Wednesday, 19 April 2017

Microsoft confirms Windows 10 Creators Update

Windows 10 Creators Update to rollout from April 11

Microsoft is set to start the roll out of the Windows 10 Creators Update to the users globally from April 11. The launch of the rollout start date was confirmed by the Microsoft officials though a blog post on March 29. The Anniversary Update started rolling out in August last year while Microsoft has to delay the launch of the Creators Update by several months. This update will be known as 1703 though it was due to hit the systems globally in early but dues to this reason it is coming so late.
The game of changing ‘name’

Windows 10 Updates are extremely confusing for the common users to follow around but one thing has been consistent so far which is the naming of the updates. Now, Microsoft has revealed that the expected roll out for the masses in beginning of the April is simply named as ‘15063’. This shows that this build number will not be named RTM which is short for ‘release to mainstream’).

Features of the Creators Update


Microsoft has been indulging the performing huge testing on the Creators which effectively is the successor of the Windows 10 Anniversary Update for quite some time. Creators Update brings a number of consumer focused features to bring a marvellous computing experience to the consumers. This includes a new Game Mode, Windows Mixed Reality support, Beam game streaming along with a new robust eBook & tab management capabilities for the Edge browser. The iconic Paint application will also undergo a major change a new variant in form 3D paint will debut on the Windows. Microsoft is not doing away with the 2D Paint application as both of them will work in unison on the operating system.

Update on the final roll out of the Creators Update


Microsoft yet again failed to abide by its promise and it has been confirmed that the new roll out date for the Creators Update will be set at April 25. Microsoft officials have given no update regarding the launch of the Creator Update on the Cloud version. It should be noted that the Cloud version of the update is designed specifically to run the Windows Store apps and in later stage it will become upgradable to the Windows 10 Pro version.

Broader availability of the Surface device


The Microsoft gives major information where it has stated that the availability of the Surface range of devices will be boosted on global scale. Last October Microsoft has launched three major variant of the Surface Boko which includes the Surface Book with Performance base, Surface Studio and Surface Dial.

Microsoft will be making Surface Book with Performance available in countries namely Austria, Hon Kong, Japan, Denmark, China, Finland, Norway, France and Netherlands as well as UK, Switzerland and Sweden on April 20. Surface Studio as well as Surface Dial will be available for purchase only in Australia, New Zealand and Canada from 20. All these devices are open for pre-order in these selected countries.

Saturday, 15 April 2017

The Top 15 Design Templates for a Landing Page for a Mobile Game 

There are a few things to consider when building a landing page for a mobile game, to make sure you give users a great first impression. Loading time, design aesthetic, and browser compatibility are among the most important factors in a mobile game landing page template. By installing the right template for your game's landing page, you can encourage users to download and play your game, and avoid losing traffic to slow or clunky-looking landing pages. Check out these top 15 design templates for your mobile game's landing page.
  1. APPMOB

  2. APPMOB is a mobile app design template that will suit your game's landing page perfectly. That's because it's responsive, conforming to any mobile device's screen size without stretching the proportions of your images. This template uses clean coding and W3C valid HTML so you won't have any bugs or errors slowing your app down.
  1.  Flat Vault

  2. Flat Vault was created to be the ultimately diverse landing page. It can be used on just about any mobile app. It's responsive so it's a great choice right off the bat, but it also includes eye-catching color schemes, well-designed buttons and artistic touches around every corner. Flat Vault will bring life to your otherwise dull mobile gaming landing pages.
  1.  Wava

  2. The Wava template was designed specially for mobile apps. It uses HTML5 and CSS to create a fast-loading, responsive platform for your app. It makes the perfect loading page template because of its compatibility with all Android and Apple devices and browsers. Wava will work on any web hosting that allows HTML and CSS so you don't have to worry about host compatibility either.
  1.  PureCSS

  2. If you want simple development and unlimited design control, then PureCSS is the mobile gaming landing page for you. This page template is constructed of CSS3 and HTML5, and will work on any web platform. It's responsive and allows you to easily incorporate grids, tables, and menus, if your game calls for these elements.
  1.  Grayscale

  2. This landing page template is based on Twitter's Bootstrap and will work on any web hosting;server. It has dark color schemes, ideal for many gaming applications. This template also uses animated scrolling and other visual effects to create a more in-depth gaming environment.
  1.  Avira

  2. The Avira landing page works great on your mobile gaming marketing because it's results-driven. Use this page to draw users into your mobile game and collect user information such as email, name and age. This landing page can be installed in your actual app or on the website for your mobile game.
  1.  App King

  2. App King is a high resolution landing page template designed specifically for mobile apps and games. It works well in any mobile operating system or web browser. This is a 3-column page that uses Bootstrap and HTML5. Use App King for a generic, clean and organized landing page that won't distract users from the theme of your game.
  1.  Big Picture

  2. This landing page works great for mobile apps and games because it puts your media first. Use this simple one-page layout to display large images and screenshots from your game.
  1.  Deco Mobile

  2. Deco Mobile is high tech and responsive, it uses Bootstrap 3.x, CSS3 to create functional design. It also uses PHP and Ajax too for an input form that can allow you to offer sign-ups on your mobile game's landing page. That makes it a perfect choice for those wanting to consolidate the landing page and sign-up page into one screen.
  1.  Dodge

  2. Dodge is a landing page template for any mobile application. It comes in six main variants so you can customize the look and color scheme without the need for changing the CSS files. This landing page is great for those without much coding background, as it's easy to install and use. It has a contact form, "About Us" and "Pricing" sections to give your users all the information they need up front.
  1.  Appi

  2. This Envato-checked app is well designed and fully responsive. It includes a menu, a PHP form for sign ups and a Mailchimp-compatible contact form. This is great for games that offer tech support or customer service. Use Appi on your mobile gaming project to better engage with your users throughout the entire gaming process.
  1.  Royale

  2. Every mobile game needs a landing page that directs users to sign up or download the application. Royale will accomplish this for you with a Lightbox pop-out layout and strong Call to Action buttons. Use this creative, marketing-friendly landing page template to draw players into your game.
  1.  Apparent

  2. This creative landing page template from Themeforest will work well with any mobile game. It's responsive and easy to customize using SASS and Javascript. This landing page template uses a Parallax background, so it's great for landing pages with a lot of content or the need for scrolling.
  1.  Full Slider

  2. If you require a larger image slider for your landing page, then this is your best bet. It's based on Bootstrap 4 and CSS3 for maximum compatibility and a modern look. Full Slider uses a carousel-style slider to rotate your images or instruction screens. Consider using screenshots of your gameplay in the slider to entice users to get started playing.
  1.  Neon

  2. Neon is a fully responsive landing page template for any mobile app or game. It was built using Bootstrap and clean CSS3, and quality-checked by Envato. This mobile landing page offers a flat user interface and allows you to display video as well as images.
Landing pages are the first screen users see that represent your game or app, so despite their simplicity, they are vitally important to your game's branding. By selecting a landing page optimized for mobile games you can create a clean, professional look without sacrificing artistic creativity.

Wednesday, 12 April 2017

Controlling Turtle Motion with Human Thought

Turtle Motion
About nine years ago we saw the flick which showed humans controlling the body of an alien. Today we have that technology though it is in the initial but has huge potential to grow by leap and bounds in the upcoming years. Leaving the realm of science fiction aside scientists has long been working on developing a system called ‘brain computer interfaces’ or BCI. This particular technology is designed to allow humans to read and use the thought in order to control the machines and one of its prime examples are the humanoid robots.

Now the researchers at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) had successfully developed a highly sophisticated human turtle interaction system. This system allows the signals emerging from the human brain to produce desirable effect on the movement of the turtle.

How this technology works?

If you are wondering how human are able to control the turtle movements simply with their thought then here is complete process. Human operator has to wear a head mounted display which is commonly refereed as HMD. HMD IS combined with the BCI which helps in immersing the human operator right into the turtle environment. On other hand the turtle in question is equipped with a cyborg system which consists of a camera, Wi-Fi receiver along with a control module as well as a battery. All of this is mounted on the upper shell of the turtle. A black semi-cylinder with a slit is also placed on the shell which helps in forming a true simulation device.

A camera is mounted on the turtle which is received by a human operator. Using these real time video images the human operator has to be deciding where he wants the turtle to move about. Human operator is required to provide all the commands which affects the motion of the turtle using a wearble BCI system which effectively makes use of the electroencephalography (EEG) signals.

Currently the BCI system is designed to take commands only in the three metal states of left, right and idle. Now when the human operator tends to make the choice either left or right that commands happens to activate the turtle simulation device which is connected through a Wi-Fi. This particular process invokes a natural instinct in the turtle to move towards the light and thereby it changes the direction.

Future applications of this technology

This research has clearly demonstrated how the human thought can be utilized in developing animal guiding scheme for turtles. This technology in future can be easily integrated into positioning system and can certainly help in augmented and virtual reality techniques.

On other hand this can be helpful in enabling a wide range of application which might devices form the military reconnaissance and surveillance. But for these to happen it might take another decade to make the technology human proof, robust and highly reliable so that it can distinguish from the raw and concentre commands originating from the human mind.

Google Takes Aim At Update Its Duo Videoconferecing App in Battle with Skype, Messenger and Facetime

Google’s New Video-Calling App – Duo

A new video-calling app known as Duo had been launched by Google as a challenge to Skype and Apple’s Facetime. It tends to work using your mobile phone just like WhatsApp, once the app has been downloaded and logged utilising a Google account. The user can instantly video call any person from their contacts who also tend to have the app.

Though the main focus of Google is on ease, it does have duo features with a provision of differentiating it from its opponents. For instance a feature known as `Knock Knock’, enables the user to see live video of your caller before answering, providing you with a sense of what they could be up to and why they would prefer a chat.

 According to Google this makes video calls seem like an invitation rather than an interruption. Another benefit of the feature is the capability of switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data mechanically without dropping the call. This way you could start your call at home and continue effortlessly while heading out.

The benefit of Duo over FaceTime is that it tends to work on Android as well as iOS while FaceTime only operates on Apple devices. It has also been considered to be simpler than Skype enabling users to start a video call with only a tap.

Cope with Slower Networks

Justin Uberti, principal software engineer at Google had mentioned in a blog post that video calling is the next best thing to being with someone in person but too often it could be a frustrating or complicated experience.

One should not have to worry about whether your call will get connected or if your friend has been using the same kind of device similar to the one you could be using and this could be the reason why almost half of them never tend to made video calls on mobile.

Google has also built Duo to work to cope with slower networks in the background, like a 2G together with end-to-end encryption for the purpose of security. Google had mentioned that it would be offering an audio-only option on its Duo video calls service in order to assist users in communicating utilising poor quality connection and would be adding a feature to allow file sharing in group chats on its Allo messaging app.

In August, the company had launched Google due offering video calls for Android and iOS users, opposing it against Apple’s FaceTime, Microsoft Corp’s video calling app – Skype and Messenger of Facebook Inc.

Google Maps

Google Vice President for Product Management, Mario Queiroz had mentioned in a blog post after he had announced the moves at a Google conference in Sao Paulo that the audio-only calls would be working well on all connections speed and would be data efficient. In reply to responses from users in countries like Brazil,

Google had informed that Android users all over would be in a position of sharing documents as well as other files with friends on Allo in group chats. Moreover he also mentioned that they would have two new features for Google Photos on Android and iOS in order to make backup and sharing much easier on low connectivity.

When strong Wi-Fi connection tends to be available backed up photos would be replaced with high-quality version. Google has also mentioned that it would be adding new location sharing feature in Google Maps to enable users in letting friends and family to be aware of their whereabouts and when they would arrive at their destination. Queiroz had also mentioned that users could stop sharing that information whenever they desire to do so.

Fuzz Fibers Can Take Rockets Heat

 Fuzz Fibers
Rocket engines of latest design have much vigor, and produces heat. Recently, NASA has made a joint effort in order to create some fibers for taking the heat of rockets.

The special fibers are manufactured with silicon carbide, which may be comparable to Velcro. They are able to resist the pressure, which is experienced by materials in many applications of aerospace. Such fibers give enough support to composite materials, which are often applied in the latest rocket engines with a capability of enduring high level of temperature. Ceramic materials, present in these rockets, make use of the fibers for toughening the system. However, at any time, brittleness or cracks may turn up, especially because of oxygen exposure.

Use of nanotubes along with fibers-

The researchers of Rice laboratory have implanted nanowires and tubes into fibers’ surface. The uncovered spots of these fibers have coiled design. They work almost as a hook to add value to Velcro. After making the experiment, the scientists have concluded that it leads to the development of powerful interlocking links with lots of knots of fibers. As a result, a composite has reduced level of cracking risk. Moreover, due to sealing, the chemical structure of fibers is not changed.

Amelia Hart, one of the students of Rice University, has stated that fuzzy fibers could be improved with the application of nanotubes (made of silicon carbide), which are interwoven with one another, while is placed inside composite. It also increases the resistance level and strength to endure intense heat.

A test on compression and friction confirmed about the force, which was essential for moving the nanotubes over one another. This force seemed to be quite higher than what is required for sliding the simple fibers or nanotubes. They could also pull through extreme compression, created with the help of nano-indenter. The indenters prevented breakdown for much extensive period.

The complete work has been explained in detail in one of the journals. It had been started, while Hart had met Meador, one of the researchers of NASA. Presently, Meador is a manager of nanotechnology program, while Hart was engaged in the study, related to carbon nanotubes development.

It had brought about a good partnership, which would increase the possibility of combining her thoughts with the engineer of NASA. A partial conversion of silicon carbides was accomplished. In fact, Hart had applied the skill for growing nanotubes to create fresh composite.

Tests on different fibers-

Hart along with other researchers blended the fiber in iron-based catalyst. After that, they applied a deposition of chemical vapor for inserting carbon nanotube system to a surface. It turned out to be the model of ultimate product. Then, these fibers had been heated under severe temperature.

 It is considered by researchers that the fibers would modify heat and light resistant silicon carbide strand. The later one is able to stay consistent to almost 1,600 C. It gives the scientists a confidence on the success that they would get by integrating nanotubes, made of silicon carbide.