A new form of light could power next-gen quantum computers

Photons are among the most ubiquitous, but loneliest particles in the quantum world — they’re always around us, but never interact with each other. Scientists from MIT and Harvard have managed quite a feat then, by observing groups of three photons interacting and sticking together to create a new weird form of light. The research is purely experimental for now, but could enable researchers to entangle photons, a key part of building quantum computers.

When you throw certain elements together like hydrogen or oxygen, they can bond in pairs or even triplets, forming O2 (oxygen) or O3 (ozone), for instance. Shine two flashlights together, however and … crickets. The photons simply pass through each other like phantoms and there’s no reaction whatsoever. That’s because they have no mass or charge, though they can become highly energized in the form of X-rays or gamma rays.

To get the photons together, then, the researchers beamed a very weak laser through a dense cloud of rubidium atoms cooled to a hair above absolute zero. Instead of exiting randomly one at a time as you’d expect, they bound together in pairs or triplets, creating some form of entanglement. In addition, the normally mass-less photons gained some weight, as well — a fraction of an electron’s mass, but it’s something.

The heftier photon “molecules,” if you like, were considerably less nimble, too. Rather than moving at their regular 186,000 mile per second pace, they were moving 100,000 times slower, less than SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Tesla Roadster is at the moment, by my calculation.

For benefits, think computers, not light sabers (Lucasfilm/Disney)

How did this happen? When passing through the listless rubidium atoms, the photons passed on some of their energy. However, because of something called the Rydberg blockade, adjacent atoms can’t be excited as much, and the less-agitated atom and a photon formed a hybrid called a “polariton.” As the photons skipped between polaritons, they interacted with each other in ways they normally wouldn’t, and some were still stuck together when they exited the cloud. This happenned slowly on a quantum scale, about a millionth of a second from entry to exit.

It’s not the first time scientists have got photons together; some of the same team managed to get pairs of photons hooked together in 2013. The new discovery, however, marks the first time that three photons have been forced to interact.

The research is not just interesting to particle physicists, but it could eventually pave the way to new types of quantum computers used to crack cryptographic codes and solve difficult equations. The photon triplets are essentially entangled, so they could be used in “qubit” processors or for transmitting information over long distances. Having multiple photons entangled would allow for more robust, powerful systems. “The interaction of individual photons has been a very long dream for decades,” said lead author and MIT professor Vladan Vuletic.

Source: MIT

Microsoft inadvertently outlines the limits of Windows 10 on ARM

Microsoft began introducing ARM-powered Windows devices this past holiday season, and now we have more information on the limitations of these devices. Thurrott noticed that Microsoft published a list of limitations on the ARM version of Windows 10. It appears to have been inadvertant, as the document has since been removed, but The Verge noted that cached versions of the article are still available.

ARM is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chips; the aim is to deliver more of a tablet experience on these devices, with the promise of all-day battery life. For it to work with Windows apps, it must emulate x86 hardware, so not everything will work perfectly.

You can see the full list for yourself over at the Wayback Machine, but some of the most important concerns is that x64 apps are not supported. Developers will either have to create separate ARM apps or rely on x86 versions. Additionally, only ARM64 drivers are supported, which will limit hardware compatibility. Also, any games that use OpenGL later than 1.1 or require hardware acceleration for OpenGL will not work.

It’s unclear why Microsoft removed this document, as it’s useful for anyone considering the switch to a Windows 10 ARM device. Still, it seems that the ARM version of Windows 10 will work well enough for most users.

Via: Thurrott, The Verge

Source: The Wayback Machine

Google found another bug in Microsoft’s Edge browser

Google tasks its Project Zero time with finding security issues and loopholes within other companies’ products, and they’re pretty effective at what they do. Now, Google has made public a medium-level security issue within Microsoft’s Edge browser. The vulnerability was first discovered back in November.

The detail are pretty technical, but the issue has to do with how Microsoft Edge deals with code execution. Thanks to this flaw, a hacker could bypass the Edge browser’s security features and place malicious code within the memory of the target computer.

Project Zero’s policy is to give companies 90 days after the detection of a security flaw to fix it. Neowin first reported that Google notified Microsoft of the problem back in November. Because the company hasn’t yet fixed it, Google has made the issue public. It’s not likely to make Microsoft very happy, as the company has previously taken issue with how Google handles reports like these.

Source: Google, Neowin

New Footage Captures Drone Crash Over Apple Park

It’s been well over two years since monthly drone updates have been shared online covering the construction progress of Apple’s second campus in California, called Apple Park. Over the weekend, drone videographer Matthew Roberts posted his latest video on YouTube, but instead of covering the newest updates to the campus, the video captured a drone that malfunctioned and crashed over Apple Park.

Roberts said the crashed drone’s operator got in touch with him, asking for help in locating the downed drone on Apple’s new campus and sharing the footage from the crash with Roberts. The drone that crashed is said to be one of DJI’s devices, so the owner was able to review a cached version of the video on the DJI app on their phone/tablet following the incident. “There were no signs of premature failure,” the owner said, and it’s still unclear why the drone malfunctioned.

Roberts eventually discovered the drone crashed among the solar panels on the roof of the main Apple Park building. The drone’s owner has contacted Apple and notified them of the incident, and Roberts said that “it remains to be seen” if Apple will return the drone back to its owner. In the video, it appears that the drone has remained mostly intact following the crash.

In the latest monthly update of Apple Park shared by Roberts earlier in February, the new campus was described as seeing increased activity from employees now that more have moved in, with bicycles appearing throughout parking lots and on walkways. The maintenance facility has also been completed, but Apple is still working on landscaping in a large area located between the main building and Steve Jobs Theater.

Tag: Apple Park
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Elon Musk gets Hyperloop digging permit in Washington, DC

Last year, the internet needled Elon Musk for tweeting he had verbal approval to dig a Hyperloop tunnel in Washington, DC, because officials said they granted no such thing. Now, however, The Boring Company does have an honest-to-gosh written permit, albeit only for some preliminary site preparation and excavation, the Washington Post reports.

The Boring Company is working with an as-yet unnamed firm, possibly Hyperloop One, to build a line between New York City and Washington, DC, with stops at Philadelphia and Baltimore — the “NY-Phil-Balt-DC Hyperloop.” The total trip time between DC and NYC would be just 29 minutes, which would obviously revolutionize transportation, as you could work in Manhattan and live in Philly for one-tenth the price.

The permit is for a spot at 53 New York Avenue NE in Washington’s trendy NoMa quarter. A Boring Company spokesperson told the WaPo that “a New York Avenue location, if constructed, could become a station” as part of the Hyperloop network of ultra-high-speed main lines and slower city “loops.”

A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on Jul 25, 2017 at 11:26pm PDT

Again, this is still early days. “We’re just beginning, in the mayor’s office, our conversation to get an understanding of what the general vision is for Hyperloop,” DC Mayor Muriel E. Bowser’s chief of staff, John Falcicchio told the WaPo. So far, Elon Musk has backing from the White House and the state of Maryland, which has already granted utility permits.

As you’re no doubt aware by now, the Hyperloop system uses pods that carry passengers and cars between cities at nearly 800 mph in a tube with a partial vacuum. If the Boring Company proceeds with construction, the first phase would be the Washington, DC to Baltimore line. The spot where Musk got the permit to dig is currently an abandoned lot, but could one day be a bustling transportation hub, albeit not on the scale of DC’s Union Station.

“Stations in a Loop or Hyperloop system are small in size and widely distributed in a network,” a spokesperson said. “[That’s] very different from large-station [terminals] considered for train systems.”

Source: Washington Post

Control Volkswagen’s latest concept car with your voice

Today, Volkswagen debuted a new autonomous concept car called the I.D. Vizzion at the Geneva International Motor Show. The interior of the all-electric car doesn’t reflect that of a traditional vehicle; it’s been completely redesigned. There is no steering wheel and it does not have visible controls. It’s the fourth car in Volkswagen’s I.D. line, which is focused on developing electric car technology.

The idea behind the I.D. Vizzion is to create the comfort of being inside a chaffeured vehicle, leaving the driving up to the autonomous systems. Drivers and riders can interact with the car using their voice thanks to a virtual assistant. The VI can remember the preferences of each person who uses the car and adapt accordingly.

The car uses 111 kWh lithium batteries and has a driving range of 665 km (about 413 miles) when you take into account regenerative braking. The I.D. Vizzion’s top speed is 180 km per hour, or about 111 miles per hour.

Volkswagen has vowed to introduce 20 electric car models by 2025, and the company aims to put I.D. models into production by 2020. It will start with a small, compact car, and will follow that up with an SUV and a larger sedan. It’s not clear when (or if) the Vizzion will be put into production.

Source: Volkswagen

Industrial Design Experts Say HomePod’s White Ring Issue ‘Shouldn’t Be Too Hard to Fix’ for Apple

Last week, Apple confirmed that the HomePod can potentially leave white rings on the surface of wooden furniture with oil or wax finishes. In an effort to help users prevent seeing these rings appear on their own furniture, Apple shared a support document on “Where to place HomePod,” detailing how the interaction between the HomePod’s vibration-dampening silicone base and a wooden surface has the chance to result in a white ring.

Business Insider recently spoke with a few industrial design experts who believe that the problem “shouldn’t be too hard to fix” for Apple.” Gregor Berkowitz, a product development consultant for numerous consumer electronics brands, expects Apple to “re-tool” its HomePod manufacturing process to address the issue with the silicone base, which could take between two to six weeks. Although the fix could take several weeks, the experts said it’s “likely not very costly” for Apple.

Image via Wirecutter
Senior industrial designer at Y Studios, Cesar Viramontes, referred to the white rings issue as something customers will “probably forget about” in the next few months.

Apple may need to “re-tool” the manufacturing process since silicone is manufactured using a different process than the other kinds of elastomer,” said Berkowitz. If that’s necessary, the process could take anywhere from two weeks to six weeks, he noted.

“It’s an issue, but I think it’s probably going to be one that’ll be corrected in the next round of manufacturing,” said Y Studios’ Viramontes. “I think it will be a minor issue, and people will probably forget about it in the next couple of months when it goes away.”

While the experts see a quick fix for the issue coming from Apple, all were surprised it happened in the first place. Product design expert Ignazio Moresco explained that more is expected from Apple’s well-known attention to detail, and the company “should have caught the issue if they followed a rigorous QA process.” The white marks aren’t an Apple-specific problem, but have appeared with other speakers — like Sonos One — that have similar silicone bases.

Berkowitz believes the white rings could be a result of Apple’s “inexperience” with making stationary speakers, in contrast to the company’s familiarity with making mobile products like the iPhone and MacBook.

“This is sitting on a bookshelf. Is it going to work? Or are there going to be problems? A traditional consumer product company or a speaker company or a traditional Hi-Fi company is going to worry about that and think about those problems and have experience with it,” Berkowitz said. “This shouldn’t be new for Apple but it is.”

“They didn’t test the product enough and in the right variety of circumstances, especially considering that a wood surface is a very likely support for the product,” said Ignazio Moresco, a product design expert who has worked at frog design, Microsoft and Ericsson.

For those who have discovered rings on their furniture, Apple said that these marks “will often go away after several days” once HomePod is removed from the wooden surface. Users can hasten this process by wiping the surface gently with a damp or dry cloth. Still, the company explained that if anyone is concerned about these marks, it recommends “placing your HomePod on a different surface.”

Accessory makers are already creating products to act as a fix for the situation, including new leather coasters for HomePod from Pad & Quill. The $19.95 coasters are advertised as letting users place their HomePod on the wooden surfaces that have the potential to be marked by HomePod, without having to worry about the appearance of such marks.

Related Roundup: HomePodBuyer’s Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)
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England turns to the church to help fix rural internet

Though our cities now teem with fiber optic cables and 4G signals, it’s still common for rural areas to struggle with even basic connectivity. In the UK, a new pact between church and state could help local religious hubs become bastions of faster broadband. The National Church Institutions (NCIs) of the Church of England and the government will work together to promote the use of churches and other church-owned properties as sites for digital infrastructure, improving broadband, mobile and WiFi access for rural communities.

Individual dioceses and parishes will continue to make the final call on whether it’s appropriate for the local church spire to host a new 4G mini-mast or not. The NCIs will be responsible for educating decision makers on the benefits better connectivity brings to the community, and how it can provide new ways for the church to communicate with its parishioners. There could be other benefits, too, such as income for the church or an agreement to share the cost of maintaining the buildings that host the infrastructure. The NCIs will also work with providers to draw up a sort of standard contract that should help take some of the administrative strain off the individual parishes.

The government will support the NCIs in all of this, as well as encourage providers to take advantage of these opportunities. While this is a broad initiative, some dioceses had the same bright idea many years ago. As it stands, however, only around 120 churches play host to broadband and mobile infrastructure. In all, the Church of England has over 16,000 buildings in 12,500 parishes, with nearly two-thirds of those situated in rural areas, so there are still plenty of spires to populate.

Off the back of this accord, which could help connect the last few percent to faster services, the government hopes there’s a possibility agreements “could be made with other faith communities that have similar estates.”

Via: Bloomberg

Source: UK government

APFS Bug in macOS High Sierra Can Cause Data Loss When Writing to Disk Images

Apple’s APFS file system included in macOS High Sierra suffers from a disk image vulnerability that in certain circumstances can lead to data loss, according to the creator of Carbon Copy Cloner.

In a blog post last Thursday, software developer Mike Bombich explained that he had uncovered the data writing flaw in the Apple File System, or APFS, through his regular work with “sparse” disk images.

For those who aren’t familiar with the term, a sparse disk image is basically a file that macOS mounts on the desktop and treats as if it was a physically attached drive with a classic disk volume structure. The flexibility of sparse disk images means they are commonly used in the course of performing backup and disk cloning operations, hence Bombich’s extensive experience with them.

Earlier this week I noticed that an APFS-formatted sparsebundle disk image volume showed ample free space, despite that the underlying disk was completely full. Curious, I copied a video file to the disk image volume to see what would happen. The whole file copied without error! I opened the file, verified that the video played back start to finish, checksummed the file – as far as I could tell, the file was intact and whole on the disk image. When I unmounted and remounted the disk image, however, the video was corrupted. If you’ve ever lost data, you know the kick-in-the-gut feeling that would have ensued. Thankfully, I was just running some tests and the file that disappeared was just test data.

Two related problems are identified by Bombich, above. The first is that the free space on the APFS-formatted sparse disk image doesn’t update as it should when the free space on the underlying physical host disk is reduced. The second problem is the lack of error reports when write requests fail to dynamically grow the disk image, resulting in data being “written” into a void. Bombich tracks both bugs back to macOS’s background “diskimages-helper” application service, which he has since reported to Apple.

Bombich’s video demonstrating the APFS bug
Every installation of High Sierra converts the existing file system to APFS, which is optimized for modern storage systems like solid-state drives. However, as Bombich notes, ordinary APFS volumes like SSD startup disks are not affected by the problem described above, so the vast majority of users won’t be affected by it – the flaw is most applicable when making backups to network volumes. Bombich says Carbon Copy Cloner will not support AFPS-formatted sparse disk images until Apple resolves the issue.

The APFS flaw follows the discovery of another bug in Apple’s operating systems that received extensive coverage last week. That bug is induced by sending a specific character in the Indian language Telugu, which causes certain apps on iPhones, iPads, and Macs to freeze up and become unresponsive. The Telugu character bug has already been fixed in Apple’s upcoming iOS 11.3 and macOS 10.13.4 software updates.

Related Roundup: macOS High SierraTag: APFS
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Feral Announces ‘Total War Saga: Thrones of Britannia’ Coming to Mac

Feral Interactive today announced that epic historical strategy game Thrones of Britannia will be released for macOS “shortly after” the upcoming Windows release on April 19.

Originally developed by Creative Assembly, the game is the first in the new Total War Saga series of standalone titles inspired by great turning points in history.

Thrones of Britannia is set in the British Isles in 878 AD, as Anglo-Saxons, Gaelic clans and Viking settlers vie for supremacy. Players will command one of ten factions, each with a unique branching narrative, and make decisions that reshape history in unexpected ways.

Combining huge real-time battles with engrossing turn-based strategy, Thrones of Britannia challenges players to build and defend a kingdom. Players will forge alliances, manage settlements, raise armies and embark on a campaign of conquest from the snowbound highlands of Gaelic Scotland to the green fields of Anglo-Saxon Kent.

Focusing on a specific historical flashpoint, Thrones diverges from typical Total War fare, and is expected to feature some changes to the series’ standard game mechanics, including variations in building construction and military training to better reflect geographical differences.

No specific release date or system requirements are available yet, but today’s announcement is a good indicator that Feral is aiming to keep pace with new cross-platform releases. Thrones of Britannia can be pre-ordered now for $35.99/£26.99 from the Feral Store or Steam.

Tag: Feral
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