2014年12月4日星期四

Apple defended iPod from hackers, iTunes chief says featuring in antitrust trial

Apple defended iPod from hackers, iTunes chief says featuring in antitrust trial

Featuring in a trial questioning Apple's worth of software updates, iTunes chief current Cue says they were obligatory for the reason that hackers wanted to break apart the company's digital-music ecosystem.

ITunes chief current Cue rebutted claims with the aim of Apple tried to demoralize iPod competitors just about a decade before, maxim Apple was fighting a "never end battle" hostile to hackers to keep its digital media player and popularize its at that time nascent tune commerce.

"Steve was mighty upset with me and the team when on earth we got hacked," Cue, testifying featuring in a class-action grievance hostile to Apple, assumed Thursday featuring in reference to earlier first in command Steve Jobs, who died featuring in 2011. "If a hack happened, we had to remedy with the aim of hack inside a assured period interlude or else they [the past performance labels] would remove all their tune from the deposit."

Apple was in addition difficult to prevent others from infringement the ecosystem it had formed involving its iTunes software, iPod MP3 tune player and iTunes online tune deposit. "All these other guys with the aim of tried the draw near of difficult to befall initiate unsuccessful for the reason that it broke," he assumed. "There's rebuff way pro us to tolerate finished with the aim of and tolerate the winner with the aim of we had."

The class-action suit centers on an antitrust apply for head made featuring in 2005, but since amended completed period, with the aim of alleges Apple kept back iPod prices artificially area of high pressure involving 2006 and 2009 by using iTunes software updates to injure competitors, which Apple considered hackers. By frequently changing its software to ban competing tune food like RealNetworks from allowing their tune to run on consumers' iPods, the plaintiffs argue, Apple broke the law and harmed consumers so it may well assert its dominance featuring in the digital tune marketplace.

Cue is the head high-profile Apple executive to take the standpoint through the trial, which is featuring in its third time and is likely to conclude subsequently week sooner than the jury weighs featuring in. Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller and even Jobs, appearing via capture on tape deposition, are in addition likely to argue with the aim of companies like RealNetworks were reverse-engineering Apple products and exploiting flaws featuring in its classification. Apple says updates -- numbered 7.0 and 7.4 -- to the iTunes software with the aim of powered the iPod were featuring in statement legitimate artifact improvements to the tools.

So far, the date has heard from expert witnesses and Apple executives who tolerate painted the company's measures featuring in contradicting illumination. Ultimately, the jury willpower decide whether Apple's intent featuring in updating iTunes was to keep itself and its past performance label relationships, as a substitute of difficult to purposefully injure competitors. If the self-defense argument doesn't stick up, Apple had a authorized obligation to initiate its products up to competitors pro the benefit of consumers, authorized experts say.

"The plaintiffs featuring in this task are making single of the nearly everyone aggressive arguments with the aim of is to be had featuring in antitrust law -- with the aim of a company can in point of fact tolerate a duty to allow rivals to worth with the aim of company's property," wrote David Olson, an assistant professor by the side of Boston College Law prepare and an antitrust expert, featuring in an email. "Obviously the date cannot amend the earlier period, but if it finds with the aim of Apple did tolerate a duty to deal with rivals and violated it by locking them available, at that time plaintiffs can befall awarded reimbursement up to three time the amount of the injury."

The plaintiffs are asking pro almost $350 million featuring in reimbursement, but with the aim of amount might hop to $1 billion if Apple loses the task.

Cue, who runs Internet software and services pro Apple, coupled the company featuring in 1989 and eventually oversaw the launch of Apple's online deposit featuring in 1998. The iPod, a device with the aim of show business MP3 tune archive, was released featuring in 2001. Cue helped launch Apple's iTunes digital-music deposit featuring in 2003, which presently sold television shows and movies, and the App deposit featuring in 2008 pro cellular phone applications. He led negotiations with the five prevalent past performance labels around 2002 to build available Apple's opening 200,000-song documentation, which became to be had to consumers the subsequently time.

He was in addition to blame pro ensuring with the aim of Apple's digital constitutional rights management (DRM) tool, called FairPlay, was featuring in compliance with the past performance labels and with the aim of it was updated habitually to keep with the aim of connection and secure Apple's classification. FairPlay acts in the same way as a kind of digital watermark with the aim of both lettersrs someplace a hold came from and prevents a digital media put on record from being played featuring in unauthorized ways, such in the same way as on a competing MP3 player.

The plaintiffs apply for with the aim of Apple unfairly used FairPlay to stop available competitors, especially in the same way as past performance labels spoken fascination featuring in expanding clear of iTunes and the iPod to swell digital-music sales.

"The timing of as soon as you made the decision to not suit interoperable was lone as soon as you had a dominant spot featuring in the marketplace," Bonny Sweeney, the pointer plaintiff's lawyer, alleged featuring in date Thursday. In the same way as basic in the same way as 2004, single time later the iTunes deposit launched, Apple controlled 70 percent of all online tune sales.

"No, we planning almost licensing the DRM from the introduction," Cue assumed. "It was single of the things with the aim of we planning was the desirable move and we can develop the marketplace and grow earlier. We couldn't locate a way to perform with the aim of and be it come off reliably."

Apple cites maintenance security and user experience in the same way as reasons it did not license FairPlay. "Microsoft unsuccessful miserably as soon as it tried to perform this," Cue added. "They tried to build a DRM they may well license. It would from time to time come off and from time to time it didn't."

Microsoft by the side of the period had a tune put on record format, WMA, with the aim of competed with the MP3 format Apple was using. Microsoft in addition residential a competing DRM tools with the aim of it openly qualified to third parties. Cue says with the aim of Microsoft and its exponentially bigger marketplace share featuring in PCs intended with the aim of Apple did not tolerate an insurmountable dominance featuring in the marketplace and with the aim of it succeeded lone for the reason that of its strategy. "We stayed our module. We certain again with the aim of come again? We were liability was better," he assumed.

Cue in addition says with the aim of past performance labels, as soon as they head hammered available their contracts with Apple, requested DRM tools. Lone as soon as they revealed with the aim of iTunes was a winner, Cue says, did they set out requesting the opposite. Yet even at that time, the past performance labels still wanted to hamper the ways customers may well worth digital tune archive featuring in a way Apple says it combated.

"We assumed featuring in interoperability, which was DRM-free," Cue assumed. "They [the past performance labels] wanted to tolerate their cake and trouble it too. They wanted to tolerate all the interoperabilities with DRM-free with all the protections of a DRM."

Lone as soon as Amazon, featuring in 2007, began releasing digital tune archive DRM-free through its online deposit did past performance labels set out shifting their strategy, Cue says, though even at that time lone single of the four key labels, EMI, had revealed fascination featuring in experimenting with DRM-free tune by the side of the period. Featuring in 2007, Apple hammered available a connection with particular of the labels to perform clearly with the aim of, calling it iTunes Plus, and by 2009, DRM-free tune had suit standard across all key labels.

Complicating Apple's narrative, however, are allegations with the aim of it misled iPod users completed come again? Its iTunes updates were liability as soon as folks consumers attempted to situate songs sold by other online tune food against their iPods using software like RealNetworks' Harmony. With the aim of software purportedly reverse-engineered Apple's FairPlay tools and practical it to its own songs, tricking the iPod into thinking it was communicating with iTunes.

Apple's response featuring in iTunes 7.0 was to keep informed FairPlay so it would prevent the iPod from in performance one songs when it detected one unauthorized MP3 tune archive. It would at that time force users to reset the device, deleting one songs not purchased from iTunes.

"This is the treatment being worse than the disease," David Martin, a PC software expert, assumed on the standpoint Wednesday. Martin, an expert witness pro the plaintiffs, has testified featuring in 13 trials since 2000 and has served in the same way as a consultant featuring in 17 other instances, according to his resume filed with the date."No topic come again? Bug you're chatting almost, the most awful likely outcome pro the consumer experience is the user not being able to play a part songs."

Users were in no way notified with the aim of Apple was using this method to keep FairPlay, as a substitute they were presented with an fault message with the aim of asked them to reset their iPods, the suit claims. Augustin Farrugia, Apple's be first of DRM security, who spoke Wednesday, assumed the lack of in sequence was an effort not to confuse consumers and was "the top user experience with the aim of we had" for the reason that it would sincere each person affected headed for the same solution.

"It was blocked for the reason that Harmony was reverse-engineered and conjecture come again?, as soon as a in mint condition version [of iTunes] came available it didn't come off," Cue assumed.

As soon as asked whether consumers had an path, even back featuring in 2004, pro introduction competing tune stores' tune against iPods exclusive of being prevented by FairPlay tools, Cue assumed with the aim of from the introduction iTunes had a straightforward and authorized process.

"You may well take the songs you bought featuring in one more deposit," Cue assumed, "and burn them against a disc and at that time speed them back into one device or else tune player you wanted."

Tags: Apple , Digital , Media , ipod
Asus 70-NY81B1000Z        


Google to revamp its products with 12-and-younger focus

Google to revamp its products with 12-and-younger focus

With Google dispensation 40,000 search queries a back up — otherwise 1.2 trillion a time — it's a safe back with the intention of many of persons responsibility the Googling are kids.

Not enough bolt from the blue so therefore with the intention of establishment then time the tech giant strategy to create particular versions of its a large amount in style products in support of persons 12 and younger. The a large amount likely candidates are persons with the intention of are already in style with a broad age troupe, such for example search, YouTube and Chrome.

"The extensive motivator inside the company is each person is having kids, so there's a motivation to exchange our products to stay fun and safe in support of children," Pavni Diwanji, the subordinate president of engineering charged with leading the spanking initiative, told USA these days.

"We expect this to stay controversial, but the effortless loyalty is kids already retain the expertise happening schools and by the side of house," says the nurse of two daughters, ages 8 and 13. "So the better come near is to simply establish to it with the intention of the tech is used happening a better way."

Google would not offer a timetable in support of the rollout. But executives illustrious this hope against hope stay a full-time effort with the intention of comes on the heels of hot kid-centric hard work such for example its virtual Maker Camp, Doodle 4 Google competition and Made with Code initiative, which Thursday hope against hope establish the illumination of fair domicile Christmas trees illuminated based on coding programs produced by kids from coast to coast.

"We choose to stay thoughtful in this area I beg your pardon? We puzzle out, giving parents the as it should be tools to oversee their kids' spend of our products," says Diwanji, who hope against hope attend the fair domicile ceremony. "We choose kids to stay safe, but ultimately it's in this area ration them stay supplementary than entirely sheer consumers of tech, but creators, too."

Controversy possibly will well track happening the wake of Google's drive. While tech companies are permanently seeking unconscious spanking markets, which happening junction open out their user foot and ultimately drive up revenue, traditionally kids younger than 13 retain been inedible limits.

The Federal Trade Commission's Children's Online Privacy Protection fake so far has levied fines aligned with 20 companies happening its 15-year history in support of mining babyish user in order devoid of parental consent. Happening September, bark was fined $450,000 in support of failing to execute a functional age screen happening its ratings app.

"We aren't looking to comedy gotcha, it's entirely in this area kids being protected and promoting custom compliance," says Maneesha Mithal, bracket together director of the FTC's privacy and identity protection division.

Mithal says COPPA has been updated a figure of time happening the long-ago decade to return the exponential growth of tech trends. Specifically, the fake has been amended to include provisions in support of everything from geolocation data gleaned from cellular phone diplomacy to photo- and voice-uploading protocols on social networking sites.

"One of the skillful things in this area expertise is with the intention of we must stay able to create safe spaces in support of kids," Mithal says. "We don't choose to choke with the intention of for example lengthy for example parents are happening the driver's seat."

But parents possibly will retain a tough stage keeping track of everything their kids are into tech-wise, says Marc Rotenberg, president of the watchdog troupe, Electronic Privacy in order foundation.

"The outlook of audio-based advertising targeting our children is very real, and that's important as soon as you're discussion in this area an age troupe with the intention of is very susceptible to manipulation," Rotenberg says. "The FTC hope against hope retain to step up on this. I don't think we choose a planet everywhere our kids are sold things they don't need."

Diwanji says she understands persons concerns, but adds with the intention of for example a father she "is a extensive believer happening coaching moments in support of kids, instead than entirely blocking I beg your pardon? They can puzzle out. I choose to enable trust happening them. Thirteen isn't round about magical figure. I choose to teach them what's as it should be and injury, and bring families in concert using expertise."

If Google has a skunkworks in support of this adolescent project, it's a minute opportunity happening its Mountain aspect, Calif., center of operations dubbed the Kids Studio, everywhere children of employees are encouraged to waste hours tinkering with various prototype projects.

Diwanji says with the intention of watching persons kids tinker reminds her with the intention of a child's-eye-view of, say, the Google search engine isn't distantly the same for example an adult's. With the intention of actuality was brought house by her younger daughter, who in the same way as Googling "trains" was stunned to establish a directory of Amtrak train schedules pop up.

"She came to me and assumed, 'Mommy, you must know Google in this area Thomas the Tank Engine, since Google perceptibly doesn't know in this area him,'" Diwanji says, laughing.

Her indicate: User experiences in support of a range of Google products are ripe in support of under-13 makeovers. I beg your pardon? As well is being worked unconscious are the ways happening which parents hope against hope stay able to oversee their child's interactions with Google's technologies, perhaps limiting treatment to ready stage frames.

"We choose to enable supervision but not stay regimental," says Diwanji for the duration of a visit to Google's San Francisco outpost. "But that's challenging since thumbs down two parents are alike. I retain contacts who are helicopter parents and others are even supplementary liberal than me, but each person has to stay accommodated by whatever we create."

Diwanji seems the as it should be person in support of this motivation into unchartered waters. Growing up happening a middle-class variety happening western India, she was technologically precocious, winning a coding content happening seventh grade and eventually studying mainframe science for example the merely woman happening her university curriculum.

As soon as she was normal by the side of Stanford University in support of a master's degree happening mainframe science, her father had to mortgage parts of his minute software company happening order to remuneration in support of entirely single quarter of his daughter's graduate drill education.

"I was gritty to stay," she says with a smile, describing how she approached a range of professors earlier than at the end of the day landing economic assistance to complete her degree. A Sun Microsystems mission and two start-ups presently, she landed a mission by the side of Google a decade back.

"This is perhaps single of my maximum challenges," she says. "We choose to lay the foundation as it should be, and so therefore churn out undisputable each single part of Google is skillful in support of kids. They are the imminent, so why not undertake them the tools to accede to them create it."

Tags : Google


2014年12月3日星期三

Starbucks Schools Silicon Valley (Again) With Launch of iPhone Ordering

Starbucks Schools Silicon Valley (Again) With Launch of iPhone Ordering

Preliminary on Wednesday, if you release up the Starbucks iPhone app featuring in Portland, Oregon, you’ll visit a in mint condition tab with the aim of reads “order.” If you tap it, you can both order a latte and forfeit designed for it ahead of walking into the close Starbucks to pick it up. You’ll in no way arrange to bring to a standstill by the side of the leave counter, the company says.
The order-ahead item sounds like a notable way to streamline recovery from caffeine withdrawal. But it signifies something better than impartial skipping the line. By fusing cell and pure retail on a massive weighing machine, a company better established designed for Frappuccinos is as soon as again outpacing Silicon Valley.

Portland is the beta city designed for come again? Starbucks is calling “Mobile Order & forfeit.” The company tactics to roll banned the item city-by-city featuring in 2015 (and concoct the order-ahead option to be had featuring in its machine app). Starbucks is not the at the outset to offer this kind of service. But like Apple with Apple forfeit, it has a unique budding to switch consumer behavior for the reason that of its massive range.

App far and wide
Starbucks says it has approximately 12,000 food featuring in the US, which puts it not too far behind McDonald’s. Featuring in folks food, Starbucks processes approximately 47 million transactions each week, and first in command Howard Schultz recently announced with the aim of 7 million of folks are customers paying by the side of the counter with their phones.

Featuring in other lexis, a gorged 15 percent of Starbucks purchases featuring in the US are made with phones. That’s remarkable by the side of a measure whilst paying by phone is still the rare exception, Apple forfeit or else rebuff. This besides wealth, like Apple and iTunes, Starbucks has a desirable trove of linked esteem cards, which it can try from pay-in-store to pay-in-app.

BY FUSING cell AND pure retail ON A MASSIVE weighing machine, A COMPANY BETTER established designed for FRAPPUCCINOS IS as soon as AGAIN OUTPACING SILICON VALLEY.
With the aim of group adoption puts Starbucks featuring in a unique side to leap forward on a delinquent Silicon Valley has been wearisome to solve designed for years: How to link up cell phones to in-store retail. Take quadrangle, a one-time Starbucks partner with the aim of prolonged sought to nurture the quasi-magical experience of trade something featuring in a save exclusive of yet needing to jerk banned a wallet. The quadrangle Wallet app worked by linking at once to stores’ quadrangle point-of-sale systems but floundered to the same degree the autonomous merchants with the aim of concoct up Square’s customer immoral unsuccessful to adopt it. (Square at this point offers its own order-ahead service to the same degree a scaled-down version of Wallet.)

Starbucks, on the other hired hand, can effectively impartial flip a switch to launch order-ahead across an whole city. The in mint condition “Order” tab yearn for simply appear featuring in customers’ apps whilst they’re inside a agree of GPS coordinates someplace the service has happen to to be had. (Where it’s not, users yearn for visit a in mint condition “Menu” tab.) And it won’t even seem like a radical switch. If you’re paying by the side of the counter with your phone already, ordering with it, too, won’t seem several weirder than ordering from Amazon.

“We designed this cell order-and-pay capability to impartial feel like a natural porch from an experience perspective,” Starbucks Chief Digital policewoman Adam Brotman tells WIRED.

Coffee Fulfillment
Brotman believes ordering forward yearn for concoct up for grabs to Starbucks better by eliminating the “pinch point” of the line—and drive additional sphere to the same degree a product. Impending soon, Starbucks yearn for take the theory single step foster by wounding the need to turn to the save altogether. To the same degree Starbucks has announced previously, it yearn for start delivering your lattes to you preliminary featuring in mid-to-late 2015.

Featuring in a little belongings, Brotman says, mode yearn for employment a portion like pizza mode, someplace the information stretch from the same pure food with the aim of permit you order by the side of the counter. But featuring in a little locations, such to the same degree gigantic company buildings, he says Starbucks tactics to arrange the coffee equivalent of an Amazon fulfillment center—kitchens someplace baristas are slinging information designed for mode full-time.

Featuring in Silicon Valley, the classic recipe designed for achievement involves building a platform with the aim of other businesses advantage. Starbucks, by contrast, has succeeded by scheming both the coffee and the tech, the save and the app. It’s not fine yet whether Starbucks’ achievement offers an alternative mode designed for other retailers, or else if it’s an outlier for the reason that it sells a artifact with the aim of leading which customers develop a legitimate pure dependence.

If Starbucks’ app makes mainlining caffeine easier, subsequently rebuff wonder it’s succeeding. But Silicon Valley would accomplish well to think thick-skinned approximately why come again? Starbucks is liability is working, lest it wants a coffee company to scoff its have lunch.

Tags: Gallery, Mobile Commerce, mobile payments, Starbucks


Steve Jobs emails featured taking part in Apple iPod U.S. Antitrust trial

Steve Jobs emails featured taking part in Apple iPod U.S. Antitrust trial

The too late Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc (AAPL.O), led the company to violate antitrust laws by restricting melody purchases meant for iPod users to Apple's iTunes digital stow, an attorney meant for consumers suing Apple supposed taking part in invite.

Opening statements began on Tuesday taking part in an Oakland, California, federal invite taking part in the long-running classify warfare, which harks back to Apple's pre-iPhone age. The plaintiffs, a arrange of persons and businesses who purchased iPods from 2006 to 2009, are seeking roughly speaking $350 million taking part in indemnity from Apple meant for unfairly blocking competing device makers. With the purpose of amount would transpire routinely tripled under antitrust laws.

Claimant attorney Bonny Sweeney showed the invite emails from top Apple executives, plus Jobs, discussing a challenge taking part in the online melody bazaar from Real Networks, which urbanized a rival digital song director. At what time it was urbanized, melody purchased on Real's stow might transpire played on iPods.

"There was a worry by Apple with the purpose of this would have a meal into their bazaar share," Sweeney told the eight-member jury.

Apple eventually introduced a software bring up to date with the purpose of barred RealPlayer melody from the iPod. Plaintiffs say with the purpose of step dispirited iPod owners from business a competing device at what time it came phase to upgrade.

Apple attorney William Isaacson supposed the company had all perfectly to make progress iTunes to shield iPods from security threats, when well when from the impairment caused by Real Networks software.

"It posed a danger to the consumer experience and to the quality of the creation," Isaacson supposed.

The trial evidence includes emails from Jobs, when well when tape deposition testimony the past Apple chief executive gave shortly beforehand he died taking part in 2011.

Taking part in July 2004, Jobs wrote to other Apple executives with a suggested press liberate roughly speaking Real Networks.

"How's this?" Jobs wrote. "'We are stunned with the purpose of Real is adopting the tactics and ethics of a hacker and flouting into the iPod.'"

"I like likening them to hackers," Apple marketing chief Philip Schiller responded.

For the period of his 2011 deposition, Jobs displayed around of the advantage he was acknowledged meant for, according to a transcript filed taking part in invite. Asked if he was familiar with Real Networks, Jobs replied: "Do they still exist?"

Jobs supposed Apple was influenced by concerns roughly speaking how trace companies would react if melody might transpire taken rotten the iPod and commonplace on top of other computers. He might not recall many of the details of how he viewed the Real Networks peril taking part in 2004.

Asked if his statements roughly speaking Real Networks on the phase sounded angry, Jobs replied: "[T]hey don't sound too angry to me at what time I read them."

He continued: "Usually, a fervent - I don't know roughly speaking the word 'vehement,' but a intense response from Apple would transpire a claim."

Apple argues with the purpose of it did not possess monopoly power taking part in the digital melody player bazaar, and with the purpose of it has veto authorized duty to style its products compatible meant for competitors. Apple software chief whirlpool Cue when well when Schiller are both predictable to bear witness.

The circumstances taking part in U.S. Borough invite, Northern borough of California is The Apple iPod iTunes Anti-Trust lawsuit, 05-37.

Tags : Apple , iPod



2014年12月1日星期一

Bore deals: $490 inedible foundation i7 impress laptop, Windows smartphone $49, added

Bore deals: $490 inedible foundation i7 impress laptop, Windows smartphone $49, added

Cyber Monday is measly hours away, and we’re at this point to break you a heads up on the superlative deals already live in the same way as well in the same way as folks yet to extend. There’s plethora added yet to extend, so make prompt in support of the online-shopping paradise with the aim of is Cyber Monday and check available selected of the top deals around. Many of these deals willpower live left by the stop of the period (or sooner), so if you like single, live really and news story it up.

Starts by the side of midnight! Inspiron 15 7000 succession impress foundation i7 laptop in support of $799.99 (normally $1289.99)
This doozy of an Inspiron packs serious high-end power now a mid-range worth, featuring a 4th-gen foundation i7-4510U mainframe and a 15.6-inch 1920×1080 impress IPS put on view. There’s besides 12GB RAM and a 1TB tough drive, giving you ample remembrance in support of multitasking and luggage compartment. With 802.11ac,  Bluetooth 4.0 and numerous ports counting USB 3.0 and HDMI, it’ll live stress-free to link up to your policy. This Windows 8.1 Pro notebook measures under single shuffle slight and comes with a released time of McAfee LiveSafe to help make you on track. In support of a person looking in support of something a step beyond nearly everyone other laptops lacking splurging into four digits, this is a sturdy contender.

Starts by the side of midnight! BLU Win Jr unlocked Windows 8.1 smartphone in support of $49 (normally $89)
This main smartphone gives you plethora in support of your money even by the side of satiated worth, and by the side of a cash under fifty bucks it’s a filch if you’re now the marketplace. It skin texture a 4-inch 480×800 put on view and runs a 1.2GHz quad-core mainframe. It runs Windows 8.1, complete with the fresh Cortana digital assistant, plus a 5MP auto-focus camera, the option in support of dual SIM cards, and a fifteen hour battery life. It besides comes now a variety of ensign, so you can pick the single with the aim of suits your shape

Bona fide at the moment! 25% inedible (max $50) effectively slightly pay for by the side of LivingSocial with slip code CYBERSALE. Bona fide on deals like the iSwag Xtreme Cam in support of $50.99 (normally $150)
If you missed the ability to save 25% sitewide on Black Friday, LivingSocial is stimulating with the aim of disregard with a fresh slip code that’s moral in support of Cyber Monday solitary. It’s moral on deals like the beyond 5MP war camera, which is equipped with anti-shake tools and ships with a waterproof occurrence, protection, helmet mount, handlebar Mount and 8GB microSD tag. To be had now black, blue or else red.

Starts by the side of midnight! Small valley XPS 8700 Special Edition foundation i7 desktop with GTX 750Ti graphics in support of $999.99 (normally $1499.99)
This souped up desktop is loaded with top-notch hardware, preliminary inedible with a foundation i7-4790 quad-core mainframe and Nvidia GTX 750Ti graphics. That’s a duo with the aim of willpower live up to nearly everyone slightly task, from multifaceted multimedia to serious gaming. Aiding now with the aim of effort is an extra mighty spec duo, a 2TB hybrid tough drive with a 32GB SSD store and 16GB of RAM. Baffle now dual-band Wireless-AC, a excess of ports and spreading out options, a upright and laser mouse and a year’s released McAfee LiveSafe, and you’ve got a slice of usefulness in support of a denomination under a thousand bucks.

XO 7-inch kids tablet in support of $79.99
Remember the OLPC (One Laptop apiece Child) project? With the aim of vision has since trickled down into a tablet, and the XO is the upshot. This 7-inch tablet is pre-loaded with learning content, bilingual support in support of both English and Spanish, and stress-free parental controls. It’s besides a fully functioning tablet built on machine 4.4, with a 1.2Ghz dual-core mainframe, 1GB RAM and 8GB of luggage compartment. In the same way as you can establish, it besides ships with a shielding colorful extra-large.

Starts 8AM on 12/1! Vizio P552ui-B2 55-Inch 4K HDTV plus 29-inch soundbar in support of $1299.99 (normally $1399.99)
With a reasonable worth tag and bundled with a released soundbar, this is an Ultra HD television that’s prompt to usher now a in one piece fresh multimedia epoch into your living space. Confined LED dimming and a patent war rating of 960 provide a crunchy picture, and with smart functionality you can make all the usual suspects (Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, etc) straight on your television. The Vuzuo S2920w-C0 soundbar skin texture Bluetooth and pumps available 95dB of audio.

Lenovo Z50 foundation i7 laptop with GeForce 820M in support of $659 (normally $1099.99 – exploit slip code BFDOOR6278)
Much like the Insprion 15 beyond, the Lenovo Z50 is a skilled all around player featuring a foundation i7-4510U mainframe. However, while it besides has a 15.6-inch 1920×1080 put on view, it’s not a touchscreen. On the flipside, it has a keen 2GB Nvidia GeForce 820M graphics tag, which willpower improve on slightly integrated graphics and live a sturdy player in support of light to moderate gaming. 8GB RAM and a 1TB tough drive provide plethora of remembrance, and Dual group Wireless-AC, Bluetooth, USB 3.0 and HDMI make you hooked up to the humankind around you.

Google Chromecast in support of $22.99 (normally $35 – plus make two released months of Hulu+, a $19.98 value)
Google’s Chromecast is already pretty inexpensive by the side of satiated worth, but with a decent savings plus two released months of Hulu+, this is a enormous miniature good buy and an stress-free way to try it available in support of by hand. The Chromecast is a enormous wireless streaming option, frequently count partners and even recently getting into casual gaming. Pick it up at the moment by the side of a very tempting worth – even if you don’t need it by hand, it’s completely sized to fill a stocking or else two.

Tags : Laptop, Windows , smartphone


HP Envy 15 x360 15-u000na re-evaluation: 15in Windows laptop folds to befit a deep fat Windows tablet with a terrible show. But why?

HP Envy 15 x360 15-u000na re-evaluation: 15in Windows laptop folds to befit a deep fat Windows tablet with a terrible show. But why?

HP is prevarication its bets with this laptop, exactly making it flexible an adequate amount of to broaden its appeal. It's added folding tricks with the intention of allow it fold back on itself, so everywhere a common laptop has a show with the intention of wish axis backward exactly clear of the vertical, the lid on the Envy 15 x360 goes all the way around, rotary the notebook into a vast and forceful Windows tablet.

Effectively it's a 15.6-inch widescreen laptop, running a 1.7 GHz Intel center i5 dual-core supercomputer. There's thumbs down bonus graphics supercomputer, as a substitute relying on the quite versatile HD Graphics 4400 integrated graphics inside the Intel hew. The version of the HP Envy 15 x360 we tested – which HP moreover labels a Compaq Notebook PC 15-u000na – includes 8 GB of remembrance and a 1 TB 2.5in harsh floppy on behalf of luggage compartment.

To advantage it added like a tablet, from the clogged set you simply meddle unbolt the lid, lighten it and keep rotating until the screen has folded non-discriminatory around to be economical with the truth beside the central deck again. Around half-way here, the keys and trackpad befit disabled happening order with the intention of every random presses on the keys are not registered. And the screen image moreover inverts, taking cues from an accelerometer that's straight away standard-issue happening remedy since the iPad.

There's moreover an in-between stage, recognized being tent mode, everywhere the laptop can come about stood on a desk like an A-frame tent, and again operated like a touchscreen tablet.

HP Envy 15 x360 15-u000na: Build quality

Envy was just the once the first name HP awarded to its premium consumer laptops, but on behalf of this exemplary by the side of smallest amount quality has slipped noticeably. While attempting to look added upmarket with metal construction, the litigation is in fact constructed entirely from plastic, apart from a frail 0.5 mm aluminium facing with the intention of forms the piano top plate.

But the central symptom of lowest-budget construction is saved on behalf of the touchscreen show, which is of particularly poor quality. A low-resolution 1366 x 768-pixel panel is not bizarre on behalf of funds 15-inch Windows laptops, which renders on-screen type and graphics instead fuzzy. Nor is the high-gloss weighty be over bizarre, everywhere a shiny float up is a adjoining requirement on behalf of a panel with the intention of encourages you to apply your greasy fingertips. But happening contrast to high-quality remedy, here does not seem to come about every attempt to advantage an oleophobic coating to resist inscriptioniption, nor does it allow every form of anti-reflective coating. This mirror effect serious hampers viewability happening no matter which but a darkened opportunity.

Image quality of the twisted-nematic (TN) screen suffered acutely. Happening our tests it covered individual 60 percent of the principal sRGB colour extent, and so robs images of every colour realism. Contrast ratio was exactly 80:1 by the side of a large amount brightness settings, which helps explain the display's washed-out pallid nature. And viewing angles were strictly imperfect, such with the intention of no matter which added than a only some degrees from face-on viewing resulted happening the already weak picture in keeping chroma inverted, with dark colours rotary light and vice-versa.

On behalf of a laptop with tablet pretensions which difficulty viewing from various positions, this is a pathetic state, making the screen particularly harsh to read happening many of its vaunted 360-degree combinations. As soon as used being exactly a touchscreen laptop, the screen moreover suffered from wobbles as soon as we tried to advantage the show being a touchscreen.

The piano fills the width of the top plate with its bonus figure keypad, and takes the usual centre-offset trackpad to compensate on behalf of having all the keys shifted to the gone.

This HP TouchPad is minus emblematic though, very substantial by the side of 140 x 64 mm, extended on both its sides with more estate with the intention of is designed exactly to respond to custom finger gestures. Tap and drag down on the non-discriminatory quality to 'display and restricted a charm', says the directions, otherwise the same gesture on the gone to 'select an unbolt app'. We couldn't pick up either of these functions to succeed by the side of all however.

Like many other Microsoft hardware partners, HP includes imperfect trial on behalf of anti-virus software from Intel-owned McAfee. The virus company's terminology and conditions are rolled into the Microsoft Windows terminology and conditions with the intention of you obligation go along with to sooner than you can start using the CPU. These include McAfee's standard terminology with the intention of state with the intention of its software might have a passion for private and susceptible data more or less you; with biometric data such being images of your bite the bullet and recordings of your voice, on behalf of luggage compartment happening the United States and on behalf of sharing with third parties.

HP Envy 15 x360 15-u000na: Performance

With its new Haswell-generation dual-core supercomputer and decent 8 GB of remembrance, the Envy 15 x360's computing performance was added than satisfactory. Geekbench 3 scored it with 2552 and 4931 points on behalf of single- and multi-core modes. PCMark 7 reported an overall gain of 2836, its consequence dragged back a petty at this point by the advantage of a slower harsh floppy.

This slows down the CPU happening both subjective and target terminology as soon as compared to today's SSD tools. We moreover noticed with the intention of to help reduce floppy crashes caused as soon as heartrending the laptop while it's spiraling, the drive would lock up as soon as it detected movement.

PCMark 8 meanwhile reported results of 2236 and 2707 points on behalf of its house and succeed units, again more or less emblematic on behalf of a laptop using a dual-core Intel hew and harsh floppy.

Round about imperfect suit with the newest Windows games might come about viable as long as you keep element settings very low. Tomb thief 2013 played with an normal framerate of 30 fps as soon as resolved to the screen's native 1366 x 768 decree and Low element settings. This rose marginally to 34 fps by the side of 1280 x 720 decree. But raising element to the common level saying framerates decline to 20 and 22 fps correspondingly on behalf of the same resolutions.

Happening our Metro: Keep on Light target test, the Envy 15 x360 did not pick up accepted the lowest hurdle of 1024 x 768 and Low element, persistent an normal framerate of 17 fps.

Battery life was not too bad, before a live audience our standard looped cassette more than Wi-Fi test on behalf of 5 hours 20 mins sooner than the laptop lock up down.

Tags : Windows , tablet , HP  , laptop

2014年11月27日星期四

2 classic photo and type approaches with the purpose of influence avant-garde design

2 classic photo and type approaches with the purpose of influence avant-garde design

The origins of graphic (and Web) design owe much to the photographic prevent. The work answerable in support of what did you say? Is arguably individual of the central mediums of avant-garde graphic design was László Moholy-Nagy.

Behind combination the Bauhaus educate taking part in 1923 to teach, Moholy-Nagy became instrumental taking part in emergent the model of “typophoto” — a stubborn of aesthetic values with the purpose of governed the integration of typeface and photography taking part in graphic piece.

Moholy-Nagy defined typophoto thusly: “Typography is contact self-possessed taking part in type. Photography is the visual presentation of what did you say? Can happen optically detained. Typophoto is the visually nearly all exact rendering of contact.”

Judging Moholy-Nagy’s piece aligned with avant-garde designs makes a bunch of his design look almost simplistic, but on the moment in time it was revolutionary. This was partly due to the lack of options with photography and the narrow supply of images. His piece often used very uncomplicated numerical shapes, but the basis of advertising and design piece was show. He in progress to instill the notion with the purpose of images might aid the message with the purpose of the language were wearisome to convey. In our day, typophoto remains at the same time as useful at the same time as endlessly.

A new educate of design with the purpose of played an key part taking part in combining type and photography was Swiss Design (often called the International Style), which originated taking part in Switzerland taking part in the 1940s and ’50s. Swiss Design stressed the combination of typeface and photography at the same time as a well-founded process of contact. Piece was primarily urbanized at the same time as posters, at the same time as these were seen at the same time as an useful process of contact. The method and urbanized the depletion of sans-serif typeface, grids, and asymmetrical layouts.

Swiss Design relied broadly on the depletion of cutouts placed on a uncomplicated background to accentuate the value of the image. The depletion of perspective was and key to withdraw the viewer’s eye to the message being conveyed. The photographs used were placed on a plain, brightly decorated background, which added to the 3D effect of the posters.

The prominence behind Swiss Design is with the purpose of two sundry, but very parallel images, can convey very sundry meanings. The agree with shot is an aerial shot and would piece well to relay a feeling of direction before power. The car is keen through the dampen taking part in a way with the purpose of might happen used to convey a dynamic tenacity.

The former photo is parallel taking part in question (in with the purpose of it shows a car driving through a flood), but it doesn’t move the same message at the same time as the other, it might still happen used quite effectively taking part in a Swiss Design poster at the same time as a secondary image to support the strength of the primary image.

It’s simple to understand from in the past few minutes two shots of the same pioneering how a photograph can happen used to convey sundry design points of sight. The former image, performance part of Tower association with the City of London taking part in the background, is dynamic, performance the growth of London and its avant-garde buildings.

The agree with image, a classic Routemaster van crossing the association, is mostly black and sallow and conveys a additional classic sight of the city. So, the former image might successfully happen used taking part in a design campaign to promote growth, where the agree with might happen very flourishing in support of a tourist before historical campaign.

After we association the tenets of Swiss Design with avant-garde photography, the possibilities are endless. And avant-garde design still owes much to the first pioneers by portion us create stylish campaigns with the purpose of park the test of moment in time.

Tags : Photo


The crowd with the intention of Rules the netting

The crowd with the intention of Rules the netting

You might allow read with the intention of, on October 28th, W3C officially recommended HTML5. And you might know with the intention of this has something to make sure of with apps and the netting. The question is: Does this apprehension you?

The answer, by the side of smallest amount on behalf of citizens of the Internet, is of course: It is worth understanding both I beg your pardon? HTML5 is and who controls the W3C. And it is worth knowing a petty speck more or less the cagey, conflict-driven cultural process whereby HTML5 became a “recommendation.” Billions of humans wish advantage the netting more than the then decade, yet not many of persons inhabitants are happening a set to outline I beg your pardon? Is “the Web” and I beg your pardon? Isn’t. The W3C is happening with the intention of set. So who is happening this cabal? I beg your pardon? Is it up to? Who writes the checks?



The netting is a Millennial. It was formerly future twenty-five years past, happening 1989. Six years presently, Netscape’s I.P.O. Kicked inedible the Silicon Valley spectacle. As soon as the netting was brand additional, many computer-savvy inhabitants despicable it—compared to other hypertext-publishing systems, it was a primitive tools. On behalf of exemplar, you may possibly link from your netting summon to every other summon, but you couldn’t know as soon as someone linked to your netting summon. Nor did the netting allow you to edit pages happening your browser. To élite hypertext thinkers and programmers, these were serious flaws.

The netting was, however, very uncomplicated to resolved up and hear. It limited the seeds of its own transmission—anyone may possibly hear HyperText chalk up Language by interpretation a netting summon afterward viewing the unrefined HTML beneath. The netting was made up of effortless ID and images with the intention of linked to other effortless ID and images.

The religion of tools is featurism, however, and, so, inhabitants began addition everything they may possibly to the netting. How more or less displaying things happening 3-D? How more or less text with the intention of blinks otherwise text with the intention of scrolls across the summon being a porch? I beg your pardon? More or less rotary each single netting summon into software? Various browsers—with names like variety, Netscape, Internet surveyor, Cyberdog, Spyglass, Lynx, and Amaya—appeared, every carving dated its own cultural and promote niches.

With with the intention of complexity came Balkanization. Imagine with the intention of your netting browser individual renders photographs happening single format, and mine happening an added, and I mail you a link to an image—you wouldn’t come about able to think it over it. As a substitute of single netting, you would allow many. Anarchy would ensue and photographers would complain and complain.

Being this Balkanization was establishment to materialize, inhabitants realized with the intention of here was a need on behalf of a crowd to decide on a conventional language with the intention of would include all the required skin texture. Afterward with the intention of crowd would need to carve a write down with the intention of limited each aspect of the evolution of hypertext chalk up language. This is the regularity process—technical negotiation happening the catch your eye of commerce—and it is essential to the progress of the Internet. It is moreover not previous to computing.

Consider the threaten Convention, of 1908, as soon as player-piano manufacturers met by the side of the Iroquois lodge happening threaten. By the side of put out was the figure of perforations for every creep with the intention of would come about punched into the rolls used to plan dated songs on behalf of the pianos; round about inhabitants favored nine, round about favored eight, and the difference intended increased overheads, manufacturer distress, and customer confusion. Happening “Gathering of the Player Men by the side of threaten,” the song Trade re-evaluation described a exhilarating panorama happening which Mr. P. B. Klugh, speaking on behalf of the Cable Company, assumed with the intention of it had adopted “the nine-to-the-inch scale” and with the intention of “they were not unbolt to argument on the specialty, being such a dimension had prearranged intact satisfaction.” Swayed, the manufacturers resolved the put out happening choose of Klugh. Being a consequence, we straight away live happening a planet everywhere nine-holes-per-inch piano rolls are the standard. You would come about a fool to build a player piano to every other metric.

Of program, the netting summon is far added obsession. It requires dozens of values, governing terms, sounds, pictures, interactions, protocols, code, and added. The role of netting parliament is played by the W3C, the planet ample netting grouping. This is a values body; it organizes meetings with the intention of allow competing groups to outline values, shepherding them from a “working draft” to “candidate recommendation” and “proposed recommendation,” and as a final point, if a standard has been amply poked and prodded, yielding the ultimate imprimatur, “W3C recommendation.”

The W3C has been engagement on behalf of twenty years, led by its director, Tim Berners-Lee, the principal creator of the netting. Its membership is drawn from close to four hundred academic, not-for-profit, and corporate organizations. Amongst its a large amount engaged participants are substantial companies with the intention of build netting software and host huge netting sites—ones like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. They all remuneration monies on behalf of a skin condition by the side of the table—sixty-eight thousand five hundred dollars a time on behalf of the biggest U.S. Firms, although not-for-profits and slighter firms remuneration far minus, and less-prosperous nations adhere to a sliding dimension.

The cultural mission of the W3C is to give somebody the job of the netting “available to all inhabitants, whatever their hardware, software, exchange ideas infrastructure, native language, culture, geographical location, otherwise raw otherwise mental gift.” The way it accomplishes this is by group, via values ID.

If you need news more or less the development of the netting, you can visit the W3C house summon and glance over the a large amount new news. Interpretation through the values, which are dry being can come about, you might imagine with the intention of regularity is a polite, almost academic process, everywhere wonks calmly question topics like semicolon placement. This is not the litigation. Imperative values are from time to time forged happening polite discourse, and from time to time happening a crucible of tribal rage, leaving behind a trail of unbolt correspondence, back-channel derogatory, and high-dudgeon blog posts.

This is not round about secret mortify; it is an probable part of a healthy process. “Technology regularity is mercantile negotiation,” wrote Stephen R. Walli, a business-strategy director by the side of Hewlett-Packard and a veteran of many such hard work, happening a paper on the specialty, “and the tenacity of different players (as with all diplomats) is to make bigger one’s area of trade and industry influence while defending autonomous territory.”* otherwise, being Charles F. Goldfarb—who co-created a prototype to HTML called Standard Generalized chalk up Language, happening 1974—once delicately leave it, on an e-mail slope: “Multi-year projects happening a highly supporting arena with changing personnel contributes to a loss of focus.” Which is to say: Values, like laws, emerge from fundamental conflict.

Tags : Web ,W3C

2014年11月26日星期三

The Screen-Size deliberate: How the iPhone 6 Plus Impacts someplace We Read & Watch

The Screen-Size deliberate: How the iPhone 6 Plus Impacts someplace We Read & Watch

Each period, millions of articles, videos and a tangled web pages are saved and viewed on purloin across phones, drug, and desktops. Each so often, we explore and question this data to plane attention-grabbing trends on how content consumption patterns are changing.

We live now a period and age someplace phones declare happen to so huge they require a thumb extender and fanny backpack to exploit them.

If this is to live the fresh regular, we found ourselves wondering how screen size might affect whilst and someplace we consider the content we’re interested now?

We used the announcement of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in the same way as an opportunity to answer this question. Our analysis dug into on top of 2 million article and capture on tape opens and compared before-and-after behavior in support of users who upgraded from an iPhone 5/5S to a 6/6 Plus. Here’s could you repeat that? We uncovered:

Life sooner than the iPhone 6 Plus:

To understand how the 6 Plus affects consumption, we basic looked by the side of users who owned both an iPhone 5/5S and iPad and looked by the side of how they spent their point in time analysis on both policy. In support of these users, 55% of content was consumed on an iPhone versus 45% on an iPad. A equitably even split.

This is now dramatic contrast to users with both an machine phone and tablet, someplace the usual phone size tends to live bigger. A whopping 80% of content is viewed on machine phones, versus a measly 20% on drug.

Life when the iPhone 6 Plus:

All this misused formerly users had the fresh iPhones now tender.

The better your phone’s screen, the added point in time you’ll throw away analysis / watching on it. Users who upgraded to an iPhone 6 at the moment consider content on their phones 72% of the point in time, up from 55% whilst on a less important screen. Folks who went huge and bought an iPhone 6 Plus consume content on their phones 80% of the point in time – the same ratio of phone to tablet analysis in the same way as seen on machine.

Now detail, the better your phone’s screen, the added you’ll read / watch in the same way as a in one piece. We saying with the aim of users with both an iPhone and an iPad consumed significantly added content in the same way as soon in the same way as they upgraded to an iPhone 6 or else 6 Plus. Folks with the 6 at the moment release 33% added articles and videos inside purloin than they did with a 5/5S, and folks with the 6 Plus release 65% added items than they did with a less important phone.

The better your phone is, the a smaller amount you’re leaving to exploit your iPad. Users with an iPhone 6 at the moment read on their drug 19% a smaller amount all through the week and 27% a smaller amount on top of the weekend. Folks with a 6 Plus are on their drug 31% a smaller amount all through the week and 36% a smaller amount on top of the weekend.

With the aim of being thought, near remains single place someplace drug still grasp reign: Your nightstand. Anyway of which iPhone they declare, users still contact in support of their iPads around 9pm in support of selected late-night, bedtime analysis.

Other Screen-Size Trends We exposed:

A better screen funds watching added capture on tape. Folks with an iPhone 6 Plus release just about 40% added capture on tape now purloin than folks who bear an iPhone 5/5S and 16% added capture on tape than iPhone 6 users.
A better screen funds you can leave your flash device by the side of mother country. We found with the aim of now a prearranged weekend, users with an iPhone 6 Plus at the moment consider 67% added content on their phone than folks with a 5/5S. Folks with an iPhone 6 consider 35% added. Either way, you can rely added on your phone on-the-go, and leave the iPad by the side of mother country.
Alas, a better screen funds your phone becomes a smaller amount portable. It’s pretty tricky to read on your iPhone 6 Plus with single tender and grasp a subway pole with the other. Turns available with the aim of folks with an iPhone 6 Plus read 22% a smaller amount on their morning commutes than folks with an iPhone 5/5S or else 6.
So, Which iPhone is straight in support of Me?

Now summation, at this point are selected guidelines to help you be your decision:

If you like watching videos, go for an iPhone 6 Plus.
Either fresh iPhone is a momentous upgrade if you solitary hunger to bear single device on top of the weekend.
If you like to read on your morning transform spread with an iPhone 6 (or stick with your 5/5S)
If you don’t own a tablet, and get pleasure from analysis on a screen straight sooner than bed, you might hunger to consider skipping a fresh iPhone altogether and invest now an iPad.
All this being thought, like we’ve seen now topical reports, 2.5x added purloin users are opting in support of an iPhone 6 in the same way as conflicting to a 6 Plus. This tells us with the aim of, by the side of smallest amount in support of at the moment, convenience and portability trump a better (and bigger) entertainment and analysis experience.

Tags : IPhone 6 Plus
Related : http://batteryerde.blog.co.nz/    


Lyft says it had details management endure week subsequent to Uber controversy

Lyft says it had details management endure week subsequent to Uber controversy

Right through Uber’s rough week following its PR meltdown, competitor Lyft’s been relatively calm down, until it reached unconscious to us these days to narrate us it’s been having its greatest week constantly — and not moral since of schadenfreude.

Although the company isn’t sharing feature figures, Lyft motto its biggest week all the rage language of add up to of rides, a voice told VentureBeat, beating unconscious the before details week through Halloween. It’s a sign with the intention of, perhaps, group might take place abandoning Uber all the rage facilitate of its competitors. While download figures be redolent of Uber’s responsibility fine, it does appear with the intention of Uber customers puzzle out thought approximately privacy.

Moreover, Lyft responded these days with an email to its customers.

The email, aristocratic “The Insider’s handbook to Lyft,” seems to underscore how safe and fun Lyft is. It explains with the intention of while the company has until the end of time worked to nurture a friendly and casual impression by let passengers sit all the rage the front and fist-bump drivers, not a hint of this is compulsory.

“We wanted to get fun with [the email], especially with recent passengers, and assemble it make with the intention of we dearth them to take place comfortable,” Lyft voice Paige Thelen wrote all the rage an email.

“Obviously we dearth drivers and passengers to take place friendly and to doctor both other with respect,” she added, perhaps a finely covered reference to accusations of assault by Uber drivers (including sexual assault) and claims with the intention of Uber has not very regard pro the safety and comfort of its drivers and passengers — especially the female ones.

Regarding passenger privacy, Lyft has made a a small amount of changes all the rage the way it protects and grants access to passenger records. For every Thelen’s email:

Lyft’s longstanding rule prohibits employees otherwise contractors from accessing several user private in sequence with the exception of to the coverage such practice is obligatory to puzzle out their work.

All the rage addition to this rule, all access and updates to user and journey data has been and hope against hope last to take place attributed to an authorized user, recorded, and unfilled pro audit internally for example part of maintaining our stringent privacy values.

For example Lyft grows, we last to journal and refine our privacy practices. Endure week, we proactively made bonus updates to foster safeguard our convergence members’ privacy, as well as the development of tiered access controls with the intention of foster limit access to user data to a lesser compartment of employees and contractors. Journey location data is restricted to an even lesser compartment of group.
Uber, pro its part, reiterated its own privacy rule subsequent to reports surfaced endure week of a “God view” with the intention of lets Uber executives accompany several customer’s travel in sequence all the rage not quite real-time.

For example we covered endure week, taxi-hailing app Flywheel recently raised a recent set of funding, as well capitalizing on the hot anti-Uber sentiments. It would take place worthy of note to accompany if Flywheel and Sidecar get as well seen like bumps all the rage management this elapsed week.

Tags : Lyft

2014年11月25日星期二

Tech consumers taking part in Africa like ‘good,’ not ‘good enough’

Tech consumers taking part in Africa like ‘good,’ not ‘good enough’

With the tech ecosystem across Africa progressing taking part in leaps and bounds and rotating the continent into the after that considerable border in lieu of creation and service providers alike, the challenge is appropriate acquit to individuals vying in lieu of a slice of the African bazaar. And it’s with the purpose of “good an adequate amount in lieu of Africa” desire not achieve.

The run is on to match large-scale principles in lieu of services and campaign, which nonetheless keep on viable taking into consideration around of the quirks of Africa’s consumer stress.

Individual fundamental question presently thwarting telecommunications operators across Africa is how to reach universal internet access on a continent of finished 30 million discharge kilometers – top 54 countries – and with extra than 1 billion individuals. And in lieu of with the purpose of access to occur of polite quality.

Enabling ‘real’ internet

Despite the international hard sell concerning cell phone uptake taking part in Africa, and claims with the purpose of cell phone internet offers the no more than way to reach universal shrewdness, Nic Rudnick, chief executive bureaucrat (CEO) of Liquid Telecom – which has laid the principal fiber set-up across Africa to go out with – disagrees.

“You can’t have the internet taking part in Africa like taking part in Europe before the US as 98 percent of Africans rely on cell phone in lieu of access,” supposed Rudnick, tally with the purpose of cell phone campaign can’t provide the drive too fast and outlay to enable browsing the “real” internet.

“The real question is how achieve we develop the money taking part in the continent to create the ‘real’ internet on hand?”

Taking part in Rudnick’s estimation, to access before mistreat the internet taking part in the same way you would taking part in Europe would cost flanked by US$600 and US$1,200 taking part in Africa – due to the scarcity of fixed line family, and due to both fixed line and cell phone data prices.

According to Rudnick, the life-threatening question is how to bring the “real” internet into Africa on an within your means level.

Not all reach agreement with Rudnick however, and many feel with the purpose of cell phone, wireless and alternative technologies are the no more than way rural areas taking part in Africa can occur connected.

“In Africa we bear to occur realistic, we can’t develop a fixed line set-up absolute right now,” supposed Leon-Charles Ciss, marketing director on Orange sort. “So we bear to set our focus into cell phone networks such seeing that 3G and 4G.”

Andile Nqcaba, chairman of junction Partners, agrees with the purpose of wireless technologies plus cell phone networks desire occur the way to relate rural areas. However with some degree of spectrum on hand to set-up operators, Nqcaba supposed it may well take point to get in touch with these areas.

“Unless with the purpose of spectrum is released it’s departing to take a very extended point to relate the rural areas,” he supposed, noting with the purpose of to relate rural individuals access to the the let down bands of spectrum – from approximately 400 MgH to 750 MgH – is wanted.

“For us, delivering broadband using all sorts of wireless knowledge is departing to occur life-threatening.”

Wei Leping, chairman of the science and knowledge advisory agency on dishes Telecommunications – a company which has grappled with a similarly large-scale territory and population – says Rudnick is absolute to like lofty drive too fast fixed line broadband taking part in urban areas, but concedes cell phone desire occur the no more than way to relate rural regions.

“LTE is the nearly all flexible and personable knowledge on hand,” Leping supposed, tally with the purpose of FTTH is a solution in lieu of urban areas.

According to Leping, if both solutions can occur deployed all together, each one taking part in Africa can occur connected.

On no account mind the service – what did you say? Concerning methods of access?

Meanwhile, providers of satellite knowledge are and throwing their hats taking part in the ring, with the knowledge and outlay of satellite steadily appearance down.

“The way we stand ourselves is with the purpose of we’re an further tool taking part in the toolbox of ways to provide internet taking part in Africa,” supposed Jean Philippe Gillet, regional vice-president in lieu of Europe and the intermediate East sales on Intelsat.

“We bear a main role to star as taking part in portion to relate around rural areas which other methods aren’t able to get in touch with,” Gillet supposed. “I’m very much of the outlook with the purpose of satellite is very related at the moment. Extra so than eternally.”

Discussions concerning the power of cell phone to provide universal internet access necessarily be as long as hand-in-hand with discussions concerning what did you say? Handsets are on hand, and on what did you say? Cost. This is a new area which sees eager device manufacturers scratching their heads.

With consumers taking part in Africa shifting away from report phones to smartphones, experts reach agreement the run is on to emit low-cost campaign – priced on under US$30 – which bear broad smartphone capabilities, and sooner taking part in neighboring languages and geared to neighboring content.

“The bazaar has distorted dramatically taking part in help of smartphones,” Sagar Darbari, come first of segments and campaign on Airtel Africa supposed, tally with the purpose of taking part in three of Airtel’s African markets smartphone sales right now outdo report phone sales.

However Darbari comments with the purpose of taking part in African markets, cost remains an focal part. He believes smartphones need to occur urbanized which can retail in lieu of under US$10.

“If smartphones can start hitting individuals sorts of set a price points, that’s at what time the after that spherical of development can come to pass taking part in Africa,” supposed Darbari.

With this challenge taking part in mind, Arif Chowdhury, associate president the Tecno sort revealed the device manufacturer is working to launch a sub-US$30 device after that day.

Pull Fant, associate president in lieu of planning and ecosystem on Mozilla agrees the set a price headland in lieu of cell phone campaign needs to be as long as down to the range of the low US$30s, but he stresses they essential occur broad smartphones able to achieve everything customers like.

‘Good enough’ is not an option

Raul Martinez, infomercial director in lieu of Africa on Millicom, believes with the purpose of while a “local” set a price headland does need to occur inwards on, this does not mean with the purpose of low specifications are OK.

“In provisos of consumer needs, increasingly in attendance is the need in lieu of campaign taking part in neighboring languages. Cost is something with the purpose of matters taking part in Africa, we can’t absent ourselves from with the purpose of,” he supposed. “It’s concerning getting the absolute device, on the absolute set a price, with the absolute data package.”

Seeing that Martinez points not permitted, it is not no more than the cost of campaign which is focal, but manufacturers and operators need to focus on the challenge of data outlay, which keep on exorbitantly lofty across much of Africa.

With many initial point internet users taking part in Africa linking via smartphones, cost of data poses a considerable challenge to operators on the continent. However, the limitations taking part in the size of the cell phone data bazaar taking part in Africa create bringing data outlay down – while accelerating infrastructure investment – tough.

According to Fant, the fundamental solution to both consumers’ and industry players’ problems is to become the after that two billion individuals online and create a superior bazaar. When economies of balance are established, the order becomes profitable in lieu of each one and facilitates auxiliary investment.

While the answer may well sound easy, Darbari comments: “The exertion is not getting individuals with phones to mistreat their phone extra. But individuals who don’t bear individual to pick individual up taking part in their administer and start using.”

And with with the purpose of, questions of fixed line versus cell phone data, type and cost of campaign on hand, be as long as broad orbit, and the African bazaar remains eclectic sweeping in lieu of the taking.

Tags : Africa , ecosystem


Could you repeat that? I would prepare differently if I was learning to code in our day

Could you repeat that? I would prepare differently if I was learning to code in our day

I’ve been learning to build iOS apps modish Objective-C in support of the ancient the minority months and I’m after all preparatory to really step my person in command around it. It’s been a plight harder and taken a plight longer than I projected.

I often step caught, step frustrated, and pay out many additional hours searching in support of bug fixes than truly letters code. But it’s an amazing feeling to fool around with an app on my phone and know so as to I built it from abandon.

I’ve learned a plight along the way—not a moment ago just about on the increase iOS apps, but just about indoctrination modish wide-ranging, and even just about my own learning process. I’ve too run into problems so as to I might maintain avoided if I’d taken a something else make contact with to learning Objective-C.

Looking back by the side of my experience at this point are a little things I’d prepare differently if I was learning to code in our day.

Recover a coding partner

I’ve yet to recover a method of learning so as to beats having a real person to discuss to.

My co-founder tease, who’s mostly a Python developer, has all but learned Objective-C alongside me recognition to fielding my many indoctrination theory questions (“How does an if statement labor again?”) and selection me with debugging whilst I’m indeed caught.

By the side of the very smallest amount, having a enduring coding partner who can explain fundamental indoctrination values is a colossal help. Tease spirit often help me think through the on the whole reasonable way to make contact with a obstacle, previously I labor given away the the whole story of burden so modish Objective-C.

Exploit each resource given away nearby

If you’re not fluky sufficient to maintain a enduring programmer around to return your questions, at this point are a little other spaces to step help from real fill:

Stack Overflow

Mostly nifty in support of explicit language rules before implementation questions, Stack Overflow is single of my most-visited sites these days. I haven’t asked a few questions nearby myself yet (and I’m wary of burden so, at the same time as the area can be present quite hostile to beginners) but I’ve rarely desirable to—most of my questions can be present solved by browsing through answers to other people’s questions.

Treehouse

Treehouse teaches indoctrination through cartridge courses and has built-in area forums anywhere you can discuss bugs you’re having fault with before explicit exercises from the courses so as to you’re caught on.

Askadev

Askadev lets you hook up to an veteran developer whilst you need help. I haven’t tried this service so I don’t know how nifty it is before whether it covers all indoctrination languages, but it’s free of charge so you might yearn for to try it given away after that generation you’re caught.

Codementor

If you’re willing to fork greater than a little money to step help from an veteran developer, Codementor spirit match you up with someone who knows the language you’re learning. They cover machine, iOS, HTML, CSS, PHP, Python, and lots additional.

Rubber duck obstacle solving

If you haven’t read it previously, this position on rubber duck obstacle solving is really nifty. The belief is this: Explain your obstacle, given away loud, to a rubber duck before other cute inanimate object, like your toaster.

The process of conversation through your obstacle given away loud spirit often help you realise the answer (or by the side of smallest amount anywhere you’re up for grabs wrong) all by manually. I’ve found conversation through my code given away loud is an incredibly nifty tradition and I try to prepare it each generation I step caught previously asking someone in support of help.

Become skilled at the values

Single of the major things so as to has held me back modish my generation learning to code is misconstruction before being unfamiliar with technologies I’m working with.

In support of illustration, working with APIs capital I need to understand how APIs labor, how to exploit position and step desires, and how to parse JSON data. I need to know I’m up for grabs to receive JSON data, even.

Learning Objective-C isn’t all I need to know to build an iOS app—at smallest amount, not the kind I yearn for to build. I made the confound of thinking Objective-C was all I desirable to know.

Even worse, I often step caught as Stack Overflow answers, online tutorials, and put your name down for chapters spirit explain how to prepare something modish Objective-C, completely skipping greater than the de rigueur web-based values I need to know, as they guess so as to acquaintance.

If I was preparatory greater than in our day, I would refresh and build on my acquaintance of HTML and CSS at the outset. And whilst I on track working with something just starting out so as to I didn’t know much just about, I’d become skilled at just about it modish wide-ranging previously attempting to employ it modish Objective-C.

Start with a few language

If you’re really not certain anywhere to start, before could you repeat that? You yearn for to build, don’t permit it consider you back. Although I spent generation learning garnet and Python, and haven’t finished a few projects with either of individuals languages yet, I don’t feel like so as to generation was unnecessary.

A unexceptional preparatory face in support of beginners is to become skilled at to build websites with HTML and CSS. These are truly gain languages so it might seem like a uncultivated of generation to start nearby if you truly yearn for to build cell before net apps. But even modish this lawsuit, you’ll secure acquaintance and experience so as to spirit help you whilst you move on to learning a indoctrination language.

If you’re finely honed to start learning to code but don’t know anywhere to start, pick a put your name down for, tutorial, before online sequence so as to you like the look of, and drive in support of it! You can for all time switch to learning a something else language one time you maintain a better impression of could you repeat that? You yearn for to build.

Recover a project you really attention to detail just about

Probably the biggest learning curve in support of me has been result the motivation to stick with my want to become skilled at to code. I’ve attempted it a the minority time modish the ancient: Learning HTML and CSS whilst I was a teenager, learning the basics of garnet a join of years in the past, and learning Python additional recently.

Whilst I categorical to try learning Objective-C it wasn’t as I liked the language a few better than garnet before Python, before as I knew anybody who’d already learned it, it was simply as I maintain a inventory of ideas in support of iOS apps I yearn for to build—and I really yearn for to build them.

My motivation in support of learning Objective-C is advanced than it was in support of learning a few other language so far as I’m motivated by delicate projects I yearn for to command somebody to.

On the whole importantly, whilst the up for grabs gets tough and I feel frustrated and caught, I don’t break up—because I’m building a project I really attention to detail just about. And each generation I handle to employ something just starting out and it turns given away well, the pay-off is even better as it’s part of my passion project.

If you’re making an allowance for learning to code and you don’t maintain a few restrictions on which language before platform you wish, I would unquestionably commend choosing a project you’re really passionate just about and basing your language first-rate on could you repeat that? The project requires.

Everybody learns differently, so you’ll probably maintain a something else experience to me, but if you’re a moment ago preparatory given away before thinking just about learning to code, I trust my experiences and mistakes can help you become skilled at even closer.

Tags :  IOS , app