INTEL'S REAL SENSE CAMERA IS HERE!

Intel’s RealSense is actually a family of different products: there’s the RealSense “Snapshot,” a camera mounted into tablets like the Dell Venue Pro 8000, which can be used for real-world distance measuring. And then there’s the RealSense 3D Camera (Rear R200) a rear-mounted 3D camera that looks purpose-built for a Surface or similar tablet. But that isn’t available yet, Intel says.

RealSense is Intel’s “eye” into the world, a depth camera much like the Kinect camera that was designed for (and rejected by buyers of) the Microsoft Xbox One. It not only includes a video camera, but an infrared projector and laser to better intuit the real world. At the Game Developers Conference, CES, and the like, Intel has showed off a number of applications that take advantage of the RealSense cameras, from “scanning” your face onto a 3D avatar, to games that take advantage of gestures made with your hands. They can either be discrete cameras, or built into laptops and tablets.

But like the Kinect for Windows, this is very early in the game. The hardware might be mature, but the apps are few, far between, and in some cases not fully formed.

Intel provided PCWorld with the original RealSense 3D camera, also known as the Front F200, which carries the label from its designer, Creative Labs. (Remember them?) It flops over the top of your monitor or laptop, using a stiff hinge to balance and secure it. A USB cable snakes out the back to your PC. It normally costs about $100.

To really take advantage of all the intelligence built into the RealSense camera, however, you’ll need to download a rather sizeable software development kit, totaling 1.3GB. But that SDK contains all the files you’ll need for everything from gesture control to speech recognition. (You’ll need to download the camera drivers separately, all from the Intel RealSense page.)

Intel also provided alpha codes to NeverMind, a fascinating psychological horror concept game from Flying Mollusk that taps into the camera’s ability to “read” your pulse by examining your face with the infrared camera. Like Inception or The Cell, NeverMind puts you in the shoes of a therapist injected into the mind of the patient, where you root out buried traumas represented by photographs.

There’s one catch: the RealSense camera can read your fear, and the game ramps upthe difficulty the more scared or anxious you become: increasing the frequency of spikes, for example, or overlaying “static” on your field of view, making it more difficult to see. The idea is for you to learn how to manage stress, both in the game and the real world.

The concept is an interesting one, playing off of a thesis authored by the game’s creative director, Erin Reynolds. Producer Michael Annetta explained that the original concept called for using a chest strap to track the user’s heart rate, but the RealSense camera was far less intrusive.

A Never Mind Puzzle You Must Solve To Proceed

In my brief playthrough, I found the game concept fascinating enough, although the RealSense camera seemed to hold the experience back. I’ll admit I was a bit nervous, and my “viewscreen” was quickly filled with static. I settled down quickly—after all, the tutorial level began in bucolic, peaceful countryside—but the static never went away until I restarted the game. I suspect that either the game didn’t poll the camera often enough, or else the camera couldn’t easily detect changes in my pulse. (Note that RealSense camera is designed to “read” you from 20 cm to 200 cm, or 7 inches to 47 inches away.) Restarting the game seemed to solve the problem.

That’s not to say that those are the only apps available for the RealSense camera right now; Intel’s Perceptual Computing Challenge has helped commission games like Head of the Order, for example, where users can “cast spells” by drawing glyphs onto the screen. Intel also has a dedicated RealSense site where users can download a small number of games and other apps.

The reason that this is important, however, is that Intel hopes to make the RealSense technology ubiquitous, replacing the common Webcams found in notebooks with its own, more sophisticated cameras.

One can imagine a world where Cheetos-munching users navigate by waving their hands through space, rather than pawing a keyboard or the display itself. But as interesting as the NeverMind concept is, Intel needs to do two things: attract mainstream app support, such as a browser or productivity app, and offer a showcase or app store where users can try them out.

I certainly don’t want to imply that Intel’s RealSense is dead or not worthwhile—not by any means. Intel did us the courtesy of providing us hardware that few actually have. But Intel clearly wanted journalists to walk away thinking that developers need to get on board and support the platform. We’ll agree. If RealSense is going to become mainstream, we need some mainstream uses for it.

-Mark Hachman

DETERMINATION!

    

       Determination- the word, the wise and the fool speak of. What is it? Why is it, important? Oh we have heard loads of stories and lectures upon it.

**How to be determined, enough?** is the main point, which we' re not taught or seldomly taught of.

May be, an indication that enough is a superficial word. You will never have **enough**. But determination needs this companion "enough"

    And as I speak of determination- I am not talking of stubbornness.  Because stubbornness is blind... never need "enough" All it needs is ego.

Now not going off the track. Let' s find out HOW TO BE DETERMINED, ENOUGH?
First, be ensure of what' re you determined of. Analysing the consequences of it,  will make it easy. Because if you turned off your eyes towards the results.. you're basically going in the direction of stubbornness.

    And believe me, the blindness towards the results will not lead to anywhere.

Clearing in mind what you want to do is good and won't let anybody suffer. Proceed further.

Next thing you need to do is jot it down, in form of letter. Your memory can fail you. But the words in your writing won't let you forget the reason why you started.

And just go for it.

      I know there will be times when you' ll seek the exit. That time read the letter, you wrote. And you will find the doors-  opening to give a direction.

The last but not the least, you should keep in mind is believing in yourself that you took the correct path... the correct decision. Afterall, it was your mind who took it. Keeping positivity is a must.

And believe me- IT WOULD BE ENOUGH!

-Ankita upadhyay

No Cell Signal? This Can Help When You Wander Off-Grid!

A new accessory for phones with no reception might be a life-saver, or at least a link back to civilization. The GoTenna establishes a direct radio connection to other GoTennas up to 4 miles away, so you can send text messages and even share your location with family or friends. Sold in $200 pairs, the device is less clumsy than walkie-talkies, less pricey than satellite phones.

I tested a pair around San Francisco and in some wilder stretches of California. I found GoTenna’s radio tech has some serious range limitations over rocky or urban terrains. Inside the dense, hilly City by the Bay, it was only able to beam a message only over half a mile. But along a relatively flat stretch of beach it eked out a signal across 3 miles.

Still, the GoTenna is a worthwhile tool for people who go off the grid but don’t want to totally disconnect, including campers, skiers, hunters, emergency preppers and cruise-ship voyagers. I’d use one to keep my brood in contact on our next overseas adventure, if only to avoid international roaming charges.

Don’t think of the GoTenna as a fix for patchy cell service. If calls drop a lot where you live or work, you’ve got options, including Wi-Fi calling or installing a mini cell tower.

I also tried a new range-extending iPhone case called the Reach Case R79X, from Antenna79, sold by Best Buy and AT&T. My experience was mixed: In some countryside areas it strengthened a weak signal by as much as two times. But it didn’t do so consistently in different locations. Nor did it pick up signal in areas where the phone alone couldn’t find one. The $60 R79X is worth trying—and returning to the store if it doesn’t help.

The GoTenna is designed for situations where there’s no signal at all. It was born after superstorm Sandy, the 2012 storm that knocked out cell service in parts of New York and New Jersey. In the aftermath, company co-founder Daniela Perdomo, a Brooklyn, N.Y.-based tech entrepreneur originally from São Paulo, wondered if there might be a way to let people still use their smartphones without being susceptible to infrastructure failure. The GoTenna began shipping in October.

ENLARGE

Like its name suggests, the GoTenna is a radio antenna. Just about 6 inches long, it’s small and light enough to clip onto a backpack or jacket—but noticeable enough that people stopped me to ask what it was. It connects via Bluetooth to an Apple or Android phone, where the GoTenna app can send and receive data through the antenna when it’s extended to 8 inches. The rechargeable battery lasts about 24 hours, or long enough to send 700 messages.

The GoTenna operates on some the lowest frequencies (151 to 154 MHz) available without a radio license. Those frequencies allow digital signals to travel longer distances. But due to limited bandwidth, GoTenna’s technology doesn’t send voice or photos. It only sends text messages and GPS coordinates—sufficient both for telling a buddy you’ve found the perfect campsite…or flagging a helicopter to come get you off that godforsaken mountain.

Neonode's AirBar uses beams of light to turn any laptop into a touchscreen laptop!!

     Ever since Microsoft so heartily embraced finger-friendliness with Windows 8, accessory makers have been striving to figure out a compelling way to add touch capabilities to non-touchscreen displays, be it in the form of fancy styli paired with infrared receivers, gesture control scheme like Leap Motion, or touch-sensitive overlays that you plop on your laptop’s display. But sadly, every single solution has been either lacking in functionality or just plain overpriced.

Enter Neonode’s AirBar—potentially.

        The AirBar’s a slim sensor that magnetically latches onto the bottom of your Chromebook or Windows laptop’s display and connects via USB. Once it’s hooked up—Neonode says it’s plug and play, with no extra drivers necessary—the device casts a beam of light across your screen, and you can poke, pinch, zoom, swipe and scroll around with your hand the way you would on a touchscreen PC.

Since the AirBar’s powered by light, rather than touch, you can use it to interact with your laptop in ways that traditional touchscreens don’t allow, such as with a glove or even chopsticks.

Unlike some of the other impromptu touchscreen solutions out there, AirBar won’t break the bank, either. You can preorder the sensor on the AirBar website right now for $50, though the only model available currently works with 15.6-inch laptops alone.

The story behind the story: AirBar’s price is certainly right, but that’s only one part of the equation with input as visceral as touch. The device has to nail the feeling of actual touch input if it truly wants to succeed. Will it pull it off? Neonode’s going to be showing off the AirBar at CES 2016 in a few weeks, where we’ll hopefully have a chance to poke and prod it ourselves.

Driverless car at 62mph? Baidu says that's no problem

      Chinese search-engine provider Baidu says it has wrapped up a round of "rigorous, fully-automated tests" with its technology in a modified BMW 3 Series.
Baidu, one of the companies that had designs on Nokia's then for-sale HERE maps, says the tests mark a milestone in China's driverless car ambitions.
According to Baidu, the tests demonstrated its technology can handle complex road conditions and accurately respond to the driving environment across a 30-kilometre test drive route.
      "Fully autonomous driving under mixed road conditions is universally challenging, with complexity further heightened by Beijing's road conditions and unpredictable driver behavior," said Wang Jing, SVP of Baidu and general manager of Baidu's Autonomous Driving Business Unit.
The test took place on a stretch of road from Baidu's Beijing headquarters and around the G7 highway, Fifth Ring Road, Olympic Park and back again.

Baidu said the car peaked at 62mph (100kph) during the tests -- a speed that Google, with an emphasis on caution, has avoided for now with its cars maxing out at 25mph.
According to Baidu, its vehicle "successfully executed driving actions including making right turns, left turns and U-turns, decelerating when detecting vehicles ahead, changing lanes, passing other cars and merging into traffic from on-ramps and exiting from off-ramps".

      Baidu announced earlier this year that that was working with a car manufacturer to roll out driverless cars in the second half of 2015, opening up the door to competition with Google from the Chinese company's deep-learning labs within Baidu Research.

Others vying for a place in the next frontier for driving include Uber, Apple, Tesla, Volvo, as well as German car manufacturers that just completed the investment in Nokia's HERE maps in a defensive move aimed at keeping the technology from falling from their grip.
Baidu said its tests were run using its HAD, 'highlight automated driving', maps, which it developed on its own and which sit at the core of Baidu AutoBrain, its chief driving technology. Baidu said it expects to have mapped most of China's roadways with its HAD mapping technology within the next five to 10 years.

Hey Cortana! Welcome To Android And IOS!

After months of beta testing on iOS and Android, Microsoft has officially made its voice assistant, Cortana, available on the two dominant mobile operating systems, as well as Cyanogen OS.
If you use a Windows 10 desktop or laptop, the personal voice assistant will now sync all your data stored in Cortana across your devices. Each operating system offers different features with Cortana, but the basics are that users can set location-based reminders, track notifications like packages and flights, and receive missed call alerts on a Windows 10 PC.
Just like the desktop version, you can use Cortana to look up information and get suggestions, similar to Google Now and Siri.


Just say “Hey Cortana,” when you’re in the app or on your homescreen to activate her, just like you’d say “OK Google,” or “Hey Siri,” to bring up the Android and iOS voice assistants. You can also receive text notifications on your PC, if you have an Android phone. The feature does not work on iOS.
Cortana will be pre-installed via an over-the-air update on the OnePlus One this month, alongside the 12.1.1 Cyanogen update. In the OS, you’ll be able to use the “Hey Cortana” command on any screen, and in any app.
“The custom integration includes the ability to ask Cortana to toggle network modes, power down your phone, and turn on Quiet Mode amongst other features,” Marcus Ash, group program manager for Cortana, said in a blog post announcement. “With Quiet Mode enabled, all notifications, calls and alarms will be silenced.”

Unfortunately the app is only available in the U.S. and China, but it will eventually expand to more countries. It’s available on iPhones running iOS 8 and up, and Android devices on versions 4.1.2 and higher. The OnePlus One is the only Cyanogen device that can run Cortana at this time. Microsoft says integration will be rolled out to additional Cyanogen OS devices next year with “greater functionality.”
Microsoft also announced a partnership with Uber, bringing Uber’s first desktop app through Windows 10. As a part of the deal, Uber is offering a free ride up to $20 for Windows users new to the ride-sharing service with the promotional code “MSFTWIN10”

While you’ll still need to grab the Uber app for Windows 10, this means that with Cortana, all you have to say to your PC is, “Hey Cortana, get me an UberX to Digital Trends, New York City,” or any address, and it’ll let you set your pickup location and request a ride. The app notifies you when your driver is arriving, and you need a phone number to sign up for the account, but existing users do not need a phone to use the app.
The Live Tile for the Uber app will display the estimated time for the driver to appear, so that you don’t have to keep the app open.

Pixel C review: Google's first tablet makes rookie mistakes!!

             The first reaction I had upon holding the Pixel C was basically, "Boy, this feels expensive." Its polished metal case is unmatched among Android slates -- it's the closest thing the platform has, build-wise, to the iPad. Still, it's a tad hefty for a premium tablet today, clocking in at 1.13 pounds. In comparison, Samsung's high-end Tab S2 tablet is just 0.86 pounds (and significantly thinner too), and the iPad Air 2 comes in slightly under a pound. Those might not sound like huge differences, but they're noticeable when you're holding a tablet with one hand for an extended period of time.
The Pixel C is more directly comparable to the Surface 3, which starts at the same price and weighs slightly more (1.37 pounds). But those differences seems a tad more excusable with that device, since it's a full-fledged Windows PC, with support for all existing Windows software and an interface better suited to multitasking. It's pretty clear that Google sacrificed a bit of portability with the Pixel C in exchange for better productivity. It's the first tablet to use NVIDIA's Tegra X1 processor, and that likely affected how thin it could be.
           
               Even more surprising than the weight of the Pixel C is that of its keyboard accessory, which also features an all-metal case and clocks in at 0.87 pound (a touch heavier than the Galaxy Tab S2!). Sure, it's well built, but it just feels like overkill. At least the keys actually feel good, with 1.4 millimeters of travel and great responsiveness. The Pixel C keyboard definitely takes some getting used to — it's far more cramped than typical keyboards, and you'll also have to deal with some slight repositioning, like the skinny, vertical Enter key. It also doesn't have a touchpad, you'll have to stick with your fingers to manipulate the screen (or get a Bluetooth mouse, if you're really desperate for a traditional pointer).
The Pixel C snaps together with its keyboard via embedded magnets: Just lay the tablet down flat on the top of the keyboard, and raise it up to lift the magnetic stand. While it's certainly unique and surprisingly strong (you can lift the Pixel C up right from the keyboard), it also introduces some usability issues. You can only tilt the Pixel C forward so much before it jumps off of the stand, for example. That's something I ended up doing constantly while testing it.

             The screen also tends to wobble as you're typing, especially if you're balancing the Pixel C on your lap. And to properly remove the tablet from the keyboard, you have to lay it down flat and slide it off, which seems counter-intuitive. After a while, I started to miss the Surface's built-in kickstand. Those darn magnets are even an issue when the Pixel C is closed over its keyboard. You can't just tilt it open like a laptop; you actually have to slide the Pixel C across the keyboard and then left it up. It's sort of like opening a giant pistachio. Again, it's not that obvious, though it's something I got used to quickly.

                          Beyond its keyboard accessory (which costs an additional $149), the Pixel C is a relatively nondescript Android tablet. In addition to the smooth metal case, it has polished chamfered metal edges (which get scratched up faster than you'd expect), stereo speakers and a USB-C port for charging. Expect to see more tablets adopt USB-C charging over the next year, as we move away from the ubiquitous micro-USB port.
Despite my issues with it, I'm still mostly impressed with what Google accomplished with the Pixel C's hardware. It needs to be refined, for sure, but it's nowhere near the abject failure that was the first Surface RT. (A device that, at times, made me want to throw it out the window in frustration.) That's a win, I guess.

               The Pixel C was built specifically with Android 6.0 Marshmallow, but really, it doesn't feel much different compared to the previous generation of Android Ice Cream slates. Perhaps that's because Marshmallow is more of an optimization update than a whole hog upgrade. As we noted in our review, the latest version of Android is all about refining the overall experience, with some design tweaks (hooray for improved copy and paste!), more granular app permissions and several features that help to preserve battery life.
              If you've used any Android device before, you probably won't notice much new. But for newbies, it's a far more welcoming platform than ever before. For example, Marshmallow's most distinctive new feature, Now on Tap, uses the company's virtual assistant to unearth details about whatever you happen to be looking at. That could be finding more details about an artist you're listening to on Spotify, or just digging up information about a film based on a review you're reading. I wouldn't call it a groundbreaking feature yet, but it portends an interesting future for Google Now.
While there still aren't as many tablet-focused Android apps as I'd like, the few that are out there feel pretty great. Using Gmail and Evernote with the Pixel C felt about on-par with typical desktop apps, with multiple panes of information and all-around speedy performance. Google needs to push developers to take Android tablet apps more seriously though. I've been reviewing Android slates for years, and it's a shame there still aren't enough great big screen apps.
              Unfortunately, Google still hasn't added any sort of split-screen functionality in Android 6.0, so you'll be stuck using one app at a time as always. That's something Samsung's offered for years with its tablets (albeit, with only a small selection of apps), and Apple has notable lifted the idea in iOS 9. And let's not forget Windows 10 slates, which can juggle app multitasking with ease. Google will likely be enabling the feature soon though — intrepid developers have already discovered split screen functionality hiding within configuration files.

Configuration options and the competition

The Pixel C starts at $499 for the 32GB model, and you can also bump up to 64GB for $599. But if you want that keyboard — and really, why wouldn't you? — you'll have to shell out another $149 ($20 more than Microsoft's Surface Type Cover). Just like I've said about the Surface, though, it's a real shame that Google is making you pay extra for an essential accessory. If computer companies really want to sell us on convertibles, they'll have to be more transparent about what these things actually cost. (And seriously, do whatever it takes to bundle the freaking keyboards.)
So after all that, I'm sure you're wondering if the Pixel C can actually take on Microsoft's Surface 3. Really, the answer to that depends on how much you like Android. The Pixel C is built expressly to prove that Android can be a serviceable platform for productivity. But to truly love it, you'll have to live with the lack of multitasking and a limited amount of tablet apps, neither of which are an issue with the Surface 3. Given that I cut my computing teeth on Windows, I'm far productive working in that environment. But the Pixel C might just be perfect for an Android fanatic.
Another option, if you really want Android: Just snag one of Samsung's Galaxy Tab S slates and a decent keyboard (Logitech's tablet keyboard is a good start). Personally, I'd recommend trying to find one of last year's models, which is plenty fast and sports a dazzling screen, but paradoxically it also has better battery life than the Tab S2.

The Pixel C, while an intriguing first effort at making a convertible, is simply tough to recommend. That's especially true when there are plenty of cheaper and better equipped options out there. But it's also an intriguing first effort by Google. It's a sign that the search giant is serious about taking on Microsoft when it comes to hardware, and that it's willing to push an established platform like Android into new territory. With a thinner design, a revamped magnetic latch and (if rumors are true) an OS that unites Android and Chrome OS, Google might be able to turn the next Pixel C into a convertible truly worth considering.

Article By : Devindra Hardawar

The World's First Chia Pet Pen With Invisible Ink Made From Living Algae

           Some of the best inventions actually started out as accidents, and such is the case with the world's first "Chia Pet" pen. Its creators were trying to create an eco-friendly alternative to printer ink using algae, but ended up creating invisible ink that magically appears after a few days exposure to sunlight.
           The folks at Living Ink Technologies are still working on their sustainable printer ink dream, but in the meantime they've created a couple of pens filled with the algae-based ink that they refer to as "timelapse" ink because the artistic creations drawn with it only appears after a couple of days.
         
          On the science side of things, the Living Ink pens contain cyanobacteria, algae, and chlorophyll in very tiny amounts that are invisible to the naked eye at first. But when exposed to sunlight, the algae and bacteria reproduce at astonishing rates, eventually bolstering their numbers to the point where they finally appear green, thanks to all that chlorophyll.
On the artistic side of things, the Living Ink material in the pens also contains disappearing ink so that you're able to create an initial design on paper. The pink pen contains "fast ink" which then grows in the first one or two days, while the blue pen contains "slow ink" that usually takes about three to four to appear. This allows you to create a two-stage secret reveal over the course of about a week.

                The last step is to put your Living Ink creation inside a compact greenhouse (which doubles as a picture frame) filled with a nutrient-dense material called agar that promotes the ink's growth-and wait. With enough patience and exposure to the sun, eventually your artistic creation will make its appearance.
               When removed from the frame the algae and bacteria will eventually die, but the resulting image actually stains the paper so that it won't fade away. From the company's own testing, the Living Ink images remain visible and colorful out of the frames for well over two years and counting.

                Living Ink Technologies is attempting to fund its creation through a $15,000 Kickstarter campaign that just launched, and for a short time you can pre-order the most basic set, which comes with everything you'll need including both pens, for just $30.
                Don't count on this as the perfect Christmas gift, though, delivery isn't expected until March of next year, and that's assuming everything goes well from the Kickstarter campaign succeeding, to production going smoothly. They rarely do, but Living Ink Technologies has been working on and perfecting this algae-based ink for quite a few years now, so it's not like they're only working off an idea brainstormed on a cocktail napkin like countless other crowdfunding campaigns.

Rumor: Apple Watch 2, 4-Inch iPhone To Appear In March!

           That iPhone 6c rumor just got a little more real with a report from 9to5Mac's Mark Gurman. Sources tell Gurman that Apple is planning their next-gen Watch event for March, but the kicker here is that a new iPhone could also be appearing.
           The next generation of the Apple Watch has the potential to make the product a lot more appealing. As we've reported, it seems like the company will introduce security updates and vitals tracking, and Gurman suggests Watch 2.0 could also have a camera and tether-free WiFi capabilities. This would be a big step up for the Watch, which has struggled to find widespread adoption.
But while the rumored March event is Watch-focused, Gurman's sources say that the "iPhone 6c" might also make its bow. KGI's Ming Chi Kuo said last week that the long-discussed 4-inch phone "would resemble an upgraded iPhone 5s" only with shiny upgraded internals. Quoth 9to5Mac:
           The device's technical specifications will fall somewhere between the iPhone 5s and iPhone 6s, with rumors suggesting that the phone may preserve earlier iPhone camera features while including the new iPhone A9 chip.
           There's a lot of demand amongst iPhone users for the option of a screen smaller than the 6s's 4.7 inches, and the 4-inch "6c" would fit neatly in hand. Will the new-ish iPhone be Tim Cook's one more thing come March?

Exploride aims to turn any car into a smart car with its transparent hands-free display!

A hands-free display device for cars to combine music and GPS system, developed by a startup firm incubated at Kochi Startup Village, has raised half a million US dollars from pre-orders within 40 days of its launch.

The startup firm Exploride Inc has received more than 1,800 pre-orders from 50 countries for the futuristic product that combines display and gesture-recognition technology to provide hands-free access to maps, calls, texts, notifications, music and the onboard diagnostics of a car.

“Raising a whopping $512,718 in 40 days for a startup is a feat achieved by no other company in India. We are so excited about the global response which validates our product,” said Sunil Vallath, Founder and CEO, Exploride

Vallath said got the idea of developing such a product, named Exploride Heads-up Display, because of an accident in which his wife was involved, partly due to the use of smart phone. “It prompted me to create a product that would reduce these distractions and keep the occupants of a car safe. Thus, came Exploride, which aims at reducing distractions while driving—without looking away or losing focus on road,” he said. The Exploride Heads-up Display has received orders from most parts of the globe, but the biggest pre-orders, priced at 299 dollars apiece, are from the US. The cutting edge small and portable product sits on the dashboard of cars and provides a safer and smarter navigation advice.

“Your car’s infotainment system, instrument cluster, navigation system, and your smart phone—all these compete for your attention while you drive. Exploride puts all of them in one place, on a transparent display, so that you won’t have to take your eyes off the road,” he said. The utility-packed device has GPS, LTE (a 4G mobile communications standard ten times faster than 3G) and Google maps that direct the driver through the best route, removing the need for a smart phone. It also has voice activated navigation that reminds the driver to take direction every time. Further, one can take phone calls or decline them, raise or lower the volume and cancel the noise with simple hand gestures. Not only that, the device shows speed, tyre pressure, fuel and other engine stats. Further, apps like Apple Music, Twitter and Facebook are inbuilt in the device that also provides news and information about the weather. To top it all, its dash-cam records your driving street video which can be helpful in claiming insurance. 

Happiness- A Search

I often ask myself the question of the mystery of bliss. Where to find it? It is a matter of debate and key to the growth, for many.

To tell you the truth, I am also not very sure. And doesn't the acceptance of the truth & reality brings in composure or calm, inside heart?

And I believe this peace is what we' re looking for.

There's another thing that, I feel, restricts the entry of happiness in our life and, that is, our fears for the uncertain.

I have, often, observe people talking about live carefree, without thinking of the future. Let the things come what may be & we' ll face it as it is.

But is it so easy as been said? I, firmly, doubt upon it. But if we come to realisation that everybody is uncertain about it or nobody knows what is certain, then I think we will let the happiness enter freely.

& now, the fear of uncertainty will act as our security guard. Because being carefree, fully, disrupts the flow of planning that we must do.

And we would be amazed to see the results.

Have you ever seen the bucket, overflowing with water because it has used up all the capacity to fill itself. The same happens with us. If we keep our thoughts, within our mind or heart. There is no space for filling it with new blissful experience as we are actually stuck with the old. Empty the old and fill it with new, holds the key.So, Open up and share.

We, all, are the creations of almighty. We are born with abundance of kindness and love. We find happiness in giving, not in taking. But what to give?

Share the abundance, that is, kindness and love. And you will feel the abundance within you is increasing and search for happiness is over.

This is why it is said HAPPINESS IS WITHIN YOU, but you will be happy when share and show the abundance of bliss with other.

-Ankita upadhyay

Diamond Is Not 'The Hardest' Anymore!

Researchers have discovered a new form of carbon structure, called Q-carbon, that's harder than diamond and allows artificial versions of the precious stone to be made at room temperature and pressure.

A team of material scientists from North Carolina State University has developed a new form of solid carbon that's different to the familiar graphite and diamond structures. The researchers suggest that it's unlikely to occur in the natural world-"the only place it may be found in the natural world would be possibly in the core of some planets," they explain in a press release.

Instead, it's made in the lab. To do so, the researchers take a surface like glass and coat it in what's referred to as amorphous carbon-essentially a scattering of carbon atoms that aren't yet neatly bonded together into a crystal structure like diamond. Then, they take a laser and fire 200 nanosecond pulses at the carbon, which causes rapid heating-to temperatures as high as 3,727 degrees Celsius-and cooling.

The result is what the team have dubbed Q-carbon. In a series of papers, including one published in the Journal of Applied Physics, the team explains that the new material is harder than diamond, can glow when exposed to energy, and is ferromagnetic, too.

By tweaking the production technique and changing how quickly the laser pulse heats and cools the carbon, the team can also create diamond structures at room temperature and pressure. Usually, synthetic diamond requires huge pressures during its formation.

There are, however, some compelling reasons why Q-carbon won't be on rings and drill tips just yet. Not least is the fact that the team can so far only produce sheets of the material which measure 20 nanometers to 500 nanometers in thickness-about 100 times thinner than the width of a typical human hair.

"We can make Q-carbon films, and we're learning its properties, but we are still in the early stages of understanding how to manipulate it," admits Jay Narayan, who led the research.

[Journal of Applied Physics, APL Materials via NC State]

Wikipedia is using artificial intelligence to get more actual humans writing articles!

Better artificial intelligence is often associated with the detriment of a human workforce, but judging by some new practices by the team at Wikipedia HQ, it doesn’t have to be that way.

In a report over at Wired, computer scientist Aaron Halfaker describes how Wikipedia recently began implementing an AI system he designed to detects vandalism and bogus edits on articles using machine learning – it can identify common patterns in vandalous edits, like a tendency for impropercharacterspacing.

While on one hand that means less work for volunteers who look out for nefarious changes, Wikipedia belies the change will help reel in a swarm of new editors.

It’s all about removing the barrier for entry. Because Wikipedia crowdsources its articles, it has to implement strict rules on who can make changes to major documents in order to prevent articles from being vandalized. The other side of the coin is that it discourages many folk with good intentions and solid information.

The hope is that by having smarter AI detection of bogus articles and edits, more manpower will be devoted to legitimate content. When the policing machines are smart enough, Wikipedia could then relax its rules for newcomers a bit.

Still, some will worry whether the machines will ever get smart enough to replace a significant portion of human editors.

➤ http://www.wired.com/2015/12/wikipedia-is-using-ai-to-expand-the-ranks-of-human-editors/

The Maguss Wand: Making Magic Real!!

It is likely that you, and hordes of others, waited patiently on your 12th birthday for an owl to swoop down and gently drop a letter of admissions to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Think of the disappointment you, and all the throngs of other hopeful young people felt the next day when no such letter arrived.

Ondrej Tokar, Founder of Maguss Wand, is about to shave off a bit of that disappointment, fueling the dreams from our childhood favorite series. The Maguss Wand allows users to duel with other wielders in their vicinity or anywhere in the world. There have been magic wands made before; replicas of the casts’ wands and ones that work as a remote control, but none mimic the sensation of a wizard duel. The Maguss Wand Kickstarter hopes to make that dream a reality.

“I was always a fan of fantasy and of role playing games and wizardry. I was wondering if I could make some of the magic ‘real,’” Tokar says of his idea to create the Maguss Wand.

If the Kickstarter campaign is successful, the wand, app and badge (the receiver) combo can be under Christmas trees in December. That all depends if the young company can raise the $67,000 they need by September 11. In the chance that it doesn’t raise the funds, Tokar still sees the project moving forward. If not, there is still a plan.

“First of all we would learn from our mistakes, we would search for investors or try to reach more people and build a bigger community. We will organize events and when we are more confident, we might re-launch the campaign. We would do the same thing even if we reach the goal, we would just be much faster and the results could be much better,” Tokar explained.

Maguss Wands hopes to bring several variations of the product to market, from the basic package starting at around $60 to more luxury packages. The basic package includes the free smartphone app download, a wand, and a badge; all that you need to begin dueling. Backers and potential buyers can also buy the premium package, which includes a handmade wooden wand and customizable preferences. Personalized and bulk packages are also options for the prospective buyer.

To begin, duelers will have about 20 spells to start out with, ranging from attacking, disabling, and defensive spells. The names of these spells won’t sound familiar to the Potter fanatic. There is no Crucio or Expelliarmus as the usage of these spells would cause licensing issues. Ranking up or joining a specific quest in the game can unlock more spells. While the mechanics of this wizardry is not actual magic, it is science. As explained on the Kickstarter page, when casting a spell the wand emits an infrared signal that is read by the receiver. The app on your smartphone will help determine what spell was cast and what damage, if any, was caused.

Some spells you can cast on the Maguss Wand.

“The functionality of the spells are completely different. Besides that, there is a gaming story, which is not related to the Harry Potter universe at all,” Tokar said.

Duelers cast these spells by holding down a button and moving their wand in the specific motion the spell calls for. If dueling against another person in the flesh, this movement is read by the opponent’s badge. There are several outcomes that can come from a successful spell, the opponent can receive damage or suffer another effect such as immobility. To counter, there are defensive spells, which reflect and deflect. Duelers can also summon their imaginary pet to increase damage or help defend.

As mentioned, there is more to Maguss Wand then just finding a friend to shoot spells at, the gaming story is another portion a user can play. There are levels to be completed and ranks to move up in.

Tokar added that pledging on Kickstarter is a simple process and to just keep in mind his company is located in Denmark.

“The prices are in Danish krones. Kickstarter doesn’t allow use of other currency than the one that is used in the country of origin. However, pledgers should not be afraid… it’s easy to calculate the conversion.”

More details about the Maguss Wand can be found on the Kickstarter page or the website and social media pages.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s make this a thing!

Apple's Pencil Is In Town,Make On-The-Spot Notes Now!!

Apple's new Pencil marks a significant departure from the company's previous strategy in which it avoided manufacturing or marketing styluses. Priced at $99, the Lightning connector-equipped instrument provides 12 hours of battery life and receives another 30-minute charge simply by connecting it to an iPad Pro for just 15 seconds. Compatible with numerous iPad applications, including Notes, Mail, and Pixelmator, the stylus provides the ability to write, draw, and diagram using the iPad Pro.

Certainly, most business professionals are familiar with styluses, having used them with other devices. That said, Apple's Pencil is somewhat unique. Here are three things to know about Apple's newest innovation.

It's intuitive

Like most Apple products, the Pencil is incredibly intuitive. As the company says, you already know how to use it. This hasn't necessarily been the case with other manufacturers' attempts at creating similar instruments.

Pressing the Pencil harder results in a thicker, darker line, while gentle touches result in hairline notations. And, thanks to Apple's Multi-Touch technology, tilting the Apple Pencil's tip results in shading effects.

It's surprisingly sensitive

Award-winning designer Jonathan Ive narrates a short product video that showcases the Pencil's actual operation and responsiveness.

Possessing the ability to select a single pixel, the Pencil also delivers realistic performance. Because the Pencil's sensor data and movement is scanned 240 times per second, the tablet actually collects twice the data as when a user attempts to select, edit, or input data using a finger, resulting in more precise data manipulation and input. As a result, business professionals can write and draw using a stylus like never before.

For many, it's an unnecessary peripheral

The new Pencil presents compelling capabilities. The device can be used to draw diagrams, create flowcharts, draft blueprints, write text, edit email messages, and more. While those features all previously existed, these new capabilities are particularly pronounced with the new Pencil. And, thanks to Apple's palm-rejection support, users can rest their hand on the tablet as they write, and the palm contact won't confuse the iPad, resulting in unwanted blemishes and stray marks.

However, it's likely the new features will prove attractive to only a specific user group: those who don't mind carrying an additional peripheral and who require it for completing graphics tasks.

While the new stylus boasts impressive battery life and intuitive performance, legions of Apple professionals have become accustomed to performing most tasks without a stylus. Unless a business user works as a draftsperson, an architect, a graphic artist, or other creative professional, carrying another device (in addition to a keyboard, smartphone, wallet, charging cables, and even a laptop so many professionals juggle) is a possible deal breaker, especially considering the corresponding tablet's mobile nature.

The new Pencil is an unusual tool for Apple users. While the company avoided styluses for years, it may have a new hit, at least among some users.

VIber Now Lets You Save Your Ass By Remotely Delete The Messages You've Sent By Mistake!!

How many times have you sent a message to someone and immediately regretted it? Whether it’s in the heat of an argument or just an embarrassing typo, Viber‘s latest update will make it all okay.

The messaging service is now letting you delete messages on the recipient’s phone after you’ve sent them, whether the person has seen it or not.

I’m surprised more messaging services haven’t made this possible by now. It seems like a logical thing to be able to do in an age where we’ve become accustomed to sharing sensitive information using our phones, often without considering the consequences.

It could certainly be one way of combating revenge porn.

And in a less sexy, more practical, setting, it means that if you need to send someone your bank details or credit card number, you can remotely delete the message after they’re done with it.