Thursday 30 August 2018
IBM and Box bring the power of AI to your work processes
Box and IBM have announced they will be teaming up to bring the power of Watson AI to more businesses.
Speaking at the Box Works 2018 event in San Francisco, Box CEO Aaron Levie was joined on stage by IBM’s David Kenny, who noted that AI is becoming an increasingly vital workplace tool.
When quizzed on the current state of AI development, Kenny noted that the sooner companies start using the technology, the better, with those organisations that have got on board early already seeing a notable competitive advantage.
“Enterprises have unique needs,” Kenny noted, “and our ability to be the fastest makes all the difference.”
However he added that AI is a constantly growing and evolving technology, and this time next year may have advanced beyond even IBM’s expectations.
“It's still pretty early,” Kenny said, “we're still in the crawl phase as opposed to the walk and then run...(but) the acceleration is now measured in days, not years.”
Watson AI Skills
Kenny had joined Levie at Box Works to reveal that Watson will be delivering the first ever custom skills built using the Box Skills Kit.
The two new offerings are Custom image insights with Watson Visual Recognition, which is able to quickly analyse image data to make it easy to search.
This is already being used in US legal support, where the service could be used to quickly analyse audio and video files used in a legal deposition to find important data.
Also launching is Custom document insights with Watson Natural Language Understanding, which automatically tags documents stored in Box to help users quickly find what they need in the likes of research papers, service manuals and legal documents.
This skill is helping customers of two Canadian banks to pull data from different loan or banking forms quickly and easily for new applicants.
“It's made work more interesting as the work can be done by Box Customer Skills, and people can do more thinking,” Kenny noted.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/ibm-and-box-bring-the-power-of-ai-to-your-work-processes
Lego Group built a full-size, driveable Bugatti Chiron – just because it could
Lego Group has built a life-size model of the Bugatti Chiron using nothing but Lego Technic and a tremendous amount of patience.
The car contains over a million pieces of Lego Technic, with 2,304 motors and 4,302 gear wheels. It doesn't just look impressive, either – the model can hold two passengers, and travel at speeds over 20kmh (though the seats might be a little hard).
The car's exterior is a 'skin' made from thousands of interconnected triangular pieces, and the interior is a faithful replica of the original, right down to the instruments on the binnacle and the Bugatti logo on the detachable steering wheel. There's no glue involved.
Rebuilding the wheel
Designers and engineers from Lego's factory in the Czech Republic invested over 13,000 hours designing and building the car, which made its debut at Ehra-Lesein proving ground in Germany, where the actual Chiron was first tested.
“This life-size model is a first of its kind in so many ways and with it, we wanted to push the boundaries of our own imagination," said Lena Dixen, president of product and marketing at Lego Group.
"For over 40 years, Lego Technic has allowed fans of all ages to test their creativity with a building system that challenges them to go beyond just creating new designs, to also engineering new functions."
"It’s a fascinating example of the Lego Technic building system in action and its potential for creative reinvention.”
The life-sized Chiron is a little beyond the budgets of most enthusiasts, but Lego also makes a miniature replica of the car that you can build at home.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/lego-group-built-a-full-size-driveable-bugatti-chiron-just-because-it-can
Facial recognition tech helps police arrest wanted man at music festival
South Wales police claim facial recognition technology has been improved by a new algorithm after its false-positive reading dropped from 92% to 0.02%, resulting in the arrest of someone with an outstanding warrant at a festival of thousands.
According to a freedom of information request made by Wales Online, South Wales police scanned over 40,000 faces during Swansea’s Biggest Weekend festival and only had 10 false-positive reading - arresting one person for an outstanding warrant as a result of identification.
As Wales Online points out, this is a massive improvement on last year’s Champions League Final which seen over 2,000 people wrongly identified as criminals.
"We have been provided with a new algorithm and application by our supplier, NEC, which has 12 months more research and development from the project’s initiation,” South Wales police said in a statement to Wales Online."With each deployment of the technology we have gained confidence in the technology and this has enabled the developers at NEC to integrate our findings into their technology updates."
Why do the police use facial recognition?
Automated facial recognition (or AFR) is typically a camera attached to police vehicles which automatically scans the faces of those who come into its field of vision. The faces are then compared to a database of faces the police are looking for based on identifying features such as race, age and facial features.
The technology is used at airports and law enforcement to find criminals. South Wales police were the first force in the UK to pilot test the software on duty.
- Catch up on all the latest tech announcements coming out of IFA 2018
source http://www.techradar.com/news/facial-recognition-tech-helps-police-arrest-wanted-man-at-music-festival
Researchers 3D-print a prototype bionic eyeball
Engineers from the University of Minnesota have 3D-printed a prototype for a bionic eyeball, which could one day change the lives of people with impaired sight.
The researchers demonstrated the process by printing components onto a hemisphere of glass. Building circuits on a curved surface is a tricky process, but essential for making a device that can be implanted into an eye.
The whole process took about an hour, and the university published a time-lapse video to accompany the paper:
First, they printed a base outline using an 'ink' containing silver particles, which dried evenly without running down the glass. They then used semiconducting polymer materials to print photodiodes, which convert light into electricity.
Vision of the future
“We have a long way to go to routinely print active electronics reliably, but our 3D-printed semiconductors are now starting to show that they could potentially rival the efficiency of semiconducting devices fabricated in microfabrication facilities,” said professor Michael McAlpine, a co-author of the study. “Plus, we can easily print a semiconducting device on a curved surface, and they can’t.”
The technology is promising, but it's still at an early stage. The next steps are to print a prototype with a more light receptors, and to find a way to print onto a soft material that's suitable for implanting into a real eye.
Via Digital Trends
source http://www.techradar.com/news/researchers-3d-print-a-prototype-bionic-eyeball
Wednesday 29 August 2018
The best business tablets 2018: top picks for productivity tablets
Welcome to our list of the best business tablets of 2018. These mobile wonders are powerful, yet portable, and they can help you keep productive while out on the road, without having to lug around a big laptop.
Android and Apple tablets have a host of apps that allow you to work on them, and of course, with Windows 10-powered business tablets, you can run any app or program you'd usually run on a traditional laptop or desktop PC.
Add a Bluetooth keyboard, and you'll be able to work comfortably on these best business tablets for hours on end.
For the sake of clarity, we will only look at pure tablets, and detachables when it comes to convertibles. 2-in-1 hybrid models are closer to traditional laptops as their keyboard can't be totally detached.
- Also have a read of our guide on how to choose a tablet for work
While Microsoft didn't call this year's tablet the Surface Pro 5, in many ways it's a sequel to the Surface Pro 4 (which also features on our list of the best business tablets), with a 32% increase in battery life - according to our benchmarks - as well as a refined design that remains thin and light, while also providing plenty of power. The new and improved Surface Pen and Type Cover makes this a brilliant business tablet that can be used as a laptop replacement, and it comes in a range of specifications, which makes choosing the right model for your business (and personal) needs easy.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro
Apple took the iPad into uncharted territory here. The iPad Pro's optional accessories add to the cost of the tablet, but the keyboard cover and Apple Pencil stylus make the iPad even more suited for business and creative users. The iPad Pro also debuted Apple's new split-screen multitasking. It is, quite simply, a massively powerful tablet which can certainly turbocharge your productivity away from the desk thanks to a wide array of business apps – although we’d like to see more in the way of battery life.
Read the full review: Apple iPad Pro
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet is probably one of the best designed convertible devices on the market, and one where engineers clearly had a great time building a slate that crams in so many features that it's hard to believe that the X1 is so thin and portable. It bears all the hallmarks of a signature ThinkPad device: the finish, the red colour scheme, the Trackpoint, the shape of the Accutype keys, everything down to the ThinkPad logo at the back. Aficionados will love it while others might balk at the price – this is vintage ThinkPad at its finest.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Tablet
A higher resolution screen, a thinner design and a move to Intel's more powerful Skylake processors all help to make this portable tablet a capable replacement for your laptop. Sadly, the Type Cover keyboard is still optional, but in reality it's a necessity for this laptop replacement; come on Microsoft, bundle it already. The good news with the Type Cover in this fourth iteration of the Surface Pro is that it’s much improved this time around.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Pro 4
Lenovo shows it is just as good at making 2-in-1 devices that are excellent business tablets with the Lenovo Miix 510, a follow up to the Miix 700 (yes, we know, confusing) with a new latest-gen Kaby Lake version of the Core i5 and a strong central pairing of 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. It comes with a detachable keyboard and costs a lot less than Microsoft's Surface Pro line of business tablets, and for the most part it offers similar functionality. This is definitely a business tablet worth considering if your budget doesn't stretch to a Microsoft (or Apple) device.
Read the full review: Lenovo Miix 510
If you're looking for the best budget business tablet, then the Microsoft Surface Go should definitely be considered. It's thin, light, portable and elegant without sacrificing the ability to get some work done, and Microsoft has packed in everything they could in a device at a low price point. If you're often working while travelling, then it's a brilliant choice, thanks to its slimline design and reliable build quality that we've come to expect from Microsoft's Surface products.
Read the full review: Microsoft Surface Go
The Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 is one of the best Android tablets you can buy right now, and it proves that you don't need a tablet that runs Windows to be one of the best business tablets money can buy.
It's stuffed full of power, has an excellent display and features an iPad-Pro rivaling S-Pen stylus and optional keyboard.
The price tag could be a stumbling block, but if you're looking for the best Android has to offer in tablet form the Galaxy Tab S3 is the slate for you.
Read the full review: Samsung Galaxy Tab S3
If you want the versatility that the Surface Pro offers, but don’t want to pay the exorbitant price that a competent model asks, you might want to check out the Acer Switch 5. You’ll lose a bit in screen resolution and sound quality, but you’re saving hundreds of dollars. The Acer Switch 5 is one of the best business tablets for any professional who need to get work done on the go, and save some cash at the same time.
Read the full review: Acer Switch 5
Asus threw down the gauntlet to Microsoft with the launch of the Transformer 3 Pro. The device, which is the only tablet we know of that comes with 16GB of RAM as standard, easily surpasses the Surface Pro 4 in terms of sheer value for money although Microsoft's flagship tablet remains the better known (and probably more trusted) of the two. Other than the standard keyboard, the Transformer also has a docking station, a stylus and even a trusted platform module (TPM) for improved security within an enterprise setting.
Read the full review: Asus Transformer 3 Pro
Just like the rest of the competition, HP took inspiration from Microsoft's playbook when building the Elite x2 1012, which clearly targets the business market. Like Fujitsu, HP made sure that its product was designed with enterprise users in mind. It is sturdy, undergoing a 12-point stress test, is very easy to upgrade and comes with a number of security features. There's an active pen and a keyboard, and our reviewer said that typing on the latter was "as comfortable as it is on a real notebook". Not everything about the design is perfect - such as the hinge - but overall this is a tempter with a great keyboard and screen.
Read the full review: HP Elite x2 1012 G1
Chuong Nguyen, John McCann, Matt Hanson and Henry Casey also contributed to this article
source http://www.techradar.com/news/best-business-tablets
The best mobile workstations 2018: the most powerful laptops for businesses
If you're looking to buy the best mobile workstation for your needs - both in the office and on the road - then you'll want to make sure you pick the right one before spending a sometimes considerable amount of money on a mobile workstation.
This is where our best mobile workstation list comes in, as our experts have ranks the ultimate mobile workstations, explaining the pros and cons of each entry so you can buy in confidence.
Thanks to our price comparison tool, we can help take the sting out of the price tag by helping you find the very best prices for these excellent mobile workstations.
Buying the best workstation for your business isn't just about plonking down cash for the most powerful laptop money can buy. Instead, you'll be looking for a versatile device that provides the same level of power you'd expect to find in a desktop PC, but within the mobile laptop form factor that allows you to work on it when out of the office.
However, you will need to pay a bit more for the best mobile workstation, as the parts they use, build quality and the level of after-sales services mean that these are an investment that can be expensive, but choosing the right one means you'll have a solid and dependable performer that will help you with your work for years to come.
- For a more WASD-centric alternative, here is the best gaming laptop
If you'd prefer a Best Desktop Workstation roundup or, if you're interested in a business laptop that isn't necessarily a workstation, we've got you covered.
Because mobile workstations are so specialist - and come with such a high price tag - finding one that suits your business needs is important, and we're here to help with this list of the best mobile workstations in 2018.
Apple's most powerful laptop ever is also the best workstation laptop in 2018. It comes with the innovative Touch Bar that makes certain tasks much easier, but it's the powerful innards that really impress us with this mobile workstation. It features up to 32GB of RAM and a super-fast solid state hard drive, and comes with Intel's latest and most powerful processors. You can configure the MacBook Pro 2018 to match your needs and budget, and it all comes in Apple's trademark gorgeous design. If you're looking for the best mobile workstation that combines design and power, then this is a brilliant choice. As long as you have the budget.
Read the full review: MacBook Pro (15-inch, mid-2018) review
Not only is the Razer Blade one of the best gaming laptops money can buy, it is also an excellent desktop replacement and mobile workstation for non-gamers, thanks to its excellent array of features and powerful components. It’s thin, powerful and includes some of the latest hardware money can buy.
Read the full review: Razer Blade review
HP's mobile workstation Ultrabook has already reached its third generation but the last one is still very much a best-in-class especially when it comes to sheer value for money. It is one of the cheapest workstations on the market to offer a professional dedicated graphics card, and the most affordable business laptop to come with a whopping half-decade warranty. HP opted for a 14-inch diagonal which may well hit a sweet spot for some.
Read the full review: HP ZBook 14 G2
HP calls it the perfect combination of brains and beauty and it is kind of hard to disagree. The G3 is essentially a mobile workstation that has been squeezed in an Ultrabook form factor. A 4K monitor adorns it and there's plenty of oomph under the hood. It is actually the only device known to us that comes with a Xeon CPU. Add in extensive ISV certification, a super-long warranty and MLD-STD 810G certification and you have a very attractive candidate.
Read the full review: HP ZBook Studio G3
Despite being just over 10mm thick and weighing just over 1.16Kg, the HP Spectre Pro 13 G1 manages to pack a proper Core i7 CPU with a full HD 13.3-inch display, a massive 4-cell 38Whr battery and three USB Type C connectors.
This makes it a formidable mobile workstation that offers plenty of power for even the most demanding of tasks. If you want a laptop that offers similar performance to your work desktop PC, then this brilliant machine is definitely worth considering. Its 3 Year Next Business Day onsite warranty also means if something goes wrong with the device, you can quickly get it fixed without missing out on work.
Lenovo hails this model as the world's first multi-mode workstation, one that manages to combine power and creativity thanks to a 360-degree hinge that has, to some extent, set the standard when it comes to convertible or 2-in-1 designs. What's more, it is one of the very rare laptops to come with built-in Wacom Active ES pen technology, capable of delivering 2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity and tilt recognition.
MSI is not a brand that we usually associate with workstations but the Taiwanese company, unlike its staunchest competitors, Gigabyte and Asus, has made some remarkable inroads in this lucrative niche market. The WS60 is essentially a more expensive version of its gaming laptop with a certified professional GPU. It's worth noting that this laptop is one of the slimmest and lightest of the workstations in this list.
Read the full review: MSI WS60
This is the top-of-the-range workstation at Lenovo, the apex predator, the one to beat. Targeting designers, engineers and professionals in the oil and gas industry, it is one of the only two models to feature an Intel Xeon processor. There's also a built-in colour calibrator as well as a steep price tag for the top-end model to highlight its premium nature. It is a shame though that it doesn't offer any RAID option at this price and tops out at 512GB storage.
Read the full review: Lenovo ThinkPad P70
The MSI WT72 6QK is an excellent mobile workstation, and with MSI being known for producing powerful gaming laptops, it’s no surprise that the company has also created this powerful workstation that excels in CAD and graphics applications. This laptop has been updated to provide some of the latest components to ensure a top notch experience.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/best-mobile-workstations
US company uses loophole to dodge ban on selling 3D-printed gun blueprints
Texas-based company Defense Distributed has resumed selling plans for 3D-printed plastic guns, despite the extension of an injunction to prevent it.
The company's founder Cody Wilson claims the ban only stops him publishing the plans online – a rule he can avoid by delivering them by file transfer, secure email, or on a thumb drive sent through the mail.
“I feel no way that we’ve been interrupted,” Wilson said at a press conference.
Accountable to the law
In 2013, the US Department of State forced Defence Distributed to take down blueprints for a pistol known as the 'Liberator' on the grounds that they violated weapons trafficking regulations. The gun is easily assembled, can't be picked up by metal detectors, and is impossible to trace due to the lack of serial numbers.
After a long legal battle, Defense Distributed emerged victorious and the government approved the files for publication, but its triumph was short-lived.
Just three days later, a US district judge granted a restraining order, blocking sale of the plans once more. A federal judge then extended the ban, which will remain in place until the resolution of a lawsuit brought by eight state attorneys to reverse the decision to approve the files.
Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson, who led the lawsuit against Defense Distributed, said he hopes the state will hold Wilson 'accountable'.
"I trust the federal government will hold Cody Wilson, a self-described 'crypto-anarchist', accountable to that law," Ferguson said in a statement to The Independent. "If they don't, President Trump will be responsible for anyone who is hurt or killed as a result of these weapons.”
Lead image credit: Andrzej Wojcicki/Science Photo Library/Getty Images
source http://www.techradar.com/news/us-company-uses-loophole-to-dodge-ban-on-selling-3d-printed-gun-blueprints
The best printers of 2018: inkjet, color, mono and laser printers
If you're looking for a new printer for your home or office, then you've come to the right place, as our list of the best printers of 2018 gives you clear buying advice and recommendations regardless of what sort of printer you're looking for.
So, if you're looking at getting the best all-in-one printer that can handle almost any task you throw at it, or a photo printer for printing out your holiday snaps, this list of the best printers in 2018 will help you.
There's a huge range of brilliant printers available these days, which means you're spoilt for choice when it comes to looking for the best printer for your needs, so this list should help.
Our list of the best printers cuts through the jargon to make buying your new printer as simple as possible. We've also split this list into the best inkjet printers and the best laser printers, and we include standard printers as well as multi-function ones. No matter what type of printer you're after, we have one for you, and our price comparison tool makes sure you get the best deals on the printer of your choice as well.
Best inkjet printers
The Deskjet 3630 is a decent printer for the price, offering reasonable print speeds and the ability to connect to mobile devices without breaking the bank. Just be wary as its ink cartridges can be priced when picked up from shops. It doesn't quite have the build quality of HP's more expensive Envy models, but if you're looking for an initially cheap model that catches the eye when sat on a shelf, the Deskjet 3630 is a great option.
Read the full review: HP Deskjet 3630
The WorkForce Pro WF-4630 is a solid printer for small businesses and workgroups given its fast print speeds, solid print qualities and remote printing and scanning capabilities. Using the larger XL print cartridges, the WF-4630 delivers economical print costs that rival laser printers.
Read the full review: Epson WorkForce Pro WF-4630
Great for the traveling professional or someone who needs a small printer for occasional use, printing photos or using the scanner function. It's a bit pricey to buy - and to run - but the flexibility and quality of the printouts is excellent.
Consumables are usually expensive when it comes to printers. So it is quite surprising that one vendor, Epson, single-handedly decided to challenge that status quo by allowing users to refill their printer using ink bottles. What's even more surprising is that Epson includes two years of ink with the package; no more expensive cartridges and instead, you have enough material to deliver 11,000 pages worth of black and colour inks (that's 700ml worth of liquid). Oh and there's even a three-year warranty making this a great choice for bean counters fixing the TCO of their printers. The ET-4550 lacks the features found on cheaper competitors – it is relatively slower (although it has a higher printing resolution) and has a small paper input tray.
If you're looking for a great all-round printer which doesn't skimp on print quality for your photographs, then we don't think you will be disappointed by what the PIXMA TS9150, Canon's flagship printer, has to offer.
While it's certainly more expensive than some of the cheap two in one printers you can pick up, it's not a bad price for something which produces high quality prints, especially if you only need to print at A4 or below.
Best of all, the print quality here is stunning, and it also has an attractive design. While the looks of your printer may not seem that important, it does mean you don't feel the need to try and hide it away out of sight if you're using it at home.
Best laser printers
This temptingly priced printer offers 28ppm printing at up to 4,800 x 600 dpi (effective, rather than optical, resolution). With wired (Ethernet/USB) and wireless (Wi-Fi/NFC) connectivity, duplex printing, decent eco settings and support for a wide range of media, the Samsung is an excellent all-rounder, although the multi-purpose tray can only handle one sheet of media at a time. The main cassette has a more useful capacity of 250 sheets.
The M2070W delivers a lot of bang for your business buck – there's NFC printing from compatible smartphones, online document sharing, and a clever Eco system that supplements the usual toner saving mode with a feature to remove images from documents by replacing bitmaps with sketches.
Factor in claimed speeds of 20ppm, a clever scan to mobile feature and an effective print resolution of up to 1200dpi and you've got a multifunction printer that's well worth considering.
The DCP-9020CDW is a baby Brother – it's an entry-level all-in-one aimed at small offices, and with claimed speeds of 18ppm and a resolution of up to 2,400 dpi (effective) it has a decent spec for the price. It can upload to cloud services such as Dropbox and OneNote, it's wireless with WPS authentication and wireless direct printing, and its running costs are competitive. It also offers automatic duplex printing and its colour screen makes it easy to install and operate. This device is a solid all-rounder for PCs and mobile devices alike.
This is a colour laser printer, plain and simple. It has a relatively small footprint on the desk thanks to a surprisingly compact design. The printer is fitted with a 150-sheet main paper tray and a 100-sheet output tray, with an integrated drum/fuser unit and manual duplexing capabilities. Controls are adequate, with a two-line LCD display and a number of buttons for basic menu navigation. The C1760NW also offers an Ethernet connector, 802.11n Wi-Fi and a USB 2.0 port; although there is no USB host connectivity. The printer is aimed at office or small workgroups and has a high-rated speed of 15ppm for black and colour. This is a good workhorse for everyday printing, where colour isn't a major part of the mix.
At the time of writing, this Brother was Amazon's best-selling laser, and with good reason – for very little cash you're getting a superb wireless colour laser. However, at this price don't expect rock-bottom running costs – it's a printer for livening up documents with the occasional flash of colour, not constant photo printing.
It doesn't have automatic duplexing or an Ethernet port, but the HL-3140CW delivers superb print quality, reasonable mono running costs and good wireless features for a very low price.
- What about the best 3D printers?
source http://www.techradar.com/news/best-printers
Are Smartphones Without AI a Thing of the Past?
It is no surprise that according to Gartner’s latest Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies research, artificial intelligence is one of the prevailing mega-trends in the technology industry. Today, with practically every top technology company around the world involved in AI in some form, AI has penetrated into every facet of the consumers’ lives—but to see and understand what Huawei CBG has done in this area is enlightening and futuristic.
1) What does AI mean for Huawei and why is it an important feature in its devices?
Huawei’s initiatives and goals follow a customer-centric approach with innovation at the heart of everything they do. Constant innovation is only possible when you keep a tab on the pulse of your consumer and the market. We do this by investing heavily in R&D.
In 2017, about 80,000 staff worked in R&D, accounting for 45% of total company staff. There were CNY 89.6 billion R&D expenses, accounting for 14.9% of the company’s total revenue. According to statistics by the European Commission, Huawei invested up to EUR 10.4 billion in R&D in 2017, ranking sixth globally and ahead of Apple. Total R&D expenses over the past decade exceed 39.40 billion RMB, placing Huawei third globally. Hence, we continue to lead the AI agenda in the smartphone industry globally.
AI has come to become an important feature for our devices because it enables the phone to function efficiently and intelligently while offering the best possible user experience for our consumers. With AI on-device, the consumer has everything he needs to help optimise its interaction and phone experience, without the hassle of downloading and engaging with multiple applications.
Huawei’s goal is to continually and consistently create AI powered devices that brings ease and efficiency into consumers daily lives.
2) What is Huawei’s overarching strategy for AI?
Huawei is committed to leading the AI agenda in the smartphone industry. Our focus lately has been on developing cloud (server-side) and on-device (client-side) AI. To Huawei, the end-game for AI will have a space for both cloud and on-device AI, and the two will complement each other to offer maximum efficiency and ease to consumers.
Huawei’s current focus on on-device AI comes from an increased awareness of consumer privacy. Take the smart gallery, for instance. Huawei’s latest implementation of image recognition relies solely on the local NPU. By doing away with the cloud requirement, the new smart gallery not only performs vastly better, but this also addresses privacy concerns that users might have shared in the past.
3) How has Huawei been spearheading the development of on-device AI?
Huawei is a visionary and leader in development of AI in smartphones. Huawei had foreseen the boom of AI and designed the world’s first SoC with a discrete neural processing unit (NPU), the Kirin 970, at a time when competitors were still looking for ways to leverage the combination of CPU, GPU and DSP to accelerate AI processes.
In simple terms, while other smartphone brands were trying combine existing technology to make their smartphones smarter, Huawei CBG was using breakthrough technology to make its phones intelligent by enabling it with on-device AI chipset and functionality, offering a spectacular and efficient experience for its users.
In fact, shortly after the announcement of the SoC at IFA 2017, Huawei CBG launched the Mate 10 Series, allowing consumers to experience for themselves the power of AI followed by a more enhanced device, the HAUWEI P20 Pro.
Equipped with the NPU, the powerful Kirin 970, delivers AI performance that surpasses any CPU in AI-related tasks with up to 50 times the efficiency and 25 times the performance. The impressive performance of Kirin 970 exemplifies Huawei’s commitment to on-device AI, and enables users to fully harness the power of Huawei’s cloud platform in everyday activities.
4) Could you give examples of how Huawei’s AI features are being applied?
Let’s look at HUAWEI P20 Pro for instance. With an in-built Kirin 970 processor, the HUAWEI P20 Series is equipped with 40 MP Leica Triple Camera that delivers unparalleled sharpness, color accuracy, focus and contrast with every single shot. It is also enabled with AI beautification solutions and scene recognition that captures the foreground and background with every detail and without any loss of colour, contrast and clarity. The device offers unmatched low light photography experience, with 5x times zoom in comparison to any other smartphone in this category and captures more than what a naked eye can see.
Achieving DxOMark’s highest overall scores, the HUAWEI P20 Series includes advanced, intelligent camera systems to enhance users’ smartphone photography experience.
Our upcoming lines of devices are going to wow our customers and set a new benchmark in the smartphone industry.
How does Huawei envision the future of AI?
In the future, on-device AI and cloud AI will continue to converge and complement each other. On-device AI will continue to serve real-time and data sensitive demands, while the cloud will support devices with its supreme computing power. When AI reaches maturity, mobile devices will become capable, personal assistants for people from all walks of life. Huawei also believes two megatrends will emerge in the AI space: natural interfaces and proactive services.
Natural interfaces: Users will find increasingly natural ways to interact with their devices. Devices today can already see what users do and listen to users talk—it is only a matter of time before users can naturally converse with a device and receive logical feedback.
Proactive services: Using its understanding of the user and their circumstances, a device will be able to predictively enable services, even before the user asks for it. For example, when a device sees its user strolling into a supermarket, it will automatically pull up a designated payment app, in anticipation of the checkout process.
How is Huawei supporting developers who are keen to develop on its platform?
While Huawei has already found success in the AI space, true innovation and the best user experience can only be attained through collaboration. Huawei hopes to work together with developers, as well as content and service providers, to create value for end-users.
Huawei is actively nurturing an open ecosystem where Huawei and developers can easily collaborate and work together towards a more vibrant app ecosystem. In order to enable developer to better tap into the AI capability of its chipset, Huawei has opened its HiAI mobile computing platform to developers. There, developers will find more than 20 APIs that let them easily integrate AI functions into their apps for Huawei devices.
As Huawei continues to focus on on-device AI, developers can look forward to devices that support more AI functionalities in the future, and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that their work will be adopted by more and more users as time goes on.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/are-smartphones-without-ai-a-thing-of-the-past
Tuesday 28 August 2018
Monday 27 August 2018
UK government sets aside funding for its own GPS network
One of the unfortunate consequences of Brexit might be that the UK gets locked out of Europe's nascent Galileo GPS satellite project – but funding has now been set aside to develop a network of satellites to provide upgraded coverage for the UK specifically.
The BBC reports that at least £92m has been set aside to look into the possibility of developing a UK-only GPS system. If the network got the go-ahead, the total cost would likely run into billions of pounds, and the UK has already spend around £1.2 billion on helping to fund the Galileo project with its EU partners.
Discussions over whether the UK can remain part of the Galileo initiative are ongoing, but the government obviously wants some sort of backup plan just in case. As with everything else Brexit-related, it's all up in the air for the time being.
Getting from A to B
Connect to a GPS network in the UK today and you're actually using a US network. European countries are keen to get their own network of satellites operational though, rather than relying on a service owned and provided by the US.
That's a reminder that GPS is about more than getting from A to B on your daily commute – it's essential for military operations, whether it's locating soldiers in the field or accurately targeting weapons. With that in mind it's not surprising that governments don't want to rely on satellites provided by other countries.
"If Galileo no longer meets our security requirements and UK industry cannot compete on a fair basis, it is logical to look at alternatives," the UK Business Secretary Greg Clark told the BBC back in April – but for now this is just a feasibility study.
Header image: ESA
source http://www.techradar.com/news/uk-government-sets-aside-funding-for-its-own-gps-network
TechLife's October 2018 issue is out now!
[Keep up to date with all things TechLife by signing up for our newsletter!]
From lounge room to office to the great outdoors, we reveal the tech that can change your life in the October issue of TechLife!
Plus, don't believe everything you hear: we bust 10 technology myths that plague our world.
And then, find out how to turn an old PC into a gaming rig for under $300!
Our expert team is also on hand with the latest guides – this month, we explain how to:
- Boost your iPhone, iPad and Mac's battery life
- Automate smart home devices with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant
- Take sharper photos
- Boost your productivity in Windows
- And lots more!
Grab your copy from newsagents, selected supermarkets or digitally via the Google Play Store or Apple Newsstand from Monday, August 27, 2018.
Readers can also find our selection of exclusive software downloads here, as well as the essential tutorial files so you can work along with our how-to guides at home.
Subscribe to the print edition and save!
Subscribe to the print edition of TechLife and you'll enjoy a greatly-reduced cover price plus delivery directly to your door. Visit Techmags for full details:
Get the digital edition for your tablet
Alternatively, to grab a digital edition to read on your iOS or Android device, follow these links to the Apple Newsstand or Google Play Store:
source http://www.techradar.com/news/world-of-tech/techlife-magazine-1292212
Sunday 26 August 2018
What is digital transformation?
Digital transformation refers to the incorporation of digital technology across all areas of a business, changing how the business operates. This is a powerful concept, which businesses that want to be on the cutting edge embrace, and it's increasingly essential as the Constellation Research 2017 Digital Transformation Study indicates that “64% of organizations recognize digital transformation as essential to driving profits.”
While the need for digital transformation is clearly present, with so many different types of businesses, the process of digital transformation will be quite unique at each organization.
Changing company culture
Realize that digital transformation is more than just handing out smartphones to employees. Rather, it requires a change in culture at an organization, at all levels from the CEO down to the rank and file employees, and across all departments to successfully implement; this requires employee and manager buy-in throughout the process.
Digital transformation goes beyond simply injecting some digital into the business model. For example, adding a digital app, changing to a digital phone system, or choosing a business analytics vendor are really extensions and optimizations of existing services, while transformation goes more fundamentally to the heart of the organization that digital transformation is referring to. It is rather referring to new revenue streams in the digital space, such as new ventures with spinoff companies, or the creation of new digital units, in some cases into a totally new industry.
Given the difficulties of such transformational change, it would follow that many organizations struggle with this, and only a minority of them actually can transition to this ‘digital culture.’
Digital trends
Under this umbrella of digital transformation, are the digital trends that businesses are gravitating towards. There are several, and most businesses do not have the need implement them all simultaneously, but current trends include:
- Business analytics - Business intelligence tools are able to spot trends in the data to give businesses a competitive edge. Implementation is high, and poised to be be deployed at a majority of businesses.
- Fog computing - With the recent push to the cloud computing model over the last few years, fog computing is an attempt to bring analytic computing power to the edge of the network. This allows for more efficient use of the network, and the ability to spot data trends sooner.
- Business blockchain - This is an emerging area, that takes the value of the blockchain that powers today’s cryptocurrency, namely a distributed digital ledger that is simultaneously transparent and immutable, and applies it to storing critical data across a variety of diverse industries.
- Augmented reality - Virtual reality for business applications has become passé, with its steep hardware requirements, and complexities. Rather, augmented reality has less of a barrier to entry, while still offering endless possibilities, from training, to selling new products, and gaming applications.
- AI - Artificial intelligence allows computers to update their algorithms to include new data on their own. Businesses are now using this technology for a variety of applications from virtual chatbots for customer service interactions, to autonomous driving and curated music streaming.
- DevOps - This is the unified approach to software development and the implementation of its operation, along with a dash of quality and security for good measure. DevOps is the modern approach to developing software, but requires a healthy dose of cultural change as well to be successful.
- Cloud everywhere - While the query used to be if your business requires a public cloud provider, now the question to be asked is how many cloud providers are needed, and the answer increasingly is more than one with a multicloud solution.
- IoT - The Internet of Things continues to promise a larger and more powerful ecosystem of data generating sensors and devices. Businesses should be poised to take advantage of IoT-enabled commerce that offers improved ways to manage product replenishment subscription services for consumables monitoring when the next order is actually needed, such as for a spent inkjet cartridge or dishwashing soap for a connected dishwasher.
- 5G - Mobile networks have already changed the world, offering constant connectivity to folks on the move. Next generation 5G mobile networks, due to arrive over the next year or two, promise wireless Gigabit connectivity that could be disruptive with Gigabit speeds combined with mobile technology that can compete with wired broadband, and plans already underway to stream live TV over a 5G connection.
Digital transformation in action
An example of digital transformation can be found with the Renault Group in the auto industry. They worked with Accenture to address the issue that customers purchase an automobile, and then sever ties with the dealership, only to return when problems develop on their car. In order to increase customer engagement, they connected their vehicle software which incorporates the car’s data, to a customer’s smartphone app through mobile networking.
This allowed the Renault Group, via the vehicle, to remain connected continuously to their customer throughout the car’s lifecycle. This incorporates several elements of digital transformation, including business analytics, IoT, artificial intelligence, mobile networking and cloud computing, all at the same time.
The result is that this app now allows vehicle owners to keep their completed maintenance logs via their smartphone app. It also facilitates them to book new appointments by tracking the next scheduled service, and an integrated dealer locator makes it simpler to find the closest dealership when traveling from home.
There is also a remote dashboard that alerts for safety and efficiency issues, which provides alerts to the driver for important issues, such as low tire pressure, and can also assist with scheduling a dealer visit, which again increases customer engagement and can also potentially increase revenue. This mobile app vehicle connectivity is currently available in fourteen countries where Renault sells automobiles, with the plan to bring it everywhere that Renault does business.
This digital transformation is also planned for Renault to use this expanding database of vehicle information to target additional higher profit aftersales, and more connected services. It provides an excellent foundation for even more growth, and opportunities for a better social media presence, while the potential for customer retention via more frequent and higher quality engagement.
- We also discuss private cloud in greater detail here
source http://www.techradar.com/how-to/what-is-digital-transformation
Thursday 23 August 2018
Pro gamers defeat Elon Musk’s AI Bots in Dota 2
At the International Dota 2 Championships in Vancouver, Canada, a group of artificial intelligence bots played against human team paiN and lost, showing that human players – at least at professional level – still have the edge over computer players.
OpenAI is a research institute that was cofounded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and it aims to create human-level artificial intelligence.
At a warm up match earlier in the month, the bots managed to defeat a human team. However, in the latest game OpenAI’s bots managed more kills than paiN, but they were unable to apply strategies and squandered opportunities, giving the human team a win.
As Wired reports, Mike Cook, a games an AI researcher at the University of Falmouth, UK, tweeted what he thought were the flaws in the bot's game.
Using games to test AI
Pitting artificial intelligence against human players in sports and games has a long history. Deep Blue, a chess-playing computer developed by IBM, was the first computer chess-playing system to win a chess game and match against a human world champion in 1996.
OpenAI chose the popular competitive Dota 2 game because it is mathematically more complex than chess, and there are various rules and strategies that players must master to win games.
While technical playing wasn't a problem for the AI’s machine learning, when it comes to producing and changing strategies on the fly, the AI faltered – especially when it came to long term plans.
According to Susan Zhang, a software engineer who worked on OpenAI’s Dota project, “They simply don't have any mechanism to ‘plan’ for more than 14 minutes at a time…This definitely contributes to the lack of long term strategy.”
The researchers behind OpenAI aren’t too despondent over the recent loss, with the team telling Wired that it was confident its bots would beat a pro team soon.
The International Dota 2 Championships offer one of the largest cash prizes in epsorts, with a huge $25 million (£20 million, AU$35 million) up for grabs.
- What is AI? Everything you need to know
source http://www.techradar.com/news/pro-gamers-defeat-elon-musks-ai-bots-in-dota-2
Tuesday 21 August 2018
Google and IMAX halt work on cinema VR camera
From gaming to education, virtual reality promises much in the way of new immersive experiences, and with the likes of the HTC Vive Pro and Oculus Go, the hardware is more accessible and powerful than it's ever been before. However, those hoping for immersive VR cinematic experiences have today been dealt a blow.
Variety is reporting that the high-end VR camera that was in development between Google and giant-screen cinema company IMAX has ceased. IMAX states that it has "currently paused the development" of the 3D capture hardware.
Google declined to comment, but it's thought it pulled out of the project late last year, with a mention of a "final contractual payment" from IMAX to Google in a recent quarterly earnings call also pointing to that fact.
AR vs VR
The reasoning seems simple – like a growing portion of the tech industry, Google reportedly sees more value in investing in augmented reality systems. Able to tap into the many millions of Android phones already in people's pockets, technologies like ARCore are accessible without additional hardware, like headsets.
Google still has an interest in 3D filming, having brought in staff from Lytro before it too fell away.
However, virtual reality is increasingly looking like a niche (if fiercely interesting) tech area with a small, slowly growing hardcore fanbase. There may not be enough potential to inspire a cinema revolution, but live events like the Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire experience shows that incredibly cinematic experiences can still be delivered in VR – with or without a new wave of video capture hardware.
- Want to try VR at home? These are the best VR headsets
source http://www.techradar.com/news/google-and-imax-halt-work-in-cinema-vr-camera
Monday 20 August 2018
Australian decryption laws expose users to cyberattack, says tech industry body
It was back in July 2017 when Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the government’s intention to introduce new legislation that would “oblige” tech companies to help decrypt private communications in the name of national security.
The Federal government has now released a draft of the Assistance and Access Bill 2018, which, when passed into law, will force tech giants like Facebook, Google, Apple and Twitter to offer a degree of cooperation in accessing devices or messages on encrypted platforms.
A private industry body called The Digital Industry Group Inc (DIGI), representing the tech giants, has voiced its concerns over the draft bill in a statement on Monday, saying the government’s claim that the companies would not have to build backdoors into their products is false.
According to DIGI, allowing law enforcement authorities access to private messages would open a can of worms which could potentially expose users’ data to hacking.
Read more: Encrypted direct messages may be coming to Twitter
Opening Pandora’s box
The Bill gives Australia’s Attorney-General the authority to permit law enforcement agencies like the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) to intercept private messages, but DIGI says the companies can’t be asked to “implement or build a system weakness, or a systematic vulnerability, into a form of electronic protection”.
DIGI’s managing director, Nicole Buskiewicz, has said that protecting the users should be the government’s and the industry’s top priority, including “protecting the public’s privacy and data from attack” which “would likely be an unintentional consequence of the bill”.
“The reality is that creating security vulnerabilities, even if they are built to combat crime, leaves us all open to attack from criminals,” she added. “This could have devastating implications for individuals, businesses, public safety and the broader economy.”
The pros and cons
According to the Coalition government, more than 90% of private communications already being intercepted by the Australian Federal Police has some form of encryption, making the bill a necessity.
Australia’s law enforcement and cyber security minister Angus Taylor claims that encrypted messages have “directly impacted around 200 serious criminal and terrorism-related investigations in the last 12 months”, building a stronger case for the passing of the bill.
However, the Opposition is still looking into the pros and cons of the proposed amendment, while the Greens are opposing it in its entirety, saying it is “undermining the very principle of end-to-end encryption”.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/australian-decryption-laws-expose-users-to-cyberattack-says-tech-industry-body
Gatwick Airport hit by major IT outage
A major IT failure at Gatwick Airport is causing misery for thousands of holidaymakers.
The fault, which is affecting the digital screens at the airport's departure lounge, has left staff resorting to manually writing out flight information such as departure gates on whiteboards.
A spokesperson for the airport told the BBC that the screens, which show departure information for flights leaving Gatwick, had stopped working earlier this morning.
"Due to an ongoing issue with Vodafone – a provider of IT services for Gatwick – flight information is not being displayed correctly on the airport's digital screens and is currently being displayed manually in the terminals," they added.
"Gatwick would like to apologise to any passengers affected and expects Vodafone to resolve the issue as soon as possible."
Gatwick IT problems
The airport said that although thousands of travelers have been affected by the outage, no flights have been directly delayed, and only "a handful of people" had missed flights.
The outage stems from a fault with the screens, which are provided and operated by Vodafone. It said that a damaged fibre cable was to blame, and that the incident was "a top priority".
This comes just over a year after a major computer outage caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled at both Heathrow and Gatwick.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/gatwick-airport-hit-by-major-it-outage
Amazon wants to turn Homebase stores into new UK warehouses
Amazon is set to expand its UK property empire by snapping up a number of Homebase stores.
According to the Sunday Telegraph, the online retail giant is looking to acquire Homebase stores around the UK as it looks to extend its network of warehouses.
Homebase is currently undergoing a major overhaul that includes offloading 42 of its 241 UK stores as part of a company voluntary agreement (CVA) adopted by the chain's new owners Hilco.
The company is looking to close stores in order to cut costs after being acquired for £1 earlier this year, with up to 70 more stores potentially at risk.
Amazon UK deliveries
If completed, the Homebase sites, many of which are situated in urban locations in major towns and cities, could become "last mile" warehouses, allowing for quicker delivery times for items ordered from the site.
This could include superfast one-hour delivery times in areas such as Central London, with much of its stock currently stored in warehouses outside of cities.
The news comes shortly after it was claimed Amazon was looking to move into financial services as it looks to further its operations in new areas.
The move could lead to Amazon setting up a price comparison site where consumers could match offers on a variety of services such as home or car insurance.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/amazon-wants-to-turn-homebase-stores-into-new-uk-warehouses
Friday 17 August 2018
Cast your votes for the T3 Awards Gadget of the Year 2018!
It’s almost time for the 12th annual T3 Awards, and you can now cast your vote for one of the biggest prizes in tech: the Gadget of the Year 2018.
This year the T3 Awards - hosted by TechRadar's publishing company - are ditching the black ties and taking over London’s legendary Ministry of Sound on September 27. So, expect a night filled with performances from rock royalty, DJ sets, and of course a celebration of the best in tech this year.
Although most of the winners will be announced via Twitter, the following categories will be saved for the night itself: Gadget of the Year, Phone of the Year, Brand of the Year, Retailer of the Year, and Innovation of the Year, and the Tech Innovation for the Future Award (in Association with Honor).
Voting is open!
The latter is a very special prize, open to students and recent graduates, and the winner will be awarded the grand sum of £10,000.
The shortlist for Gadget of the Year includes favourites such as the Apple iPhone X, Oculus Go, Microsoft’s XBox One X, and many more fantastic releases from the last 12 months.
Don’t forget to vote!
source http://www.techradar.com/news/cast-your-votes-for-the-t3-awards-gadget-of-the-year-2018
Thursday 16 August 2018
eBay Australia’s having one of its 20% off tech sales; here are our picks
eBay doesn’t wait for those big annual sales to offer cheap bargains on tech. In fact, it’s easy to find a great deal on the online auction site every so often, thanks to eBay Australia’s regular 20% off sales.
You can find bargains on a variety of products, ranging from fashion to alcohol, power tools to toys.
It’s a great incentive for shoppers to keep coming back to the site to find what they’re looking for and snag some savings while they’re at it.
This time, however, the sale is on tech and it’s rather limited, with only a handful of sellers on board. Yet, there are some excellent bargains to be had and we jump hook, line and sinker into it to fish out the best deals. Just be sure to use the checkout code PHASER so you don’t miss out on the savings. The sale ends August 20.
- Looking for more bargains? We dig through Amazon Australia as well to get you best deals each week.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/ebay-australias-having-one-of-its-20-off-tech-sales-here-are-our-picks
Parents beware: your kids can now feel peer pressure from robots
Everyone’s fallen victim to peer pressure at some point in their life, but German researchers have identified a uniquely modern twist on the phenomenon: children feeling subjected to peer pressure from robots.
Researchers at Bielefeld University replicated the ‘Asch Paradigm’, a series of tests developed by behavioral psychologist Solomon Asch to determine how people are affected by peer pressure in a group.
In the experiment, a group of subjects are shown a black line, and are given a choice of three other lines of different lengths. They’re then asked individually which of the three lines (1, 2, or 3) matches the original.
Fall in line
Actors placed in the group are instructed to pick the wrong line, despite the correct answer being obvious, which, Asch found, led to a number of participants being influenced by peer pressure to select the wrong answer.
In the new study, the actors were replaced by three robots – specifically, Softbank’s cutesy humanoid droid Nao. When the researchers compared the results of children and adults, they found that the children were far more likely than the adults to be influenced by the robots and select the incorrect answer.
Although the researchers were unsure why children went along with the robots more readily than adults, the results raise questions about robotic toys aimed at kids if the toys act erroneously or are hacked. For example, could kids be encouraged to buy accessories for their new toy without parental consent?
A growing concern
The Bielefeld University team has suggested that new regulations on robotic toys may be needed to address the issue. Speaking to Motherboard, lead researcher Anna-Lisa Vollmer said: “a regulatory framework for the social influence of robots, could for example, be similar to the one that is in place for advertisement”.
Robotic toys are growing in popularity, from AI powered droids like Anki’s Vector to the AR-enabled Mekamon fighting bot. Wi-Fi connected toys like Mattel’s Hello Barbie have previously come under scrutiny for security issues, and this latest research is unlikely to put parents’ minds at ease.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/parents-beware-your-kids-can-now-feel-peer-pressure-from-robots
Would you buy insurance through Amazon Prime? It could soon be offered
Amazon is looking into establishing a price comparison website for insurance plans, a new report states.
According to Reuters, the company is in talks with several insurance companies in the UK, with it thought that Amazon is looking to expand into the lucrative motor and home insurance policy market.
With Amazon already positioning itself as the go-to online retailer for many entertainment goods, and increasingly upping its presence in the home services market with its grocery sales and security products, insurance is a smart addition to the entire 'life through Amazon' package.
Financial competition
Though there are no immediate plans to launch the site, any such launch would put Amazon in competition with established players such as GoCompare and Compare the Market.
Comparison websites are one of the leading ways that insurers such as AXA and Hastings find their custom, and with Amazon's Prime membership base very loyal to the service it's likely it would prove popular for those that want to maintain all subscriptions under one umbrella.
Amazon, having already offered warranty extensions and co-branded credit cards, would in fact not be the first tech company to offer such insurance services. In 2016 Google ran a short-lived comparison service in the UK and US, but it lasted just a year due to a lack of consumer interest.
- Amazon Echo review: would you ask Alexa for an insurance policy?
source http://www.techradar.com/news/would-you-buy-insurance-through-amazon-prime-it-could-soon-be-offered
Wednesday 15 August 2018
What is the IoT? Everything you need to know
What is the IoT?
The world around us is getting smarter and more connected as technology becomes a common sight in many areas.
Digital devices are not just in our pockets or our offices, but increasingly in our homes, buildings, and many places and cities. Helping collect, analyse and monitor data and information about their surroundings, these devices are able to communicate with each other through the ‘Internet of Things’.
Often shortened to the IoT, this worldwide, interconnected network allows devices to talk to each other and to us, delivering reams of data through smarter processes that will greatly increase the quality of life around the world.
The Internet of Things is predicted to revolutionise the way in which we live our lives, with many industry experts tipping it to have the biggest technological impact since cloud computing, as more data than ever before can be collected, stored and analysed.
Many consumers are already enjoying the benefits of the IoT, as popular products such as the Amazon Echo smart speaker and the Nest thermostat from Google becoming common sights in homes around the world.
But the wider world can also benefit from the IoT, with businesses being able to streamline previously complex and data-hungry processes through improved automation, freeing up employees for other tasks.
Public sector organisations such as hospitals can also use sensors to monitor patients more effectively, and local governments can monitor pollution, traffic levels, weather data, and much much more.
The IoT is growing fast, and is set to affect more and more areas of our lives in the years to come, resulting in a smart world that previously was only imaginable in science fiction.
IoT - the latest news and views
06/08 - Why IBM is pushing to be the driving force in the IoT - The IoT and IBM could prove to be a match made in heaven...
03/08 - Qualcomm reveals major IoT push - Chipmaker unveils its plans to help power the global IoT..
18/07 - Vodafone expands IoT range for businesses - New surveillance and energy management tools bring IoT to more companies across the UK...
17/07 - Microsoft and GE team up for major IoT launch - Partnership will see major expansion of Industrial IoT from Azure and GE Digital...
13/06 - Vodafone: 5G smartphone uncertainty means focus on core network and IoT - Vodafone UK CTO says 5G will be a gamechanger, but smartphone innovation in the 4G era won't be matched...
04/06 - Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom test NB-IoT roaming - Two operators claim trial is massive step forward for cross-border IoT...
01/06 - LPWAN is the final piece in the mobile IoT puzzle - Vodafone's IoT business is focusing on services and partnerships rather than technology...
31/05 - GSMA: Mobile operators must change to grab $1.1tn IoT market - GSMA warns that just 5 per cent of IoT revenue will be found in connectivity, so mobile operators need to evolve...
17/05 - Mobile IoT networks to be a 'core component' of 5G - GSMA says NB-IoT and LTE-M deployments are paving the way for massive IoT powered by 5G...
08/05 - Nokia snaps up SpaceTime Insights to boost IoT drive - SpaceTime Insights acquisition allows Nokia to expand IoT work...
24/04 - Telcos exploring mixed approaches to IoT - Communications providers see the potential in IoT but are taking multiple paths, Ericsson report says...
23/03 - Operator partnerships could be the key to IoT success - O2 says it wants to do more than just dish out SIMs and connectivity...
22/03 - IoT security spend to reach £1bn in 2018 - Gartner figures suggests increased awareness of threats is boosting spend...
07/03 - New internet of things security code aims to stamp out Mirai and other threats - The government is taking action on IoT security...
22/12 - Why 2018 could be a decisive year for IoT - Major report highlights struggle between competing technologies over the next year...
source http://www.techradar.com/news/what-is-the-iot-everything-you-need-to-know
Tuesday 14 August 2018
Amazon Australia opens the doors of its massive Sydney warehouse
It was only in May that Amazon Australia began work on its second fulfilment centre in Sydney’s south-western suburb of Moorebank. Within months, the warehouse has become operational and officially opened its doors for business.
With 43,000 square metres of indoor space, the Sydney fulfilment centre is nearly twice the size of the one in Melbourne, making it easier for the online marketplace to keep its promise of fast delivery times, especially for Amazon Prime members.
The large space also makes room for a wider product range, allowing “thousands of small and medium-sized Australian businesses” to use Amazon’s fulfilment program “to more easily access customers across the country”.
"This is an exciting milestone for Amazon in Australia,” said Robert Bruce, Amazon’s Director of Operations. He added that "the Sydney facility in Moorebank will help Amazon ensure that customers enjoy fast and reliable delivery across more areas of the country," and "builds on the capabilities of our first fulfilment centre in Dandenong South in Victoria, and expands our ability to service the growing customer demand".
Stiff competition
Given Amazon’s popularity in other international markets, retailers and online marketplaces in Australia needed to step up their game if they wanted to be able to compete with Amazon.
In a bid to compete with Amazon, online auction site eBay recently launched its eBay Plus subscription service in Australia, which provides subscribers with free shipping and returns on eligible products.
It’s similar to Amazon Prime, which is priced very aggressively in Australia at just $59 a year, half the cost than the US service. eBay Plus – which is available in only Germany and Australia at the moment – has an annual fee of $49. However, Amazon’s Prime service comes with other perks, like free access to Prime Video and Prime Reading.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/amazon-australia-opens-the-doors-of-its-massive-sydney-warehouse
DARPA is hosting an Olympic Games for bug-sized robots
DARPA is well known for big, expensive and frankly terrifying robots like Big Dog, but for its latest project it's thinking much smaller. The agency has announced a new program called SHRIMP (SHort-Range Independent Microrobotic Platforms), to create a new generation of micro-robots small enough to fit on a fingertip.
Big Dog can pick its way across uneven terrain in combat zones and disaster areas, but its size means there are some areas it simply can't pass. An insect-sized robot could scurry through rubble and obstacles unhindered – provided the technology can be made small enough.
Building a better bug
DARPA is challenging teams of researchers to create and demonstrate tiny robots capable of carrying out complex tasks in the field, striking a tricky balance of size, power and dexterity.
Each team's tiny bots will be put through an "Olympic-style evaluation" that will test maneuverability (on flat surfaces and slopes), speed, and load-carrying ability.
“While the goal of SHRIMP is develop small-scale, independent robotics platforms, we anticipate that discoveries made through our actuator and power storage research could prove beneficial to a number of fields currently constrained by these technical challenges – from prosthetics to optical steering," said DARPA program manager Dr Ronald Polcawich.
Via ZDNet
source http://www.techradar.com/news/darpa-is-hosting-an-olympic-games-for-bug-sized-robots
FDA approves app as a form of birth control
There have never been so many choices when it comes to birth control, and now the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a ‘digital contraceptive’ for the first time.
Natural Cycles is a fertility-tracking app for women, which uses algorithms to calculate the days of the month on which the user is most fertile, and therefore should not have unprotected sex should they wish to avoid getting pregnant.
Using data like daily body temperature and monthly menstrual cycle tracking, the app is said to have a fail rate of nearly 2% for “perfect use”, and a fail rate of 6% for “typical use”, not unlike barrier methods and the pill.
Unplanned pregnancies
Natural Cycles has been approved as a contraceptive method since 2017 in the European Union, but it’s taken a little longer for the US to get on board, which may be due to concerns about the app’s effectiveness as a means of avoiding unwanted pregnancies.
One Stockholm hospital launched an investigation into the app following 37 unplanned pregnancies in women who were using it.
Despite this, the popularity of digital contraceptives has skyrocketed as women look for alternatives to hormonal methods like the pill, which often causes unpleasant side-effects like weight gain, mood swings and migraines.
The rhythm method
Although it’s not known whether our ancestors understood the link between fertility and the menstrual cycle, the rhythm method of contraception is one of the oldest, and was particularly popular amongst Catholics in the early 1900s, for whom barrier contraceptives were forbidden.
With 600,000 active users, the popularity of Natural Cycles is part of a wider trend for digital health monitoring, with heart trackers, exercise apps and meditation apps making up some of the 3.7 billion that were downloaded in 2017.
source http://www.techradar.com/news/fda-approves-app-as-a-form-of-birth-control