Monthly Archives: September 2021

Amazon's biggest innovation is being cheap

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As Amazon’s executives took the stage one after another yesterday to introduce the world to the company’s “next big leaps forward,” a sense of deja vu crept up on me. It only grew stronger as the event progressed, with many new Amazon products seeming incredibly familiar. The company has been criticized in the past for borrowing designs of popular goods and selling them for a lot cheaper.

That’s not an uncommon practice of course — massive retailers all over America like Walmart and Costco have offered lower-cost store-brand lines forever. But none of them stage flashy keynotes to tout their products as “innovations.” While Amazon has indeed brought certain unique technologies to the world in the past, this year the company’s “innovations” seemed to be more of it doing what it does best: undercutting the rest.

Halo View: Twinning with Fitbit

With the Halo View, Amazon is essentially adding a display to its existing screenless health-tracking band. But the View’s shape and style are so similar to Fitbit’s Charge series it’s hard to differentiate the two. Sure, there are only so many ways you can stick a rectangular display on a wristband, but Amazon’s mimicry doesn’t stop there. It also introduced new Halo Fitness and Halo Nutrition services today that will offer guides on working out and eating better. 

Amazon Halo View
Amazon

That’s basically Fitbit Premium, which offers guides on working out and eating better. Oh and Fitbit’s $10-a-month service also provides tips on meditating and sleep. Amazon’s subscription costs just $4 per month after a trial period, though, and the $80 Halo View is $100 cheaper than the new Charge 5. The View probably won’t do as much as Fitbit’s trackers, which are quite sophisticated. Still, considering the price, Amazon will likely sell a lot of them.

Amazon Smart Thermostat: Lose the frills for a fraction of the price

Amazon teamed up with existing thermostat brand Honeywell to make a Smart Thermostat that will work with most existing 24V HVACs (most common for residential HVAC systems). You can control it with a separate Alexa-enabled device and set custom routines for heating and cooling. The company hasn’t released much more information about its thermostat yet, but from what we can see, the device has the rounded-rectangle shape of an ecobee smart thermostat with the color scheme of a Google Nest product.

Lots of existing smart thermostats by brands like ecobee, Sensibo and Google’s Nest do more things, but Amazon is seriously undercutting the competition by selling its version for just $60. The Nest Thermostat that was launched last year costs $130, while an ecobee 3 Lite goes for $170.

Blink cameras: Competing with Google for much cheaper

Competition in the security camera space is pretty stiff, so it isn’t very surprising that Amazon and Google both borrow a lot from each other. Amazon unveiled a new $50 Blink video doorbell camera today, alongside a set of outdoor cameras. One of these is the $40 floodlight camera mount that calls to mind Google’s Nest Cam with integrated floodlight. To be fair, though, Google did only introduce a wireless, battery-powered doorbell camera after Blink, so it appears the borrowing is mutual here.

The difference, however, is once again in pricing. Blink’s video doorbell is less than a third of the price of the $180 Nest Doorbell. Google’s floodlight-cum-security camera is $280, while Amazon’s mount (with a camera) is half that at $140.

But at what cost?

It’s no secret that Amazon’s business model has a lot to do with knowing what people want and changing their prices accordingly. But how can it make things so cheap? In addition to pure economies of scale and multiple reports of questionable (at best) labor practices, the company also offers goods at reduced prices in exchange for sticking ads on your devices. The ad-supported versions of Kindles and Fire tablets often go for $20 to $30 less than their stock counterparts.

With the breadth of devices Amazon offers, too, the sheer amount of data it could collect purely for the sake of selling you stuff is huge. With the smart thermostat, it could detect a dip in temperature in your region and suggest you buy from its in-house brand of winter wear. Or maybe your child’s been reading a book on a Kindle, and the company later serves ads for collectibles from that title on its new kid-centric Glow video-calling device. Or how about a subsidized version of the Astro robot that roams your house or follows you around with an ad on its face? Amazon also talked about a “vision of ambient intelligence” — which sounds very similar to the concept of “ambient computing” expounded by Google for years. But because Amazon’s products are so much cheaper, it could succeed at stuffing Alexa in so many more places in our lives.

Plus, with all the data it’s gathering from your shopping habits, whether it’s on one of its devices or the Amazon app, the company can afford to sell you something at a lower profit margin. The company said in its privacy notice that it’s “not in the business of selling our customers’ personal information to others.” But it’s presumably using that data to understand the types of things you’re more likely to buy and put that stuff in front of you. It’ll probably make more off of you in the long run if you’re using the cheap Fire tablet to browse its store.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that everything Amazon unveiled today was a cutrate version of something else. We got an update on the Ring Always Home Cam, which was first announced last year. You’ll soon be able to sign up to test it out. The home security device is a little drone that can fly around your property at your command to see if anything’s amiss. No mainstream tech giant has launched something similar yet, though, so Amazon isn’t undercutting anyone on this.

Still, it seems like the company’s strategy for its flagship products is similar to that of its Basics line: Take a good idea, tweak it and sell it for loads cheaper. It’s not terrible; We could always use affordable, reliable devices. But Amazon is not innovating: It’s the Costco of consumer tech.

Follow all of the news from Amazon’s fall hardware event right here!



Source: Engadget – Amazon’s biggest innovation is being cheap

Russia Threatens Retaliation After YouTube Deletes RT Germany Account

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Russia’s Foreign Ministry has threatened harsh retaliatory measures against YouTube after the video sharing service suspended two German-language accounts run by Russian state media, according to a report from Russia’s TASS news outlet. Russia went so far as to call the suspensions “information warfare.”

Read more…



Source: Gizmodo – Russia Threatens Retaliation After YouTube Deletes RT Germany Account

Ring Puts An Eero Router Inside Its New Home Alarm System

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Eero and Ring — two Amazon-owned companies — have teamed up to produce a home security system that incorporates an Eero router inside. Engadget reports: Ring COO Mike Harris said that the decision to work with Eero was not one foisted down from upon high by Amazon. Instead, Harris said that both companies saw the opportunity to work together to help leverage their individual skills in tandem. To take advantage of the technology, you’ll need to sign up to Ring’s new subscription product, dubbed Protect Pro. The package offers cloud video storage, professional monitoring, Alexa Guard Plus, 24/7 backup internet for your security devices (via an LTE module in the Ring Pro base station) and Eero’s cybersecurity subscription product for network protection. This, at least in the US as it launches, will set you back $20 a month, or $200 per year per location up front.

At the same time, Ring is launching a system dubbed “Virtual Security Guard,” which connects users to third-party security guards. You’ll need to pay for that separately, but you can hand over access to select Ring camera feeds to those companies who can keep a watch over your property. It is only when motion is detected that an operator can access your feed, and can speak to whoever is there to determine their intentions. Ring adds that third parties can’t view motion events when the camera is disarmed, and can’t download, share or save the clips of what’s going on in your front yard. The first company to sign up for the program is Rapid Response, with others expected to join in the near future. The Virtual Security Guard service will require you to apply for early access, but the Ring Alarm Pro can be pre-ordered today for $250. (Since this isn’t a Slashvertisement, we won’t include a link to the product; you’ll have to search for it yourself. Sorry not sorry.)

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – Ring Puts An Eero Router Inside Its New Home Alarm System

SanDisk memory cards are discounted for today only on Amazon

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Amazon’s Deal of the Day is all about storage products, with particularly good prices for SD cards. Do you need a giant boost in storage for your smartphone, drone other other device that uses a MicroSD memory card? Amazon is selling SanDisk’s 1TB Ultra MicroSDXC UHS-1 cards with adapter at just $110 for today only. That’s a hefty 52 percent discount compared to the regular $230 selling price. 

Buy SanDisk 1TB MicroSD card at Amazon – $110

SanDisk pioneered 1TB MicroSD memory cards and was first to both launch and sell them. The model in question provides up to 120MB/s speeds, essentially the max available in the UHS-I format. With A1 application class performance, it delivers fewer IOPS (input-output access per second) than A2 class cards, but sustained sequential read speeds are the same. It has a high 4.8 out of 5 consumer rating on Amazon with 89,144 global reviews. 

SanDisk CFexpress Extreme Pro memory card
Amazon

Amazon also has a great deal today on another type of memory card that’s difficult to find discounted. It’s offering the SanDisk Extreme Pro 256GB CFexpress Type B memory card at $260, which is $140 off the regular $400 price. These cards are used in cameras like Canon’s EOS R5, Nikon’s Z6 II, Z7 II, D6 and 1DX Mark III, Panasonic’s S1, S1R and S1H models, and the Blackmagic Design BMPCC 6K and 6K Pro. (Note that Sony’s A1 and A7S III use smaller CFexpress Type A cards.) 

Buy 256GB SanDisk CFexpress Card at Amazon – $260

Switching to SanDisk’s CFexpress cards boosts speeds from 300 MB/s up to 1,700 MB/s max over UHS II. That will allow you to capture 8K video on Canon’s R3, for example, or shoot sustained photo bursts more reliably and for a longer duration. Again, this SanDisk model is highly rated by users, but the deal ends today. 

Amazon is also offering other memory and storage deals on WD and SanDisk products, including NVMe drives, portable G-drives, USB keys and internal hard disks. For more, check out its Deal of the Day page. 



Source: Engadget – SanDisk memory cards are discounted for today only on Amazon

Updated Zstd Implementation For The Linux Kernel Coming Soon

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While the Linux kernel is increasingly supporting the use of Zstd for various compression purposes, the current Zstd code within the kernel is out-of-date and efforts so far to re-base it against the closer to upstream Zstd state have been stalled. Fortunately, a new attempt at getting the Zstd code updated for the Linux kernel will be published soon…

Source: Phoronix – Updated Zstd Implementation For The Linux Kernel Coming Soon

CNN restricts access to its Facebook pages in Australia

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CNN has become the first US media organization to restrict Australians’ access to its Facebook pages, according to The Wall Street Journal. The move comes weeks after the country’s high court ruled that media companies are liable for the comments left by other people on their Facebook posts. A CNN spokesperson told the publication that users in Australia will no longer be able to see its main Facebook page, its CNN International page and the dedicated pages for its shows. 

Dylan Voller filed the original case that prompted Australia’s courts to decide whether media organizations should be liable for comments left on their Facebook pages. Voller became famous back in 2016 after a TV exposé on the mistreatment of minors in the criminal detention system showed a photo of him hooded and strapped to a chair when he was only 17. Major news outlets used that photo for their articles that were then posted on Facebook, where commenters falsely accused Voller of serious crimes, such as raping an elderly woman. 

A CNN source told The Journal that the organization asked Facebook if it would help media companies disable comments entirely. However, the social network reportedly declined to disable all comments on CNN’s pages in Australia. Facebook rolled out a tool back in March that allows celebrities, politicians and news outlets to restrict who can comment on their pages, but they’d still have to set a restriction for every post. CNN has decided that doing so for all its properties would be time-consuming and opted to completely block Australia instead.

A CNN spokesperson said:

“We are disappointed that Facebook, once again, has failed to ensure its platform is a place for credible journalism and productive dialogue around current events among its users.”

As for Facebook, it told The Journal that it supports the reform of Australia’s defamation laws. In addition, it said it provided CNN with features it can use to manage comments and that it continues to “provide Australians a destination for quality journalism, including through Facebook News which we launched in August.” 

Earlier this year, Australia also passed a law that requires tech giants to pay news outlets for using their content. As a response, Facebook blocked Australian publishers and residents from sharing news content. It quickly rolled back the ban, however, and agreed to pay some news organizations for their content.



Source: Engadget – CNN restricts access to its Facebook pages in Australia

Modeling open management practices

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In the first part of my interview with Sam Knuth, a fellow Open Organization Ambassador, we discussed how leaders need to make time to be open. Openness isn’t effortless. In this second part, Sam and I discuss how executive leaders support their managers and teams in leading with open values. Because of the confidentiality of some of the answers (we’re colleagues at Red Hat, after all), I am summarizing the interview in a series of articles that highlight and share some of Sam’s most memorable observations and practices.

Source: LXer – Modeling open management practices

Lockdowns, Mental Health and the Rise in Problem Gambling

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Jeans Playing Cards To Play Gambling Addiction

One aspect of the pandemic and the lockdowns that have remained under scrutiny is its impact on mental health. As more people report feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression, there is increased concern about the well-being of individuals and communities at large. 

Along with the challenges in mental health that many people are experiencing, there has been a rise in gambling addictions. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on gambling in the UK, we look at the connection between the lockdowns, mental health, and the rise in problem gambling. 

What is Gambling Addiction? 

Gambling addiction, otherwise known as gambling disorder or problem gambling, is an addictive behaviour that involves the continued participation in gambling activities despite the negative consequences it has on personal life, family life, and professional life. 

Online gambling has increased exponentially because it is more readily accessible compared to land-based gambling activities. It is also an activity that can be performed in isolation making it a highly addictive practice. 

During the pandemic, individuals who frequented the commercial gambling facilities moved towards online gambling, with many using internet gambling programmes for the first time. Another concern of online gambling is the opportunity for individuals to increase their activity with the more time spent at home that places them at risk of problem gambling. 

The Impact of the Lockdown on Mental Health 

In March 2020, the UK issued its first lockdown in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19. As restrictions were only eased towards the end of June, the influence and the impact of the lockdown on the mental health of children, adults, and families cannot be denied. The combination of isolation, concerns over future employment, and COVID itself have created higher levels of anxiety, tension, and depression. Some of the changes in mental health have also influenced everyday habits or behaviours with a rise in addictions. 

The lockdown meant that regular access to substances or activities used to cope with challenges was no longer available. The burden on the healthcare system trying to manage COVID-19 cases also meant that psychological services and supportive resources were harder to access. Individuals with gambling addiction or related behaviours, experienced an exacerbation of stress and anxiety partly because of the isolation from the lockdown and the absence of professional support.

Other factors that have further impacted mental health include boredom, fear of the pandemic itself, and of the future concerning job and financial security. 

Why Has Gambling Increased During the Lockdowns and the Pandemic? 

Stress, anxiety, and depression have long been associated with gambling behaviours from adolescence into adulthood. Research has shown that the internalisation of depressive symptoms creates social withdrawal and a higher likelihood of pursuing pathological gambling. 

For people who may have gambled before the onset of the lockdown, remaining in isolation, coupled with higher levels of anxiety and depression have set the stage for gambling and addictive behaviours as a means to escape psychological difficulties. Many have also pursued gambling activities in a bid to win money and improve their financial security. This is because of employment uncertainty during lockdown including an end to Furlough. Gambling behaviours were also considered rife as the opening of stock trading accounts increased within the first 4 months of the lockdown (Current Opinion in Psychiatry). 

During the initial lockdown, commercial gambling was inaccessible including casinos, betting shops, gambling machines among others. During this time, more people, including those who gambled before the pandemic, turned to online gambling. Upon the reopening of some venues, land-based commercial gambling declined while online gambling activity increased (Current Opinion in Psychiatry). 

Online gambling includes internet-based slot machines, poker rooms, Blackjack, and lottery tickets. Reports have shown that the pandemic promoted online gambling as a leisure activity; however, for those with addictive behaviours or who may have gambled infrequently, their gambling activity has increased with a negative impact on their lives and that of their family. 

What are the Effects of Gambling on the Individual and Their Family? 

In a time where families are already affected by the financial and emotional uncertainties because of the lockdown and pandemic, gambling addiction creates harmful consequences that affect both present and future well-being. 

Impaired relationships because of the isolated nature of gambling, financial difficulties, and emotional turmoil affect both gamblers and their families. Gambling addiction is considered a progressive disease that has also left many feeling despondent, hopeless, and suicidal.

Pathological gambling is largely associated with depression but is also known to carry emotional and psychological comorbidities. It has a negative impact on individuals, their relationships, and communities. For individuals to improve their mental well-being, treatment for gambling addiction (rehabilitation) and coping with emotional irregularities should be sought. 

Conclusion

During the pandemic, the anxiety, stress, and depression associated with financial and employment uncertainties have increased the desire to pursue gambling activities. Many have sought gambling to escape the emotional challenges of dealing with the lockdown and the mental constraints that have become apparent during the pandemic. While people have been at risk of developing gambling addiction, there is also the risk of relapse among those who are recovering from gambling disorders. 

Another aspect that must be considered in gambling addiction is the continued access to online gambling. This makes it harder for individuals to remove themselves from potential triggers as gambling programmes can be accessed by desktop, mobile, or other internet-enabled devices. 

Studies have shown that gambling is used as a means to escape negative thoughts and emotions such as depression; however, it is the presence of mental health issues that leads to and maintains pathological gambling. Depression is one of the most common psychological conditions among gamblers which negatively affects emotional stability, relationships, and physical health. The lockdown because of the pandemic, has created higher levels of anxiousness, depression, and stress, it has inadvertently pushed people to participate in gambling activities and has increased their risk of developing gambling addiction. As the lockdowns are eased and we move into the reopening of services and activities, only time will tell the real impact that the lockdown has had on mental health and addiction. 

COVID-19 is possibly going to be us for some time and as the pandemic continues to create fear, uncertainty, and insecurity, the risk of gambling addiction and its harmful effects on individuals and their families remains rife. 

Written by Rida Sheppard



Source: TG Daily – Lockdowns, Mental Health and the Rise in Problem Gambling

Best UK Mobile Networks for Indoor Coverage

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For most of us, getting proper indoor coverage in our homes and workplaces is more important than knowing how far and wide the carrier’s network spans. To choose the best carrier for indoor coverage, determine the strongest signal strength in the locations that matter to you. 

One way to do this is to ask colleagues and neighbors how satisfied they are with their mobile carrier. That discussion will help you shortlist providers that are successful at both your workplace and home. In the end, it is the proximity of your space to a network transmitter that will determine your experience. 

Another approach would be to look at the spectrum a network uses. Low-frequency signals (and high wavelengths) have greater penetrative power, but this discussion has little real-world utility. If your indoor access point is in the basement or behind several walls, getting indoor coverage is going to be a challenge. 

That said, most mobile service providers have a way to improve your indoor coverage. One way is 4G calling, also known as VoLTE technology, while the second is Wi-Fi calling. 

What Is 4G and Wi-Fi Calling?

Initially, 4G technology was only used for Internet connectivity. Today, however, nearly every smartphone supports voice calling over 4G. Using this feature, you can make phone calls using your provider’s 4G networks, and the experience is exceptionally satisfying since it removes any blind spots indoors. For optimum results, however, both parties on a call need to have 4G calling enabled. 

If you are set on making a workspace out of your basement, just make sure you at least have good Wi-Fi there. Using Wi-Fi calling, you should be able to augment your call quality and send text messages using the strength of the Wi-Fi network. 

Best UK Networks for Indoor Coverage

When it comes to indoor coverage, there’s no straight answer for which mobile network is best. A major determining factor is which network has the closest transmitter to your home or office. Given how you can boost indoor coverage with 4G and Wi-Fi calling, these factors play a role in deciding which networks to consider. 

Note that many providers like BT Mobile, Sky Mobile, and even Virgin Mobile all use the networks of the four major UK mobile providers, making them comparable to the same network. 

Vodafone

Vodafone is one of the most well-known and oldest mobile providers in the UK. They have focused on providing coverage, including 4G, across a broad geographic region to reach as many customers as possible. Several of Vodafone’s plans include 4G and Wi-Fi calling, making it a smart choice if you struggle with indoor coverage from other providers. Just make sure to select a plan with these 4G calling and Wi-Fi calling features. 

EE

EE is known for its 4G speeds and widespread coverage. While the technology used by EE should seemingly make it more challenging to get indoor coverage, most EE plans include 4G calling and Wi-Fi calling. EE’s fast 4G speeds make for exceptional indoor coverage as long as you are in an area with 4G coverage and your mobile supports the feature. As always, read the fine print to confirm that these features are included in your specific plan. 

O2

O2 has had a strong 4G network for years and has been steadily building its 5G network. When it comes to indoor coverage, O2 is comparable to Vodafone. While being close to a transmitter can give you excellent interior coverage, chances are you’ll need to use the 4G calling or Wi-Fi calling feature. The good news is that O2 offers these features to all of its monthly customers, excluding O2 PAYG plans, free of cost. All you need to do is make sure your device supports these features.  

Three

Of the major mobile providers, Three is lagging when it comes to 4G coverage. It also varies from other providers by transmitting using high frequency, which makes it challenging to get indoor coverage. While Three does provide 4G calling and Wi-Fi calling to its customers, you need to be in an area with relatively strong 4G coverage to get decent indoor coverage. 

So Which Mobile Network to Choose?

To determine which mobile network to choose, you need to figure out which network has a transmitter close to your home or office where you need indoor coverage and offers features like 4G and Wi-Fi calling. EE has the most telecom towers in the UK, which often makes it a good choice for coverage indoors. 

O2 and Vodafone have similar 4G coverage and offer both features to improve their indoor coverage. The lagging 4G network from Three is discouraging for indoor coverage, but it could still be a viable option if you live or work near a transmitter, so don’t rule it out completely. 

Determining which network to choose will take some asking around and a bit of research, but there are options available that can get you the mobile coverage you need.

Written by Scott Weathers



Source: TG Daily – Best UK Mobile Networks for Indoor Coverage

Apple says the iPad mini's 'jelly scrolling' problem is normal

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Shortly after the new iPad mini was released, people started complaining about seeing a weird “jelly-like” effect on their screens while scrolling. It appears as if one side of the screen scrolls at a different rate than the other, making it look like the screen is wobbling. Those who were hoping for a fix to the problem would probably be disappointed by Apple’s response, because the tech giant has told Ars Technica that the device’s screen wobbling problem isn’t a problem at all.

A spokesperson told the publication that the jelly-like effect people are seeing is typical for LCD screens, because they refresh line by line. As such, it’s normal for the lines at the top of the display to refresh at a different rate than the lines at the bottom. Ars Technica insists, though, that the effect is much noticeable on the iPad mini than it is on other 60Hz LCD iPads, including the latest entry-level model that was released with the mini. Further, there’s a visible line dividing the screen in the middle when the tablet is in portrait mode.

It remains to be seen whether Apple would do something about this jelly scrolling effect in the future, considering people are airing complaints about it. For now, it looks the tech giant’s stance is that it’s par for the course for an LCD screen and that users will just have to get used to it.



Source: Engadget – Apple says the iPad mini’s ‘jelly scrolling’ problem is normal

Withings puts its heart-monitoring ScanWatch in the body of a diver’s watch

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Withings is today launching the ScanWatch Horizon, a dolled-up version of its ScanWatch inside the body of a diving watch. Horizon comes in a bigger, 43mm case size, but is otherwise the same device we already think is the best hybrid on the market. That includes the built-in ECG, blood oxygen sensor and sleep apnea tracking, as well as the usual activity and sleep-monitoring features. You’ll also get the same pair of sub dials, one with a small digital screen for notifications, the other an analog activity counter.

At an event in Paris, we got a chance to see the ScanWatch Horizon and try it on, though it was a non-functional prototype. It’s certainly as pretty in person as the photos show, and with the steel quick-release band, feels nice considering the price. For the first time, Withings will sell the ScanWatch Horizon at jewelers on top of other retail locations. 

The company told Engadget that the chunkier Horizon model has a more “masculine” design for larger wrists, with only a 43mm model available. The original ScanWatch, by contrast, came in sizes ranging from 38mm to 42mm.

Sadly, the beefier body and higher price hasn’t added anything to the feature list, and so there’s no GPS on this watch unless your phone comes along for the ride. And, if we’re nit-picking, we can say that while it’s dressed to impress as a diving watch (with an accurate laser-engraved rotating bezel and Luminova watch hands) water resistance is limited to 10ATM. That allows for snorkeling, water activities and some scuba diving, but it isn’t much compared to most serious diving watches.

That said, the smartwatch world is crying out for anything that matches premium diving watch styling with a hint of smarts. It can’t be that TAG Heuer’s Connected is allowed to become the default in this market by default, especially since it’s running, you know, Wear OS.

Withings puts its heart-monitoring ScanWatch in the body of a diver’s watch
Steve Dent/Engadget

Withings told Engadget that FDA approval of its ECG health sensor is holding back the ScanWatch Horizon’s release in the US, but it’s hoping to bring it stateside by the end of the year. That’s also why the original ScanWatch has yet to go on sale in the US, in case you were wondering. 

As for when you can get one of these on your wrist, the ScanWatch Horizon will first launch in the UK from September 29th, priced at £499.95 / €499.95. Buyers will be able to choose the Blue or Green face color, and both models will ship with a quick-release stainless steel and an FKM rubber band (for swimming). It also arrives today in France and Germany, and you can expect it to pop up a bit later elsewhere in Europe.  

Steve Dent contributed to this report.



Source: Engadget – Withings puts its heart-monitoring ScanWatch in the body of a diver’s watch

AI Study Suggests a London Gallery's Been Exhibiting a Fake For Years

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Thomas Macaulay writes via The Next Web: Samson and Delilah is among the most famous works by Peter Paul Rubens, one of the most influential artists of the 17th century. The painting depicts an Old Testament story in which the warrior Samson is betrayed by his lover Delilah. When London’s National Gallery bought the masterpiece in 1980, it became the third most expensive artwork (PDF) ever purchased at auction. But the buyers may now be searching for their receipt. According to a new AI analysis, their prized possession is almost certainly a fake.

The tests were conducted by Art Recognition, a Swiss company that uses algorithms to authenticate artworks. The firm’s tool is based on a deep convolutional neuronal network. The system learns to identify an artist’s characteristics by training the algorithm on images of their real works. The training dataset is then augmented by splitting the images into smaller patches, which are zoomed into to capture the finer details. Once the training is complete, the algorithm is fed a new image to assess. It then analyzes the picture’s features to evaluate the likelihood of it being genuine. After comparing Samson and Delilah with 148 genuine Rubens paintings, the system gave the artwork a 91% probability of being inauthentic. Carina Popovici, the cofounder of Art Recognition, was shocked by the results: “We repeated the experiments to be really sure that we were not making a mistake, and the result was always the same. Every patch, every single square, came out as fake, with more than 90% probability.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – AI Study Suggests a London Gallery’s Been Exhibiting a Fake For Years

BPF-Based Linux Firewall "bpfilter" Shows Impressive Performance Potentialhegt/he

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Generating much excitement back in 2018 was bpfilter for the potential to better Linux’s firewall and packet filtering by making it more robust and performance. Recently work on this BPF-based firewall solution was renewed and the performance potential over iptables and nftables is looking very good for the future with more feature work planned around new matches and targets, containers integration, in-place upgrades support, privilege separation, and BPF code optimization support.

Source: LXer – BPF-Based Linux Firewall “bpfilter” Shows Impressive Performance Potentialhegt/he

Woven City Collaborations

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Akihabara News (Tokyo) — Toyota’s Woven City, envisioned as a “living laboratory” for full-time residents and researchers who will test and develop smart city technologies, is coming closer to fruition with a number of new collaborations.

Various companies are developing partnerships with Woven Planet Holdings, the subsidiary of Toyota overseeing the development of Woven City, located in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Eneos Corporation, a leading company in the hydrogen business that operates 45 commercial hydrogen refueling stations in the four major metropolitan areas in Japan, announced in May that it has agreed on a new partnership with Woven Planet to explore the utilization and application of hydrogen energy at Woven City.

Through this effort, its aims to help achieve a carbon-neutral society by 2050 as Japan and many other countries around the world have committed.

Isuzu Motors and Hino Motors announced on June 8 an agreement to proceed with talks on the utilization of the Automated Mapping Platform (AMP) developed by Woven Alpha, a group company of Woven Planet.

The AMP is a connected crowdsourced software platform that supports the creation, development, and distribution of high definition maps. The Woven Alpha team plans to develop the AMP to become the most globally comprehensive road and lane network high definition map platform enabling high-precision localization support to automated driving vehicles.

Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC) will collaborate with Woven Alpha to explore safety measures for advanced driver assistance systems with the AMP. Together the companies are conducting both lab-based and field test research for the development and deployment of improved safety functionality.

This collaboration will explore the technical requirements of using the AMP together with MFTBC advanced driver assistance systems as well as the advantages of using the AMP high definition maps over conventional maps. The first proof of concept will focus on the application of the AMP to provide an accurate Entering Curve Speed Warning developed by MFTBC using its heavy-duty Super Great trucks.

Level 5, the self-driving division of Lyft, was acquired by Woven Planet on July 10. It will also be acquiring the former Lyft division’s significant sensing, computing, and software assets, and the Level 5 strategic capabilities in automated driving systems.

Carmera, a US-based spatial Artificial Intelligence company that specializes in developing scalable, next-generation mapping solutions for automated mobility, was acquired by Woven Planet on August 10.

They will join Woven Planet’s AMP team with Carmera’s strengths in map updates and other technologies to complement and help expand upon the high definition mapping platform Woven Planet has already built.

Woven Capital, Woven Planet’s US$800 million global growth-stage investment fund, has also been putting money into other companies to further the developments at Woven City.

Nuro Inc., a leading robotics company providing autonomous delivery, was Woven Capital’s first investment in January. Nuro will be designing and engineering electric self-driving road vehicles to transform local commerce through autonomous delivery for things such as groceries.

Woven Capital invested in Ridecell Inc. on July 17. As a leading platform powering digital transformations and IoT automation for fleet-driven businesses, Ridecell will turn “data overload into automated and efficient business operations” in Woven City.

Woven Planet’s recent collaborations have been in line with its vision of “Mobility to Love, Safety to Live,” with multiple initiatives to make automated transportation safer and more accessible.

Announcements for future partnerships in other fields are expected, as Woven Planet has received 4,700 applications since June for collaborations from areas including agriculture, healthcare, and education.

Woven City is expected to hold a partial public opening in 2024.

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The post Woven City Collaborations appeared first on Akihabara News.



Source: Akihabara News – Woven City Collaborations

GNOME 41: The next-generation Linux desktop

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If you’re just a GNOME user, there’s a lot to like about the latest version of this popular Linux desktop interface. But, if you’re a GNOME developer, there’s more to love in it. Firstly, as for the interface itself, it now boasts a new top utility for discovering and installing applications called Software. OK, so the name isn’t anything to write home about, but it seems faster, and it’s easy enough to use.

Source: LXer – GNOME 41: The next-generation Linux desktop

New Windows 11 Install Script Bypasses TPM, System Requirements

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An anonymous reader quotes a report from BleepingComputer: A new script allows you to install Windows 11 on devices with incompatible hardware, such as missing TPM 2.0, incompatible CPUs, or the lack of Secure Boot. Even better, the script also works on virtual machines, allowing you to upgrade to the latest Windows Insider build. This new script was released as part of the extremely useful Universal MediaCreationTool wrapper, a batch file that allows you to create an ISO for any version of Windows 10, with Windows 11 support added last week. While the main script of this open-source project is the ‘MediaCreationTool.bat’ used to create Windows ISOs, it also includes a script named ‘Skip_TPM_Check_on_Dynamic_Update.cmd,’ which configures the device to bypass compatible hardware checks.

When Windows 11 was first announced, Microsoft released the operating system’s new system requirements, which included a TPM 2.0 security processor, Secure Boot, newer CPUs, and at least 64 GB of hard drive space. As Microsoft realized that many people, especially those in the enterprise, would be testing Windows 11 preview builds on virtual machines, they exempted them from the system requirements (PDF). However, Microsoft is now requiring compatible hardware even on virtual machines and taking a firm stance on its system requirement, going as far as to say that people who install Windows 11 on incompatible hardware may not get security updates.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.



Source: Slashdot – New Windows 11 Install Script Bypasses TPM, System Requirements