Thanks for joining me!
Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton
Alexa Mommy-gram – Mums help yourself with this
Amazon Echo can serve humanity in various ways you may not have imagined yet.
Amazon Echo comes with a feature most babysitters cannot offer – Always stay close to the toddler. Echo is built with “Mummy-Gram or Daddy-Gram feature which will enable you talk with your toddler whom you may do not want to hand over a phone.
The feature works likes voice to text chat between mom and the toddler. The 1- 3 years old can ask Echo to say hello to mum and on the other end, mom will receive a text and likewise reply by a text while Amazon voices it out to the child. Cool stuff if you do not want to play phone tag with a baby sitter.
How does Alexa recognise human voice
Both Alexa and Google have powerful NLU (Natural Language Understanding) running on their cloud. When user speaks to the devices, his speech just transferred to the cloud and with help of NLU, they try to determine the context/intent of the user request, thus able to determine the end of the phrase.
If they are not able to determine the intent (because user didn’t complete the sentence or user never asked a question after uttering the keyword) then a 4–5 seconds of silence determines the end of phrase.
-Quora
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Facebook Aquila Drone Project is Dead
Even the big names experience setbacks in a big scale, Facebook included.
The blue F company on Wednesday in a blog states that it will be shutting down it’s drone internet project -Aquila which is running at Bridgewater in England.
The company started the project back in 2014 with the idea of bringing internet to close to 4 billion people. The Aquila drone is designed to fly across an area which has no access to internet, sustained by solar energy the drone will go 60,00 feet above the ground.
Aquila (Eagle in Latin) is a project of an unmanned drone flying across an a designated area to provide internet to remote in such places.
Facebook revealed that it will abandon efforts to build it’s own aircrafts, but will focus on
partnering with companies such as Airbus to work on High Altitude Platform Station and to advance spectrum and aviation policy
“As we’ve worked on these efforts, it’s been exciting to see leading companies in the aerospace industry start investing in this technology too —
including the design and construction of new high-altitude aircraft. “Given these developments,
we’ve decided not to design or build our own aircraft any longer, and to close our facility in Bridgwater.”
-Yael Maguire (Director of Engineering) wrote.
As it is with every startup facebook had major issues running the project. First was a landing crash in June 2016 which was caused by structural failure but was considered a success by Facebook.
Aquila was not a total failure it completed a successful ride in the following year and set new significant records.
“We’ve made important progress on some of the other key parts of the system — including setting new records using millimeter-wave (MMW)
technology in air-to-ground and point-to-point communication. And then we more than doubled our MMW record with 40 Gbps connectivity simultaneously in both directions from a ground location to a circling Cessna aircraft over 7 kilometers away. We’ve also pushed for improvements to spectrum and aviation policy —
including more consistency in the global regulatory environment to open up HAPS to new entrants.” – Maguire
Facebook can excuse themselves by spectrum limitations and geographical factors that hamper aero technologies
“This has involved a lot of trial and error,” Maguire wrote. “When we started the Aquila program back in 2014, very few companies were involved in this area — and they were all working independently of each other.
In addition, the only spectrum available for these platforms wasn’t suitable for broadband due to technical and geographical limitations.”
“Facebook has already connected nearly 100 million people as a result of our efforts. And we are continuing to invest in developing next-generation technologies like Terragraph, working with partners on new infrastructure builds like our fiber project in Uganda, and supporting entrepreneurs in programs like Express Wi-Fi — all to help connect the 4 billion people who still do not have access to the Internet. “
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Microsoft News replaces MSN, application launched for both iOS and Android
Microsoft News – Microsoft has launched a rebranded news app for both iOS and Android phones. You may be wondering what happened to Windows phones, well read this.
Microsoft news is the new name for Microsoft’s new engine that powers MSN, windows 10 and Microsoft Edge.
The windows brand today launched Microsoft news that you can call a remake from the old MSN. The application looks to replace MSN in both android and Apple phones but the website still remains MSN.com. MSN is a news curation website that was launched wayback 1995, sourcing content from over 3000 premium publishers. MSN on a daily basis receives up to 100,000 news content which are carefully selected by the help of an A.I to determine it’s freshness and quality. The moved to 800 editors worldwide for content curation.
Microsoft news app on mobile phones gives the same feature like the desktop version. Modern user interface could be noticed as the application is designed to give a better experience. You get to customise your feed, follow selected news categories like world news, fashion, tech etc. Breaking news alert can also be customised to notify you, so that you stay abreast of the latest happenings. Take dark theme as a bonus.
“Microsoft News is the new name for our news engine that powers familiar sites like MSN.com, and our newly redesigned Microsoft News app for iOS and Android,” says Rob Bennett, editor-in-chief of Microsoft News. “Microsoft News also powers news on Microsoft Edge, the News app in Windows 10, Skype, Xbox and Outlook.com.”
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Instagram TV – One Minute barrier in Instagram videos broken
Big day for everyone on Instagram. The Picture social media has announced a new feature – Instagram TV. IGTV is new video creating application on your smartphone phone that comes with all the features of Instagram and an extended time length. This is good for the content creators on Instagram who merge all in one minute. IGTV breaks the one minute video barrier in the regular Instagram application, it allows for longer time while creating a video.
“Lasisi Elenu and Maraji” don’t have to split their funny videos in parts any longer. As a bonus you can add text to your videos and make funny doodles too.
Mark Zuckerberg made the IGTV announcement on Facebook where he also made it known that Instagram has reached one billion people, all thanks to Kevin Systrom and his team.
Read the post made by Zuck below.
It’s a big day for Instagram. We’re launching IGTV — a new app designed for watching and creating video on your phone. The experience is native to mobile, with full-screen vertical videos, and the videos can be longer, not just short clips. It’s built on Instagram, so you’re already connected with your friends and favorite Instagram stars from the start. We also announced today that Instagram has reached 1 billion people. There are few products this widely used — congrats Kevin, team, and the whole community who use Instagram every day to inspire, educate and entertain each other. I’m excited to see the new ways all of you will use IGTV.
https://web.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Fzuck%2Fvideos%2F10105035195075501%2F&show_text=0&width=267
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Infinix ready to launch Note 5 in Africa and Middle East
Transsion Holdings owners of Infinix has announced it’s plans to launch the latest Infinix Note 5 in the in the Middle East and Africa on 24 June.
Infinix will partner with Google to deliver a “Beyond Intelligent” note device. We are expecting a note device that is calibrated better than the Note 4 and Note 4 pro. The all-new Infinix Note 5 is part of Android One programme, designed to deliver the best Android OS experience thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). With the Infinix Note 5, users will be able to experience AI through applications like Google Assistant and Google Lens.
We are not expecting Infinix Note 5 and Note 5 pro to bear different specifications from it’s predecessor but AI powered user experience will be worth a higher price tag.
Note 4 and Note 4 pro made a huge sales success in Africa regardless of the price. We look forward to having the same market success for Note 5.
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Super Smash Bros. Fan sends a bomb threatening mail to Nintendo
When you remove something that consumers love so much, you stand a chance of getting bombed.
A Nintendo store in New York received a bomb threat email on April this year after. The Threat which was sent since April was only discovered yesterday when an employee was cleaning out the infrequently used email address.
According to reports. the message came from a fan who wasn’t pleased by the removal of Super Smash Bros from the store.
Super Smash Bros is a series of crossover fighting video games published by Nintendo. It primarily features characters from their own franchises. The game’s objective it to knock opponents out from the ring and not the life bars, unlike traditional fighting games. The latest release of the game was in 2014. But it was still a fan’s favorite.
NYPD confirmed that the employee found the threatening mail sent in April and the sender has not taken any action.
"Ask and You Shall Receive" – Voice Shopping is taking over
Voice shopping using smart speakers and smartphone apps is starting to gain serious traction among consumers, opening up a new “conversational commerce” channel and potentially disrupting the retail sector.
Devices such as Amazon’s Alexa-powered speakers and Google Home, which use artificial intelligence (AI) to respond to human voice commands, are offering new choices to consumers who are looking for more convenient ways to order goods and services.
Voice shopping is expected to jump to US$40 billion (S$54 billion) annually in 2022 in the United States, from US$2 billion today, according to a survey this year by OC&C Strategy Consultants.
“People are liking the convenience and natural interaction of using voice,” said Ms Victoria Petrock of the research firm eMarketer.
“Computing in general is moving more toward voice interface because the technology is more affordable, and people are responding well because they don’t have to type.”
A recent eMarketer survey found 36 per cent of US consumers liked the idea of using a home-based assistant like Amazon Echo for making a purchase.
Amazon’s devices, which hit the market in 2015, were designed in large part to help boost sales, and Google Home was launched a year later.
The use of smart speakers has expanded the possibilities available through smartphone chatbots or text-based systems including those from Facebook and Apple.
“This is growing exponentially,” said Mr Mark Taylor, an executive vice-president at consultancy Capgemini and co-author of a study on conversational commerce.
“We’re getting very used to asking Alexa or Google to do something on our behalf, which makes it simple to switch and say, ‘Hey Alexa, buy me dog food.'”
Capgemini research shows many consumers are satisfied with voice interactions and that this is growing for search and information as well as for purchases and that this is likely to become a dominant mode of consumer action within a few years.
“It’s becoming part of the fabric of our lives,” Mr Taylor said.
The most commonly shopped categories through voice are groceries, entertainment, electronics and clothing, according to OC&C.
For now, most voice-based purchases have been “low consideration goods” such as items consumers have purchased before, said Mr Taylor.
But as people grow comfortable with voice assistants, he sees a potential for growth in “higher consideration” items including insurance or financial services.
An important element will be the tonality and personality established by intelligent assistants that will help companies establish an image or brand.
“People like to talk to human beings because humans give insight and guidance, and AI can do the same thing,” he said.
The “conversational interface” is a tremendous advantage in some situations, said Mr Manlio Carrelli, executive vice-president at LivePerson, which provides technology for firms in online platforms.
“This is like Star Trek,” Mr Carelli said. “I can just say what I want and get it. Consumers don’t care what’s on the back end, they just want to be able to get what they want.”
Mr Carelli said these systems are important not only for sales, but for customer service – reducing the need for dreaded call centres and saving millions for businesses.
“We’re now entering the mainstream for this market. I don’t think you’ll find a single major brand that isn’t looking at this,” Mr Carelli said.
Walmart last month launched a text-based concierge shopping service called Jetblack which uses both artificial intelligence and professional assistants offering buying suggestions as part of its effort to compete with Amazon.
But Walmart is one of dozens of retailers offering voice-based shopping through Google Express as well, along with sellers of flowers, hardware, groceries and other goods.
Domino’s Pizza has embraced this technology, allowing orders through Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Facebook Messenger and other platforms.
In France, Google Home devices can be used to shop at the giant retailer group Carrefour. And retailers in China have been partnering with tech firms for similar services.
According to OC&C, Amazon Echo speakers are used in around 10 per cent of US homes, with 4 per cent for Google Home.
According to the report, Apple is lagging in this sector because its Siri assistant lacks the AI capabilities of Google, and the new HomePod has only just hit the market.
Apple just this year rolled out “business chat”, enabling consumers to ask questions and place orders through iPhone text or voice commands, and see images of products on the iMessage service. Retailers Lowe’s and Home Depot are among the partners.
Some analysts, however, expect more players to enter the market, with speculation rampant about a speaker from Facebook, which now allows business and consumers to connect through Messenger chatbots.
“Voice commerce represents the next major disruption in the retail industry, and just as e-commerce and mobile commerce changed the retail landscape, shopping through smart speaker promises to do the same,” said Mr John Franklin of OC&C.
Xiaomi Mi 8, Mi 8 SE and Mi Band 3 specification
Xiaomi’s most recent gadgets leaked ahead of their official dispatch tomorrow. From just a clearer perspective of the Mi 8, Mi 8 SE and the Mi Band 3 we got the chance to take in a couple of new specs.
The picture demonstrates the Mi 8 and Mi 8 SE beside each other, affirming the presence of the last mentioned and the front plan of the two telephones. Keep in mind, however, the score of the Mi 8 SE won’t bolster the 3D face of the standard Mi 8. In any case, we stay awed by the screen-to-body proportion of the Mi 8 SE will offer – similarly as awesome as its greater sibling’s.
On account of the spilled notice, the Mi 8 and Mi 8 SE’s business dates are uncovered too. The Mi 8 pre-requests will open on the date of the occasion – May 31 with genuine shipments beginning June 5. The Mi 8 SE modification go marked down three days after the fact on June 8.
The second leak comes to affirm that the Mi 8 won’t consolidate in-show unique mark sensor – the photograph unmistakably demonstrates the back mounted scanner. We can likewise observe that “GPS” is as yet being advertised as an uncommon component, so the double GPS module supposed before doesn’t appear to be too outlandish.
Also, the source from Weibo posts a photograph of the Mi Band 3 and its retail box yet doesn’t uncover some other points of interest.
Blackberry is breaking the silence with Blackberry Key 2 (TWO)
After a while we we finally got to hear from blackberry as they tease a follow-up of black-berry key one. BlackBerry may have been busy lately maybe listening to what is acceptable now in the smartphone niche and they have decided to show us what they can come up with.
In a teaser video the black matte logo company stunts Blackberry key two revealing some interesting body designs. You can spot the physical buttons which blackberry is always known for, as if they touch screens are not good enough. Beside lies the volume rockers but one of the buttons on the right seems to be different, sparking a scent of a finger-print sensor.
Blackberry has Blackberry key two bear dual camera setup unlike the predecessor and dual flash for brighter lights. The video didn’t reveal anything concerning the front camera so we have our fingers crossed there.
Something glowy was spotted in the teaser and it’s like a new button blackberry is trying to bring in. It looks like a menu call-up button of some kind, but it should definitely do something unique, if not what’s the essence. I looked out for more features and I found the metallic design although it wasn’t that obvious.
The teaser reveals a launch date, June 7th 2018, expect the Icon Reborn.
qwweee 