as `promising’ but states that it could be some time before its potential could be realised.

He adds on, that `neutral nets have proved to be extremely successful in the past since the foundation for recognition and classifications systems. But the latest application could be obviously at the initial stage and quite a lot of developments and testing would be needed prior to seeing it emerge in a real world application.

He thinks it is one of the several areas in which they could see people using the AI in order to improve on human abilities’. The peer review research would be discussed further in September at the British Machine Vision Conference.