MinION, the USB-sized DNA sequencer, goes through real-world testing
Back in 2012, a UK company called Oxford Nanopore announced a chewing gum packet-sized DNA sequencer, something that people found hard to believe since rival machines can be as big as fridges. After dealing with technical issues and bugs (as well as being accused of launching vaporware), Oxford has finally begun making that device called MinION available to beta testers. Several of the testers (mainly scientists doing research in educational institutions) reported that it only exhibits a 60 to 85 percent accuracy. While that’s nowhere near more traditional sequencers’ 99.99 percent accuracy, many of the testers still believe that the device could be a game changer due to its size and relatively affordable price. Traditional sequencers could cost as much as $1 million, while the testers bought their MinIONs for only $1,000 each.
The device determines whether a DNA base is A, T, C or G by measuring changes in electrical conductivity while a fragment passes through biological pore. As mentioned earlier, though, MinION is still really glitchy and can’t replace current options just yet — in fact, some scientists are using it to supplement data from traditional sequencers. There’s also still no word or pricing for a wider release, but those will likely come when the device is a lot more accurate that it is now. Sadly, David Deamer (the device’s creator) can’t promise a jump in accuracy enough to match its competitors’ right now, but he says improvements will come in the future.
Filed under: Science
Source: Technology Review
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Google wants websites to work more like apps, even offline
Google wants to get rid of frustrating 404 error pages and make websites still feel interactive even if you’re not connected to the internet. So, the company has recently developed a new technology called “Service Workers,” and Google software engineer Alex Russell talked about it at length during the O’Reilly Velocity conference in New York this week. To be precise, Service Workers is a new browser standard that will allow websites to store documents locally (similar to apps), in order to render cached pages or any other interactive content anywhere you are. Say, you’re loading a website just as you enter a tunnel or reach an area with no coverage, you’ll then see an older version of the site instead of getting an error message. As Russell puts it, “We want to load something instead of nothing.”
Also, since the new standard stores data locally, it speeds up the website loading process. It first shows you the interface or cached page saved on your device, while simultaneously updating it — you won’t have to wait for a particularly large image to show up, for instance, before the rest of the website comes to view. Google still has to develop Service Workers further before we see it implemented on all browsers, but you can read more about how it works in Russell’s paper published by the World Wide Web Consortium.
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Android L’s newest security feature: out-of-the-box encryption
Apple isn’t the only one that’s making its software a lot more secure, and erm, fed-proof — Google’s upcoming Android platform will apparently be encrypted by default, according to The Washington Post. The publication didn’t clarify whether it’s Android’s full-disk encryption, which Google first rolled out in 2011, but it did say that nobody can access the encrypted device (not even the company), unless they know its four-digit pin. Does that mean users will be forced to nominate a passcode upon setup? We don’t know for sure, but with encryption in place, Mountain View (just like Apple) won’t be able to assist authorities in searching your phone, so long as you keep your passcode a secret.
Company spokeswoman Niki Christoff told the Post that keys/passcodes are not stored online or anywhere off your device, so Google has no way to share them. Also, with this update, you won’t even have to think or figure out how to switch encryption on, since you’re protected from the start. Google has apparently been developing this Android L feature for months, because while feds generally can’t search phones without a warrant, it wants its software to be more resistant to government snooping.
Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Mobile, Google
Source: Washington Post
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PayPal’s Here credit card reader finally works on Android tablets
PayPal has long been one of the most popular ways to make and receive payments on Android, but with one major drawback. The PayPal Here, PayPal’s mobile card reader, has never been compatible with Android tablets, for some reason. Today is the day that it changes!
With the Android app paired with Here, PayPal gives businesses the ability to:
- Accept credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments
- Monitor sales activity (with deep insights and reporting features)
- Customize the selling process – with the ability to enter different taxes, discounts and tips
All of these features have been available on Android phones and iOS devices previously, but this is the first time we’re seeing the functionality on Android tablets.
Have you used the PayPal Here card reader? Do you think you’ll use it more often now that it’s available for Android tablets?
Deals, Discounts, Freebies, and More! Click here to save today!
The post PayPal’s Here credit card reader finally works on Android tablets appeared first on AndroidGuys.
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Android L for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4 may be available as soon as November/December
When you think of timely software updates, Samsung isn’t typically one of the manufacturers who’s name comes up first. However, if today’s rumour is true, Samsung may be one of the first to make available Android L for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4. This rumour comes from SamMobile, who’s Samsung insiders are reporting that the Android L update will come to Samsung’s flagship devices in late November/early December. If true, this should be a much faster turnaround than we have seen from Samsung in the past, however its software has also been buggy at times, buggy enough to withdraw the update entirely – hopefully that won’t be the case this time. We’d love to see Samsung challenge Motorola for fastest manufacturer to update their devices, but we’ll take what we can get.
And while we were expecting Android L to be officially released around Halloween time, along with the new Nexus devices, this allegedly release window for Samsung software updates also gives us further confidence that the release is right around the corner. While this is going to be a very fast update for the Note 4, which hasn’t even started shipping yet, the Android L update will be a breath of fresh air for the Galaxy S5 which has been on the same build of Android since its launch in April.
What do you think of the November/December timeline for Android L for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Galaxy Note 4? Let us know your thoughts.
Source: SamMobile
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OnePlus talks about its new pre-order system, calls the invite system “a blessing”
We knew it was coming, but OnePlus has started a blog to talk about exactly why they are migrating to a pre-order system from their much-maligned invite system. In what may come as a shock to everyone who opposed the invite system, press and consumers alike, OnePlus has said that “the invite system has been a blessing”. The reason for this is that OnePlus chose to “forego hardware margins” for the OnePlus One, which necessitated careful inventory control to prevent build-up of unsold units and was achieved with the invite system. As a progression of their controls and in the hopes of selling more units, OnePlus is migrating to the pre-order system. While this all seems like good business sense, something isn’t quite adding up here.
How can such a small company abandon all hardware margins? How would they make any money at all? Unless there is a backer behind all of this – this is said to be Oppo – OnePlus is operating presumably at a loss. Another point I found unusual is the fact that their marketing and sales team misjudged the market so much that they actually lost all of their goodwill due to their invite system. Why didn’t they launch with the pre-order system? If it is just as good at controlling your inventory but you are able to sell more through it, why wasn’t this the original option? While OnePlus’ motto is “Never Settle”, there is very little I would say the company hasn’t settled on, and their continued defence of their strategies seems to suggest that they are happy to continue doing so. /rant
If you want to know more about OnePlus’ plans for the pre-order system, hit the source link below to visit their blog.
Source: OnePlus via Droid-life
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iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Launch Day: What to Expect
Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6 Plus will launch in the United States tomorrow, with Apple retail stores, carrier stores, and several major retailers offering the two devices for sale.
We’ve gathered up a list of U.S. locations that will be selling the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, listed below, along with general opening times. Customers hoping for an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus are encouraged to call their local stores for specific information on opening times and potential stock.
– Apple retail stores – 8 a.m local time
– Verizon Wireless – 8 a.m. local time (Not all stores are accepting walk-up purchases, and opening times will vary)
– AT&T – 8 a.m. local time
– T-Mobile – 9 a.m. – 10 a.m local time, but opening times vary
– Sprint – 8.a.m local time
– RadioShack – 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. local time, but opening times vary
– Best Buy – 8 a.m. local time
– Sam’s Club – 8 a.m. local time
– Target – Availability will vary
– Walmart – Availability will vary
– Staples – Availability will vary
At Apple Store locations, procedure will be slightly different than it has in past years as Apple will also be handing out iPhone 6 and 6 Plus units to customers who opted for Personal Pickup when pre-ordering online last week.
All customers will be directed to wait in one line until approximately 5 a.m, at which point they will be split into two lines: one for Personal Pickup and one for customers hoping to purchase a device on launch day.
Apple will hand out refreshments like coffee and water, as it does every year, and ahead of the store’s opening, customers in the walk-in line (who did not pre-order) will be given a digital Reservation Pass (sent via email or SMS) to guarantee them an iPhone. This year’s Reservation Passes replace the paper cards that have been handed out in past years.
Walk-in customers planning to wait in line should aim to arrive as early as possible. Many people hoping to get their hands on an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus are already waiting in line across the United States, and will wait through the night. According to multiple sources, supplies of the iPhone are expected to be low, with the iPhone 6 Plus being in extremely short supply.
Line at 14th Street Store in New York City, as of 2:30 PT.
The iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are already on sale in Australia, and initial reports have suggested that supplies of the iPhone 6 Plus are indeed constrained. According to one MacRumors reader, many stores in Melbourne, Australia received only one iPhone 6 Plus unit.
Apple employees in Australia giving an iPhone to the first customer in line
As for customers who pre-ordered and plan to do Personal Pickup, arriving early is also generally recommended as the pickup line can get long as well.
Customers who pre-ordered early and selected at home shipping will also begin receiving their devices on Friday, September 19, with most shipments listing guaranteed delivery by the end of the day. MacRumors readers who are expecting shipments can join in on several threads in our forums, where readers are tracking their shipments and order statuses:
– The “I just bought/ordered/shipped/received my new iPhone 6/6 Plus” thread
– iPhone 6 & 6 Plus Sprint Pre-Order Thread!
– T-Mobile.com preorder thread
– ATT Pre-order status
– VZW Order Status Thread
– UK iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus Thread
– Apple.com Pre-order thread
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Sound off! What are your favorite features in iOS 8?
iOS 8 is finally here, and it’s bringing a slew of new features. It’s faster, more secure, and in a lot of ways, more like Android. Out of all the new bells and whistles what are your favorite new additions? Head over to the forums and let the community know what you’re digging most about iOS 8. When you’re done there don’t forget to write your own review! We’ll be rounding up the best of the best in an upcoming post.
Photos by Will Lipman.
Filed under: Cellphones, Apple
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Facebook tweaks its feed to highlight news that matters, while it matters
We probably won’t confuse Facebook’s front page with a Twitter stream anytime soon, but today the social networking giant announced it’s fixing one big problem (again): surfacing posts while they’re still relevant. If you regularly log on to keep in touch with friends, family or enemies and let the site order updates by itself you’ve probably seen it — posts popping up days later with old news, or worse, something that was relevant, if it had showed up at the appropriate time. There’s nothing worse than missing out on a late night burrito run (we suggest creating an industry-wide mailing list to coordinate your activities and agendas in secret) or missing an opportunity for a joke, and Facebook is trying a couple of things to change that.
First, trending topics will become more important — now when breaking news like #Ferguson is trending, users won’t be flooded with last week’s Ice Bucket challenge videos. Also, it’s taking into account when others like posts, not just how many likes those posts have. Erich Owens and Dave Vichrey of Facebook say the changes are rolling out gradually, so you may not notice them right away. What they didn’t say unfortunately, is anything about Facebook’s annoying tendency to switch back from “Most recent” view to the curated feed, or anything about letting users have more control over their own timeline in the future. Of course, giving users the wheel might get in the way of future experiments, but for now Facebook is just trying to make sure it’s still the place to go for its billion+ users.
Source: Facebook
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Engadget Daily: We made ‘magic’ butter, sorted iOS 8 keyboards and more!
Today marked a special occasion in Engadget history: it was the day we published a story about making butter infused with marijuana. That isn’t all that’s happened in the past 24 hours, though, we also have a guide to the new iOS 8 keyboards, spotted that Aubrey Plaza is voicing Grumpy Cat and a whole lot more. Just check out the gallery below!
Filed under: Cellphones, Transportation, Internet, Apple
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AIVAnet 