Zuckerberg Hits Out At Apple

Zuckerberg Hits Out At Apple - Back in September, Tim Cook published an open letter in order to address some iCloud security and privacy concerns that had popped up. In the letter he said that free online services treat you, the consumers, as product. In a recent interview with Time magazine about his mission to get the world online with Internet.org, the social network commander and chief, defended Facebook‘s free/ad-supported business model.

The defence was against what he sees as charges that an advertising business model is fundamentally not in line with customer’s interests. The way he sees it, if Apple were truly in line with their customers then they would charge less for their products. This is despite previously declaring his respect for Tim Cook as a leader.

A frustration I have is that a lot of people increasingly seem to equate an advertising business model with somehow being out of alignment with your customers. I think it’s the most ridiculous concept. What, you think because you’re paying Apple that you’re somehow in alignment with them? If you were in alignment with them, then they’d make their products a lot cheaper!

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This does seem like a back and forth verbal tennis match between Cook and Zuck. (sorry) In the midst of the huge celebrity photo hack scandal, that was linked to a Find My iPhone exploit, Cook said, ”A few years ago, users of internet services began to realize that when an online service is free, you’re not the customer. You’re the product. But at Apple, we believe a great customer experience shouldn’t come at the expense of your privacy.

Cook didn’t name Facebook, in particular, but the sentiment has been widely associated with Facebook. The Facebook founder is holding his ground in this issue, saying that Facebook cannot fulfil the mission to connect the world if it stops displaying advertisements and starts asking users to pay for access instead.

Smart Toothbrush Works with your Smartphone

Smart Toothbrush Works with your Smartphone - It never ceases to amaze me how everything is getting the “smart” upgrade these days. We’ve got smartphones, smart cars, smart watches, smart TV’s, smart thermostats – and now we’ve also got a smart toothbrush. I’ve seen electric toothbrushes for years which claim to clean your teeth quite a bit better than the regular old toothbrushes, but until recently, I’d never heard of a smart toothbrush that will actually communicate with your smartphone to report on how well you’re brushing (or not brushing) your teeth – but it does exist, in the form of the Oral – B 5000 Bluetooth Smart Toothbrush. Did you ever think you’d see the words toothbrush and Bluetooth combined in the same product?

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The toothbrush is able to monitor how often you brush, where you brush vs. where you need to be brushing more, how hard you’re brushing (in case you’re doing it too hard), and it’s also able to graph all of your brushing habits. Oh yeah, it also does a pretty good job of cleaning your teeth on top of all those other features.

If you’d like to get your hands teeth on this toothbrush, you can get it on Amazon for the approximate price of $79, which seems like a lot at first, but remember, you do only get one set of real teeth and it’s important to take care of them the best way you can.

Would you ever consider using a smart toothbrush? Let us know how you feel about it in the comments section below!

Source: gizmodo.com

Google Glass to Get Intel Chip in 2015

Reports are circling that microchip manufacturer, Intel, will be suppling a new chip for a the latest version of Google Glass. The new version of Glass will be available in 2015, according to news reports. The new chip will replace the current one that is made by Texas Instruments. Intel will be promoting the new Glass to be used in the workplace, i.e. in such places as hospital and factories. The information that was reported by the WSJ did not provide any details regarding the chip.

Also, Google has not immediately responded to requests for more information. The usual ‘no comment’ came form the guys over at Intel Japan too. Google said it was marketing the Internet-enabled head-mounted display for business use, with a program called Glass at Work, earlier this year. Google also said that employees of oilfield services company Schlumberger are currently using Glass in order to improve safety and efficiency.

Google Glass

Meanwhile, Intel have been moving into the wearable field in recently by working with other companies. At this years’ CES, the firm showed off some smart earbuds, that are capable of measuring a runner’s heart rate. Wearables appear to be the next logical step for Intel; Earlier this year they purchased high-end health tracker firm, Basis Science. Intel’s XMM6321 3G cellular radio was also incorporated into MICA, a fashion bracelet which was unveiled recently.

Back in April, Google Glass was updated to the new Android OS, KitKat. A key benefit from this upgrade was the increased battery life capability. Google also gave Glass a facelift in an attempt to make the device more attractive to consumers. Glass was made available to early adopters in 2012. it took ages for the device to reach everyone else. Google finally released the wearable for public sale in the U.S. in May of 2014 with a price tag of $1,500.

Source: pcworld.com

Intel Buys PasswordBox

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On Monday of this week, a recent deal was announced regarding Intel acquiring a cross-platform identity management service, based out of Montreal, called PasswordBox. The recent acquisition means the firm will be merged with the Intel Security Group portfolio. Intel has said this acquisition of PasswordBox will encourage the company’s Safe Identity organisation talent pool and solutions. Any terms of the transaction have not yet been disclosed.

PasswordBox develops identity management solutions, which will allow a user to log in to a numerous websites and applications from any device they choose, without needing to retype or remember any passwords. the service works instead by a one-tap app enabled login to simplify the account security processes.

There will be new benefits to consumers that will be made possible by this deal, says Intel, including reduced password fatigue. The company also claims that security will be simplified, as PasswordBox’s technology will be incorporated with ‘new, user-friendly authentication technologies that enable users to get the benefit of improved security in a manner that is simple to set up and use.’

Senior vice president and general manager of Intel Security Group, Chris Young, said,

‘Everyone can relate to password fatigue. The PasswordBox service has already brought relief to millions of consumers who now enjoy simple, instant login. Intel Security and PasswordBox share the same goal of improving digital identity protection across all devices and platforms. We believe we have the technology, expertise and reach to bring simple, secure access to consumers worldwide.’

The 44 employees from PasswordBox have all migrated to Intel Security, so there have been no reported job losses in the deal. PasswordBox debuted a year back and has secured venture capital funding, won best mobile app of the year award at CES 2014, and at the last check, has been downloaded over 14 million times globally.

Source: www.zdnet.com

Ubisoft Offers Assassin’s Creed Unity Owners Free DLC

Assassin’s Creed

Assassin’s Creed Unity has been labelled by many as a broken experience, performance issues and bugs running rife on Ubisoft’s flagship title for 2014. Ubisoft has previously argued against the issues, but the overwhelming negative attitude towards the title has forced Yannis Mallat, CEO of Ubisoft Montreal and Toronto, to formally apologize and offer customers free DLC or a new game.

The option will depend on if the customer bought the standard or season pass edition. Season pass owners will receive a free Ubisoft game; standard owners will receive the Dead Kings DLC. Ubisoft is not the first developer to offer a free game of choice for broken games. Simcity owners were rewarded for buying the broken online experience with a free EA game of choice.

The bugs on Assassin’s Creed Unity include people sinking into the world, scary graphical bugs on cut-scenes, poor loading speeds, low rendering, amongst others. PC owners claimed it was impossible — even on the highest-end machine — to run Assassin’s Creed Unity at max settings.

There were other complaints about Assassin’s Creed Unity, including a rather uninspiring story, similar parkour and assassinations, even though Ubisoft claim it is a whole new engine and system to run Unity. Despite the various issues, Assassin’s Creed Unity still held a top ten spot in most European countries and the U.S. Several critics have complained about Ubisoft holding the embargo date until one day after the launch of the title, severely crippling information on the game.

Ubisoft has not addressed the review embargo criticisms, although various review sites have announced they will not review games if they have an embargo date after the game release.

Next Gen Gorilla Glass 4 Was Released

I’m sure its happened to many of you smartphone-carrying people! I recently dropped my iPhone and shattered the screen. I was horrified! I even had it in a case but it fell directly onto its front, causing a sickening and heart wrenching shatter (a bit dramatic, I know). Rendering a phone completely unusable, screen breakages can wreck havoc on our busy lives. We depend on our phones for work, communication and important photography moments.

However, U.S. glassmaker, Corning Inc, has recently claimed that they have created a new, more robust Gorilla Glass 4, an alkali-aluminosilicate sheet toughened glass, to protect our smartphones.

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Why is it tougher? Nobody knows, as it’s Corning’s trade secret. However, knowing that people drop their phones all the time, the company decided to develop a new glass after drop-testing smartphones in a variety of different ways.

They knew how clumsy we can get with our devices. Corning’s researchers improved their design and recipe, so even when dropped from one meter onto a hard surface, a phone’s screen could survive up to 80% of the time. That’s an amazing statistic, considering they used to shatter consistently.

This new and improved glass is already making its rounds to smartphone manufacturers. Buying a new phone in 2015, you’ll probably see Gorilla Glass 4 being drummed up as a key feature in your new smartphone.

You can soon become a bit more haphazard with your device, if you like? You could even give your brand new iPhone 6 Plus to your toddler to carry. Its up to you! No more panic as your phone takes a tumble.