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Lorem Ipsum is that it has a more-or-less normal distribution of letters, as opposed to using ‘Content here, content here’, making it look like readable English. Many desktop publishing packages and web page editors now use Lorem Ipsum as their default model text, and a search for ‘lorem ipsum’ will uncover many web sites still in their infancy. Various versions have evolved over the years Read More »
In its latest move to improve its Maps platform, Apple has acquired GPS hardware and software startup Coherent Navigation. Coherent specialized in GPS-based navigation products and services that leveraged data from satellite network Iridium. Along with other recent Apple acquisitions, this pickup suggests an upcoming major revision to Maps, which comes standard on Macs, iOS devices and the Apple Watch.
Coherent products were built for both consumers as well as the U.S. government and military. Company co-founder Paul Lego now bills himself as a member of the Apple Maps Team on his LinkedIn profile, where he stated that Coherent was “a commercial high-precision navigation service.” If Apple Maps could describe itself with similar confidence, it could go a long way in catching up to Google Maps.
Apple Maps had such a poor and rocky launch, company CEO Tim Cook wrote a public apology for its failings a week after it was released in 2012. Ending a partnership that used Google Maps inside of Apple’s own solution, the original version of Apple Maps became a point of frustration because of its inaccuracy. Once Google Maps made it back to iOS as a standalone app, Maps-integrated apps began offering an option for users to use Google’s option instead, since Apple Maps was built on so little data in comparison.
Apple’s recent maps-based hires include developers of such apps as Pin Drop, Locationary, WifiSLAM, HopStop, Embark and Broadmap. AppleInsider suggests that all of this new talent points to a relaunch of Maps at WWDC this June. If the new Apple Maps can provide stronger accuracy and its long-expected mass transit directions, it just might be able to direct a few users away from Google Maps.
Source: Toms Hardware
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/apple-maps-ios-9-coherent,news-20939.html
FEBRUARY 3, 2015
Microsoft has a problem when it comes to sticking with product names. With the exception of Windows and Office, it seems to re-brand everything it offers every few years. Sometimes it’s arbitrary (at least to customers). Sometimes it’s because of legalities.
Take FolderShare, for instance, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2005 and promptly renamed Windows Live FolderShare—because everything was called “Live” back then. In the years since, it has been Windows Live Mesh, Essentials, Live Folders, and SkyDrive.
SkyDrive is a great name, but it was taken. Sort of. Microsoft got sued in the U.K. by broadcaster BSkyB for using the word “Sky.” A court agreed that it infringed a trademark, and Microsoft had to rebrand again. In keeping with other products like OneNote and Xbox One, it went with OneDrive.
OneDrive really should be a bigger name than it is. But Microsoft isn’t as synonymous with cloud/sync as Dropbox or Google Drive. The latter has the excellent integration of Docs and Sheets for online editing, but OneDrive has something arguably better: full integration with Office Online (formerly Office Web Apps; see what I mean about renaming?). Office Online houses the online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Plus, OneDrive is integrated directly with Windows 8.1—no utility needed. All it takes to access OneDrive is a Microsoft account. The service will sync files between all your Windows and Mac computers, which you can access online via mobile apps and the Web.
OneDrive is a favorite of PCMag analysts. It also made a big splash announcingunlimited online storage for those with Office 365 Home ($99.99/year), Personal ($69.99/year), or University ($79.99 for four years). That’s not exactly free, but does include full access to install and use all the Microsoft Office products, so think of OneDrive as a bonus. Limitless cloud storage is coming for OneDrive for Business in 2015.
That unrestricted storage is up from 15GB, which is still available to non-Office 365 subscribers. The only other service that comes close is Google Drive’s unlimited storage for education users. Files stored with OneDrive can also now be as big as 10GB, up from 2GB. (Dropbox file size is unlimited.)
But…so what? Lots of storage, you install the software to sync your files (or just turn it on in Windows 8), so you set it and forget it, right? You shouldn’t. There’s a lot more to OneDrive than that. Check out our list of tips in the slideshow. You’ll get the scoop on exactly what you need to take full advantage of a service thatcould be named Windows Live SkyFolderShareMeshDrive… but thankfully, is not.
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A PC you can fit into the palm of your hand? That’s been a pipe dream for most computer manufacturers. But it looks like Intel is setting up to change the technology landscape with its Compute Stick ($150 as tested), a complete Windows 8.1 small-form-factor (SFF) desktop PC that’s not that much bigger than a USB flash drive. You set it up simply by plugging it into any display that has a free HDMI-in port, from the 22-inch monitor on your desk to the 80-inch HDTV mounted on your rec room wall. It uses the same energy-efficient technology that powers laptops and tablets, like the E-Fun Nextbook 10.1$179.00 at Walmart and theToshiba Encore 2 Write$434.65 at Amazon, albeit without a built-in screen. It won’t win any speed records, but at $150, it’s almost an impulse buy. The Compute Stick is a game changer, and easily earns our Editors’ Choice nod for innovation.
Design
The Compute Stick$664.00 at B&H Photo-Video is an extension of the work Intel has done with system on chip (SoC) technology. In essence, the many motherboard chips that would have been installed on a larger PC are built into the Compute Stick’s Intel Atom Z3735F processor instead. This simplifies construction, and the result is a PC built into a black, plastic, rectangular chassis measuring approximately 0.5 by 4 by 1.5 inches (HWD) and weighing a mere 1.9 ounces. It’s a little longer than the 3.40-by-2.2-inch Raspberry Pi 2 Model B$41.74 at Amazon, not including the embedded connectors, but adding an outer case to the Raspberry Pi 2’s bare motherboard will even out the difference quickly. Portable external solid-state drives (SSDs) like the Monster Digital Overdrive mini (512GB)$297.23 at Amazon are closer in comparable size and weight. There are a couple of vents to cool the system, but it essentially looks like a large USB memory stick with an HDMI plug instead of a USB connector. And there’s a prominent white ‘Intel Inside’ logo.
Wait, This Isn’t Windows to Go?
You may ask how the Compute Stick is different from Windows to Go (WTG) drives like the similarly priced Spyrus WorkSafe (64GB). Both let you take your PC work environment with you in your pocket. However, WTG drives need to be plugged into a PC of some kind to work, and that host PC then runs the copy of Windows on the drive. The Compute Stick is a self-contained desktop PC that has its own 2GB of memory, Atom processor, and 32GB eMMC Flash storage (which is analogous to an SSD). With a WTG drive, you have to buy and install a copy of Windows on the drive yourself, while the Compute Stick comes with Windows 8.1 pre-loaded. A $110 Ubuntu Linux version of the Compute Stick with 1GB of memory and 8GB of storage is coming in June 2015, according to Intel, while this Windows 8.1 model goes on sale at the end of April.
Features and ConnectivitySince the Compute Stick is so small and weighs only a couple of ounces, it’s even more portable than a tablet or external hard drive. To use it, you just have toslide the system’s built-in HDMI connector into a free HDMI port on a computer monitor or HDTV. You may need to use the included HDMI extension cable in tight quarters, but as long as you have enough space behind your display, the system is light enough to attach permanently. Connect the included AC adapter to the micro USB port on the stick, and you can then power it on. This is a lot easier than the hobbyist-oriented Raspberry Pi 2 Model B, which needs a separate HDMI cable, a power supply, and a case to protect its circuits from prying fingers.
Other ports are limited to a security notch (so you can lock the system down with a cable), a single USB 2.0 port, and a microSD slot. You can connect a USB wireless dongle, a wired keyboard, or a mouse to the USB port, or use Bluetooth to connect a wireless keyboard set. You’ll have to buy the keyboard or mouse separately or reuse a set you have lying around the house or office, since none are included with the system. We used the Microsoft All-in-One Media Keyboard$25.04 at Amazon(with its USB dongle) and Microsoft Arc Touch Mouse Surface Edition$62.00 at Amazon (via Bluetooth) without issue. You will have to connect a USB mouse of some kind to pair a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, since the Compute Stick doesn’t automatically search for for devices during initial setup. Besides Bluetooth, the Compute stick is equipped with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi for wireless connectivity.
The 32GB of storage doesn’t seem like a lot, and there is only about 19.3GB free given Windows 8.1 and its recovery partition. The most convenient way to add more storage (up to 128GB) is via the microSD slot. You can also use the Compute Stick with cloud storage and services like BoxFree at Amazon,DropboxFree at iTunes, Google DriveFree at iTunes, and Microsoft OneDrive. If you’ve paired a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, the USB port will be free, allowing you to connect external storage. Just make sure the USB stick is light or that the hard drive’s cable is long enough that the drive is supported on another surface like a tabletop to avoid putting on extra weight and stress on the HDMI connector on your display. The USB port on the Compute Stick worked with most drives we tested, like a couple of random giveaway USB memory sticks, the Fujitsu HandyDrive (400GB) , and the Monster Digital Overdrive mini. However, the system couldn’t use the G-Technology G-Drive Mobile$139.95 at Amazon because the drive’s power drain was too high for the USB port.
How Is it in Action?
Intel includes the 32-bit version of Windows 8.1 on the Compute Stick. While that blocks out 64-bit programs (more on that later), the majority of Windows programs will load successfully. The system can also run any Windows-based browser plug-in, including extensions for Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox, and Opera. In comparison, Chrome-OS-equipped systems like the Asus Chromebox M004U$159.99 at Amazon and the upcoming Asus Chromebit USB stick can’t run Windows programs and plug-ins natively.
Viewing streaming videos using the Compute Stick is smooth. In testing, the system woke from sleep in a couple of seconds after I tapped the Microsoft All-in-One Media keyboard, and all of the keyboard’s media controls worked perfectly. We watched 480p, 720p, and 1080p videos from Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, and YouTube. Frame rates are smooth, though a critical eye will notice the occasional stutter or missed frame. That’s as good as watching a video on larger, inexpensive desktops like the Lenovo IdeaCentre Q190 (57327830)$249.99 at Lenovo or theZotac Zbox CI320 nano Plus Windows 8.1 With Bing$262.73 at Amazon. Since the Atom processor doesn’t need a fan, the system is quiet.
Performance
With only 2GB of memory and an Intel Atom Z3735F processor, the Compute Stick’s benchmark test results are understandably on the low side. The system’s score of 1,414 points on the PCMark 8 Work Conventional test is lower than systems with a Celeron processor, like the Lenovo Q190 (1,912) and Zotac Zbox CI320 nano plus (1,496), and way behind Core i3- and Core i5-equipped desktops like the Acer Aspire ATC-605-UB11$812.99 at Amazon(3,017) and the HP Pavilion miniBest Price at Amazon (2,273).
The 2GB of memory prevents the Compute Stick from completing our Adobe Photoshop test, and the 32-bit Windows 8.1 OS means the system can’t run the 64-bit CineBench R15 test. The Compute Stick was able to complete the Handbrake test in 8 minutes, 20 seconds, which was six minutes slower than the Acer ATC-605-UB11 budget desktop (1:47). Single-digit frame rates on our Heaven and Valley 3D gaming tests looked like slideshows. The Compute Stick is sufficient for everyday PC tasks and for viewing videos and browser games, rather than anything strenuous like playing Call of Duty 12.
Conclusion
The Intel Compute Stick lets you carry a Windows PC in your pocket. At about $150, the system offers healthy competition for Chrome-OS-based desktops like the Acer Chromebox CXI-4GKM$215.99 at Amazon and the Asus Chromebox M400U. It’s certainly more compatible with your older Windows programs and browser plug-ins than the Chromeboxes. It costs $100 less than the Dell Inspiron Small Desktop 3000 Series (3646)$249.00 at Dell, the Lenovo Q190, and the Zotac Zbox CI320 nano plus, but it lags those three more traditional desktops in terms of connectivity and upgradability.
Would I buy one? The answer is a resounding yes. The Intel Compute Stick is less expensive than a Chromebox, and it’s more usable than hobbyist systems like the Raspberry Pi 2, which requires a lot more leg work to get up and running. The Compute Stick doesn’t neatly fit into any of our existing desktop PC categories; instead, it shakes up the landscape, and ushers in an exciting new direction for computers in general, all for a very affordable price. As such, it earns our Editors’ Choice.
The new technologies won’t come out in products for several years and may not be quite as extreme when they do, but the advances show tape can keep getting more dense into the future, said Mark Lantz, manager of IBM’s Advanced Tape Technologies Group.
Tape is already the least expensive storage medium per bit, easily beating spinning hard disks or solid-state drives. The trade-off is slower retrieval time—about a minute—but this makes tape perfect for archiving large amounts of infrequently used data, Lantz said. IBM thinks it’s perfect for cloud storage and is working on other advances toward that end, such as an object-storage interface. The interface could make tape systems work with cloud object storage systems such as OpenStack Swift, IBM says.
But the core advantages of tape all come back to density, and the technology IBM is demonstrating this week at the National Association of Broadcasters show in Las Vegas boosts this in several ways. The tracks on the tape are narrower, the heads are smaller, and even the particles of barium ferrite that store each bit are finer. All are now measured in nanometers, so the movement of the heads has to be more precise, too. It’s accurate to within less than 6 nanometers, IBM says.
The density of tape storage doubles about every two years, and that’s likely to continue over the next decade, Lantz said. But innovations take a while to get from labs to enterprises. For example, tape technologies IBM developed in 2007 are hitting the market only now. It’s likely the latest prototypes will take about as long, counting both development and product design, he said.
Flash and DRAM company Innodisk announced new DDR4 memory modules specifically for Intel’s upcoming Skylake Platform. The DDR4 modules announced include both DIMM and compact SO-DIMM module types and are manufactured for use in industrial environments. Skylake processors, set to be released sometime in Q3 2015, will still be backwards compatible with DDR3 modules.
Innodisk made sure to point out the advantages its DDR4 modules will have over other DDR3 sticks in industrial settings. According to Innodisk, “The new unbuffered long DIMM and compact SO-DIMM memory offerings will feature significantly lower power consumption and higher performance than comparable DDR3 modules.”
When compared to common DDR3 SDRAM modules, Innodisk claims a 30 percent increase in performance and a 20 percent reduction in power consumption. Each module contains a thermal sensor that can provide temperature information for individual module monitoring. Additionally, each module is covered with a conformal coating to help prevent minor environmental damage, an obvious risk when placed into industrial environments, and it uses the extra thick 30u Golden Finger connector.
All modules run at a frequency of 2133 MHz at 1.2V and are available in either 4 GB or 8 GB sticks. The two server modules are ECC (error-correcting code) unbuffered memory, while the other two are non-ECC unbuffered memory. All modules are compliant with JEDEC Solid State Technology Association memory standards.
Source:
http://www.tomsitpro.com/articles/innodisk-ddr4-memory-module,1-2516.html
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