How to Measure a Straight Line in Google Maps

Google Maps now allows you to Measure a shortest distance between two or more places

Google maps has been and still is a handy toll for a lot of us. You just input the location and the starting point of your travels and you get route by route instructions as you drive or travel on whatever your mode of transport and not only this you also get alternate routes if certain roads seem to have traffic or some construction work going on on them. Besides this you get the fastest route to your destination. You just can’t go wrong with Google maps.

Now, Google maps has got a lot more interesting, to use. You can now calculate the shortest point between two or more locations on a map. This distance does not factor in roads, trails or any other obstruction, you just get the shortest and I mean the bare minimum between two or more points. This could be useful when it comes to traveling on your own two legs and don’t necessarily need to drive around to that location you have to visit.

More about Google Map new Feature:

This feature is available on both desktop as well as mobile devices.

In a desktop situation all you have to do to use the Google maps feature, is right click on the destination you’d like to visit or starting point and then choose “measure distance” from the options given.

Next choose the destination on the map and you’ll get the shortest distance between the two points in kilometers or miles according to your choice.

You can even click elsewhere on the map to add more places to your growing travels or even remove an added place on the map. The places you choose will be highlighted with a black circle.

Once you’re done, all you have to do is click the x at the bottom of the screen to close the page.

Google maps feature on mobile phones:

This feature is also present on both android and iOS devices. In a mobile device all you have to do is long press on the starting point or place you’d like to visit and then when the name of the place is shown below you click on it to choose the “shortest distance” option.

You then slide your fingers to your destination to get the shortest distance between the two points. To add more places to the list just press the add button and use your fingers to select the next location on the map. Again the distance in kilometers or miles is shown at the bottom of the screen.

To remove an added location just click on the undo button and presto you’re done! You can even view the total distance between all the points in Google maps.

You can even get creative with it and draw shapes on the maps just like Google had done to demonstrate the new feature on Google maps.

Google maps rolled out this feature on Tuesday.

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Mobile Phone’s to Look Out for 2018

This year we have seen a lot from the technology world when it comes to smartphones. Many people sell old mobile phone gadgets hoping to find something new in the exciting list of product lines coming this year in 2018. If you are in the market for a new look or design, it’s likely you won’t be disappointed if you’ve browsed online. The OLED technology is ruling the game with its slick displays and the rear cameras. All of the phones introduced in 2018 so far, meet everyone’s budget depending on what your need. Here are a few to consider.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Though the rumors are growing, Samsung is coming out with this powerful device that sports a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 platform. The software will undergo a huge upgrade and it certainly will be very noticeable. DJ Koh, Mobile Chief, has already confirmed that the virtual assistant Bixby will show up on the Note 9. Word on the tech street is that the Galaxy 9 will not showcase the fingerprint sensing until they introduce Galaxy 10.

iPhone 2018

It looks like the iPhone X will get an expansion regarding its design and come with a bigger screen size. Watch out for an introduction of a more low cost phone from Apple as well. It will be similar looking to the iPhone X, but the LCD Panel will have less dominance. Again, Apple phones don’t come out until the fall, so who knows what we will get.

Google Pixel 3

It was heard in some rumbling conversations that when Pixel 2 arrived, consumers could expect to see three versions after that device. Even though we have only witnessed two at this point, it appears the Pixel 3 is on its way. Google is also looking at selling two “premium” devices along with another sophisticated top-tier handset.

Oppo Find X

If you haven’t heard, this handset is supposedly the Chinese company’s first debut of a smartphone in the United States and Europe. It is set to launch next year. You won’t find the cameras on the outside for this handset, but instead they are inside. They extend out of the camera’s body at the top. This new touch gives the device a ratio of 93 percent when it comes to screen to body. It also will have an astounding front facing camera that does 3D recognition, similar to iPhone X. The Find X won’t need to depend on fingerprint authentication at all. This Android phone comes with all the regular features customers are accustomed to on this platform.

iPhone SE 2018

It has been 2 years since seeing any kind of update for this device. There was a rumor way back in May stating there was a potential release of an iPhone SE 2, however, that never happened.

Red Hydrogen One

If all goes well, this handset is set to hit the market August 2018. This jaw-dropping visually attractive device will cost nearly $1,295. You can get the titanium kind for about $300 more, if you are interested. The Red Hydrogen One has an awesome holographic display that can show 3D content. It further can support virtual reality and augmentation. It’s cinema module literally turns the phone into a handheld sophisticated camera that records high-end video. At this date, it looks like Verizon and AT&T will be selling it and you can buy one that comes unlocked.

You can certainly sell old mobile phone devices and get a new one because there are a lot of choices. This year debuts some of the most anticipated smartphone on the market.

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Get the Best Price for Your Unwanted Tech

If you are reading this article, it is a fair bet that you are interested in selling your old gadgets that is either out of date or no longer in use. Giving it away isn’t going to be like donating to charity because you have had sentiment to it in the past as well as now. You don’t have to find out how to dispose it off safely either because there are better options – one that will fetch you a reasonable, and in some cases, unbelievable amount of cash.

Today, there are several ways to sell your unwanted gadgets. There are plenty of websites and retail stores that buy back your outdated electronic items that are collecting dust in a corner. Then there are individuals who are gadget collectors looking for deals. Unfortunately, not all of these stores or personnel see your once treasured possessions as valuable. So, a little knowledge about your gadget, knowing how much it is actually worth in the current market can come very handy in such situations. In cases where you think your gadget can guarantee your future financial freedom, the cost of using an appraiser, in all likelihood, is worth the effort.

Not every gadget is suitable to be resold. Before you begin your quest to find out the real value of one, you need to determine whether it is worth the postage or gas money. Comparemymobile.com is a website that helps you find out exactly that – the amount that various companies are willing to pay for your electronics. Here, you will also obtain more information related to that particular electronic, recent trends and much else. The fact that the rules for setting a price for a specific device aren’t rigid, you will find a lot of difference in resale value from one company to another. The cash back value for your gadget may not be enough to retire to a tropical paradise, but it will certainly make you appreciate your decision to not throw it away.

That being said, there are many places where you want to look at first before deciding on what to do with your gadgets. One such places is Bestbuy.com. Here, you will get an instant quote for the gadget after entering its category, make, model, condition and other details. Once entered, the amount that this company will offer is locked for a certain period and paid in the form of gift card. The only issue here is if you need that money for other things instead of using it to buy more electronics from Best Buy. Nevertheless, Best Buy offers good deals compared to most other electronics store around. Their trade-in program is very convenient to do as well, with prepaid label and store drop off options in place. Payment is made within 10 business days of selling your gadget.

Another place to explore is Nextworth.com. Here, you are paid through several options, such as check, gift card or PayPal. You can drop off your gadget at Target to trade it for a gift card immediately. Or you can ship it directly to the company and obtain check instead.

Craigslist, Ebay and Facebook are a few other options where you can sell your gadget the old fashioned way. Here, you can set your own price and invite bids from local area or around the world. Just upload pictures, set descriptions in relevant categories, follow the process and you are ready to sell. Your chances of getting better deals from these websites are high compared to brick and mortar stores. Additionally, these websites let you market your electronics as many times as you want.

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Why SIM only is becoming increasingly popular

What is all the hype regarding sim only deals? Well within this article, we’re going to discuss the rising popularity of SIM only deals and what the advantages and drawbacks are. A contract that includes talk, text, and data but without the phone included, is considered a SIM only deal.

One huge reason why people like SIM only deals is the affordability factor. They are way more inexpensive than your common mobile contract. Mainly because the deals don’t provide a smartphone.

What is a SIM card? It is a microchip roughly the size of a bean that holds all of your cell phone’s configuration info. Once activated, the SIM card is permanently assigned to a particular cellular network. This is beneficial because it allows the user to keep the SIM card active but gives you the freedom of using a different cell phone.

Switching to a SIM only plan allows you to keep your phone, especially if it’s one you love without having to obtain a new number or losing pertinent information. Why invest in the most expensive or up-to-date cell phone on the market when yours work just fine, instead just search for an ideal SIM only deals. When you are purchasing an overpriced smartphone, you are also paying for the brand name and level of popularity during that specific time. If your cell phone doesn’t need data capability, then the next best idea would be to obtain pre-paid service. It’s pretty much similar to SIM only deals, the reason is that they don’t require you to commit to a long-term contract.

A trend has seemed to emerge among the cell phone market. It appears that many people are just deciding to opt-out of contracts and deciding to just purchase their phones outright. This allows them to sign up for services like data, talk, and text without having to sign up for a contract.

The best way to sign up for a SIM only deal is to first check if compatible with other carriers. If you want to go with the SIM only method, then checking to see if your number is still available is a great idea. Your first step is to contact your service provider and ask them for a PAC code. Short for Porting Authorization Code, the PAC is used to facilitate the transfer of phone numbers to different carriers.

After receiving your new SIM card, it’s best to safely destroy the initial one used by cutting it up or burning it. Make sure the gold foil that covers the sim card is damaged refraining it from being reused again.

There is one setback associated with obtaining a new sim card. Not all of them are a compatible match with most carriers. The older phones still use micro SIM, while the more updated one use Nano SIM.

With so many companies fighting for your business, SIM only deals have become ideal among many people. When you are paying on your cell phone bill, it’s best to remember that you’re paying for some of the phone too, as well as the actual bill.

As you can see from this article it is not actually necessary for you to obtain a new phone. If your phone is in good shape, it’s best to try a SIM only deal with the intention of saving some money. These cell phones are becoming outrageously expensive. Consumers want practicality, innovation, and savings. By deciding to go with a SIM only deal, you’re not only keeping your investment on the phone you already possess, you’re also deciding to not partake in any contracts regarding service.

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YouTube Paid Services Come to UK

YouTube Paid Services make their way to Europe

Google is gradually moving into the markets and fields which wasn’t its focus in the initial phase. This include the doing away of the Nexus line up and coming up with own hardware line-up and giving a stiff competition to the establish players with the Pixel smartphones. Similarly Google has rolled out the YouTube paid services in the form of YouTube Music and YouTube Premium subscription model in the Europe in a bid to bring challenge to the established players like Tidal, Apple Music and Spotify. The best thing about the YouTube Music is that it brings a free ad supported option which isn’t available on the premium music platforms like Apple Music.

YouTube Paid Services is rebranding to cover lost ground

Google’s YouTube is already set itself as number one in the video sharing arena and the subsequent launch of the YouTube Red didn’t turn to be as good as it hope for. Therefore Google has brought the rebranded version of this YouTube Paid services with the name “YouTube Premium”. This service will allow users to stream the music through YouTube Music as well as some of the exclusive video series ordered by the YouTube. Secondly users will also get the chance to play the videos off-line by simply downloading it. It should be noted that these services had made its way in the US last month where it has received lukewarm response so far. YouTube Premium is simply based on the small but commendable library of the original content produced for the YouTube Red service in the last two years. With YouTube Paid services, Google is trying to place the YouTube Music as a favourable and best option against the market players like popular Apple Music and Spotify.

YouTube Paid services is designed to offer more

YouTube Paid Services aimed at offering the best experience to the users regardless of the device they use. YouTube Music Premium will work effortlessly both the Android and iOS phones as well as tablets. It will also work with the Google Home smart speakers but no support will be extended to the Amazon Echo devices. YouTube Music Premium plans are set to do away with the existing Google Play Music app and Google has stated that the YouTube Paid service will everything in the same place altogether. In other words users will be able to enjoy the live recording, covers, remixes and mashups at a single place.

Secondly a lot of effort has been given towards enhancing the search facility on the app in YouTube Paid services. Users will be able to find the exact song even if they end up typing muddled up lyrics of the sing in question. Users will also be able to enjoy their favourite tacks and songs even when there is no internet with the offline downloading option. However at the moment there is no desktop app for it and YouTube Paid services makes use of the location data in order to provide valuable recommendations.

 

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Sodium- ion Batteries Could Make Your Smartphone Cheaper and Cleaner

New Sodium- ion Batteries Could Make Your Smartphone Cheaper and  could be the next to Power up Your Phone!

Researchers have recently found an alternative to powering up a phone or any other mobile device for that matter and it has something to so with the salt we use in our food. Yes you read right! Salt! Sodium which is a found in salt can be used in making the next generation battery. This Sodium- ion Batteries are much cheaper as sodium is abundantly found, and much cleaner than lithium-ion batteries that contribute to a lot of pollution.

So the next mobile you buy could be a lot cheaper than you imagine.  This sodium- ion battery was discovered by Chongwu Zhou, a professor at USC Viterbi School of Engineering. Salt or sodium which is found in abundance, could mean that scientists could literally walk up to the ocean and get the next best thing or maybe the first best thing to juice up our phones.

Current practice and where does Sodium- ion Batteries Could Make Your Smartphone Cheaper and Cleaner figure in:

Currently, our phones or other devices are being powered up by lithium ion batteries. Lithium causes a lot of pollution and has to be mined from the earth to be got, this makes it a very expensive component in a battery.

Sodium on the other hand is much cleaner than lithium and can be got easily as compared to lithium which makes it a much more viable option than current practice.

As for charging speeds, sodium- ion can charge up to 50% in just two minutes. But scientists are not satisfied yet, they are planning on boosting up charging efficiency and the life of these sodium ion batteries, before bring out sodium- ion batteries to the world.

Problems of using sodium- ion batteries:

In our current batteries lithium ions are stored in graphite- a soft mineral of carbon, but this causes problems for sodium- ions. Sodium – ions cannot be stored in graphite as they are too big.

The Solution to using Sodium- ion Batteries:

Instead of storing sodium- ions in graphite, researchers thought of another method that would be equally feasible. They decided to arrange red phosphorous on sheets of graphene- which is a layer of honeycombed carbon atoms which is the strongest material ever discovered.

The result, Wavy sheets of something known as “nanodots”. These nanodots can store and also release sodium- ions thus helping scientists bring sodium- ion batteries closer to reality.

Red Phosphorus as an anode in sodium- ion batteries:

Using red phosphorus as an anode in sodium- ion batteries means that it has a high capacity which is theoretically 2596 mAh/g. But using red phosphorus as an anode in a sodium- ion battery means that sodiation and desodiation in a sodium-ion battery causes large volume expansion and also another factor is that it has low electronic conductance.

So to solve the challenges of using red phosphorous as an anode, researchers have used red phosphorus with reduced graphene oxide sheets to make an anode for sodium- ion batteries.

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What is the Best Laptop in 2018

Best Laptop of 2018 So Far!

Looking out for a laptop in today’s market is no easy task. There’s a lot to choose from whether it be hybrid models, touchscreens and more. Knowing what is the best for you can be very difficult but here’s our list of best laptop for 2018 to get you going. Whether you’re a gamer or a professional or you simply would like to use your laptop for something else, we have a variety of best laptop to meet your every need.Today’s laptop has to do it all. There are a lot of good laptops in the market and very few features to tell them apart. So focusing on those features and what will be good for you here’s our list of best laptops for 2018 so far!

Starting of the list with Best Laptop: Numero one Dell XPS 13—

Combine fast processing with a cool exterior and you have Dell XPS 13. The Dell XPS 13 features 8^th generation processors along with solid state drives and up to 16 GB of RAM. As for the look of the laptop, it has a metallic finish with a white fiberglass interior.

The design looks premium and feels premium. Another feature of this sleek design is the InfinityEdge Bezel. This laptop has a bezel of only a quarter of an inch surrounding its screen. The keyboard is easy to use and the touch pad is as large as any of the competitors so there’s really nothing to complain about. Apart from all these niceties, this laptop has its web cam below rather than above the screen due to the quarter inch bezels. This laptop on the best laptop list will cost you above $1000.

Another best Laptop on the List- Macbook Pro 13 inch:

So what do you get for paying Apple’s premium on a laptop- well you get MacOS of course and Apple’s great quality to go with it.

To add to this you get 7^th generation core processors with not only this laptop but with all macbook pros. So if you’re wondering why to pay a premium for Apple products when there are just as best laptop out there? The answer is simple if you’re not really that taken up with Apple and its OS then their customer service will definitely make the decision of choosing a laptop for you.

Their service includes hardware others might refuse to guarantee and you can go to any Apple store to get your laptop looked at. While all this may still not appeal to you, Apple’s reputation and the quality of their goods will definitely ensure you a longer lasting laptop. So in a way it may be worth the extra price tag. This laptop will set you back around $1300.

Only the Best Laptop for this List- Samsung Chromebook Pro:

This one is for those looking for basic functionality, this laptop on the best laptop list combines a budget buy with Google’s reliable Chrome OS.

The Samsung Chromebook Pro has 2,560 by 1,600 display and an intel core M processor to power it up and to add to that its got tons of memory to go along with it.

Google’s Chrome OS is simple and fast to understand. Before Chrome OS was used to run only web apps and extensions but it now includes everything you can find in the Google Play Store. So now you get all that is there on your phone on your laptop as well. You can get this budget friendly laptop anywhere above $600.

Another on the best budget buy laptop list- ASUS Zenbook UX33OUA:

This ultrabook is a powerful laptop that may not be a Dell XPS 13 but is still a really good buy. The base model comes with an 8^th generation intel core i5 processor and 8 GB of RAM with 256 GB worth of solid state drive. This budget friendly laptop also comes with great battery life to go along with it.

This laptop will cost you $750 to get your hands on it.

A 2 in 1 Laptop for this list- Surface Pro:

Not so sure about a laptop cum tablet kind of thing then the surface pro is the one to bring you over to the hybrid side. It’ got all you look out for in a laptop fast processing, its light weight, stylish and functions as a tablet as well.

You can tote this thing around without the extra weight of the keyboard too. It has windows 10 and does everything a best laptop is supposed to do. Clocking in at just 1.73 pounds and only .33 inches thick this laptop is the one for anyone. It comes in a student version too. But no matter what version you pick you get the 7^th generation Kaby lake processor to go with this laptop. This laptop on the best laptop list will cost you above $800.

This one is for the gamers out there- Alienware 17 R5:

Alienware is known as the laptop makers for gamers and this one is no different too. Being one of the first laptops to come with a 6 core intel core i9 processor and also a Nividia GTX 1080 graphics card with 32 GB worth of RAM this laptop screams power and more.

With this amount of power you can run anything at any resolution without having any problems whatsoever. The display has 1440p with a refresh rate of 120Hz so gaming on this laptop is smooth sailing. As for design, Alienware never gets it wrong. This laptop may come in at the pricier side of things starting at $1500.

Hopefully this list of best laptop has given you clue or maybe more on what laptop to get whether it is for gaming or for a normal days work at the office or maybe simply for lying down watching YouTube videos all day. Coming in at a variety of price ranges these were our top picks for the year 2018.

 

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Can Keep Data Fresh for Wireless Networks With New Algorithm

Keeping Data Fresh with new form of Wireless Networks

Today’s day and age requires information to be transferred not only fast but also that the data should be the most current or the most freshest that is out there and often this does not happen. In order to avoid overloading wireless networks every bit of data does not get transferred on time and that means what you end up viewing may not be the most- freshest or most updated data that is out there.

It is not the question of how fast data can be transmitted in the wireless networks but that the data being transmitted over wireless networks do not get transmitted as often meaning that you are not seeing the most current version of data that is there. Take for example a car and it’s sensors, now it does not take much time for the sensors within the car to transmit data to a central processor but the age of that data will not only depend on the speed at which that data is being transmitted across channels but also on the frequency with which that data is being sent by the sensors.

How to keep information fresh on a wireless networks?

The question then arises as to how to increase the frequency of data being transferred to a central processing unit without completely overwhelming the network?

Engineers at MIT seem to have come up with an answer to this question. At present researchers at MIT say that they can apply their system to a simple wireless networks but hope that in the future they will be able to apply their findings to a much complex wireless network.

The process of keeping data fresh in a wireless networks:

In the course of their research, engineers at MIT made a simple network consisting of a central control station that would receive information from multiple nodes or in their case drones.

Using the assumption that only one node or drone could transmit data at any given time, researchers then began to decide which drone should send data at which time.

This question was answered by the team coming up with an algorithm, which calculated an index for each node, which in turn took into account factors such as the age of data, the reliability of the channel relaying information and the overall importance of that node in the wireless networks.

Nodes that are more reliable and faster are given a higher index as compared to nodes of lesser reliability and which are slower. But the index assigned to each node is not a fixed factor, this index keeps on changing and at any given time the node with the highest index relays data first.

The research team calculated a bound rate- the average age of information in a wireless network, which is the least time that has ever been achieved by any of the wireless networks elsewhere.

The researchers found that their data came very close to this bound rate and gave the freshest data possible as compared to any wireless networks that is out there.

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Oculus Go is the first VR gadget you might actually buy

Give serious thought to VR and buy first true VR gadget from Facebook called Oculus Go

The age of virtual reality has finally arrived. The virtual reality platform has grown by leaps and bounds in less than a decade and we had seen almost every other tech firm or consumers electronic manufacturer coming up with its own version of virtual reality headset. So far the most advanced and dominant offering in this field has the Hololens from Microsoft but Facebook has taken the crown from by unveiling the Oculus Go.

How VR goggles has evolved?

VR tech for the home use has made it to the consumer market quite early. Just two years we had $600 worth of goggles being placed on the face with a cable running down right to a computer to enjoy the newfound VR environs. Then came the cardboard box based VR goggles which simply required your premium smartphone to be placed in the holder to enjoy the VR like output.

And finally it came to the consoles with the launch of the PlayStation 4 VR which simply changed the game for better.All of these invention or unique products have helped in making the VR gadgets better and creating niche segment for it in the overcrowded consumer electronics market. Facebook’s latest VR headset Oculus Go is primed take a good shot at this market as well.

Oculus Go is affordable, trendy and desirable

Facebook has spent a quality to develop its every own VR headset even when the competitors were aggressively churning out their own versions with each passing year. But the headset designed by Facebook is simply way above the competition and it offers such cool features and functionality for the price that other will find it difficult to provide.

The best thing about the Oculus Go is that it doesn’t have any kind of cables. It’s cable free and extremely easy to use. It is compatible with iPhone, Android, Mac or any other PC. And it comes at a price of just $200 which acts as an icing on the cake. Oculus Go is designed for everything extraordinary.

You can play games or watch TV shows or movies with friends living continents apart with ease. It can also act a cosy private theatre on the long flights. Facebook has been kind enough to make it so immersive that you don’t need to bother about the fellow passengers and just enjoy your visual treat in air.

Oculus Go is for everyone

Oculus Go allows you the opportunity to teleport to new exciting places and explores things unimaginable. However in order to bring an affordable VR headset in the market Facebook did have to cut some corners and this can be felt in the VR experience which happens to be less sophisticated that it earlier counterparts. But the good thing about Oculus Go is that being affordable makes it better accessible to millions of prospective customer who aren’t super rich or being into this kind of thing.

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Google Wi- Fi Network Check Now Tests Multiple Device Connections

No More Dead Zones with Google Wi- Fi Network Checks!

Everyone needs to stay connected these days whether it’s through mobile data when you’re out or Wi- Fi when you’re at home and any problems to those connections means some really bad tempers all around. At home we depend on Wi- Fi connectivity and not only the devices like smart phones or tablets or computers, nowadays with  smart homes you would need to connect those smart TVs or smart security or washer to the  Wi- Fi too. Getting all these connected to one Wi- Fi too can be a pain if one or more devise doesn’t get the required connectivity. Remember that irritating buffering?  But now no more with Google Wi- Fi network checks.

Google Wi- Fi has already got network checks in place that measure the speed of the network as well as the quality of connection between the Google Wi- Fi and various access points in the house if you have more than one that is. Now Google is also planning to add a feature whereby the network check would now also check the quality of network going to each connected device in the household.

New Feature to Google Wi-Fi’s Network Check:

Google Wi- Fi has added another feature to it’s network check, whereby the Wi- Fi shows you how each device is performing on the network, that is if each device is getting adequate connectivity or not.

After that all you need to do is either move that device closer to the Google’s Wi- Fi or move the Google Wi- Fi closer to it. This feature just shows the bottle neck and helps you identify which devices can be rearranged in the house so as to get maximum connectivity.

You can view all the devices connectivity quality through the Google Wi- Fi app. As many as 18 devices can be connected to one Wi- Fi router and with that many devices on a network one or two or maybe even more devices will not be getting adequate network connectivity.

So with this new feature in Google’s Wi- Fi, users can know how much connectivity each device is getting.

When is this new feature on Google Wi- Fi coming?

This new feature on the Google Wi- Fi will be coming as an update to the system in the coming weeks and to all units worldwide. After the update all that the user has to do is start seeing each individual device’s connectivity through the Google Wi- Fi app.

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New ways to control Google Pixel Buds

New exciting ways to controls your Google Pixel Buds debuts today

When Google Pixel Buds made its debut a year it was seen as a blatant copy of the Apple Ear Buds and the response to it was quiet underwhelming. Google has been quick enough to understand that simply coping the Apple devices isn’t the best way to lure the high-end Android users therefore it went back to the basics and focused on bringing more features to its simple buds to make it a lucrative and powerful option for the users.

In last couple of months Google Pixel Buds has transformed into new age smart ear buds with the injection of the Google Assistant centric features which includes gesture controls to start the voice command mode by simply touching and holding the Google Pixel Buds. Just a week ago Google has even transformed the way in which apps tends to send the spoken notifications to the Google Pixel Bud.

Now we have the final update which brings a range of tap gesture capabilities to the Google Pixel Buds making it easier to pair the ear buds with the devices. These updates are expected to roll out from today and by the end of the week everyone will be able to do more with their Google Pixel Bud globally.

Triple tap to turn Pixel Buds off or on

Google Pixel Buds now comes with the option to manually turn on or off by simply giving a triple tap on the right ear bud. Now users wouldn’t require opening their mobile in order to disable the buds when not needed. This is a smart intuitive way to get put Google Pixel Buds at rest when not needed or bring them back in the action without the need of picking up the phone.

Give double tap to select ‘next track’

So far users were able to hear the upcoming notifications by simply double tapping the Google Pixel Buds but now users will get the opportunity to set the double tap for skipping to the next track as well. Users can enable this option by going to the Pixel Buds settings present within the Google Assistant App. Now users can make use of Google Assistant to skip to the next track or given double taps on the Google Pixel bud.

A focus towards improving the pairing of devices with Pixel Buds

Google Pixel Buds is essentially an audio device therefore it has to have a fine way of pairing with other devices without any issues.  But switching between phone and computer has always been an uphill task for the users therefore Google has brought a massive update here. By simply selecting the Pixel Buds in the Bluetooth menu of the desired devices users will be able to switch between phone and computer with ease and grace. But in doing so they will get disconnected from the device they are using at first before getting connected to the new one. These features will certainly help in improving the overall listening experience for the users on the Google Pixel Bud.

 

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Google I/O 2018: All the Big Announcement from Google

What new thing revealed at the just concluded Google I/O?

The major shift in focus for Google towards becoming more’ smarter’ was seen more pronounced with SundarPichai at the helm. From being a search-oriented in the first half of this decade Google has taken a deep dive into the world of AI and machine learning and has established itself as a core AI enterprise without much fanfare. In the just concluded Google I/O we got to see how Google using AI to power from self-driving cars, smartphones to almost anything. The highlight of this conference was the emergence of voice assistant which appears to be indistinguishable from the humans. Here are some of the major things revealed at the Google I/O.

Google I/O:  Let AI handle the boring conversations

Google I/O brought the most exciting features to the Android which allows it make use of Google Assistant powered by Google Duplex to make natural conversation like humans. This is suited for the purpose of booking a table at a restaurant or appointments. The machine vice used here isn’t the usual creepy machine like one but happens to be a hyper-realistic human voice added with smaller words like “mmhm’ and ‘uh’.

Be polite with the virtual assistant with Google I/O

Google Assistant is smart but still happens to be a machine at the core and it is designed to respond to almost anything said to it using the “OK Google” command. Google I/O brought a noble solution to this with new features aptly title “Pretty Please” wherein users are required to make use of the words “please” and “thank you” in their commands. This feature is designed to make both adults and kids in order to encourage them to talk politely with the virtual assistant in their home or office.

Google I/O makes News become smarter than before

Google I/O made the Google New better by injecting it with the AI boost. Now users will get more personalized news with a dedicated “For You” tab where new is populated by AI through learning the user’s reading habits, then there is “Newscasts” section which brings the most notable events of the days and it also offers an in-depth news with ‘Full Coverage option which allows users to see the same news covered by different media houses.

Google I/O Helping your phone last longer

Google I/O saw the debut of new exciting features on the Android called ‘Adaptive battery” and as the name suggests this features will work by carefully analyzing which apps be used by the users at what time interval and the phone will save battery herein through reducing the app wakeups in between. This update will essentially help the users in conserving their battery and making their phone last longer with the help of the AI boost. With Android P users will also get a refined dashboard which will show how much time has been spent on any given app and users get to use a new gesture called “shush” which will allow users to put their smartphone in the “Do Not Disturb’ mode effortlessly.

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Fitbit Strikes Deal With Google That Could Lead to Wearables Collaboration

Fitbit- Google Collaboration in the Works?

Fitness bands are the rage these days, anyone and everyone wants to get on the fitness bandwagon and for good measure too. With life being so hectic and with bad eating habits, it is no surprise that people want to start exercising and get fit. So to help them along the way companies such as Fitbit have come up with Fitness bands or trackers. A while back the Fitbit brand was a well- known one and still is today but over the years it has undergone some serious problems as people have moved on to smart watches to track their fitness levels rather than a band.

So to come out of their rut, Fitbit is partnering up with Google to get deeper into the healthcare sector.It is now moving it’s attention from weekend athletes to the healthcare of individuals. Looking at Google now, the tech giant has not done too well for itself too in the wearables department either. So who knows maybe this Fitbit- Google collab will give their wearables a much needed boost?

The whole Fitbit- Google Collab:

Fitbit’s shares have plummeted about 70% since their initial public offering back in 2015 and now to put a stop to that plummet, Fitbit has partnered up with Google to enter into the healthcare sector.

Fitbit recently announced it’s attention to use Google’s health data standards for apps commonly known as Healthcare APIs. What this does basically is that Fit bit will be able to connect its wearable devices to medical records used by doctors and the hospitals. So now there won’t be any need for totting around those medical files whenever  you visit the doctor, all the data will be present on your new Fitbit wearable device.

The collab does not end here either. Fitbit will also make use of Google’s cloud storage platform, which has already got most of the approvals necessary like the federal Health Insurance Portability and HIPAA an act that regulates the use of medical records. This would give Fit bit a little breathing space as they would not have to build their own law compliant systems.

Advantages of the Fitbit partnering with Google:

As one could imagine there are many benefits of partnering up with Google. For Fit bit specifically their reach to worldwide customers will expand as well as they will reach their customers faster. The other advantage as stated by Fit bit is that they will be able to enhance customer experience with their Fitbit- Google collab.

This new partnership could also mean that Fit bit and Google may come out with a new line of wearables too.

The struggle in the wearable market:

Both companies have had their share off bad luck in the wearable department, while Fit bit’s shares have plummeted 70% since its initial public offering, Google’s Android Wear failed to pick up users attention for well over seven years. Google has even renamed Android Wear to WearOS in an attempt to build up that brand with consumers.

As mentioned earlier, this Fit bit- Google collab could mean something new in the wearable department. Let’s see if that works out.

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Engineers Invent Smart Microchip That Can Self-Start and Operate When Battery Runs Out

Smart Microchip Developed With The Purpose Of Power Management

A smart microchip, BATLESS has been developed by a team of researchers from the faculty of Engg. from the National University of Singapore.  The smart microchip can self-start and continue to operate when the battery has been drained.

Internet of Things (IoT) is the future of many industries and will also play a major role in our daily lives. The main challenge faced is to operate these devices under limited energy sources and thereby create power efficiency. Some of the IoT devices such as the sensors are utilized on a large scale in remote areas thus making it difficult to service on a regular basis and hence the smart microchip will play a major role in making these IoT devices self-sufficient.

As of now, the batteries that we see in the IoT devices are large and are more expensive than the single chip that is powered. The battery size depends on the sensor node lifetime and this in turn determines the life of the battery. This eventually affects the cost of maintenance and will also be detrimental to the environment when the batteries are discarded. To extend the lifetime of the batteries you can harvest the power from the environment by using the solar cell which is a slow recharging process. Currently the IoT devices operate on batteries and the smaller batteries run out of charge quite frequently. The devices will not be able to function every time the battery runs out of charge.

To overcome this difficulty, a team from NUS has developed a smart microchip, BATLESS that can operate even when the battery has died down. The smart microchip has been developed with the aim of power management. It can self-start and continue to function under dim light without the use of any battery but by using a small on-chip solar cell. This is seen as a breakthrough since the battery size to power IoT sensor nodes reduces thereby making them 10 times smaller and cheaper to produce. This will lead to developing IoT sensor nodes without the use of batteries and in turn developing innumerable IoT devices the world over.

The functioning of the smart microchip

The IoT devices continue to operate even when the battery is exhausted. This is accomplished by operating in two different modes – minimum energy and minimum power. When there is battery energy the chip runs in minimum energy mode to utilize the battery life. When the battery dies out, the chip utilizes the minimum power mode and operates with a power consumption of half a nanoWatt. This power can be obtained from a small on-chip solar cell or from other energy sources.

Since the smart microchip can switch from minimum energy to minimum power, the battery size can reduce extensively from centimetres to a few millimetres. The smart microchip, BATLESS can process all events without any interruption and all valuable data can be transmitted wirelessly to the cloud when the battery functions again. Even though it is in minimum power mode when the battery is unavailable, the speed of the smart microchip is enough to carry out various IoT applications that vary slowly in time like temperature, pressure, etc.

The smart microchip, BATLESS also manages power by helping operations self- start with no battery assistance but only being powered by the tiny on-chip solar cell.

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Spectre Next Generation Flaws: Eight New Spectre Variants Affecting Intel Chips

Spectre Next Generation Flaws could potentially affect your CPU

After Spectre and Meltdown bugs shook the computing world, there are new reports saying that bugs originating from the same, could also affect CPUs. This new type of bug is come to be known as Spectre next generation flaws. Researchers have recently found bugs that resemble the spectre and meltdown bugs, which could potentially affect CPUs.

Meltdown and Spectre bugs reveal the details of CPUs either by crossing over hardware or by tricking applications on the computer into giving vital information. Researchers have recently found that a new strain of these bugs could also affect CPUs. It is unsure as of now whether any hackers have taken advantage of these flaws or not.

More about Spectre Next Generation Flaws:

Researchers found a total of 8 flaws of spectre next generation that could affect CPUs. There are also reports that ARM chips could be affected. As of now no company is willing to give any details until a patch for the spectre next generation bug is found.

The researchers who discovered the spectre next generation flaws are working under responsible disclosure requirements in which they contact companies vulnerable to the spectre next generation Flaws and agree to delay their findings until a suitable patch is discovered to fix the spectre next generation issue.

Google Project Zero, the team that initially discovered the spectre and meltdown flaws have also discovered one of the spectre next generation flaws and have gone on a 90- day embargo on releasing any details to the public. This 90- day embargo will end on May 7^th.

Companies reaction to the Spectre next Generation Flaws:

Intel is saying that they are working closely with customers, partners, chip makers and researchers to mitigate any issues that are discovered on their chips. The company believes in full disclosure with all parties concerned and they believe with the sharing of this information only can they better solve the problem.

AMD said it was aware of the spectre next generation flaws and that the media were reporting on the issue, other than this they declined further comment. Google and ARM have not yet commented on the spectre next generation issue.

As of now,no further details regarding the spectre next generation flaws have come to light and that everything is kept under wraps, but the research team that initially discovered the spectre and meltdown flaws said that additional flaws of the same variety could also arise and that they too would require patches.

The Patches and Updates for the spectre next generation flaws:

Companies are racing against time to come up with a patch for the spectre next generation flaw;this may begin a seemingly endless cycle of updates and patches that could also result in stability and performance issues in computers.

As of now there are no reports on hackers using the spectre and meltdown bugs to their advantage, but similar ways of hacking have become a hot topic when it comes to research and it could also mean that hackers are just biding their time until they come up with a new form of attack.

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Best New Beauty Gadget of 2018

Beauty Gadget for Your Personal Use

There are a lot of beauty gadgets whereby one can perform their beauty regime in the confines of their home. You can get amazing results from your hair to your face, skin and teeth. There is plenty of beauty gadgets for every part of your body including removal of unwanted hair and getting a clearer and glowing skin. There are lot of massages and even diffusers that release a relaxing scent to help you wind down at the end of a tiring day. Some of this beauty gadget becomes great gifts to your loved ones.

Here is some of the best beauty gadget for your personal use:

Beauty Gadget Clarisonic Mia 2 Blend and Cleanse Holiday Gift Set

With the Clarisonic cleansing brush you can remove foundation and eye shadow without much ado. This beauty gadget comes with an additional brush head that applies makeup. It buffs on the foundation and gives an airbrushed finish without getting your fingers dirty. It is retailing at $149.

 

 blendSMART2 Rotating Foundation Brush

This beauty gadget which consists of a rotating brush gives the perfect no-makeup makeup look. It blends the foundation, blush, eye shadow and highlighter to give a flawless look. This gadget spins at 190 RPM and comes with an interchangeable brush head and has antimicrobial fibers designed with a purpose of sensitive skin types in mind. This foundation brush costs $69.

Beauty Gadget LumaRx Full Body Hair Removal System

With this beauty gadget all the unwanted and unsightly hair can be removed from large and small areas including the chin, underarms, bikini line, legs and arms. This device uses the intense pulsed light technology (IPL) to help reduce hair permanently. This hair removal gadget costs $449.99.

Beauty Gadget Cloud Nine Waving Wand

The Waving Wand from cloud Nine gives loose waves or smooth curls. This beauty gadget has a temperature-controlled wand and comes with a pair of heatproof gloves, paddle brush and travel bag. It costs 99 pounds.

Beauty Gadget  Panasonic Facial Steamer

For a clearer, brighter and softer skin, use the facial steamer for 6-minutes. This beauty gadget by Panasonic takes your skin regime to a totally new level. This facial steamer costs 99.99 pounds.

Beauty Gadget Baby Quasar Clear Rayz

This beauty gadget is a zit zapper. With the help of the blue and red lights, there will be healing of breakouts in a few days, calm the redness and prevent dark spots. This device costs $249.

Beauty Gadget NuFace Trinity

The NuFace Trinity uses microcurrent technology. This beauty gadget gives a lift to the cheeks, brows and jawline for up to 24 hours. This is a temporary tightener and though electricity is sent into the skin there is no pain felt as it has two metallic balls that act like massagers. It stimulates circulation and tightens facial muscles for firming the skin temporarily. It costs $123.

Sigma Beauty Go Clean Duo

This beauty gadget comes with a makeup brush cleaning grooved mat and brush shampoo. The grooved mat helps to remove liquid foundation and gel eyeliner from deep down the bristles. It is a very handy device for cleansing all the makeup brushes. This gadget costs $35.

Optimizer Voyage Tri Light

This is a handheld beauty gadget that has a mix of yellow, blue and red LED lights that gives a light therapy treatment. It helps getting rid of bacteria and gives a clearer skin. It is selling at $265.

Ghd Platinum Styler

This Platinum flatiron heats up in quick time and gives your hair a straight look. This beauty gadget gives the desired results without causing damage to the hair. It comes at a cost of 165 pounds.

Tangle Teezer

With this beauty gadget you can smoothen the knots and detangle the hair. It helps to detangle curly hair that is knotted. It costs $15.

Foreo Iris Illuminating Eye Massager

This beauty gadget vibrates and helps to massage in the eye cream. It deflates puffiness of the eyes and lightens unsightly under eye dark circles. It reduces the appearance of crow’s feet and under eye bags. It is selling at 119 pounds.

This Works Scent Well Diffuser & Oil

With this diffuser, the oil which is a mix of lavender, chamomile and patchouli creates a relaxing effect. It is retailing at $125.

Revlon 360 Dual Fast Dry Hairdryer and Styler

This beauty gadget works in two ways. It acts as a traditional dryer for blow drying the hair or you can twist the barrel to dry the hair faster between two barrels. It is priced at $60.

Rodan + Fields Amp MD System

This beauty gadget uses microneedling technology. It exfoliates the skin and helps in healing the scars. There is a retinoid serum that has been included in the pack which is quite effective. It is retailing at $220.

Smart Electric Toothbrush

This smart toothbrush links to your smartphone and ensures a complete two-minute brushing without pressing down too hard while brushing the teeth. This beauty gadget also has new smart brush heads and a tongue cleaner. It comes at a cost of $330.

Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment

This beauty gadget uses the blue light and red light technology for treating acne prone skin. It kills the bacteria and helps the zits to shrink fast. It costs $20.

Ying Yu Jade Facial Roller

You need to put this gadget in the fridge 15 minutes before using it. Combine it with an eye gel and roll it especially around the eyes. It will help to remove the puffiness from the eyes and sells at 28 pounds.

Tria Age-Defying Laser

This beauty gadgets helps to erase wrinkles. It works on the entire face and uses the same wavelength as some of the professional lasers but at energy levels that cannot damage the skin. This device takes a little bit longer to get the desired results. After a period of three months and using it for five days in a week there will be significant improvement in wrinkles and dark spots. It is selling at $495.

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Apple Is Struggling To Stop A Skeleton Key Hack On Home Wi-Fi

New Skeleton Key Hack with Apple iOS?

Nothing on the net is free from the threat of hacking. Even with the best of security and the best of hardware and software that is out there, you aren’t completely free from getting hacked, the same goes with Apple’s products too. The Cupertino company is known for their tech and the quality that goes behind all their products but are they free from the threat of hacking or are they too susceptible to a crisis that affects literally the whole net? The answer is yes, they too can be hacked and a recent threat these days seems to be with regards to a skeleton key.

Apple has invested a lot in cyber security and expertise but is that enough? Some threats seem to be so difficult to manage that even with millions of dollars spent on them and a lot of time invested into removing those threats, they are still not fully eradicated. One such threat uses a skeleton key. The basics of this threat is that the hack exploits the trust of iOS devices in IoT devices for example connected toasters or smart TV’s.

How does the skeleton key hack work?

Discovered by founder of Lab Mouse Security, this skeleton key hack works much like this, a hacker would first have to gain access to anIoT device available on the internet and exposed to outsiders, such as a smart toaster. Again doing this, as stated by the founder is no difficult feat as IoT devices are known not to have strong security on them.

For the skeleton hack to work, these IoT devices would have to have an MFi chip- which is a chip that Apple designs that it then lends out to other manufacturers to get their devices hooked up to iOS products. Once the hackers have taken control of the IoT devices they can then exploit the trust of iOS products and get them to hand over private network keys.

Once the hacker gets on to the IoT device and has access to the MFi chip, they can then pose as any smart device and then exploit the iOS device and get them to hand over private network security keys and there is also no way for Apple to actually verify whether they are giving the network security details to a smart device or a hacker manipulating device. So unknowingly the iOS device does this without knowing about the hack.

The next element to this hack is that after the network security details are given then the hacker can use them to join the network and then it becomes useful for further attacks.

This MFi chip then becomes the skeleton key to get access to one’s private network keys.

Will the Skeleton Key Hack work:

As said by the founder of Lab Mouse Security, this skeleton key hack is not only possible on paper but is also completely possible in real life too, but that is not to say that hackers will use this technique. There are other simpler methods out there than the skeleton key hack that targets the Wi- Fi router directly and it is probable that hackers would prefer this hack than the skeleton key one.

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Helping You Better Understand Desktop Computers With These Simple To Follow Tips

You have likely owned at least one or two desktop computers in your lifetime. Are you really aware of all of the things that they involve? If you don't, you will be surprised at everything that will be taught here. Lots of great information is available here.

If you are buying a desktop computer online, be sure to see it in person if you can. For example, if you are going to buy a Dell computer online, attempt to see it at a store near you before you buy it. You may find that the keys are too close together for comfort, or that the screen is not as big as you thought. If you're able to see a physical model, it will help make your decision easier.

Use caution with the products you pick when you build a desktop. Some processors will only work with certain motherboards. Certain motherboards are compatible only with certain RAM units. When buying components, check for cross-compatibility. You can save yourself a lot of money, time and hassles when you build a desktop computer yourself.

It's important to consider where you'll place your desktop computer and how it will fit into the space you've designated. Desktop computers come in different shapes and sizes. Certain machines have smaller profiles, and others use lots of vertical area. Figure out what sort of space you have first.

If you want a new desktop computer, look online. The internet has so many different deals and options, you are sure to find a computer that is both in your price range and does all the things you need it to do. The only thing you have to remember is to compare prices from different companies so that you're getting the best deal.

As mentioned previously, you have probably owned your own desktop computer. Chances are good that you were in the dark before you found this article. Use what you've just learned, and understanding computers will be easier.

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