Ex-Google Engineer Launches Blockchain Based System for Banks

Blockchain Technology – New Operating System for Banks

A company which tends to use blockchain technology in building new operating system for banks has been launched by a former Google engineer Paul Taylor, whose speech recognition software has been utilised in over a billion Android smartphones. A Cambridge University academic, Taylor having expertise in artificial intelligence, machine learning and speech synthesis had begun working on the system known as Vault OS, two years back, in a cellar in Shoreditch district, London which is known for being a tech start-up hub.

Thought Machine and VaultOS is said to be the brainchild of Taylor who had sold his speech recognition start-up Phonetic Arts to Google in 2010. He had spent around three years running it text-to-speech operation. Will Montgomery, another ex-Googler and former AdSense engineer is the director of applications at Thought Machine.
The thoughts of the financial industry have been captured by blockchain, wherein advocates state that it has the capability of shaking up how the markets tend to operate. The technology that supports the digital currency bitcoin is said to develop a shared database wherein participants could trace each transaction that is made. The ledger is said to be tamper-proof and transparent which means that the transaction can be administered the requirement of third party confirmation.

Secured System of Storing Transaction

Taylor had informed Reuters that most of the banks are inclined to use systems which were written in the 80s and 90s and were just not ready for the security-conscious internet app age at all. What the blockchain intends to do is to provide a much secured system of storing transactions. Moreover the system also disproves the requirements of costly in-house data centres since it have a tendency to use cloud-based methods wherein banks could utilise it on a `pay-as-you-go’ source which means that there is no particular point of failure. Taylor also added that major high street banks were spending about a billion pounds a year on computer technology. He mentioned that most of it was being utilised for propping up the present legacy systems instead on any innovative technology. Blockchain is said to be a promising technology and is estimated still to be some five to ten years away from extensive adoption but its reputation had be affected to some extent due to its association with bitcoin that had seen various company failures inclusive of Tokyo-based exchange Mt. Gox filing for bankruptcy, leaving investors around $500 million in debt.

Building Modern Computer System for Banks

Taylor had informed that the start-up had been operative with around ten banks, where at least one would be starting a trial utilising the new system in August. He is hoping that the system would function within a year. This project is said to be one of the first bottom-up attempts in building a modern computer system for the banks that can be utilised out of the box by any of the banks and then tailored as needed.

The platform attracts the latest technology like cloud infrastructure and blockchain. VaultOS is somewhat like Amazon Web Services of Google Drive, except for the `core banking’ system, the technology is said topermit the banks to hold deposits as well as accounts. The director of creative and design at Thought Machine, Mark Warrick had informed Business Insider that gettingthe technology updated seemed to be the `hardest problem in banking’s owing to its critical function.

Hasselblad Introduces Amazing Digital Camera

X1D – A Compact 50-Megapixel Medium Format Camera

Hasselblad, in the midst of mobile cameras together with selfie-infatuated unprofessional, has been making a proposition to customers with a new type of camera. However it is not meant for self-portraits and would be quite expensive. The Swedish-based luxury camera manufacturer, had recently introduced the X1D, a compact 50-megapixel medium format camera to the world which advertised as a `game changer’ in photography.

Latest addition is the wireless enabled lighter than the company’s standard issue to the Hasselblad’s fleet is provided with GPS and high-definition video capabilities. It also comes at a price of $9,000, a price that Hasselblad states are acceptable by the mirrorless technology of XID, something without the model in a digital medium format device.

Comparing with Hasselblad’s other luxe models, the H5D type is priced at $45,000, a surprising sum for consumers accustomed to spending out only hundreds of dollars on a Nikon or Canon, the price tag of X1D is fairly reasonable, according to Hasselblad America’s president, Michael Hejtmanek, as informed to CNBC in New York, this week. On the side-line of an event, Hasselblad had portrayed to the reporters, a pre-production model of the X1D, which Hejtmanek had called it as an `amazing camera’ whose functionality conceals the relative convenience and ease of the universal smartphone camera.

An Act of Boldness Against Bleak Financial Side

The expensive X1D could be considered as an act of boldness against the bleak financial side of the camera business. It was an impudent attempt to generate interest in high end cameras by the 75-year old company, during which, the market seemed to be under severe burden from smartphone cameras. Main camera manufacturers like Canon, Nikon and Sony, reported decline in camera sales, reflecting a multiyear fall in worldwide shipments which began moderating only last year, according to the Camera & Imaging Products Association.

CIPA data portrayed that camera sales had leapt by nearly 20%, in 2015 from the year prior to 35.4 million sales, down from 2010 peak of 121.5 million and corresponding with the boom in smartphones. In the meanwhile, global smartphones sales had climbed over 14% last year to over 1.4 billion units, as per figures from research firm Gartner.

Real Camera for Photography Enthusiasts

Hejtmanek had accepted that smartphone had been turning the overall population into unprofessional shutterbugs but had restrained the effect on high-end manufacturers like Hasselblad. He informed CNBC in New York this week that `this is a real camera for photography enthusiasts, so while you can with a camera phone shoot some great pictures, there are a lot of limitation to that. You have a sensor in the X1D that is many times larger than a camera phone. The difference is staggering’.

Most of the digital single lens camera possibly the most affordable as well as popular ones in the market, tend to cost only several hundred dollars, but they seem to pale in price comparison to the X1D.Hejtmanek commented that for someone who would have purchased a high-end DSLR, this camera is a big step up in technology though only a small step in price. It’s much more a camera for the dollar. The X1D is said to be available in stores in August.

Cheap Ransomware Takes Files Hostage

Stampado Malware – No Administrator Rights to Infect Computers

A Malware has been spottedby online security firm Heimdal on the dark web, which is a part of the World Wide Web which is not indexed by regular search engines and which needs specialists’ software or approval on access. The malware tends to give the victims 96 hours to pay a ransom before it tends to being deleting files from their PC. It is said that if the ransom is not paid, it continues to delete random file every six hours.

The newly discovered threat is known as Stampado malware and is said to be on sale for less than $50 for a lifetime licence. The difference between Stampado and the other malware alternatives is that it does not require administrator rights to begin infecting the computers. Ramsomware is malicious software which tends to ascent the data on the users’ PC and thereafter probes for payment before restoring the data to its original state.

The price of unlocking data may differ, with users usually paying a few hundred pounds and businesses a few thousand. A security firm Heimdal had mentioned in a blog that `cryptoware is a big segment of the malware economy, malware creators have to constantly release new products to keep their clients engaged and the money flowing. Researchers at Intel Security, in June, had mentioned that they had seen an alarming rise in the volume of ransomware available to hackers. They had informed that they had logged 124 individual variants of the malware.

Ransomware Attacks Doubled in Past Years

The FBI had also stated that it had envisaged ransomware attacks doubled in the past years, with over 2,400 complaints that had come up. The estimated losses from these attacks amounted to $24m within that timeframe. In recent months, banks, educational institutions and hospitals had all been affected by these attacks. Several made attempts of solving the issue internally before making the payment of any ransoms.Experts are of the opinion that the best way individuals can protect against ransomware is to back up files elsewhere outside the computers like an external hard drive or the cloud. In order to combat the cyber occurrence on a state level needs the efforts of the N.J. Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. Dave Weinstein, New Jersey’s first chief technology officer, stated that federal departments have their focus on protecting national assets from cyber-attacks, in an effort of protecting the whole country but that could overlook several smaller objects which would only disturb state residents if disabled.

Ransomware a Serious Threat

He further added that there are a majority of assets in the state which tend to fall below the very high verge that if stuck unfavourably it would not influence the nation as a whole but would certainly affect the residents as well as the business of the state of New Jersey. The cyber security division of OSHP, earlier helmed by Weinstein also tracks dozens of well-known ransomware alternatives to inform victims on the decision of paying the attackers or not. Ransomware seems to be a very serious threat and the negative impact it tends to have on individual or corporation relates to the effort, cost and time connected in restoring the systems and devices back to its original working state. On comprehending the cost of recovery, the monetary as well as reputation, the victims are left with an option of paying or move forward with a recovery plan if one tends to exist.

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Leak Reveals Awesome New Look

Samsung Galaxy Note 7 – Doing Away with Fingerprint Sensor

According to new leaks, Samsung has been organizing the launch of its most influential mobile device. Some official looking extracts of the Galaxy Note 7 had been revealed overnight by notorious smartphone tipster,Evan Blass on Twitter displaying the device in more details. The image portrayed a seemingly polished looking device which has a strong similarity to the latest Samsung’s flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S7 that had been released in March last.

 But the rear panel seems to be imprinted with the words `Galaxy Note 7’ outwardly showing that it is a new device. The Note 7 is anticipated to get a curved OLED display measuring 5.8ins imitating the screen on the Galaxy S7 Edge and if the images leaked seemed to be right, Samsung’s flagship design sign would be standard on the next Note.

The Galaxy Note 7 would also be doing away with fingerprint scanner and replacing it with an iris scanner which tends to look into your eyes for unlocking the phone. This could be a courageous decision since most of the other flagship smartphone or phablet tend to use fingerprint scanner though could work on a super-sized device such as the Note 7.

Incredible New Translation Features

The scanner would also provide access to protected app, folders, files as well as documents. Other disclosure from the Indian tech site iGyann.in states that the Galaxy Note 7 would be coming with some incredible new translation features.

The new Dictionary and Speaking services enables user to translate words quickly form one language to another and eventually introduce consistent text to speech functionality. Android smartphones all over are set to receive a leading improvement due to the release of the next generation of software. Presently Google is working on the launch of Android Nougat, which is the latest edition of the mobile platform, set to be released later in the year.

Among the new features, we have an improved battery life together with power performance owing to the new Doze feature that enables to put the device in a low power mode when it senses that the phone is not moving.Android phones would now be supporting split-screen apps and hence two apps would now be capable of running side by side or one above the other like the prevailing iOS feature of Apple.

Improved Support for Virtual Reality Games/Apps

Moreover, included in the latest release is an improved support for virtual reality games and apps, connecting to new Daydream VR headset of Google, together with a new night mode that will reduce on harmful light while utilising the phone at night.Google has also been tweaked on how Android devices tend to manage notifications since the new Direct Reply feature enables users to respond swiftly to text messages or update task list right within the notification interface.

Developers could bundle in notification together so that all the text messages, calendar reminders, Facebook prompts can be taken together when one drags down the notification shade. App would also take less time in installing with the latest release and the predictive keyboard of Google would also get enhanced with a strip of new themes, the capability of adding or removing borders surrounding individual keys as well as setting a custom photo as a backdrop.

Best WordPress Food Themes to Share Recipes

Blog theme – Easy to Format/Transfer – Perfectly Designed

Any business presently without a website in the connected world does not stand a chance of developing or survival. Kale Pro, a free food blog theme, has been created to help individuals in the creation of superb food, lifestyle, recipe, or personal blog. It tends to be easy to format or transfer and is perfectly designed with accuracy providing the independence to write.

If one intends to undertake on a recipe or lifestyle blogging, the various blog themes could be quite daunting and one would be unable to know which one would be the correct choice. With the availability of so many options, it tends to get a bit complex in making the right choice. Something that would be arresting and appealing to the audience needs plenty of creativity together with unique content as well as images accompanied with the presentation in a visual as well as in an elegant manner.

Most of these blog themes centre on great image post, strong and beautiful typography together with a numerous features which could be beneficial in showcasing your content in the most appealing and stimulating manner. For a serious blogger, one cannot overlook the significance of a light weight, well coded and search engine optimized lifestyle blog theme.

WordPress Theme Professionally Designed & Developed

The highly customizable WordPress themes have been professionally designed and developed utilising the best coding practices. The themes tend to work precisely out of the box and takes less than 30 minutes to locate and setup whatever is needed and you could identify an appropriate theme as per your requirements.

The home page tends to have various areas for displaying and showcasing contents like high light post, highlighted posts, together with post from category of one’s choice and blog feed. The home page asserts a slider which is wonderful to setup by populating it from a designated category or specifying your images and caption.

An amazing feature of the theme is its mixed blog feed layout that tends to mix posts that are shown in grid and full formats in creating an engaging blog feed. Kale Pro also has some breath-taking features which enables in creating a complete functional and appealing person of style blog without having any knowledge on coding.

Several Built-in Premium Features

Moreover it also comes with many built-in premium features like advertisements, recipe shortcode, related posts which tends to be Google rich extract friendly, along with plugins like Jetpack Sharing, WP Instagram Widget, MailPoet Widget, Recent Post Widget with Thumbnails.

The theme provides thorough control over all colours and fonts, images logos and text and the background image. A special attractive recipe index template tends to create a selection of recipes from precise classifications. Some of the key features worth mentioning are –

• Recipe Index template 
• Special category template 
• Super easy social media icons 
• Integration with Jetpack Sharing 
• MailPoet Newsletter 
• WP Instagram Widget 
• Recent Post Widget with Thumbnails 
• Built-in related posts • Built-in ads 
• Built-in recipe shortcode 
• Google rich snippet friendly recipe cards 
• Multiple blog feed layouts 
• Custom colours and background 
• Custom typography • Multiple slider options 
• Fully responsive 
• Awesome support

The themes come in affordable prices with a 14-day money back guarantee accompanied with great customer support.