Elon Musk – The Tech Savior

Elon Musk is doing everything in his power to achieve a perfect future. And he is the only businessman doing it. He has several innovative companies that work to better the future of the world. And the tech media has gone crazy over him.

Musk has become the “cool” face of technology. He is regarded as one of the most innovative businessmen in the world with SpaceX, Tesla, Hyperloop, OpenAI, and many more.

However, Musk does one thing no businessman does. He allows other companies to use his patents. He wants to promote growth of technology instead of promoting his company.

With his expertise after founding and running multiple Internet companies such as Zip2 and PayPal, it was fairly easy for Musk to create the next Internet company with a higher chance of success, but instead he chose in some of the most difficult industries: Space and Electrical cars because he believed in these causes.

Musk felt the need to get people inspired in space exploration, the need to prove that electric cars can be successful and those are the things that drove him to do what he did even when the chance of success was very low.

It takes a genius person to code a simple space survival game (called Blastar) at the age of twelve and scale that vision to founding a multi billion dollar giant (SpaceX) with the goal of making human life interplanetary and ensuring our existence, dealing with many obstacles and challenges along the way, something no one’s ever done before.

It takes a genius person to visualise an online payment system and go from there to starting an electric car company in Silicon Valley and remain more profitable than General Motors and Ford, something that’s never happened since 1954). From outsourcing the Hyperloop transportation idea to investing in SolarCity, OpenAI and NeuraLink, nobody is more conspicuous in looking like they’re saving the world, but Elon is actually doing a tremendous job. Sure, he loves the limelight and is flawed. But he’s achieved more than what most can only dream of in their lives and that’s what makes the hype deserved. There’s no stopping him.

“I don’t ever give up. Never. I mean, I’d have to be dead or completely incapacitated.”

In an interview when he was questioned about Eugene Cernan and Neil Armstrong’s criticism and testification that privatising space industry and allowing SpaceX government funding is a bad idea. He could do so much more from where he stands now.

His Achievements

– He could change the face of space industry by himself and a small dedicated team of spacex by making reusable rockets ultimately decreasing the cost to travel to space.

-His small team of AI has been able to beat the world champion of dota2 recently

-He started building underground tunnels from his Boring company which will solve the traffic problems in US.

-His Tesla has already got the order of more than 400000 units.

As with his many companies his ultimate goal is solving a problem and bringing a major positive change in human’s life, not just creating another product or offering another service that many other companies already do.

There are many car companies out there, but what makes Tesla unique is the fact that its cars aren’t built with the mere idea and purpose of taking people from place A to place B, they are made with the purpose of bringing a change, to prove a point and to set an example for others that an environmental friendly electric car is not only possible but better in so many ways.

The hype around Elon Musk and his companies is completely justified. He is trying to save humanity by foreseeing the future and the risks involved.

Honestly, he is the real life Tony Stark!

Google Introduces New Payment Medium In India

Google has jumped into the crowded and fiercely competitive digital payments space in India, and launched a new digital payments app, Tez. Tez, which means ‘fast’ in Hindi, is a UPI-based app that can be used for online transactions, as well as paying offline at stores.

Unified Payments Interface was launched by National Payments Corporation of India, an umbrella organization for all retail payment systems in India. While NPCI is a private entity, it is regulated by the country’s central bank, Reserve Bank of India.

According to the company, all transactions on Tez are secured by Tez Shield that detects fraud, prevents hacking, and verifies identity. The company has partnered with HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and State Bank of India for the back-end.

What is different with Google’s Tez:

Unlike, PayTm or Mobikwik, Google Tez is not a mobile wallet nor is it an enhancement on Android Pay. Tez is a UPI powered platform allowing for payments management software in india directly via your bank account.

Also, Google’s Tez has a chat-based UI and a user will need to have a valid Gmail account and mobile number to be able to carry out transactions. As quoted in the Verge, Tez uses a technology called audio QR that uses sounds to transfer money. Watch the video below to clearly understand how you can use Google’s Tez as a way to make payments online.

Google already has several partners like RedBus, PVR Cinemas, Domino’s Pizza, DishTV, and Jet Airways which would accept payments via Tez along with payment gateways like BillDesk and ecommerce solutions like Shopify and PayU. There are also distribution partners: Nokia, Micromax, Lava, and Panasonic that will probably pre-load Tez app on their upcoming devices. Google might also integrate Tez with its own suite of services, like Play Store, to enable payments.

Google also offers ‘Tez for Business’ that allows businesses to get their own Business Channels on the Tez app where they can engage directly with their customers to share offers and more.

Available as a standalone app on Android and iOS, Google Tez supports several regional languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu. Tez is compatible with over 50 banks in the country that support UPI.

5 micro interactions that enhance UX on iPhone

Have you wondered why Apple is a world leader when it comes to product durability and design. As many experts have pointed out it their ability to solve general problems and a great eye for even the minutest detail.

We bring to you 5 such features from the iPhone that stands out and makes the iPhone a design inspired phone.

1. The Flashlight Icon

Check the flashlight icon on the iPhone ‘Control Center’ menu. Observe how the button on the flashlight icon is set to ‘off’, now see what happens when you touch the icon and turn on the flashlight.

The small button on the flashlight icon goes up, indicating that the flashlight is now on.

Here is a side by side screenshot:

2. The Portrait Orientation Icon.

Like the flashlight icon, even the Portrait Orientation Lock icon changes accordingly. 

3. The Clock Icon

The clock icon on the iPhone home screen is a real time working analog clock.

4. The Weather App

The native Weather app is a classic example of attention to detail by apple.

On a clear sky day – you’ll see those one off clouds hovering the sky on the app.

On a cloudy day – you’ll definitely see those thick clouds.

On a rainy day – you’ll see the rain fall graphic along with lightning if there are chances of one.

5. App Updates

For simplicity and innovation Apple has built have built a beautiful synchronization design for the App update in the App Store and on the Actual App.

Update your App:

Now look at the App at the same time :

Attention to detail is what sets Apple aside as one of the most respected technology creators in the world. Apart from world class design and product durability, such features engage and amaze the customer.

How People Are Reacting To The iPhone X

Apple has revealed iPhone X and as usual people are reacting to it with both eagerness and criticism. One can only review the phone once it hits the market, but we went around the Internet observing different people’s reaction to it. We bring to you some of the best reactions on iPhone X.

Whilst the Apple rumor mill had pretty much ruined the element of surprise, we’d heard about this new phone for months and by the time of the event even knew the name of the new device, one thing that was still a mystery was how Apple would introduce the iPhone X and position it.

So, let us have a look at some the reactions from the Internet.

” It is beautiful. No other smartphone can compare to the level of design quality that the iPhone X has. The screen is gorgeous. The camera is stunning. The size is breathtaking.

The iPhone X is easily the best iPhone, and, arguably, one of the best smartphones ever created.

I could list the hundreds of positives from AR to Animojis. I could show the amazing design and the all glass display. It brings wireless to the next level. It is insanely fast.

However, Pad Charging is a disappointment.

Obviously, there is nothing better on the market; however, AirPower is not what it should have been. It is cool and better than most of the industry; however, it is not wireless. There is still a wire.”

– Simon Trevor, Special Projects Director, Lawn Care.

” Wireless charging was leaked very early along the development of leaks, but we did not know what type of charging it would be. Many speculated and hoped that Apple would take a bold move and make a truly long-range, wireless charging. Unfortunately, these hopes were not realized when they said they partnered with Qi. Obviously, it will help with the popularity with more options to grab a quick-charge, but it is not the same revolutionary changes we expect from Apple.

Another concern are the screen functions. I am concerned about these because they are completely different, and are more specific for the tech-savvy generation who are able to adapt quickly. There are many elderly people almost know all of the functions of the iPhone, but this phone completely changes that. With the swipe up from the bottom for home and from the top for control center, and the “side button” and not the lock button, I predict it will cause a lot of trouble for the less tech-savvy users.

In general, I believe that this is a huge step and a new threshold in the production of future smartphones, but does not include many of the features that many of us have come to love and expect.”

– Ethan Jiang, Tech Blogger

” I think everybody is sold on the beautiful new edge-to-edge super-retina screen, which is the high point of the iPhone X. That’s a key selling point for this camera, because it gets rid of the bulk of the top & bottom bars and gives you more screen in less space. That’s a good thing. Basically, this new phone is built around that new screen as the “big reveal”, and all the other features have been modified or changed to enable it.

True to form, Apple has also put the finishing touches on a lot of other features, including incremental improvements in battery life, a usability boost by getting rid of the home button and using facial recognition for unlock, improved speakers, better water-resistance, etc.

The other big reveal that a lot of folks might have missed was Apple unveiling its support for the Qi wireless charging standard. Pre-release rumors had indicated that Apple would unveil a competing standard, but I’m happy that they’ve adopted a system that allows their customers to use the existing Qi standard.

Finally, as shown in picture above, I do like the fact that Apple’s pricing strategy for the iPhone creates a range of product choices to accommodate different budgets – although by the same token it increases the product design & support load on Apple, which I feel makes them a bit less nimble.

The $1,000 price point feels too high for the new iPhone. The pricing structure jumps makes a $300 jump from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone X, and I’m not sure exactly how the market will respond to it. The cost of iPhones, airpods, chargers, replacement lightning cables, and now wireless charging adds up. Will consumer purchasing keep pace?

I have 2 other issues as well. The first is that Apple hasn’t fixed the problem with lightning cables, and even with wireless charging you’ll still be using those cables a lot. They need to replace those with a mini-magsafe connector like type the iPad Pro uses to dock with its keyboard. Honestly, doing that would eliminate the need for wireless charging in the first place.

Second, the iPhone X has a 12 megapixel camera, which is competitive with the Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel cameras, but nonetheless falls short of other phones on the market with 20+ megapixel cameras. So rather than improving overall camera resolution and using digital zoom, Apple has opted for a steampunk “dual camera” solution instead. ASUS just unveiled a 92 megapixel smartphone camera, so I was really hoping for the 20Mp iPhone camera the rumors were promising.”

– Tim Ventura, Digital Marketing Executive

” While I can’t claim to know everything about the X yet, based on what I do know, I personally see the X as a transition device. It looks like an awesome bit of kit, and I feel it is likely to be a taste of the iPhone 9 during the iPhone 8 generation.

The ultra Retina display is just what Apple needs to get into the VR/AR market, since, while the resolution of the iPhone 7 Plus is virtually indistinguishable from the higher resolution display on devices like Samsung’s Galaxy S7 during normal use, when it is a mere inch from your face, it will make a difference to the experience. With the resolution of the X, Apple will finally have something to work with in this area that can claim the power and resolution to be taken seriously.

I feel the features and specs of the X are pointing to where Apple wants to take its mobile line up. I expect the next iPhone will build on the X’s features and by then Apple will have gained some ground in the VR / AR market.

Couple this with the new iMac Pro finally addressing the lag in true pro devices and I expect the next MacBook Pros to follow, it seems like Apple are finally gaining some ground on their old reputation.

I for one am excited to be an Apple developer right now”

– David Birkhead, Professional iOS Developer

The reactions and opinions continue to pour in and we can only look forward to holding the phone in hand and ascertain whether it is worth all the hype or not.

However, we do believe that Apple does not disappoint.

PS: Apple iPhone 8 prices are going down, go grab one!

Apple iPhone 8 Set To Be Revealed Soon

Apple has recently announced that they will be revealing iPhone 8 on12th of September. The iPhone 8 will mark the 10th anniversary of Apple smartphones, so it’s going to be huge. Pre-orders will start soon and the internet is doing rounds of various rumors associated with the new iPhone. We can only wait and watch what the new iPhone might have in store for all of us but here are a few things you can expect according to the Millennials. 

These are some of the rumored features of iPhone 8 :

• a bezel-reduced OLED screen
• a better and larger battery
• Touch ID implemented into screen
• 3D camera
• FaceID instead of touch ID
• Wireless charging

Apple is reportedly plotting three display sizes for the iPhone 8: 4.7-inches, 5.5-inches and 5.8-inches.Two with liquid crystal displays and one with a 5.8-inch organic light-emitting diode display.

All iPhone models in the future are expected to use Apple’s A11 chip. The iPhone 7 runs on the new A10 Fusion chip, but the iPhone 8 will utilize a newer version, probably the unannounced A11 processor. It will have a 3GB RAM in the 4.7-inch model and 4GB RAM in Plus / Pro which is far enough to handle high-end multitasking with iOS.

The iPhone 8 may feature an IP68 water resistance rating, an improvement over the IP67 certification earned by the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus.The iPhone 8 might be able to withstand 1.5 meters of water for up to 30 minutes while also offering full dust protection.

There will be no physical Home button on the iPhone 8 because it has an edge-to-edge display, but there may also be no virtual Home button, with Apple moving away from the single button concept all together.

Apple will introduce an “improved” security system that will let customers unlock their iPhones and make Apple Pay payments with facial recognition instead of a Touch ID fingerprint sensor. Apple’s 3D sensing facial recognition system is advanced and can unlock an iPhone within a few hundred milliseconds.

Multiple rumors have suggested the iPhone 8 could be the most EXPENSIVE iPhone Apple’s produced yet, with several analysts predicting prices upwards of $1,000 and labeling the device as “premium.”

More recently, Twitter followers have claimed that the entry-level 64GB iPhone 8 will fetch $999 (around £775), while 256GB and 512GB variants will fetch $1,099 (£850) and $1,119 (£930).

Let us keep our fingers crossed till the 12th of September and hope Apple delivers again.

The Future Of Business Intelligence

In today’s modern world, business intelligence is of utmost importance as data in business practices take center stage. BI will stand in the prime of all this and will direct future marketing strategies and business decisions. After all it is proven that companies using analytics are 5x more likely to make faster business decisions.

Today we look at BI’s prospects and why it will be center to all major business decision making in 2017 and beyond:

1. Big Demand for BI analyst

As the graph of Big Data increases, the no of people require to crunch that data and arrive at an intelligent solution for a business enterprise will simultaneously increase. A report by Mckinsey global institute states that in the next four years the US alone would face a shortage of 1.5 million managers and 1,90,000 analysts.

2. Make it universal

Currently, BI is specifically targeted to internal employees and information workers. The more it’s spread out and the more relevant it becomes to everyone, it will be a Game Changer. Outside the purview of corporate boundaries, it should reach out to suppliers and customers. Business intelligence has the power to enable businesses to compete more effectively and change people’s way of working.

3. Easier analysis of past data

As the cost of storage for data shrinks rapidly, it would be much easier to analyze past events and data. For example, currently due to data cost we are able to analyze just an economic cycle but in future, we can analyze much more than that. This will help us in forming a strong pattern. This will help businesses to bear just minimum losses in the event of a recession. History is a great teacher and BI will help us to avoid repeating the same mistake.

4. Personal analytics will be norm

As more and more data gets collected in the system, the future definitively holds good for personal analytics. It can primarily be used for self-improvement. Also, it will be used for improving family life and local communities. BI won’t be geeky in the future and everyone will be able to self-analyze. There are tremendous opportunities for software vendors to develop tools regarding personal analytics.

5. Business Intelligence will be a collaborative effort

The future of the BI would bring different tools and platforms together. Today individual BI is the norm, tomorrow it will be collaborative. Shared and immersive analytical experiences would increase in great proportion. The form factor of the devices will also gradually shift from small to large. This will help a group of data scientists explore data in real time basis.

6. Data knowledge Gap will shrink further

Data knowledge Gap in the next few years will further narrow from a group of data scientists to a normal manager or executive. As more forms of data visualization grow, more people will become familiar and comfortable with it. Major companies will also mandate training in BI.

With the above-mentioned points, there is ample evidence that Business Intelligence is here to stay. We can safely assume that, not only will it make a big impact but also it will scale up rapidly.

Facebook Engineers Pull The Plug On AI Bots

As the world’s most powerful computer systems begin to embrace artificial intelligence in earnest, using smart algorithms to increase efficiency and and speed, the potential damage that a “rogue” AI could cause continues to grow. Many in the tech community have theorized how an artificial mind could turn against its creators, and Facebook just got an interesting lesson in how such a scenario might unfold. Facebook engineers were forced to pull the plug on one of the company’s AI systems after its bots began communicating with each other in a completely new language which humans simply couldn’t decipher.

Facebook developers were attempting to get the two “chatbots” to barter a trade with one another utilizing hats, balls, and books of varying values, according to the Independent. The two bots quickly resorted to speaking a variation of English between one another that seemed largely incomprehensible to the developers but was seemingly understood clearly by the two bots.

The AI bots, which were originally programmed to use plain English to communicate with one another, were found to be speaking what appeared to be gibberish. Sentences like “I can can I I everything else” and “Balls have zero to me to me to me to me to me to me to me to me to,” were being sent back and forth by the AI, and while humans have absolutely no idea what it means, the bots fully understood each other. Without being able to understand how or why the bots were communicating, Facebook had no choice but to shut down the system.

The very obvious danger here is that computer which can communicate with each other using their own language are not only impossible to understand but much more difficult to control. In this case, the bots were not bound by plain language and seemingly developed a more efficient way of communicating with each other, deciding for themselves what was best.

It’s both impressive and scary.

The New Ransomware Threat

“On June 27, 2017 organizations in over 65 countries reported they had been infected with Petya ransomware. Petya ransomware was first discovered in March 2016, and like most malware, it was primarily spread via email phishing attacks. After a user was infected, the ransomware would encrypt data files on the systems and hold them hostage in exchange for a ransom payment. Once the ransom was paid, the attackers would typically (but not always) provide the decryption key so that users could restore their files. This ransomware is still in the wild, and users can still fall victim.

Notably, however, the initial Petya ransomware is very different from the Petya variant that was released in June 2017. This new Petya variant is not truly ransomware. Instead, it’s wiper malware disguised as ransomware. The wiper malware does not hold data hostage in exchange for a ransom; it’s sole purpose is to destroy data and corrupt systems. There have been no new reports of this Petya variant following June 27, 2017, but this and similar types of malware can (and will likely) spread at some point in the future.

While you can’t predict the next attack, you can take steps now to protect your IT resources from similar future attacks. Some of those steps include:

Train users to be suspicious. Don’t open email attachments or click hyperlinks in emails that you’re not expecting. If you don’t know the sender, delete the email immediately. If you do know the sender but the message is unexpected or suspicious, verify via call or text that the email is legitimate. If it’s not legitimate, delete it immediately.

Keep systems patched and up to date. Always apply the latest software patches and make sure antivirus signatures are up to date. In relation to this Petya variant, Microsoft patch MS 17-010 would have largely stopped the malware’s ability to spread using Eternal Blue and Eternal Romance vulnerabilities. Regular patching significantly reduces the attack surface and makes it more difficult for the attacker to get in.

Block specific ports. Block SMB ports (particularly ports 139 and 445) from external hosts to reduce the attack surface. Also Block UDP ports 135, 137, 138 to prevent lateral movement within the network.

Disable PsExec and WMIC. PsExec and WMIC are legitimate administrative tools, but they’re commonly used by attackers in a variety of attack types. In the case of this Petya variant, disabling these tools can help prevent the spread of this malware throughout the environment.

Backup data. Backup critical data on a regular basis, and make sure those backups are available offline. Be sure your backups are not always kept on the network; leaving them connected can expose them to encryption and destruction.

Segregate duties and isolate critical data. Segregate duties between user and administrative accounts, and make sure that no one account (including Domain Admin) can execute commands on all systems on the network. In addition, identify your critical data, and isolate and segment it from the rest of the network.”

Be Secure. Be safe.

The Best Of 2017 So Far

In 2016, users downloaded around 149 billion mobile apps to their connected devices. In 2021, this figure is expected to grow to around 352 billion app downloads. Searching for best-selling apps on the app store can be cumbersome.  Whether you require a great music app or messenger app, there are always plenty of options. We have curated our list of the best 5 apps of 2017. Go ahead try these on your smart devices –

1. Solid Explorer

Android Play Store

Apple Store

File managers are very common, however Solid Explorer is unique because of its rich features and easy accessibility. It boasts of latest functions for managing and browsing your files, on your phone. It is integrated with cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive and FTP servers. So you get an awesome all-in-one solution for superior file management on your smart device.

2. Brave

Android Play Store

Apple Store

Brave Web Browser is a free, fast and safe web browser for smartphones and iPhones. It’s an ad-free browser. Hence, you don’t have to be troubled by annoying pop-ups. You need not install any other extension or have concern about in-app subscriptions. Truly, it’s really a fast browser and comes in very handy while on data plan or roaming. Get this browser today and make your web browsing a much smoother and richer experience on smartphones.

3.Gboard

Android Play Store

Apple Store

The keyboard app from Google is an awesome utility in terms of both features and functionality. You may view it as a simple addition, however having a Google search button directly on your keyboard is incredibly useful. It makes the entire experience of using your smartphone more methodical. It comes in handy, especially while you are in a serious discussion or writing a long report. Besides, you can customize your keyboard with different themes or images. The regular features of emojis, GIFs and glide typing are included in this app. Write swift, type accurate on your smartphone with Gboard.

4. Critical Ops

Android Play Store

Apple Store

Critical Ops is the latest generation of first person shooter games and it’s one of the best. In this game, you’ll battle terrorists in a wide variety of urban-oriented levels .You can play as the terrorist too if you want to. A strong online multiplayer community enables you to play with your friends as well. It’s still a work in progress, but it seems to hit all the right notes for a MMO game and is being updated frequently to elevate the user experience further.

5.YouTube Kids

Android Play Store

Apple Play Store

This app is a must-install app if you have kids in your family. Generally, children love to watch too much videos on YouTube. However, not every content on YouTube is appropriate for them. Google has come up with a kid-friendly app which has an easy interface. It helps to filter out the inappropriate stuff and ensures that they only see what is proper. A word of caution though – No filtering system is flawless, so parents need to supervise.

Thank us later for introducing you to these amazing apps!

Apple Re-invents Again- iOS 11 features:

Apple constantly keeps updating its features and it recently announced iOS version 11. Buzz is that it allows for a better user experience and has improved features compared to the previous version. With Apple, you can expect the best time and again.

So, what can the user expect from iOS 11 on their iPhones and iPads?

We bring you the pivotal features from Apple’s recent press release, and tell you how it is going to to affect the common Apple user.

And here they are!

A New Look to the App Store:

Apple is completely redesigning its app store. It seems more focused on presenting fewer, high quality apps instead of a list of applications to dig through. There’s a new section dedicated to games, and an entire new recommended section of apps. This should definitely make finding the right app much more easier.

A Revamped Control Center:

Control Center currently allows you to make small tweaks to your phone. You pull it up from the bottom of the screen to put your phone in Airplane mode, toggle Wi-Fi or activate the flashlight and so on. With this update, you should be able to control more by adding favorite shortcuts for smart lights in your home, your Apple TV remote, a voice recorder, your activity and much, much more.

 Better Siri:

Apple has promised to spur up Siri in iOS 11.It is going to allow you to ask Siri to speak translations, a feature that Google Assistant already offers on Android. Siri will also automatically play music that you like, if you ask her, based on past listening habits. Siri will also use your interests to provide relevant news inside the revamped News application, will make calendar suggestions as you book reservations inside Safari and can suggest places and names of movies as you type in iMessage.

Drag & Drop Features:

iOS 11 brings support for dragging and dropping items between applications. On an iPad, you might drag a photo from your photo album right into an email. Apple hasn’t talked much about drag and drop on the iPhone, but developers have reported the option exists in early iOS 11 code, so expect to hear more on that. Multitasking on the iPad will take advantage of drag-and-drop creating a more powerful experience than ever before.

Payments on iMessage:

It will let you use Apple Pay to send money right to another person through iMessage. It’s linked with your debit or credit card, too, so there’s no messy configuration required. Likewise, you can request you friend or roommate on iMessage for the money he owes you for last week’s beer.

The features seem well justified keeping in mind the UX concepts. Hopefully, it will cement Apple’s position further in the market.

What do you think?

Excited yet?

Source: Apple Website