The Face of Change: 3 Apps Disrupting Enterprise Social Media

As individuals in the 21st century, we all have a sense of what people mean when they use the phrase “social media.” Immediately, our minds populate a list that includes sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. We may even have knowledge of enterprise-specific programs like Slack that have changed the face of professional messaging.

What many digitally savvy people are unaware of, however, is that there are many other platforms that are disrupting enterprise social media as we know it – and if you want to stay ahead of the curve, you need to get on board. For companies committed to digital leadership, these are the three new, must-have apps.

The Next Generation of Visuals

Multimedia social network use has become the gold standard these days, as you can see by dropping in on just about any professional or personal account across the complete range of platforms. Sam Ovens’ peppers his Twitter feed with screenshots of client interactions, companies share video from their product development team, and when all else fails, even major brands aren’t above posting a few baby animal images. Soon, though, this approach to visual won’t be enough, thanks to apps like Storehouse.

What Storehouse brings to the table that sets it apart from other image dominated programs, like Instagram or Snapchat, is the ability to coordinate different sources of images. That means it can pull from your Instagram, Flickr, camera roll, and more to help you create elaborate social media narratives. Although TechCrunch recognized Storehouse as a top appin 2015, most companies haven’t started using it as part of their overall marketing strategy.

The Competitive Edge

There are two main components to brand development and management – the narrative you put out about your brand and what others say about it. While you control that first component, it can be hard to keep up with the broader commentary pointed in your direction, and that’s where Brand24 comes in.

Brand24 is a social media monitor, tuning into your different accounts to catch whatever feedback comes your way, and alerting you to positive and negative comments that may require further attention. This is a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of things and prevents you from missing key customer service opportunities.

The Organizer You Always Needed

In business, sometimes the greatest innovation comes from finding new ways to do old things – progress isn’t always product-focused. That’s what makes Buffer such an innovative tool; it offers a better management system for handling the overwhelming weight of social media.

Plenty of platforms are focused on helping you plan and schedule for a single site, but Buffer ties together Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and more for a simplified experience. You won’t believe how much time you were wasting coordinating your social media until you see how much easier Buffer makes it.

The role of social media in business will only continue to grow in coming years, so it’s important to stay on the cutting edge, adopting new apps to make your job easier and your strategies more innovative. These three apps are just the beginning of a total social media transformation.

This Blog was first published on: http://smarterware.org/2016/10/face-change-3-apps-disrupting-enterprise-social-media/

Blackberry launches its last, most powerful Android phone

BlackBerry Ltd launched its third Android-based phone on Tuesday, the last device whose success will be the company's financial responsibility, opting to price its top-end device well below Apple Inc's iPhone 7.

The Canadian smartphone pioneer, which has lost most of the market to Apple and others, last month said it planned to completely outsource the development of its smartphones to focus on its more profitable business of making software and managing mobile devices.

That means the Android-based DTEK60 will be the last phone for which BlackBerry buys components itself, which carries a heavier risk if it does not sell well.

"This one is our phone," BlackBerry Chief Operating Officer Marty Beard said in an interview. "This is fully our responsibility."

BlackBerry's Toronto-listed shares were down 1.2 percent in afternoon trade at C$9.70. They had touched C$11.18 - their highest since January - on Sept. 28 when the company announced its outsourcing plan.

"BlackBerry had to kill its hardware in order to save it," website TechCrunch wrote in a broadly positive review of the DTEK60 that nevertheless questioned how much interest it would elicit.

Waterloo, Ontario-based BlackBerry does not have any deals with telecom companies to distribute the device.

Instead, it is pitching the phone directly to companies and governments, as well as selling it on its own websites in the United States, Canada, and several major European countries.

"It's not necessarily an anti-carrier strategy," Beard said. "It's more that we see this as the most efficient and most cost-effective way to get to that customer base."

The device, which has a 5.5 inch touchscreen, will be priced at $499. Apple's iPhone 7 with the same screen size starts at $769, while the equivalent version of Android-maker Alphabet Inc's Pixel starts at $649.

"Certainly it's not going to be the next superstar in the marketplace," said William Stofega, a mobile phone analyst at IDC Corp. "But it's a solid device that brings some really high-end security features and capabilities to it."

The DTEK60 is being manufactured by TCL Corp, a Chinese electronics company that makes phones as well as televisions, air conditioners and other household appliances.

BlackBerry launched its first Android device, the high-end Priv, in November last year and followed it with the much cheaper DTEK50 in July. The company last month wrote down $137 million of phone inventory and supply commitments.

Beware Skype, WhatsApp is getting video calling feature

You already send text messages and make voice calls with WhatsApp, now you can also make video calls through the app — provided you’ve an Android phone, for now.

 Though the company hasn’t begun advertising this yet, but new beta versions of its Android app come with the ability to make video calls. If you and your friend are both on the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android, you will now see "Video Call" and "Voice Call" options when you hit the dialer button on top. Do note that the feature is still in early stage, so the video feed could stutter at times.

To get this feature, you will need to grab the latest beta version of WhatsApp. The company maintains an official beta testing program on Google Play, and one can sign up for it by tapping the "Become a Tester" button. Alternatively, you can also download the latest beta build of WhatsApp from third-party site APKMirror. The website offers Google-signed apps. Ensure that you snag version 2.16.318 or higher of WhatsApp.

Earlier this month, some Windows Phone users reported that they had received the video calling feature on WhatsApp. Now that WhatsApp has started to exude video calling ability on Android’s beta apps, it seems likely that its iOS and stable Android versions will follow the suit soon.

Video calling is one of the most sought after features on WhatsApp. The Facebook-owned company has in many ways revolutionized how people text, and in recent times, how they make voice calls. Though there are a plethora of apps and services that offer video calling ability — many of them for free — WhatsApp getting this feature would be noteworthy because of its one-billion plus users.

5 Best Open Source Mobile Test Automation Tools

Short Bytes: There is a wide range of devices and platforms one needs to account for when developing a mobile app. An automation app for Mobile Testing can save development and testing time. Here are 5 top open source automated mobile testing frameworks to use, including the likes of Appium, Robotium, and Selendroid.

Testing a software application can be quite cumbersome. Software companies have separate teams allotted just for testing and analyzing their applications. To ease this process, they often design and develop their own effective testing strategies.

The process gets further complicated when the application is cross-platform rather than a single platform (native). For example, a cross-platform mobile app accounts for usage across multiple devices and operating systems. Additionally, mobile hardware and their operating systems are constantly upgraded. Therefore, it is natural to have a generic automated tool for testing software applications. Focussing on mobile applications, the first step in automating your testing is to choose the right framework.

Here are 5 top open source mobile testing frameworks to use:

1. Appium (Android, iOS)

• Supports Android versions from 2.3 and above
• Utilizes UI Automator and WebDriver libraries
• Supports Java, C#, Ruby and those available in the WebDriver library
• Cross Browser support (Safari and Chrome)
• Compatible with JSON wire protocol
• Cross-platform capabilities to run tests across multiple devices

2. Robotium (Android)

• Supports Android 1.6 version and above
• Easy to write powerful test scenarios
• Supports Java
• Handles multiple Android routines automatically
• No Record and Play function and no screenshots

3. Selendroid (Android)

• Uses Selenium 2 client API
• Fully compatible with JSON wire protocol
• No alteration of app under test is needed to automate it
• Can interact with multiple Android devices at the same time

4. Keep It Functional (iOS)

• Supports Objective-C and Swift languages
• Strong and active open source community
• Tests are easy to write, in the same language as the code
• Little or no external dependencies

5. Monkey Talk (Android, iOS)

• Supports a broad range of basic to advanced tests
• A Powerful cross-platform tool enabling high productivity
• Records and plays test scripts for cross-platform apps
• Widely used for native Android, iOS, HTML5, and Adobe Flex apps

These are the top open source tools for mobile test automation. They have a large open source community that is involved in guiding users and contributing to the project. Try any of the above frameworks for a faster mobile app development.

So, which mobile testing app do you use? Do you have something to add? Comment and share with us.
This blog was first published on: https://fossbytes.com/5-open-source-mobile-test-automation-tools/

How to install the Android 7.1 developer preview on your device

Android 7.1 marks the first time Nexus owners aren’t getting the full suite of upgrades from Google. The Pixel phones have some exclusive features, including built-in Google Assistant, the new Pixel Launcher, and fingerprint sensor gestures. However, not all of this is an arbitrary decision to add value to the Pixel. In the case of some features (e.g. fingerprint sensor gestures), there are hardware limitations in existing devices that prevent the feature from working. So, it’s not technically a Pixel-exclusive; there just aren’t any other phones that support it right now.

As for what you can expect in the developer preview, there will be a handful of noticeable changes. For one, touch display responsiveness had been boosted. There’s also a new storage manager that helps you clear old files from your device to get more space for new stuff. Android’s launcher shortcuts, which were previously demoed in the 7.0 preview, are coming back. Although, now they are called “app shortcuts,” which might be the least descriptive name ever. They’re long-press shortcuts that app icons can produce to specific functionality in an app. For example, the camera icon includes links to take a video and take a selfie.

To install the developer preview, you need to have a Nexus 6P, Nexus 5X, or Pixel C. Other Nexus devices like the Nexus 9 and (maybe) Nexus 6 will be added next month. The easiest way to to go to the beta site and sign in with your Google account. There, you’ll be shown eligible devices. Once you choose to enroll one, an OTA update to the developer preview will be pushed down in a few minutes. Doing this will not erase your data, but it’s a preview. Things could go wrong, so back everything up to be safe.

If you want to handle the process manually, there are full system images available for download. This doesn’t require joining the beta, and you can install them even if you’re running a third-party ROM. You will need the Android SDK working on your computer, and your device’s bootloader needs to be unlocked. This will delete everything on your device, by the way.

While this is technically for developers, plenty of enthusiasts are installing the beta too. It’s a pretty smooth process, and you can get a look at Android 7.1 before almost everyone else. Google is planning to have a final version of Android 7.1 available on Nexus devices by late this year or early next.

This blog was first published on: http://www.extremetech.com/mobile/237995-how-to-install-the-android-7-1-developer-preview-on-your-device

4 TECHNOLOGY PREDICTIONS FOR 2017

Whenever the calendar changes from December to January, the world responds with incredible optimism and anticipation. It doesn’t matter how rough or bleak things were the previous year, there’s just something hopeful about a brand new year.

As 2016 comes to a close in the next three months, we think it’s interesting to take a look at some technological developments and make a few predictions about what experts believe will happen in 2017. Let’s analyze some of these predictions:

1.   Home Automation Becomes Mainstream

When smart home toys and applications first hit the marketplace decades ago, there was this idea that homes would suddenly transform into futuristic structures in a matter of months. Yet, here we are in 2016 and smart home technology is still only being utilized by a small percentage of the marketplace. Could 2017 be the year that this changes?

While the upper end of the market has always had an affinity for smart home “toys,” we’re even seeing rental properties enter the market now. This is a sign that big things are still to come. Be on the lookout for tremendous growth in this tech space.

2.   Surgeons Attempt the First Human Head Transplant

“Italian neuroscientist Dr. Sergio Canavero made headlines last year when he announced his plans to perform the first human head transplant in 2017,” CBS News reported in August. “Since then, he’s recruited Chinese surgeon Dr. Xiaoping Ren, to work with him, and now has found a volunteer patient for the procedure: a Russian man named Valery Spiridonov.”

From smart home automation to human head transplants – how’s that for a transition? Well, believe it or not, the first attempt at a human head transplant is reportedly a full go. Many critics call this “junk science,” but Canavero is confident it’ll work.

3.   Say Hello to the e-Shower

You can mess with a lot of products, but people get a little sensitive when it comes to their shower. After all, the shower is one of the few private places people ever get to relax. That’s why there’s some skepticism when it comes to the concept of the e-Shower, but don’t tell its team of developers.

The e-Shower, which is supposed to be released at some point in 2017, captures water in a shower tray, filters and purifies the water, and then reintroduces the water back into your shower’s water supply immediately. It reportedly circulates the same drop of water seven times before it descends into the sewer system. Because this eco-friendly shower uses 80 percent less energy and 90 percent less water, it could save homeowners as much as $1,000 per year. Is this the product of the future?

4.   Virtual Reality Classrooms Become Possible

Virtual reality technology has really taken off in the past six months. It finally has the mainstream appeal that its need for so many years and the market is ready for mass adoption.

One unique way in which virtual reality may be used comes in the form of teaching. Harvard Business School is one of the first to begin using virtual classrooms in which students can attend class remotely without sacrificing the in-class experience. But more schools are expected to follow suit in 2017. While it remains to be seen if virtual reality teaching could be used in lower levels – including high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools – the possibility certainly exists.

What Does 2017 Hold?

Nobody can know for sure what 2017 holds in terms of technological development and innovation, but we do know this much: we’re in for some exciting changes. From home automation to healthcare, 2017 is already shaping up to be a promising year.  

This blog was first published on: http://smarterware.org/2016/10/4-technology-predictions-2017/

After Killing iPhone’s 3.5mm Jack, Apple Plans To Remove USB Ports From Upcoming MacBooks

Short Bytes: Following the recent rumors, it’s expected that the new MacBook Pro laptops will do away with the traditional USB and the MagSafe charging ports in favor of the USB Type-C port. The Thunderbolt port will also be upgraded to Thunderbolt 3.

 

The fall is about to arrive and the rumor mill has started churning news about Apple MacBook lineup. It’s almost a year and a half since Apple released the MacBook Pro with Retina display in May 2015. Reports from Macotakara, claimed trusted Chinese sources, suggest that there is a new MacBook Pro in the works.

The new MacBook Pro is expected to launch on October 27 but the official release announcements haven’t been made. It is rumored to come with the USB-C port which originally debuted in the Apple ecosystem with the 12-inch MacBook. This will also mark the exit of the normal USB ports and the MegSafe charging port from the MacBook Pro. The USB Type-C on the MacBook Pro is accompanied by Thunderbolt 3.0 port. It’s, however, not known how many USB Type-C ports will be there.

Other than the changes in the ports, there might be an OLED touch bar above the keyboard replacing the physical function keys and allowing the buttons to be customized. The Touch ID support is also expected to be introduced. The rumors don’t include reports about4G LTE feature patented by Apple for the laptops.

It’s good to see that Apple is not ditching the analog audio jack in their MacBook lineup. And Macbook owners will have the opportunity to play with the dinos for some time.

That was for the Pros. In the case of the MacBook Air, 11-inch variant may go out of production so that more attention could be paid to the 13-inch MacBook Air. A Type-C USB port is also rumored to land on the MacBook Air.

Macotakara via 9to5Mac

If you have something to add, tell us in the comments below.

This blog was first published on: https://fossbytes.com/macbook-pro-release-date-and-new-features/

A Look at the Tech Trends Behind Social Media Automation

As the social media industry grows, we’re seeing a lot of tech companies latch on and develop complimentary products that enhance the core user experience. Many of these tools are fresh and innovative, allowing businesses and users to better enjoy platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Value of Social Media Automation

Social media automation tools have immense value. First and foremost, they put the power back into marketers’ hands by ensuring consistency across the board.

“Automation tools give you more control over your social accounts and helps you post more content,” social media expert Jessica Davis points out. “Depending on the tool you choose to use, you can control the kind of content that is shared, the time at which it is posted, and also the frequency of posting. Plus you can monitor the level of engagement you’re receiving and modify your strategy to get more Likes, Shares or Retweets.”

But perhaps an even bigger benefit of social media automation technology is the timesaving nature of these tools. Instead of spending hours on creating, publishing, and advertising different posts, marketers can focus on more important aspects, such as engaging with users.

When you combine control, consistency, and time saved, it becomes apparent that social media automation tools aren’t going anywhere. In fact, you can expect a healthy influx of tools in the coming months and years.

Three Automation Trends

There’s a lot of innovation happening in the social media automation space, but let’s take a look at some of the latest trends and developments.

1. Follower and Like Boosters

Followers are the lifeblood of social media. In order for a brand to have success, they must be capable of attracting followers and engaging them with the right content. Unfortunately, it can take years for brands to build large enough audiences to enjoy positive returns. Recognizing this pain point, tech companies and programmers have worked tirelessly on tools that automate follower onboarding and increase “likes.”

PeerBoost, an online automation tool for Instagram is one of the leaders in this space. “Our bot software lets you enter activities into the platform and then step away. You can even log off and PeerBoost will still follow through on your actions, whether they be Liking, Commenting or Following other users based on specific hashtags. Furthermore, the intelligent nature of our tool means it knows exactly when you’re about to reach your daily limits, and adjusts accordingly to keep your account within these parameters.”

2. Post Schedulers

Post schedulers are some of the most common social media automation tools. They allow you to schedule posts in advance and set the exact time they will be shared. This lets marketers target specific customers, without having to sit behind a keyboard 24 hours a day.

HootSuite is one of the top options. “If you want to use the same software as Lamborghini, McDonald’s, Sony Music, and Virgin Media, sign up for HootSuite,” marketer Tim Parker suggests. “This app allows you to schedule posts on all of the major social media sites, along with Foursquare and WordPress.” There’s even a free version that lets you manage up to five accounts.”

3. Social Listening

Finally, you need to know about social listening tools. As the name suggests, these are tools that automatically listen for your brand name and certain keywords in social media conversations and then deliver reports based on what’s being said. This is extremely valuable and lets you gauge your brand’s perception in the marketplace.

One of the industry’s best social listening tools is Keyhole. You can use Keyhole to track hashtags, keywords, URLs, specific usernames, and more. Not only does it collect real-time data, but it also provides a historical data analysis.

The Evolution of Social Media Marketing

Social media has evolved from a tool for staying in touch with friends to a powerful business asset that can be leveraged by marketers in a variety of ways. While the industry has been known to pivot with little warning, these are the automation trends that we’re seeing right now.

Look for them to continue evolving in the future.

This Blog was first published on: http://thinkdebug.com/blog/a-look-at-the-tech-trends-behind-social-media-automation/

Microsoft: 'Apple can no more secure your iPhone than Google can secure Android'

Microsoft thinks the recent discovery of the Trident malware for iPhones should be a wake-up call for the enterprise to stop unquestioningly trusting Apple's ability to protect corporate secrets.

Microsoft corporate vice president enterprise and client mobility Brad Anderson argues the case for reconsidering trust in Apple in a blogpost entitled 'What we can learn from the Trident/Pegasus iOS vulnerability'.

The Trident malware was discovered in August by researchers at mobile security firm Lookout and Canadian rights group Citizen Lab, prompting Apple to issue an emergency security update.

The malware, which used three previously-unpatched iOS vulnerabilities, was developed by Israeli-founded pen-testing vendor NSO Group and sold as a surveillance product called Pegasus. It was used by a government in the Middle East to target human rights activists.

Lookout called it the "the most sophisticated attack we've seen on any endpoint". As Anderson notes, NSO Group had deep pockets, having been acquired in 2010 by US VC fund Francisco Partners Management for over $100m.

NSO Group sold Pegasus for $8m for 300 licenses, with the price indicating it would have been reserved for high-value targets, such as political dissidents or senior execs from top firms.

With well-resourced opponents such as these operating in the open, organizations need to stop blindly trusting Apple's ability to keep their iOS devices secure, according to Anderson.

"Over the last two years, I've had senior executives tell me countless times that they have unwavering implicit trust in the iOS platform. In these discussions it's been pretty common to hear a comment like, 'I don't trust Android because it is like the wild, wild west, but I have tremendous trust in iOS because it is a controlled and procured ecosystem'," he writes.

"I'm not attempting to throw stones at Android or iOS but there is a dilemma with this perspective: I know for a fact that all the providers of mobile operating systems go to superhuman lengths to harden their platforms and do everything they can deliver the most secure operating system possible but this fact also exists in our modern era of digital threats that produce consistent successful attacks despite the incredible efforts of the organisations building these platforms."

Of course, while Microsoft has all but bowed out of smartphone hardware, it is still focusing on enterprise mobility via Intune, its mobile-device management product, which it recently partnered on with mobile security firm Lookout for malware protection.

The other lesson Anderson draws from Trident/Pegasus is that it highlights the commercialization of cyberattacks, which makes it easier for opponents to exploit weaknesses in mobile devices.

For example, attackers that don't have the skills to compromise your systems can simply rent them from NSO Group or numerous other firms in the business of developing, selling and brokering so-called zero-day exploits.

"This is the very scary fruition of something that cybersecurity experts have been heavily emphasizing for the past few years. The work behind corporate hacks, online theft, cyber espionage, and cyber-terrorism is a commercial business and not only an underground effort," Anderson writes.

"If you, as an organization, have intellectual property that is of interest to another company or a state organization, that company does not have to have the expertise to build a sophisticated attack like this, they just have to have the money to buy a license."

This Blog was first published on: http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-apple-can-no-more-secure-your-iphone-than-google-can-secure-android/

7 Best Features Of Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak

Short Bytes: The latest offering from Canonical is the Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak open source operating system. It comes with the developer preview of the Unity 8 graphical shell and improvement to the Nautilus file browser. Ubuntu 16.10 has been updated with GNOME 3.20 applications and offers Linux kernel 4.8.

 

Canonical Inc. has released the next major update after Ubuntu 16.04 Xenial Xerus in the name of Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak. The ISO and torrent files for various Ubuntu 16.10 flavors are available for download and you can install it using the following guide: How To Install Ubuntu 16.10

Let’s have a look at the best features of Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak:

1. Linux Kernel 4.8

 

Ubuntu 16.10 ships with Linux Kernel 4.8 out of the box. It brings a number of security features along with major changes to the XFS and Btrfs file systems. It supports Nvidia Pascal and AMD OverDrive for overclocking GPUs using Linux drivers.

The new Linux kernel has given me a sense of satisfaction for my new laptop. I dual-booted it with Mint 17 but the wireless failed to work due to older kernel version which lacked support for 7th gen Intel processors.

2. Nautilus 3.20

The inbuilt file browser in Ubuntu Linux distribution has been updated to version 3.20 in Yakkety Yak. Various bug fixes have been made, for instance, Nautilus was crashing when jp2 images were used as thumbnails in a directory.

The changes to the user interface include a new file shortcuts window which can be found in the files drop down menu. The search has been redesigned with a popover interface where you can find drop-down menu choosing the date and file type as the advanced search options.

3. Extra job for Systemd

The primary task of the Systemd in Linux distros is process management. With the release of Yakkety Yak, an extra job has been given to Systemd. It also does the work of starting the graphical desktop sessions in the latest Ubuntu release. This marks a retirement for the Upstart which is used to handle this task. However, Upstart will still be the driving force behind Unity, hud, and indicators. They are in the process of being converted.

4. Changes to GPG

The GnuPG (GPG) is a software for encryption and managing cryptographic keys. Ubuntu now uses the gnupg2 for the gpg binary. The GPG, developed by the GNU Project, is an implementation of the OpenPGP standard.

5. GNOME 3.20

The GNOME Core Applications in the Ubuntu 16.10 have been updated to version 3.20. Many applications come with version 3.22 and rest of them will be updated soon as the latest release of the GNOME applications collection 3.22.1 has arrived a couple of days ago.

6. Unity 8 Developer Preview

The Ubuntu 16.10 comes with a limited option developer preview of the Unity 8 graphical shell. On the login screen, you can choose between the Unity 8 or the normal one. The Unity 8 comes system settings, command line, web browser, and some applications.

The new graphical shell is in development since the last three years and resembles fundamentals with the Unity Touch present on smartphones and tablets. But the interface is different.

It borrows the Launcher and Scopes from the Ubuntu touch. The developer preview offers and insight to how the Scopes work in the Unity 8 with a revamped command line. There are Snappy Apps which make the update process easier for the developers. Unity 8 also enhances the experience by saying goodbye to the laggy desktop effects which have haunted the Ubuntu users.

7. Updated Apps

• LibreOffice 5.2.2
• Mozilla Firefox 49
• Shotwell 0.22
• GNOME Terminal 3.20
• Thunderbird 45
• Ubuntu Software 3.20
• Rhythmbox 3.4.1

The Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak is not an LTS release like the Ubuntu 16.04. It will receive a 9-month support until July 2017. You can download the latest Ubuntu 16.10 ISO file from here. Read more about Yakkety on its release notes page.

If you have something to add, let us know in the comments below.

This blog was first published on: https://fossbytes.com/7-best-features-in-ubuntu-16-10-yakkety-yak/

Ubuntu 16.10 Released, Now Available For Download

Short Bytes: After spending six months in development, Ubuntu 16.10 operating system has arrived. Now you can download the latest version of this open source operating system and experience an improved desktop. This release arrives with Linux kernel 4.8, experimental Unity 8 session, and better hardware support.

 

Canonical, the parent company behind Ubuntu, hasreleased Ubuntu 16.10 operating system after six months of development. This release is codenamed Yakkety Yak and follows the 16.04 Xenial Xerus release.

It should be noted that Ubuntu 16.10 is not an update for conservative users. This second major milestone release of 2016 is a standard release that will be supported for nine months. However, if you are a Linux enthusiast and you wish to try some new features and software, upgrading to Ubuntu 16.10 Yakkety Yak is the right choice.

The Ubuntu 16.10 release features a number of small improvements in the operating system that aim to make the overall experience more polished and better. There are refinements in Unity desktop, Compiz window manager, Nautilus file manager. There’s the brand new Linux kernel 4.8, of course.

While we’ll be covering the detailed features of Ubuntu 16.10 in another article, the major highlights are updated applications, better hardware support due to a newer kernel, and Unity 8 Preview Session.

Download Ubuntu 16.10 ISO and torrent files

To accommodate some more language packs, the final ISO size has increased from 1.4GB to 1.5GB.

While you always have the option to upgrade your existing Ubuntu installation, you can download Ubuntu 16.10 ISO files for 32-bit and 64-bit architecture. Just in case you’re interested in grabbing the torrent links, they are also available for 32-bit and 64-bit machines.

Are you going to try out Ubuntu 16.10? Tell us your views in the comments section below.

This Blog was First published on: https://fossbytes.com/ubuntu-16-10-released-features-available-for-download/

5G: The Future of Wireless Networks

5G technology is soon approaching. On the suppliers’ end, for Zalando and other companies, this will bring about faster responses and speedier service delivery. On the consumer's’ end, a wider range of products and services will be made available. Due to improved speeds and lower latency from 5G, processes can be expedited, for instance including payment verification and order identification, which means same day delivery of in-stock items becomes the norm in the 5G age.

5G is another step up in mobile connectivity, and it is currently in the works globally. Many countries around the world are preparing for this new shift in mobile data networks. Let’s take a closer look at this technology and how it may change the future of wireless communication.

Although plans for official release for consumer use is still at least four years away, demonstrations of 5G capabilities effectively started hype earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). Exhibitions showed the potential of the next generation of mobile.

How is 5G different?

5G’s mission is much more than just to improve basic communication services such as phone calls, SMS, or data connection in general. It has numerous other potential applications and according to surveys, the best use for 5G will be in the Internet of Things. This will be important for major global processes like automation and transportation.

As for network speeds, the figure 5G aims for is 100 times faster than the current 4G and LTE networks. Nokia’s demo at the MWC reached 20Gbps, the same speed being reached by South Korea’s SK Telecom. Ericsson’s set up yielded 26Gbps, while T-Mobile got 70Gbps, the latter of which was shown on a live feed from a Huawei base station in Germany.

Results were varied as it was dependent on frequency spectrum, and some booths used a wider spectrum than others. In comparison, however, today’s fastest LTE speeds just reach 1Gbps. Imagine if you register your smartphone for automatic updates, and a software upgrade was just released. As soon as you notice, the file would’ve been downloaded already. That’s a very plausible scenario with 5G mobile.

Low latency is also another target feature of 5G. The goal is to reduce latency down to 1 millisecond. To show just how fast it is, T-Mobile conducted a separate demonstration in their booth at the MWC.

Two metal balls, one 5G connected and the other 4G, were placed on top of a suspended platform. A robotic arm then passes under the platform, and when it’s detected, the holes beneath the balls open. The 5G ball drops in time and gets caught by the arm, while the 4G ball falls too late, missing the arm. Remember here that the balls and platform were wirelessly connected to the robotic arm.

Necessary preparations

Of course, 5G cannot be deployed for end users without the proper technological infrastructure. All over the US, there are around 300,000 cell towers. 5G will more likely need more infrastructure, as its frequency waves travel for shorter distances, for now at least, as opposed to the frequency bands of current networks.

A higher number of receiver cells will also be required for the same reason, thus, more permits will be required as well not only from governments, but from millions of other property owners. These are just a few of the challenges ahead of making the 5G concept a reality.

The same problems are also being faced in Europe. As stated by Brendan O’Reilly, CTO of O2, their network alone has a consumer usage that doubles each year. To effectively support potential 5G usage, the digital infrastructure must be radically improved.

Indoor and outdoor large scale tests are ongoing and upcoming

AT&T has applied for a temporary license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to proceed with indoor testing at the Texas Wireless Summit. The carrier plans to use the 28GHz spectrum for 5G trials at the Edgar A. Smith Bldg. in Austin, Texas.

On the other side of the world, Japan and South Korea have begun their tests and the latter’s KT has announced its plans to debut 5G at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. China’s ZTE on the other hand has finished the first phase of its high-frequency field tests.

Seeing this many nations with their eyes and hands on 5G, all hopes of improving network connectivity look very promising in the coming years.

This Blog was first published on: https://tech.zalando.com/blog/5g-the-future-of-wireless-networks/

3 Ways Technology Is Making Your Driving Experience More Fun

As a general consensus, it’s safe to say that people in the world have a love and affinity for cars; Especially the really cool ones like the Lincoln Continental or Lincoln MKZ that emanate class and sex. Of course, there are so many high-class vehicles out there that make the driving experience what it is. The makers of these vehicles know what it is they’re doing, and they know what people want.

The first automobile to make its way into existence ran for the first time on New Year’s eve in 1879. Now, just 119 years later and the world has been utterly transformed by the invention. Technology is quite the marvelous thing.

So while driving can be loads of fun by itself, since the majority of the world alive today has been brought up knowing the car so intimately that it’s lost a bit of its pizazz, technology innovators around the world are doing their best to keep the driving experience fresh and fun. They keep giving you more, you come back for more. It’s the way the game works. So without further ado, here are 3 ways technology is spicing up your driving life today:

It’s All About the Bass

Don’t get us wrong, a sexy piece of machinery is sexy all by itself; It’s body style, the way it drives, and the way the sun shines off the fresh paint is enough to make any person with eyes faint with desire. However, the people who make the magic happen know that there is so much more involved in making a vehicle that will have people running to purchase like it’s the new iPhone. One way technology is making the driving experience better is by realizing it’s all about the bass.

Great sound systems in place with Bluetooth technology and speakers that feature the perfect mix of high to mid to low range of sound are what people want. Music is a universal language of the world and since so many people spend so much time in their vehicles, it’s important that the bass can really get bumping.

It’s Fun Not Hitting Things

Different vehicles have different perks and downfalls. Some cars have crazy large blind spots that make changing lanes, parallel parking, or backing out of any parking spot frightening and dangerous, but thanks to technology, this problem is being solved a bit more every single day. Not only are there cameras in place that show you what’s behind you to safeguard from accidents, there are also cars that put off sounds to warn you when you’re getting close to hitting something. Some cars are going so far to stop themselves before you hit something like a pedestrian.

Hitting anything is no fun considering the cost of a vehicle in the first place and the hazard it places on so many lives. Technology might have opened up the door to trouble in the first place, but it’s quickly making strides to make living life more fun and efficient.

Comfort is Key

In the end, cars are doing so much to redefine the way that the world operates. Different technologies must work together as a whole to make the world a better place to live. People drive an average of 10,658 miles a year. With this being said, comfort is key in these moments.

Cars that don’t cater to the human desire for comfort spend a lot more time on the lot instead of being driven. Innovators of technology know this and are constantly finding out what it takes to make the driving experience better for everyone. Plush seating and butt warmers are just the beginning. It might not be too long before car seats start acting as chiropractors and shrinks. 

This Blog was First published on : http://smarterware.org/2016/10/3-ways-technology-making-driving-experience-fun/

Xiaomi Mi 5s And Mi 5s Unveiled Sporting Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner And Dual-Cameras

The much hyped Xiaomi Mi 5s smartphone finally launched yesterday in China, along with the Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus. Keeping up with rapidly changing tech trends, these are, on paper, an upgrade over the flagship Mi 5 with better hardware and innovative new features.

Both the Mi 5s and the Mi 5s Plus come in two variants- 64GB with 3GB RAM and 128GB with 4GB RAM. Earlier rumors of a 256GB variant remained elusive. Under the hood, both the phones run on the Snapdragon 821 processor and has USB-Type C port with Quick Charge 3.0.

But that’s where the similarities end.

The Mi 5s features a 5.15-inch full HD display with 2.5D glass and 600 nits of brightness. The 128GB variant of the Mi 5s comes with a pressure sensitive display with Synaptic’s tech underneath. The display can distinguish between a light and a hard tap, much like how Apple’s 3D display works in the new iPhones.

However, the highlight of the Mi 5s is the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor embedded underneath the display of the phone. The Qualcomm SenseID Ultrasonic Fingerprint scanner is extremely fast and accurate. The tech makes use of ultrasonic waves to map the pores and ridges of an user’s finger and it can also recognize prints from an oily or sweaty finger. This is definitely the natural progression from sensor pads found in the back.

But here is also where Xiaomi did a double take. In the Mi 5s Plus, Xiaomi has put a more orthodox fingerprint scanning plate at the rear, beneath the camera.

Thankfully, it took away one feature and gave another- a dual camera setup. The Mi 5s Plus has two 13-megapixel cameras with Sony’s sensors. Among them, an RGB sensor captures color while the other one captures only in monochrome. Does it sound oddly familiar? (hint: Huawei P9)

As for the Mi 5s, there is a 12-megapixel camera at the back with a Sony CMOS sensor. It features 4-axis OIS and f/2.3 aperture. At the front, there is a 13-megapixel snapper for selfies.

The Mi 5s comes with a 3,200mAh battery while the Mi 5s Plus comes with a 3,800mAh battery.

The phones come in four colors- dark grey, silver, gold and rose gold.

The 64GB variant of the Mi 5s costs 1,999Yuan (roughly Rs 19,900) while the higher-end 128GB variant with ultrasonic fingerprint scanner costs 2,299 Yuan (roughly Rs 22,900). On the other hand, the dual-camera sporting Mi 5s Plus costs 2,299 (Rs 22,900 approximately) for the 64GB variant and 2,599 Yuan (roughly Rs 26,000) for the 128GB variant.

This Blog was first published on: http://thinkdebug.com/blog/xiaomi-mi-5s-and-mi-5s-unveiled-sporting-ultrasonic-fingerprint-scanner-and-dual-cameras/