Wall Street wants algorithms that trade based on Trump’s tweets
President elect Donald Trump’s ability to move the stock market with a tweet became readily apparent yesterday after an early morning tweet about Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet program caused the company to lose $4 billion in market value. While that’s a major loss for the company, it actually presents an opportunity for traders on Wall Street, some of whom have already started looking for ways to easily cash in on the volatility Trump brings to the market.
The F-35 program and cost is out of control. Billions of dollars can and will be saved on military (and other) purchases after January 20th.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2016
As Politico reports today some traders and hedge funds are not only keeping a close eye on Trump’s twitter feed — they are already working on ways to plug that feed directly into their computer trading models.
“There are people diligently working to create algorithms for Trump’s tweets,” Zachary David, a senior analyst with consulting firm KOR Group told Politico. “And if he continues to increase the size of the data set then we’ll likely see full automation sooner than later.” But having an algorithm interpret natural language is a complex task (just ask Apple’s Siri engineers), further complicated by Trump’s use of irony and sarcasm that can be difficult to parse for meaning. (Take his frequent usage of “Sad!” for example.) And a wrong call from the algorithm could lead to a big hit in some fund manager’s portfolio.
On the other hand, the market also tends to correct itself, as it did after Boeing’s stock took a dive following Trump’s tweet about the high cost of Air Force One. In that case, Boeing’s stock bounced back to a new high, but if that pattern holds it will present another clear opportunity for savvy traders to swoop in, buy Trump-depressed stock at a discount and then profit off of the correction.
Source: Politico, The Guardian
Slack now has built-in video calling
Slack’s quest to become a do-it-all chat app continues. The company is trotting out video calling support in the Mac, Windows and Chrome versions of its client, making it easy to see a coworker or catch up with a friend. Anyone can start a one-on-one chat, while those on paid plans can have calls with as many as 15 people at once — handy for virtual meetings where your voice isn’t enough. This isn’t exactly a revolutionary feature by itself, but Slack adds its signature emoji responses to let you raise your hand or offer approval without interrupting the discussion.
You can still tell the app to default to using third-party video services like Google Hangouts, so you’re not locked into Slack’s software.
The feature should reach desktop users in the “next few days.” Mobile users aren’t left completely in the lurch, but they won’t get the full experience, unfortunately. They can join an active video call, but only on the audio side. There’s no mention of whether or not video calls are coming to mobile, but that’s likely given Slack’s tendency to mirror features across platforms whenever it can.
The upgrade isn’t exactly coming out of left field. Facebook already has a Slack competitor in Workplace, and Microsoft has been signalling that it’s eager to take on Slack with a Skype upgrade. Video calling could keep you from considering rival apps, whether it’s just for video chats or for a wholesale switch.
Via: The Next Web
Source: Slack
Asus ZenPad 3 8.0 Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
Unlike last year’s 8-inch ZenPad S, the Asus ZenPad 3 settles for a more plasticky build. But don’t be fooled, the tablet features specs as good as those on Apple’s iPad Mini 4. This gives you an option to sacrifice on build quality if your budget’s tight, while keeping decent performance.
It retails in Singapore for S$499, which converts to about $350 in the US, £280 in the UK and AU$470 in Australia respectively. It’s currently not available in the US, but there’s a cheaper 2GB RAM version being sold in Europe.
While I’m not a fan of the less than luxurious plastic rear, the textured surface does make for a very good grip. This tablet will not easily slip out of your hands, compared with say the smooth metal rear of the iPad Mini. The 7.9-inch, 2,048 x 1,536 pixel screen is bright and crisp, which makes watching videos on it a treat.
Powered by Android 6.0 Marshmallow, the tablet runs a heavily customized version of Google’s mobile operating system. Asus has loaded plenty of its own tweaks into the system, which can result in a very frustrating experience if you prefer the stock Google OS. Right from the get go, I was prompted to update a total of at least 18 Asus apps, which doesn’t sound very fun.
Asus ZenPad 3 8.0 is an affordable premium…
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The power button is located on the right side along with the volume controls, and is easy enough to reach. On the rear you’ll find an 8-megapixel camera, and if you like taking selfies, there’s a front 2-megapixel shooter just for this.
Key Specs
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 650, 1.8GHz
- 4GB RAM
- 4,680mAh embedded battery
- 4G support
- USB Type-C port
Meant as an entertainment device, the ZenPad’s dual speakers are located at the front towards you, so you’ll get a pretty good audio experience when playing games or watching videos. While I was initially worried about blocking the speakers with my fat palms, that wasn’t the case.
The ZenPad 3 8.0 is a pretty good tablet to grab if you want a value tablet, but bear in mind it’s currently only sold in select countries in Asia. If you’re traveling to this part of the world and want to buy gadgets, this could be something worth considering.
The front-facing speakers are located at the edge, but your hands aren’t likely to block them.
Aloysius Low/CNET
Tesla is working on a fix for jerks parking at Superchargers
What’s a Tesla owner to do when they roll up to a Supercharger station and every terminal is occupied by a fully-charged car? That’s a question CEO Elon Musk needs to find an answer to. He recently acknowledged the issue on Twitter and said that the company “will take action,” as spotted by Autoblog. What that will look like isn’t clear at the moment.
Tesla has already announced that starting January 1st, customers won’t get free unlimited charging with a new vehicle purchase — a decision that’s also helping the forthcoming Model 3 hit a lower price point. It might also keep charging stations from getting even more crowded. If Musk can figure out a way to get reusable rockets to Mars, coming up with a way to stop jerks from treating charging stations like parking meters should be comparatively easy.
Via: Autoblog
Source: Elon Musk (Twitter)
‘Overwatch’ unleashes Winter Wonderland event
The latest themed event for Overwatch is here, as “Winter Wonderland” has settled in for its run through January 2nd. Players of Blizzard’s team-based shooter are getting an update on their consoles and PCs that brings loot boxes filled with over 100 cosmetic items available only for a limited time. There’s also a special Brawl mode for the event focused on ice-spraying hero Mei. The 6v6 Mei’s Snowball Offensive replaces her weapon with a single-shot snowball gun, that needs to be reloaded at snow piles located around the level, while her Ultimate ability upgrades it for semi-automatic fire.
Beyond the cosmetic and game mode changes, the update also brings several other highly-anticipated tweaks for the game. The ability to party up with random players you encounter using the “Stay as Team” feature is now widely available, along with new abilities for Symmetra. Recently-added hero Sombra also has a new “Boop” unlockable voice line, and there’s a slew of bug fixes noted in the official changelog.
As usual, all of these updates are free, however, anyone obsessed with the collectibles might buy loot boxes instead of waiting to earn a few chances just by leveling up.
Source: Play Overwatch, Changelog
‘Apple Support’ App Launches in U.S. App Store
One month after debuting in the Netherlands, Apple’s specialized Apple Support app has gone live in the U.S. App Store, reports TechCrunch. The app gives Apple users an easy way to get support for their devices on the go.
The app is designed to mimic Apple’s dedicated support website, providing a list of Apple devices owned by the user and giving them access to documentation for those devices. The app also allows users to schedule repairs in an Apple retail store or natively chat with Apple’s support staff. Once they conclude their chat session, users can see their recent support history.
The Apple Support app was first rumored last November, when Sonny Dickson debuted screenshots of the app early in its development.
Apple Support is available in the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Tag: Apple Support
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What is Android Things and when will the first devices arrive?
Google makes operating systems, and Android Things is the latest example.
Google’s Android OS powers smartphones and tablets. Google’s Android Wear powers wearables like smartwatches. Google’s ChromeOS powers laptops and desktops. Google’s Android TV powers set-top boxes and televisions. And now Android Things is meant to power smart devices and Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets. But Android Things isn’t new, technically.
Here’s everything you need to know about Google’s latest OS.
What is Android Things?
On 13 December 2016, Google launched a version of Android called Android Things. It can run on products like connected speakers, smart thermostats, security cameras, routers, and so on. The idea is that, with Android Things, it’ll be easier for companies to start shipping IoT hardware, because they’ll be able to use and work with the Android developer tools they’ve used in the past.
At its core, Android Things is a stripped-down version of Android aimed at more capable smart hardware, rather than simple ones like light bulbs.
But what about Brillo?
The thing is, Android Things, the operating system, isn’t exactly new. It’s a new name. Last year, Google announced Brillo, an Android-based OS for smart devices and IoT gadgets, but it hasn’t done much with the OS since then. Android Things is a rebranding of Brillo. It’s also an update that allows development to be accomplished with “the same developer tools as standard Android”, whereas Brillo didn’t offer that.
Brillo didn’t catch on because experienced developers likely found it difficult to jump in and start work on a new product. Now, because they have access to the same familiar tools, the hope is they can quickly get up to speed.
Is there a developer preview?
Yes, Google has released the SDK preview of Android Things. You can learn more about that (and key Android Things concepts) from here.
Anything else you should know?
Don’t think of Android Things as Android or Android Wear, which you plainly see running on a phone or watch, respectively. Android Things is an OS that works in the background but isn’t visible. It allows smart devices to handle their own tasks rather than let servers do the processing. Because it is capable of more complex tasks, it’s ideal for complex smart devices like printers and locks, rather than basic power outlets.
Also, Android Things devices will be able to integrate with Android and iOS devices through Weave, a communications system that Google launched alongside Brillo. That protocol will also allow Android Things devices to have access to Google Assistant, which you can read about from here.
When will Android Things arrive?
Google has already launched a developer preview, though it hasn’t named any partners yet. So we don’t yet know which devices will be the first Android Things devices to appear on the market — let alone when they will appear.
You can now use Photoshop with the MacBook Pro Touch Bar
Starting today, you can change your brush size in Adobe Photoshop with a swipe of your finger – as long as you own Apple’s latest MacBook Pro.
When Apple demoed its MacBook Pro on stage in October, it really emphasised how the new Touch Bar works with Adobe Photoshop. But the thing is, Apple launched its laptop last month, and there was no word from Adobe about when it would support Touch Bar. Now, however, the company has announced an update for Photoshop that enables Touch Bar support. You can learn more about how to get the update from here.
- Apple MacBook Pro Touch Bar: What apps are supported?
“In designing the interaction with the Touch Bar, we imagined three distinct categories of functions that would be useful to our customers: Layer Properties, Brushes, and (true to Photoshop’s ethos) your customisable Favorites,” explained Adobe. “Touch Bar is useful for accessing controls in a new way, especially controls that were sometimes clumsy with a keyboard and mouse.”
Once you’ve updated, you’ll see that the Layer Properties now allows for quick access to features like Smart Objects, masking, and clipping, while Brushes allows you to easily adjust brush color, size, hardness, and opacity using draggable sliders. And the Favorites section can be adjusted to offer a variety of quick actions. The full list of functions is available on Adobe’s support page.
The Touch Bar Photoshop update is now out for all Creative Cloud subscribers.
Calling all #MacBookPro users! #Photoshop now supports Touch Bar. Update today to see your new workflow options: https://t.co/N86jvk2Akx pic.twitter.com/O4GDmgyrce
— Adobe Photoshop (@Photoshop) December 13, 2016
Google Drive creates a shortcut for iOS to Android migrations
If you’re switching from iOS to Android, Google Drive might be able to help you out: its latest feature gives it the powers to back up your calendar events, contacts, photos and videos. It probably doesn’t sound that useful if you regularly use GCal for your schedule or Google Photos to store your images. But if you don’t, then Drive ensures you don’t have to manually transfer your data — all you have to do is start the backup process within the settings page.
Since the whole thing could take few a hours, and you’ll have to keep Drive active and on screen the whole time, Google advises you to plug your phone in and connect to WiFi. Now, you might not ever put this to use if you got a Pixel and the Quick Switch Adapter that comes with it, but it sure sounds useful for other Android devices. Just don’t forget to switch off iMessage before you leave.
Give the gift of @Android. Drive now makes transferring photos, videos, contacts & calendar events easier than ever. https://t.co/xZpaA3Zmgq pic.twitter.com/TRdH4AYEKd
— Google Drive (@googledrive) December 13, 2016
Via: The Verge
Source: Android
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