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What Is Spatial Computing and How It Is Reshaping Industries?

Noah Davidson — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 15:40:31 +0000

The last few decades have been characterized by significant tech innovations like artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and driverless cars. As we progress into the current decade, another massive shift in computing is unfolding right before us – spatial computing. This new technology holds enormous potential to change how industries optimize their operations. In this article, we answer questions like what is spatial computing? What are the key elements of this technology, and how will it affect industries in future?

What is Spatial Computing?

This refers to digitization of activities that involve people, machines, objects, and environments where they take place. It merges the digital and real worlds to create a more immersive experience for users. Combining technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR), spatial analysis technology facilitates seamless interactions between computers and users in a 3-dimensional (3D) world.

What are the Main Elements of Spatial Computing?

Computing spatial analysis technologies have four main elements:

1. Augmented Reality (AR)

Space computing uses augmented reality to improve user perception and interaction by overlaying objects and digital information into the real world. AR applications leverage this technology to track user position and orientation for improved interaction with virtual objects.

2. Virtual Reality (VR)

Virtual reality immerses users in computer-generated environments. It’s ideal for simulating real-world activities. But, what is spatial computing technology with regard to virtual reality? Space computing utilizes VR to add natural interactions to virtual environments by tracking body and head movements.

3. 3-D Scanning

Computer spatial analysis leverages photogrammetry or 3D scanning to capture real-world objects and scenes. This results in the production of detailed 3D models with the right shape, texture, and color for immersive 3D user experiences.

4. 3-D Modeling

Mixed reality uses augmented reality to improve user perception and interaction by overlaying objects and digital information into the real world. AR applications leverage this technology to track user position and orientation to improve interactions with virtual objects.

Spatial Computing Use Cases that are Reshaping Industries

What is spatial computing enabling companies to do? We take an in-depth look at six use cases of computer vision spatial analysis and their application across industries:

1. Redefining Employee Training

Space computing is redefining employee training with its immersive and highly interactive capabilities. Using this technology, companies can develop virtual training environments that are very similar to scenarios in the real world. In such environments, employees learn by doing as opposed to observing. For example, pilots can acquire aircraft flying skills through virtual simulations that resemble real-life flight experiences. This hands-on, immersive approach accelerates employee learning and improves knowledge retention.

2. Improving Productivity

Mixed reality automates tedious tasks and optimizes workflows. Industries can use it to add intuitiveness to digital content interactions for enhanced efficiency and task completion. For example, the technology gives visual cues on AR glasses to enable factory workers to locate or identify the tools they need. In retail environments, technology can give buyers pleasant shopping experiences by leading them to the products they wish to buy. This blend between the physical world and digital data provides contextual information needed to fast-track decision-making and enhance productivity.

3. Virtual Product Prototyping

What is spatial computing to product development and how will it alter the way industries prototype their products? Companies incur huge costs conducting physical prototyping and testing on new products. Computer vision spatial analysis is changing this by enabling prototyping and testing of products virtually. Product designers and developers can develop, refine, and test product designs in digital environments before producing physical products. By facilitating simulation of real-world product usage and conditions, spatial computing technology allows companies to identify product design issues and resolve them early in the development process.

4. Improving Workplace Design

Companies in different industries can use spatial analysis computing to create workspaces that foster employee productivity and collaboration. Using this technology, organizations can simulate different office layouts, create digital replicas of real-world workspaces, and evaluate their impact on employee collaboration, workflow, and efficiency. Interior designers and architects use the spatial analysis technology to visualize workspace layouts in 3D, giving companies an office feel before implementing actual changes.

5. Fostering Collaboration

The immersive nature of computer spatial analysis technology gives buyers personalized experiences. For example, the technology can facilitate ‘try before purchase’ experiences for retail shoppers. Buyers can see how a dress would look on them or how furniture pieces would look in living spaces without trying or placing them physically.

6. Better Customer Service

Industrial enterprises can use spatial glasses to create shared digital spaces that allow teams to interact as if they were located in the same physical room. In such environments, teams can exchange digital objects, view each other’s avatars, and engage each other. This enables teams to build stronger relations and enhances collaboration, making it more immersive and highly interactive.

Final Thoughts

Industrial enterprises that understand space computing and its use cases can change their operations significantly. But, what is spatial computing in relation to extended reality technologies like augmented and virtual realities? Space computing leverages these technologies to recreate physical environments in digital spaces for immersive, highly engaging experiences. Industries can use this technology to enhance employee productivity, improve staff training and collaboration, and facilitate virtual product prototyping.

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Microsoft Mesh Now Available in Microsoft Teams: Supports 3D and VR Meetings

Noah Davidson — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 13:08:30 +0000

On January 24, Microsoft launched its immersive 3D meetings inside Microsoft Teams. It will let people meet in virtual spaces with or without a VR headset. The company’s mixed reality platform, Microsoft Mesh came out of preview and integrated into Teams. The 3D Mesh meetings in Teams perform at optimum with a VR headset, with the tech giant only supporting Meta’s Quest devices currently.

With Mesh VR, you can engage in virtual 3D meetings, and the spatial audio feature imitates the ability to have private conversations you have in an office by moving away from other co-workers in a virtual space. The amazing part about it is the 3D spaces are customizable and there are games like tossing bean bags or icebreaker questions for you to play with remote colleagues who you haven’t met before.

Is Microsoft Mesh Available for Users?

The standard features include 3D immersive experiences using next-generation technology that help virtual connections feel more like face-to-face interactions and are available on PC and Meta Quest VR devices. If you want to deploy it in your teams it is available in Microsoft Teams business plans and requires a Teams Premium license. The plans start for small businesses from $4 per user/ month and for enterprises, they have plans like Microsoft 365 E3 which is $36 per user/ month.

Enterprises Using Microsoft Mesh Today

Many organizations opted for the immersive 3D experience in Microsoft Teams. Beginning from Bp to Takeda, some of the biggest enterprises have done it.

Accenture

One of the largest consulting firms globally created a strategic partnership with Microsoft to design a solution that maintains authentic connections promotes cultural understanding, and encourages unity across the organization.

Ellyn Shook, Accenture’s Chief Leadership & Human Resources Officer in talks with Microsoft explained that the new onboarding experience helped the new employees understand the company’s culture, core values, and how Accenture drives value for the clients, people, and communities. All in a collaborative, immersive way that transcends space and place.

Takeda

Takeda had a unique challenge of finding a cost-effective way to help their geo-diverse workforce connect and further their common cultural understanding. They created a custom solution designed to inculcate engagement, strengthen the commitment to their corporate philosophy, and speed product innovation: the Hirameki Garden. The garden, created in Microsoft Mesh, enables a virtual location for large, company-wide events like town halls and all-hands meetings.

bp

They created a specialized physical meeting space called Highly Immersive Visualization Environments (HIVEs). This permitted experts to understand and team up on complex problems in a way that wouldn’t be possible with traditional tools.

Roger Rohatgi, Vice President and Global Head of Design for bp, shares that “highly immersive visualization environments open the path to a more digital and collaborative future for bp. By partnering with Microsoft Mesh, we can explore how to use advanced technology for faster, more informed, and safer decision-making as we pursue our ambition to become an integrated energy company.”

Final Thoughts

Microsoft has always been in the news, whether it was stopping updates of Windows 10 or launch an in-house AI chip. This feature though being innovative and engaging needs to witness the adaptability and utility of most organizations. As Microsoft confirmed many international organizations have been using it, but overall how many companies use Teams as their mode of corporate communication? We have to see since the upgrade how many enterprises actively engage in it.

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Black Friday Tech Deals: Deals You Don’t Want to Miss

Noah Davidson — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 12:28:46 +0000

Black Friday is traditionally the season when most products go on sale. The early deals open on October 30th but the official Black Friday sale will begin on November 24th this year. However, different brands and e-commerce companies give different dates for sales and discounts.

Best Buy’s full Black Friday sale started on November 17th and will end on November 25th. Target’s early Black Friday savings began on October 29th and are set to run through Thanksgiving weekend. Newegg has started on the 16th of November and will end on the 25th. Costco announced a fusion of in-warehouse and online deals going live from November 24th through November 27th.

There are more brands with their sale dates but the important part is the products and discounts on them. So let us see what products can be purchased this festive season.

Deals on Black Friday

This Black Friday deal can help you save on many electronic as well as technological items. The list is as follows:

The Best Mobile Phone Deals

1. Apple

Apple’s latest iPhone 15 has deals on it. Verizon is offering a free 10th-gen iPad 10.9 and a free 2nd-gen Apple Watch SE. For the iPhone 15 Pro up to $1,000 off with a trade-in, plus free iPad and Apple Watch, and Boost Infinite is giving the iPhone 15 Pro Max device and unlimited data for $65.55/mo.

iPhone 14 which was originally priced at $729.99 is now $679.99 at Best Buy. iPhone 14 Plus also has a $50 discount at Best Buy. The iPhone 14 Pro which is originally priced at $999 is now available at $899 after a discount at Walmart.

Also, iPhone 13 which was for $699 is now available at a price of $599 at Apple. iPhone 12 which was last priced at $499 is now available at $399 at Walmart.

2. Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (256 GB) has a 20% discount on Amazon and Best Buy. The latest 6.7-inch flip phone that folds in half was priced at $999 which in sale is available at $800.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 (256 GB, Unlocked) has a 28% discount on it which is a steal deal. The phone was priced at $1799 and is available at %1300.

Lastly, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra after a discount of 25% is priced at $900 which was originally for $1200.

3. Google Pixel

Google Pixel Fold (256 GB), Google’s first foldable device is available in the sale at $1399 whose original price is $1799.

The Google Pixel 7A is available at $374 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Google. The Google Pixel 8 Pro which is considered Google’s best camera yet is available at $799 at 20% off.

Stellar Deals for Headphones

1. Apple

AirPods (Second Gen) with lightning charging case, the cheapest model in the lineup has a whopping discount of 38% and you can buy it at $80 at Amazon and Target and $90 at Walmart.

Apple AirPods Pro (Second Gen) with USB-C charging case which was priced at $249 has a 24% off and is priced at $190 at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

2. Bose

Bose QC 45 Headphones have a 40% discount and are priced at just $199. These discounts are available at Best Buy, Amazon and Target.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds and Headphones have 17% and 12% discounts respectively and are priced at $249 and $379.

3. Google Pixel

The Google Pixel Buds Pro was priced at $200 and in the Black Friday sale, it is available at a 43% discount. At WellBots $115, at Amazon $120, and at Best Buy $120.

Stunning Gaming Device Deals

1. PlayStation 5

New PlayStation 5 with Marvel Spider-Man 2 and Call of Duy: Modern Warfare III has an 11% discount and is now available at $499 at Amazon and $500 at Gamestop and Best Buy.

2. Wireless Controller

DualSense Wireless Controller designed for PS5 has a built-in microphone and haptic feedback technology. It has a 35% discount which was originally priced at $75 and is now available at $49.

Xbox Wireless Controller has a discount of 43% and is priced at $40 after the discount.

3. Handheld Gaming Console

Nintendo Switch Mario Cart 8 Deluxe Bundle is a holiday Switch bundle that includes the standard version of Nintendo’s terrific handheld, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and a three-month subscription to Nintendo Switch Online and is priced at $300.

Asus Rog Ally (512 GB) has a great discount of 32% and is priced at $450. It’s a PC gaming handheld with a 7-inch, 1080p, 120Hz touchscreen and integrated gamepad controls.

Hori Split Pad Pro has a 20% discount on the original price of $50 and now is available at $40.

Great Laptop Deals

1. Asus

Asus Zenbook S 13 OLED (Intel Evo i7-1355U, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) can be a great buy in the OLED laptops category. Along with a stunning screen, the lightweight laptop features a good port selection that has HDMI 2.1, USB-A, and multiple Thunderbolt ports. The laptop right now has a discount of $100 and is priced at $1300 on Amazon and Asus.

2. Microsoft

Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 has a huge 20% off and is selling at $799 instead of $999 at Amazon and Best Buy.

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is selling at $799.99 with an off of $100 at Amazon and Best Buy with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

3.Apple

The new 14-inch MacBook Pro is selling at 10% off at $1799 at Amazon and Best Buy.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro stays Apple’s largest laptop for creators and power users. It is now selling at $2299 at an 8% discount.

The sale is ongoing and most of the deals are great for purchase for tech enthusiasts and gamers. The sale is also live for tablets, watches, and games for PlayStation. There are deals on SteamCam, smart displays, speakers, and more for great prices and discounts. What products are you buying this Black Friday sale? Let us know in the comments.

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Top 10 Strategies to Ensure GDPR Compliance Across Industries

Emily Lawson — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 10:14:55 +0000

In May 2018, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect in the European Union. This law was enacted to curb widespread data breaches that exposed personal data, putting the security and trust of citizens at risk. With non-compliance fines exceeding €20 million, the GDPR is perhaps the most strict data privacy protection law in the world.

GDPR provisions apply to all industries as long as a company collects and processes personal data from residents of the European Union. It gives EU residents control of their personal data. Companies that collect such data must do so in accordance with the regulations while respecting the right of data owners to control their data. They must also protect private data from exploitation, misuse, and compromise.

10 Strategies for Boosting GDPR Compliance in Every Industry

Below are 10 easy strategies to help your company become GDPR-compliant in 2024:

1. Conduct a Personal Data Audit

The first strategy that companies can use to ensure GDPR compliance across industries in 2024 is auditing the personal data. The audit should identify the nature of private data the companies hold, the source and who it’s shared with.

GDPR regulations place responsibilities on companies to adhere to data protection principles that include putting in place effective procedures and policies. For example, companies must inform their partners of any data anomalies and inaccuracies they note in the data they share for purposes of making corrections.

2. Document Legal Reasons for Processing Personal Data

Another GDPR compliance strategy is to change corporate data privacy rights based on legal reasons for collecting and processing personal data. For instance, where companies use consent as their legal basis, regulators can demand deletion of the data. To avoid this, identifying and documenting legal reasons for collecting and processing personal data will be critical. Companies must also understand the different kinds of data processing they conduct.

3. Commission a Data Protection Impact Assessment

This assessment helps in identifying and mitigating risks relating to collection and processing of personal data. Understanding the gaps and risks enables you to craft relevant policies and take the right security measures.

4. Review the Privacy Policy

GDPR compliance requires companies to guarantee data owners or subjects of their personal data rights. In 2024, companies can review their privacy policies to ensure that website visitors and customers can:

Ask them to delete their personal data
Deny permission to process their data
Ask and receive all the details a company collect about them
Rectify and update inaccurate or incomplete information
Place restrictions on how the company uses their data
Get a copy of the personal data the company holds and stores
Ask for information on how the company uses their personal data

5. Review Consent Procedures

GDPR compliance requires companies to be more transparent in the way they collect, process and use personally identifiable information. In 2024, companies can comply with this requirement by reviewing their consent procedure. They can align their procedures to GDPR requirements by demonstrating that they:

Inform people about collection of personal data in advance
Give them a valid reason for collecting their data
Limit data collection to the specified reason
Seek consent to process data from data owners through opt-ins or check boxes
Specify the duration of data storage
Inform their audience of changes to the data collection process

6. Improve Data Security

Under the GDPR compliance requirements, the responsibility to protect private data from exploitation, misuse, and compromise lies with data collectors and processors. In 2024, companies can comply with this requirement by adopting better cybersecurity solutions. These include:

Protecting networks with VPNs, firewalls and layered approaches
Securing data through the use of up-to-date antivirus, data backups, encryptions, and tokenization
Implementing insider risk management tactics like monitoring employees, analyzing user and entity behavior and tracking third-party activities
Managing access controls through multi-factor authentication, identity management and private access

7. Get a Designated Data Protection Officer (DPO)

Another strategy that will ensure GDPR compliance in the business world is having a designated officer to handle data protection issues within companies. The DPO function can be outsourced or hired in-house to ensure a company complies with the IT requirements in the GDPR. The key roles of a DPO is to create awareness about GDPR requirements, support data protection impact assessments, monitor GDPR compliance, and report risks relating to data breach.

8. Document GDPR Compliance Procedures

Part of GDPR compliance is your ability to demonstrate adherence to the regulation and provide evidence that data processing complies to legal and security requirements. An effective way to do this is to document internal compliance processes, including how you secure personal data. Some of the essential documentation to include in your documentation are:

Details of data protection officer and controllers
Descriptions of the administrative and technical data security measures you implement
Flow of data in your company
Results of the data protection impact assessment

9. Set Up Data Breach Procedures

Personal data breaches like identity theft that are likely to harm data subjects must be reported as soon as they occur. This GDPR requirement means that companies must establish clear processes of detecting, reporting and probing data breaches. It’s important to note that failing to report data breaches can attract multiple fines under the GDPR.

10. Create GDPR Awareness

Sensitize employees and decision makers about GDPR regulations and data security practices. This awareness can enhance their cooperation and mobilize resources (financial, human resources, and technical) necessary for GDPR compliance. It would also help them to understand the impact of non-compliance to the company.

Conclusion

For many companies, complying with the GDPR can feel overwhelming. But this doesn’t have to be the case. Legal adherence can become easier for your company if you focus on implementing the GDPR compliance practices and strategies discussed above.

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China’s Baidu Reveals New Version of Ernie, Claims To Be in Same League With GPT-4

Noah Davidson — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 11:33:26 +0000

On Tuesday, October 17, Chinese search engine and artificial intelligence firm Baidu revealed a new version of its AI model, Ernie 4.0. Baidu’s CEO Robin Li showcased Ernie 4.0 at the company’s annual Baidu World conference in Beijing. He posed questions on topics like buying property, posed math problems, and asked it to write a novel based on the world of ancient martial arts. He added that the model has achieved comprehension, reasoning, memory, and generation which uses algorithms to generate new content.

Li also mentioned that Ernie 4.0 has the ability to understand complex instructions and questions and it applies logic and reasoning to provide answers. When stating the latest model, he said, “It is not inferior in any aspect to GPT-4. Significantly improved compared to its original Ernie Bot model.”

Baidu’s Future Plan for the AI Model

Baidu is amongst the competitors in the AI race, racing to come up with artificial intelligence models. This is after OpenAI’s ChatGPT was introduced last year and people were hooked to it. China sees AI as a potential industry to rival the US and aims to become a global leader by 2030.

Baidu began its journey as a search engine firm and over the last few years has invested significantly in AI technology such as autonomous driving and now, generative AI to meet the competition.

It introduced Ernie Bot in March and made it available to the public in August 2023. Ernie 4.0 is not available to the public yet but some people are invited to try it. Also, following the announcement of Baidu’s share price fell 1.7% which is a bit unexpected.

Li also mentioned that the company plans to incorporate AI into its search engine, maps, and cloud drive services, and its business intelligence services for enterprise customers. However, he did not mention the timeline or any other information for the same.

Final Thoughts

Baidu is trying to compete with US tech giants like Google’s AI Chatbot Bard and Microsoft’s Dall-E 3. However, US sanctions on China’s access to advanced chips to train the AI models along with Beijing’s stringent censorship can create issues for them. They also have domestic rivals like ByteDance Ltd and Tencent to make things difficult for them.

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Australia Fines X for Not Addressing Questions on Child Abuse Content

Emily Lawson — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 12:43:26 +0000

On Sunday 15 October, Australia’s eSafety commissioner fined X, formerly known as Twitter. The penalty is 610,500 AUD which is $380,000 US dollars for not disclosing how it polices child abuse content. X has 28 days to respond to or pay the fine.

Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said in a statement, “Twitter/X has stated publicly that tackling child sexual exploitation is the number 1 priority for the company, but it can’t just be empty talk, we need to see words backed up with tangible action.”

Australia’s Protection Against Online Child Abuse

Australia penalized X as per the Online Safety Act, introduced in 2021. The Law requires online service providers to report how they handle child abuse content on their platforms. Moreover, a civil penalty can be imposed on the companies failing to meet the reporting requirement.

A legal memo was sent to X in February by Australia’s eSafety office along with other tech companies like Google, TikTok, Twitch, and Discord. The notice included several serious questions for the companies to address regarding how they handle child exploitation content.

As per the eSafety commissioner, X didn’t answer many of the questions and left ‘some sections entirely blank.’ Furthermore, X was not the only social media platform the eSafety office took issue with. They said they found ‘serious shortfalls’ in how child exploitation content is policed in five other platforms they filed legal notices to.

The office also mentioned that Google was issued a formal warning for providing ‘generic responses to specific questions.’ Google regional director Lucinda Longcroft said in a statement, “Protecting children on our platforms is the most important work we do. Since our earliest days, we have invested heavily in the industrywide fight to stop the spread of child sexual abuse material.”

However, as per the commissioner, “ X received an official fine because its failure to comply with Australia’s reporting standards was more egregious.” For instance, the company did not provide adequate information on how long it takes to respond to child abuse reports. Also, how long it takes to distinguish child sexual exploitation on its platform, and how many safety and public policy employees it has.

Also, in December 2022, NBC News and CNBC collected internal records showing that 25 employees held tags related to ‘Trust and Safety’ out of roughly 1600 employees who were employed at that time.

X’s Response to the News

Last year, Musk stated that removing child exploitation is priority #1. But when the commissioner asked X how the service prevented child grooming. The company said that it was ‘not a service used by large numbers of young people.’ The company also added that their available anti-grooming technology was ‘not sufficiently capable or accurate for deployment on Twitter.’

The question remains if X will respond to these questions with proper answers or if he will choose to pay the fines imposed. As it is relatively a small fine given the multibillion-dollar business that the platform holds now that it charges X users a small fee.

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Israel-Palestine War’s Impact on Israel’s Tech Sector

Olivia Carter — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 11:31:09 +0000

On October 9, the investors and analysts said, the tech companies running in Israel are expected to reinforce security as they could face disruptions. The tech sector is on alert after Hamas gunmen from Gaza killed hundreds of Israelis and abducted an unknown number of people.

Stock and bond prices of Israeli companies plunged and many organizations were closed on Sunday as the Palestinian group Hamas rampaged through the towns of Israel on Saturday. In addition, militants also fired thousands of rockets in a surprise attack in Israel some of which reached Tel Aviv and led to airlines suspending their flights.

Jack Ablin, chief investment officer and founding partner at Cresset Wealth Advisors said, “It is a huge disruption to business as usual.” He also added that in a short while, resources can be redirected if the conflict expands, such as employees at tech companies being called up as military reservists.

Thoughts of World Leaders on Rising Conflict

Quincy Krosby, chief global strategist at LPL Financial in Charlotte, North Carolina, said there will likely be a “tremendous effort” to safeguard physical installations for companies based in Israel from attacks because some technology spending is tied to the military.

Nvidia, the world’s largest manufacturer of chips used in AI and computer graphics said, it had canceled an AI summit scheduled for Tel Aviv next week, where its CEO Jensen Huang was due to speak.

A spokesperson from Intel Corp. said on Sunday that the company was “closely monitoring the situation in Israel and taking steps to safeguard and support our workers.” However, he refused to say if the chip production was affected by the conflict.

Other tech giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Apple gave no response when requested for their thoughts.

Increasing Artificial Intelligence Use in the Military

There are 500 MNCs operating in Israel most of them are research and development centres after acquiring Israeli start-ups. These MNCs include Intel, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Facebook. Especially with the coming AI regulations, the RnD needed to bolster up.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in June said Intel was planning to invest $25 billion in a new factory in the southern city of Kiryat Gat. In his words, it is the largest-ever international investment in the country that can employ thousands of people and would add to its chip plants and design centers there.

Quincy Krosby said, “In the longer term, the tech and AI sector, where Israel has been a leader, could see increased investment because of the industries’ close tie-in with military spending.” “They will probably increase the investment in AI. When a country is caught literally off guard the first thing they look at – besides the obvious problems with intelligence – is what was missed within the security systems.”

He further added, “It could bolster support for more financial resources for tech for the military, which then ultimately transitions to the private sector tech companies.”

The tech sector in the past has shown perseverance in overcoming a number of conflicts with Hamas in Gaza. Apjit Walia the Managing Director at DVN Capital said, “The Israeli tech sector has historically bounced back from geopolitical tragedies.” If the conflict prolongs, that may not be the case this time.

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All You Need to Know About Google Pixel 8 and Pixel Watch 2

Noah Davidson — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 13:50:28 +0000

The 8th iteration of the smartest smartphone, Google Pixel is here. Along with the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro, Google also announced Pixel Watch 2 and Android 14 during its 2023 Google Pixel launch event.

As far as surprises go, Google has had a terrible history of keeping their devices from being leaked. And, most of what the rumors suggested about the Pixel 8 has come true. One of those was the brand-new AI integrated Camera. Before talking more about it in detail, let’s see what the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro have to offer.

Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro Specifications

Here’s a quick look at the hardware specs of both 2023 Pixel devices:

	Google Pixel 8	Google Pixel 8 Pro
Display	FHD, 6.2-inch OLED at 60-120Hz refresh rate	QHD, 6.7-inch LTPO OLED at 1-120Hz refresh rate
Processor	Tensor G3	Tensor G3
RAM	8GB	12GB
Storage	128GB or 256GB	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB
Battery	4,575mAh with wireless charging	5,050mAh with wireless charging
Camera	50MP wide angle + 12MP ultrawide rear cameras with laser auto focus and 10.5MP front camera	50MP wide angle + 48MP ultrawide + 48MP telephoto camera with multi-zone laser auto focus and 10.5MP front camera

Now, we all know that the Google Pixel has never been about the flashiest hardware. They’re known to show software magic that takes decently good hardware to match other flagships like the iPhone 15 that launched last month. But, that doesn’t mean Google has let the same hardware slide this year. The all-new Tensor G3 has to be the highlight hardware component this year alongside the new ultrawide sensor upgrade over last year’s Pixel 7 Pro. The Batteries have also seen a minor bump with the RAM, storage, and displays remaining the same.

But, what’s special about these new flagships from Google?

Everything New and Improved About the Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro

Android 14 and Software Upgrades

One of Google’s main selling points is its amazing, buttery-smooth software experience. With the Android 14, the Pixel 8 has new features like accessibility options, security improvements, and customization. The most notable features of Android 14 are the notification flashes, built-in health connect app, and better hearing-aid support.

Talking about Pixel 8 exclusive features, there’s a new camera feature called Best Take. It takes multiple photos and uses AI to combine them to get the best shot, hence the name. So let’s say you’re taking a photo and some people’s faces are not correctly captured. Using multiple photos, the feature will automatically adjust and edit those faces.

Sticking to the images, Google is also using generative AI for their new Magic Editor tool that can reposition, resize, and completely reimagine a photo after it’s shot. Other than that, the Google Assistant gets better this year. You can now use it to summarize web pages and read text aloud while automatically translating it. The Gboard also features better suggestions for proofreading your texts.

An Improved Camera Set-up

Google already has a tried-and-tested recipe for a great camera, as it has been one of the best in the industry. Some would even argue that Google’s photos are better in some situations when compared to the iPhone or Samsung’s Galaxy S23. This year’s camera has a few minor hardware upgrades to make it better.

The Pixel 8’s 50MP primary sensor has a wider aperture at ƒ/1.68 to take in more light. The ultrawide lens has a larger FoV to bring in more of the background without distorting the image too much. While that is a decent upgrade, the Pixel 8 Pro has an even better ultrawide sensor at 48MP along with an even wider aperture than the Pixel 8.

When it comes to the front cameras, the Pixel 8 doesn’t see a notable quality upgrade. However, they now have Class 3 biometrics which gives them the same security class as the fingerprint scanners. So, you can use both, fingerprint and face unlock with equal security for banking and locking your phone and apps.

Tensor G3-Powered Performance

Since its introduction with the Pixel 6 in 2021, Google has used the Tensor G-series processors that they designed and Samsung made. Each year, Google has announced unique software and camera features that were only possible thanks to their Tensor processors. This year’s Tensor G3 enables similar software features that we discussed earlier. It also has a next-gen ARM CPU along with an improved GPU and a next-gen TPU. All of these upgrades in the performance will improve camera quality, battery life, and day-to-day usage. However, it is worth noting that the tensor G3 is still nowhere near Apple’s A17 and Snapdragon Gen 8 processors.

Apart from the processor, everything is exactly the same in terms of storage capacity and memory. The battery life is expected to be slightly better considering a slight bump to the capacity and processor improvements.

Minor Display and Design Changes

The Google Pixel 8 and 8 pro have a 6.2-inch FHD and a 6.7-inch QHD display respectively. Both of them offer slightly better displays than last year. The Pixel 8 now offers a 120Hz refresh rate compared to the 90Hz of the Pixel 7. The Pixel 8 pro now has the capability to use a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz. Other than that, both displays have slightly higher peak brightness.

The design hasn’t changed much at all from the Pixel 7 with the same camera bar on the rear top. However, unlike the Pixel 7 Pro, the Pixel 8 Pro no longer has a curved display. Some people loved it, some didn’t. Lastly, there are 2 new color options in shades of light blue and pink color.

The All-New Google Pixel Watch 2 – New Sensors and Better Battery

Along with the Pixel phones, Google also announced the Pixel Watch 2 during the launch event. The 2nd generation smartwatch by Google saw major upgrades over the previous model. It has a new processor, an overhauled sensor array, added safety features, heart rate zone training, and Wear OS 4. The new processor will also increase the battery life to about 24 hours with an always-on display.

Google Pixel Watch 2 and Google Pixel 8 Price – How Much Will the New Toys Set You Back?

For the past couple of years, Google has tried to sink its feet in the higher-tier market just under the ultra-expensive flagship level of Apple and Samsung’s top models. And, they’ve nailed it with the pricing for both of their offerings this year.

The Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro will cost around $699 and $999, respectively. Whereas, the Google Watch 2 will go for $349.99.

At these prices, the Pixel 8 makes for a great high-end phone if you’re okay with a slightly less powerful processor. The growing use of Google’s AI solutions is also a great start for the smartphone.

However, the $300 difference between the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro doesn’t offer that much to make it a no-brainer upgrade. Are you in the market for a new smartphone? If so, let us know if this year’s Google Pixel caught your eye.

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Say Goodbye to Instagram and Facebook Ads With a $14 Monthly Ad-Free Plan

Olivia Carter — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 12:51:47 +0000

Meta platforms are introducing a plan involving users in the European Union shell to pay as much as $14 to access ad-free versions of Instagram or Facebook. Additionally, the users can agree to personalized ads for the free versions, The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

Under the plan, Meta can charge roughly 10 euros a month on a desktop for a Facebook or Instagram account, and around 6 euros for each additional linked account, as per the report. For mobile devices, the price for a single account would go up to 13 euros roughly as Meta would cover commissions charged by Apple and Google’s app stores. The users only have the option to buy this ad-free plan or agree to the personalized ads.

A Plan to Cover the 390 Million Euros Fine

Earlier this year, the social media giant was imposed a fine of 390 million euros by Ireland’s Data Privacy Commissioner. They also told Meta that it cannot utilize the so-called ‘contract’ legal basis to send users ads on the basis of their online activity.

Meta indicated its intention to ask users for their consent in the EU before allowing businesses to target advertising. This was a step to address multiple evolving regulatory requirements in the region.

Meta has now informed European Regulators that it is hoping to initiate an ad-free plan which is named subscription no ads (SNA), for European users in the coming months. A Meta spokesman told the Journal that the company believes in ‘free services which are supported by personalized ads’ but is experimenting with ‘options to ensure we comply with evolving regulatory requirements’.

One thing that is not clear is if the regulators in Ireland or Brusells will find the Meta’s new SNA plan in compliance with the European Union regulation. Moreover, as per the Meta estimates, the company has around 258 million Facebook users and 257 million Instagram users in the first six months of 2023. If the company charges $14 to all the Instagram and Facebook users the returns they will receive through this plan are daunting.

With rising compliances and the resulting paid plans, we will need to see if the users are intimidated by the new strategy. Will they be buying the SNA plan or agree to personalized ads?
What are you planning to do let us know in the comments.

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OpenAI and Jony Ive Are Reportedly Working On Building the ‘iPhone of AI’

Noah Davidson — Fri, 29 Sep 2023 12:44:49 +0000

Apple’s Former VP of Industrial Design Jony Ive is working with OpenAI to create something roughly described as the ‘iPhone of artificial intelligence’. The Financial Times reported that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has connected with Jony Ive’s company LoveFrom to develop OpenAI’s first consumer device.

The project is said to be in the early stages of planning but they have received funding of $1 billion from Softbank CEO Masayoshi Son. Despite being in the early stages of the project, the pair have discussed many potential designs and are looking forward to building something that gives a ‘more natural and intuitive user experience for interacting with AI’. The FT reports said that they are taking inspiration from how the iPhone used the touchscreen to transform how we interact with the mobile internet.

The Concept Behind the Rumoured Venture

The duo is said to be working on giving users a more natural and intuitive way of conversing with AI. Employing ChatGPT on a PC or an iPhone is ideal but that’s not what the devices were explicitly designed for. This project may hypothetically involve hardware embedded with AI. The climax will be creating a way of interacting with computers that is less dependent on the screen.

AI for the last decade has been hyped but recent advancements in Generative AI tools that can create content like text or art, have boosted the interest and funding drastically. This change was led by Open AI with its success with ChatGPT. This also created a need for tech giants like Microsoft and Google to release their AI systems. Amazon also collaborated with Anthropic to bring advancements in their AI systems.

30 Years in Apple

Jony Ive worked with Apple for nearly 30 years and left it in 2019 to start his own company LoveFrom. He made contributions to some of the finest physical designs of devices like the iPhone, iMac, iPad, and other iDevices. Since leaving Apple, working with OpenAI to design hardware embedded with AI will be a noteworthy effort and its success can mark his name in the world of innovation.

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