BT under pressure to sort out super-slow broadband installations
We all want super-fast internet in our homes, but for many people that’s borderline impossible, because there’s no fibre optic infrastructure in their area. When they’re told that a connection is finally available, it can also feel like forever before engineers set up the line. If you’ve been in a similar situation, then you might be interested in Ofcom’s latest proposals. The regulator is considering new rules that would force Openreach, a BT-owned division that manages UK broadband connections, to react to customer orders faster.
In 2014, Openreach failed to meet the broadband delivery date it had promised to customers in 55 percent of cases. Ofcom’s proposals would force them to make their targets in 80 percent of cases by 2016, followed by 85 percent by 2017 and 90 percent by 2018. The regulator is also considering a new maximum length of time between a customer pressing order and their connection being ready. At the moment, it takes Openreach roughly 46 working days to prepare a line — up from 40 days in 2011. Ofcom’s proposals would set the 46-day figure as an absolute upper limit, effectively banning the company from taking longer. The figure would then be reduced to 40 working days in 2017.
They’re small changes, but ones that could improve the availability of fibre optic broadband. Today, Ofcom is opening its proposals up to consultation; following feedback, it’ll make a decision early next year, before putting it into effect in April 2016.
[Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Filed under: Internet
Source: Ofcom
European carriers could block internet ads for their own benefit
While advertising has become a necessary evil, some companies have become specialists in helping you rid yourself of it. If you live in Europe, you could soon find help from an unlikely ally, after a Financial Times report noted that some operators are ready to block ads from Google, Microsoft and Yahoo on your smartphone. According to the newspaper, one European carrier has already installed ad-blocking software in its data centers, with the intention of deploying it before the end of the year. Other providers have reportedly indicated that they may do the same and would ask customers to opt-in to the service.
Although you’d hope that carriers were acting in your best interests, that is (almost) never the case. The software is developed by an Israeli company called Shine, which just so happens to have received investment from Li Ka-shing, the world’s richest man and owner of telecoms giant Hutchison Whampoa. As the biggest internet ad company, Google is the obvious target, and by stripping its ads from webpages and some apps (Facebook and Twitter’s in-feed units would be unaffected), the unnamed carriers in question could then force the company to share some of its revenue with them.
It’s a dangerous game, especially because it would go against the very notion of net neutrality, which ensures that all traffic is treated equally. Google is obviously against the idea, intimating to the FT that without ads, it could affect the development of its free apps and web services. However, Google, Amazon and Microsoft may have set a dangerous precedent when they paid to have some of their sites unblocked in Adblock Plus — now they may face even greater pressure from companies with a lot more influence (and much bigger budgets).
[Image credit: Adam Fagen, Flickr]
Source: Financial Times
HTC is “looking closely” at affordable tablets, as rumor about H7 tablet surfaces
HTC may be interested in launching an affordable tablet, following its return to the market with the Nexus 9.
Talking to Chinese media at the Taiwan launch of the One M9+, HTC North Asia boss Jack Tong said the company is “looking closely” at the entry-level and mid-tier tablet market.
“There is less room for product differentiation and a fierce price war, so we must be very cautious about running that business. We will see if we can get better returns on smartphones or other businesses. But we are looking closely at it,” Tong said.
Tong did not confirm or deny that HTC has an affordable tablet coming down the pike, but his statement is a reversal from what he said in November, when he hinted that HTC was interested in the upper segment of the market.
Tong’s comment seems to be related to a rumor started by @upleaks and picked up by several websites earlier this week. HTC is working on a low-end tablet device codenamed H7 that should launch in Q2 (by the end of June), according to @upleaks, who has a solid track-record with HTC rumors. No other details about the H7 are known.
.rvs_wrapper
width: 335px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left
float: left;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none
width: 100%;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center
text-align: center;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
float: none;
display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos:not(.align_none) ul li:nth-child(2n+1)
clear: both;
.rvs_title
font-weight: 600 !important;
margin: 0 !important;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right .rvs_title
padding-left: 20px;
.rvs_title a
font-family: ‘Roboto Condensed’;
color: #3a3a3a;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul
padding-top: 10px;
.rvs_wrapper.align_left.cbc-latest-videos ul li,
.rvs_wrapper.align_none.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 15px 0 0;
.rvs_wrapper.align_right.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 0 0 15px;
float: right;
.rvs_wrapper.align_center.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a
font-weight: 400;
.rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li > a .yt-thumbnail
margin-bottom: 0;
@media only screen and (max-width : 480px)
.rvs_wrapper
width: 100%;
text-align: center;
#page .rvs_wrapper.cbc-latest-videos ul li
padding: 0 7px;
display: inline-block;
float: none;
vertical-align: top;
HTC has long been rumored to be working on self-branded tablets, to profit from the positive exposure generated by the launch of the Google co-branded Nexus 9. We were expecting a new HTC tablet much sooner, to be honest; almost eight months after the Nexus 9’s release, HTC has done little to take advantage of the opportunity. In short, the Nexus 9 has not become the launch pad we hoped it would be.
Tablet sales are waning, as large smartphones are making them less interesting and laptops have refused to fade away, as post-PC theoreticians have predicted. Still, HTC can still reap some benefits out of the tablet business, especially now that the company is launching new product categories in order to wean itself off smartphones.
Amazon deals: Kingston microSD 51% off, MEElectronics Air Fi 60% off, Baytek powerbank 66% off
Hello deal hunters, here are a couple of interesting promos we’ve spotted for you on Amazon today.
Kingston microSD cards
If you’re looking for some microSD memory to supplement your device’s storage space, Kingston microSD cards are currently discounted by around 50% on Amazon. The deal includes the 16, 32, and 64 GB size options of the Class-10 Kingston Digital microSD card, which has an excellent 4.7 stars review average. We’ve seen better deals for microSD cards before, but this still looks like a good promo if you need one right now.
- Get a 16GB Kingston Digital microSD card for $9.99 (47% off)
- Get a 32GB Kingston Digital microSD card for $18.99 (51% off)
- Get a 64GB Kingston Digital microSD card for $38.99 (51% off)
UE MINI BOOM wireless speakers
Next up, two color options of the UE MINI BOOM wireless speaker are still on sale. These well-reviewed speakers feature deep bass and loud sound and a battery that’s good for up to 10 hours of playback. 4.4 stars review average. The black and red models are currently discounted by 30% off their regular price.
MEElectronics Air Fi Runaway headphones
If a nice pair of headphones is what you’re after, you may be interested in the MEElectronics Air Fi Runaway wireless/wired headphones, currently available in several paint schemes for 60% off their regular price. With an average review score of 4.2, these headphones feature 40mm drivers, built-in microphone, a sportsy collapsible design (travel bag included), and the ability to be used over Bluetooth or wire.
Batyek 3,000 mAh battery
Finally, if you’re craving an external battery that’s more stylish than average, Amazon is also discounting the Baytek 3,000 mAh powerbank. Made of real wood and averaging a 4.7 stars review score, this Baytek powerbank isn’t the best bang for the buck, if you’re just looking for capacity. But if you just want an attractive, tiny (1-in wide, 4-in long) battery that you can easily carry in your pocket to get you through your daily commute, it’s a great option. Adding the AP87DCFY promo code at check out will bring down the price of the Baytek 3,000 mAh to just $9.99.
That’s it – let us know if you like any of the deals and drop us a line if you find other good offers!
Google’s unique self-driving cars will hit public streets this summer
Almost a year after it unveiled its first self-driving bubble car prototype, Google is finally ready to take it off the test track and let it loose on California’s public roads. In fact, the search giant says it has a “few” models ready to embark on the next phase of testing, which will see vehicles with removable steering wheels, accelerator and brake pedals undergo the same testing that its modified self-driving Lexus RX450h SUVs went through.
After its safety practises were called into question earlier this week, Google is keen to reinforce the amount of testing it’s already performed. For starters, the prototypes have already racked up “nearly a million autonomous miles” on its test tracks and have recently been driving 10,000 miles on their own each week. Although the idea is for the cars to operate completely free from human interaction, Google says the removable controls are there for a safety driver to take over if things get a bit hairy.
When they do hit the streets of Mountain View, the prototypes will be limited to 25mph. Although they’re controlled by the same systems already in use inside its Lexus test models, Google says it wants to “uncover challenges that are unique to a fully self-driving vehicle.” This will certainly include monitoring stopping distances and whether it can navigate its way through a congested area, but it will also help the public familiarize themselves with the vehicles. Google may have already overcome the technological obstacles, but ensuring they’re accepted by Californians may be an even bigger challenge.
Filed under: Transportation, Google
Via: Re/code
Source: Google Blog
A few ‘GTA V’ mods are installing malware on PCs
While you’ve been busy enjoying guns that fire cars, piloting flying saucers or swimming ’round a flooded Los Santos thanks to mods for the PC version of GTA V something darker’s lurked beneath the surface. GTAForums user aboutseven noticed that a C# compiler was running in the background on his or her computer and traced it back to a file dubbed “Fade.exe.” Upon further inspection she or he spotted that it was using internet access. Turns out it was a keylogger. Process of elimination deduced that “Noclip,” which allows you to examine the insides of objects freely, and “Angry Planes,” which spawns incredibly, well, angry, planes that attack you with kamikaze-like fury, were the culprits behind the malware infection.
Sites that have hosted the mods have since pulled them down, and for a detailed breakdown for how to remove the nefarious files and programs, hit the source link below. It should go without saying that if you’ve installed these on your computer, changing all of your passwords is incredibly important at this point. In the meantime, enjoy a video that never gets old: blue whales falling from the sky and causing chaos in Los Santos.
Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment, HD
Source: GTAForums
2001 DARPA movie predicts the state of today’s technology
Does DARPA employ psychics or something? I mean they must, or how else can you explain this precognitive glimpse at the modern world? The advanced research agency produced it more than a decade ago! Admittedly, many of the ideas featured were already rolling out, in development or pulled from sci-fi, but you can see the futuristic vision (and ugly UIs everywhere) in this DARPA film, Strategic Cyber Defense. Included are a number of modern technologies such as ubiquitous touchscreens, voice activated computer interfaces (a la “Ok Google“), advanced behavioral analysis, real-time translation and automated cyber-defenses. Watch the video below to see how many of today’s future technologies you can spot — and how many are better off left as concepts that didn’t pan out.
Filed under: Science
Source: DARPA (Twitter)
Watch Atlas go through a push test before DARPA’s Robotics Challenge
The DARPA Robotics Challenge finals is scheduled for June 5th to 6th, and we’ll bet the finalists are now pulling all-nighters finishing up their entries. Team IHMC Robotics from the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition in Pensacola, for instance, is working to further improve its Atlas-based machine called Running Man. In the video below the fold, you’ll see the team demonstrate its fall avoidance and push recovery technique. If you recall, DARPA’s contest is specifically looking for humanoid machines for disaster relief and search-and-rescue operations. We’ve got a feeling those types of robots won’t be operating under the best conditions, so the ability to withstand outside forces will surely come in handy.
Filed under: Robots
Source: IHMC Robotics (YouTube), DARPA Robotics Challenge 2015, IHMC
PSA: You can now play Snake on your Android device made by the original creator
style=”display:block”
data-ad-client=”ca-pub-8150504804865896″
data-ad-slot=”8461248232″
data-ad-format=”auto”>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push();
Snake was the definitive mobile game when phones with keypads were still the norm. Many of us remember that time fondly, and while there are plenty of attempts to rekindle that iconic game on smartphones, none have really stood out. One game, however, is planning to change that and it has one big thing going for it at the moment – the original creator of Nokia’s Snake, Taneli Armanto, has been working with developer Rumilus Design to create this new game, Snake Rewind.
Unsurprisingly, the mechanics of the game haven’t changed much, and there’s been a conscious effort to maintain some of the retro beauty of the original, though not to the point where pixels are visible. It’s not quite the same without the mechanical click of your keypad buttons, but it’s a trip down memory lane nonetheless. If you’re looking for something to eat up some time this weekend and get a nostalgic kick, Snake Rewind should be on your list to try this weekend. Hit the link below to download Snake Rewind for absolutely free (IAPs included of course).
Source: Android Police
The post PSA: You can now play Snake on your Android device made by the original creator appeared first on AndroidSPIN.
Microsoft’s new Hyperlapse Beta app lets you create beautiful time-lapse videos on Android
Microsoft has just released its Hyperlapse Mobile application to Android, but only as a beta version. The app, which is now available on Android, Windows Phone and on the desktop, allows you to create super smooth time-lapse videos with ease.
Normally, speeding up videos seems like an easy way to make your content much more exciting, but that only accentuates each and every shake and stumble your smartphone camera happens to capture. But with Hyperlapse Mobile, you can capture video and convert it into a sped up, smooth piece of footage at speeds ranging from normal time up to a 32x speed up.
#gallery-1
margin: auto;
#gallery-1 .gallery-item
float: left;
margin-top: 10px;
text-align: center;
width: 25%;
#gallery-1 img
border: 2px solid #cfcfcf;
#gallery-1 .gallery-caption
margin-left: 0;
/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes/media.php */
There’s a lot of interesting technology behind this app, and here’s a small glimpse from Microsoft:
Rather than stitching together various pieces of frames, (Neel Joshi, a researcher in Microsoft Research’s Graphics group) created technology that looks for entire frames that have the most overlap with each other. Instead of just arbitrarily choosing every 10th frame, for example, the system might pick out the first, 12th, 18th and 29th frame.
The application lets you record footage and upload previous videos you’ve taken with your smartphone’s camera. If you’d like to upload additional footage that’s not kept on your smartphone, you can download the Hyperlapse Pro preview app for the desktop.
Since the Android app is only in beta for now, you can only use Hyperlapse on the following devices:
- Samsung Galaxy S5, S6, S6 Edge and Note 4
- Nexus 5, 6 and 9
- HTC One M8 and M9
- Sony Xperia Z3
Want to try it out for yourself? First you’ll need to join the Microsoft Hyperlapse Mobile for Android preview Google+ community. After that, head to this site to become a tester. Lastly, head on over to the Google Play Store to download the application. Be sure to let us know how you like the app!
AIVAnet 