Marvel Comics superhero ‘Deadpool’ emerges as top downloaded movie torrent in 2016
The year 2016 is coming to an end and like every year Torrent Freak
has come out with the list of most pirated movie torrents for the year.
While 2016 may have been a very bad year as far as torrents community is
concerned the list shows that torrent websites continue to draw heavy
downloads and the interest in movie torrents keeps rising. Deadpool
comes out on top in a list that’s heavily populated by superhero and
comic movies, without any major surprises.
As you can see the foul mouthing and bumbling Marvel Comics superhero
Deadpool came out all guns blazing on the actual box office and
torrents website. In the year which had many superhero releases,
Deadpool stands out as most download movie torrent.
The list points to the fact that top four movie torrent downloads
belong to superheroes and one is an all time blockbuster sci-fi movie.
The top three are ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice’ and ‘Captain
America Civil War’ followed by ‘X-Men Apocalypse’ and ‘Suicide Squad.’
Animated film ‘Finding Dory’ from Pixar which was the top hit in the
United States and second biggest hit in the world. It was 9th most
downloaded movie torrent in 2016. ‘Independence Day: Resurgence’ is the
7th most downloaded movie torrent despite having a tepid run at box
office. The third largest grossing movie in the world, ‘Zootopia’ is
missing from the top 10 torrent downloaded list.
Microsoft Developing A Windows 10 “Game Mode” For Maximum Gaming Performance
It was also revealed that the company is working on adding the blue light filter feature.
The Twitter user WalkingCat has spotted another big feature named Windows 10 Game Mode that’s aimed at improving the PC gaming performance.
Just like other features that remain under development, at the
moment, this feature isn’t working. But, in the upcoming builds, it’s
expected to roll out to the Windows 10 Insider members.
WalkingCat mentioned the finding of a new gamemode.dll in Build 14997.
.@h0x0d
looks like Windows will adjust its resource allocation logic (for
CPU/Gfx etc.) to prioritize the "Game" when running in "Game Mode"
This feature will, supposedly, let your PCs act like gaming consoles
and let you use the machine just for gaming. It’ll be done by adjusting
the Windows resource allocation logic (for CPU/Gfx etc.).
This possible feature shows that Microsoft is really serious about
gaming on Windows 10 PCs. It’s likely that Windows 10 Game Mode feature
will be included in the Windows 10 Creator’s Update.
So, is the gamer inside you excited? Don’t forget to tell us your views regarding Windows 10 Game Mode.
Monday, 19 December 2016
TOP 1O PAYING JOBS THAT DONOT REQUIRE COLLEGE DEGREE
some of us don’t get the chance to attend college. I won’t talk about the
reasons because they’re different for different people. There are many
people who have a college degree but they want to do something else.
Here is a list of some jobs (not arranged in any order) that don’t
require a college degree to pay you a hefty amount of money, provided,
you know how to do it.
Programmer
Programming
is a broad term to qualify for a job. But its subsets are the building
blocks of many technology companies. In fact, Google hires various
developers just on the basis of their skills and fills their pockets
with millions of dollars. But getting a job at Google isn’t a child’s
play.
If you’re are sound enough with a programming language, for instance,
Java or Python, you can easily get a job as a developer. Similarly,
there are other career options, like web developer, iOS developer, and
Android developer, etc. Also Read: 29 Highest Paying Programming Languages You Need To Learn In 2017
Hacker
Just like programming, hacking is also a vague term in the case of
jobs. People who hack stuff with good intentions can find various jobs
as security researchers, penetrations testers, bug bounty hunters, etc. A
professional degree in computer science and related streams is an
advantage, but there are many people who have tasted success without any
degree.
Blogger/Content Writer
People having a flare of writing now prefer blogging as a source of
income. All that needs to be done is creating a blog on a platform like
Tumblr, WordPress, or Blogger, and start publishing articles. These
blogs can include memoirs, travel guides, gadget reviews, etc. Money can
be earned by subscribing to services like Google Adsense.
Content Writing involves similar task but it can be considered more
streamlined in comparison to blogging. A content writer can work for a
company, where he has to write articles about their products or company
news. He can also work for some website, where he can write on specific
topics, say, sports-related website.
YouTuber
Making money from YouTube isn’t something you haven’t heard. And it
doesn’t require any degree, at least, for the time being. People like
Pewdiepie, Superwoman, SMOSH, etc, have made millions of dollars by
monetizing their YouTube videos. They also became popular in the run.
Freelancer
I don’t need to tell you much about freelancing. A freelancer can be
anyone; he can be an app developer, a web developer, a balance sheet
manager, a blogger, a photographer, a graphic designer, etc. There a
plenty of websites where you can find freelancing projects according to
your expertise.
Professional Gaming
We can find people obsessed with games like DOTA, CS: Global
Offensive. eSports is a rising industry which can enable such people to
earn money by participation in international MOBA gaming championships.
Keep in mind, this isn’t for hobbyists and casual gamers who rely on
the occasional adrenaline rush to play for a couple of hours in a week
or so.
Game Tester
You might’ve thought about playing video games at work. What if there
is a job which pays you for playing video games. However it’s not just
the gaming stuff, you must have a knowledge about computer hardware,
programming, etc. Talking about the degree, it depends on the employer if you have computer science degree or not. Many people got a degree in some field but ended up being a game tester.
You can work as a game tester at companies like Electronic Arts.
Obviously, someone has to play the games before they are released in the
market. Why don’t you become that person?
UX Designer
We don’t have many friends with User Experience Designer in their job
title. That’s because this career option is still an unconquered
territory. And money people still confuse it with designing the user
interface of an app, but it is a very different thing. As the title
points out, a UX designer is a guy who takes care of the things that
enhance the user experience of a product and gets paid a lot.
SEO and SMO Manager
Search Engine Optimization is a real thing now. Everyone wants their
result to be displayed in the top search results on search engines like
Google and Bing. So, an SEO manager is a guy who makes sure your website
is preferred by the search engines.
Other than search engines, social media platforms also play a major
role in promoting content. So, a person is needed to post about your
products on different websites including Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,
etc. And the process is known as Social Media Optimisation.
Video Editor/VFX/Animator
Image: Flickr/Vancouver Film School
It’s hard for a YouTuber to make money if the video isn’t appealing
to the viewer. That’s because a bad video won’t get many views which in
turn would reduce the monetization revenue. A video editor can also sail
on the success boat of a YouTuber. Not only YouTube, a good video
editor or animation creator can easily get a fat paycheck at big
productions studios. So, if software like After Effects, Premiere Pro,
etc are a part of your daily routine, the job is yours.
Super Mario Run Is Finally Released, Here’s How To Download And Play
keeping
up with their announcement made at the Apple iPhone 7 launch event,
Nintendo has released the game Super Mario Run for iPhone and iPad on
December 15, 2016. The game requires an always-on internet connection,
just like Pokemon GO, which recently expanded to countries in South Asia along with a special edition Pikachu.
A mandatory internet connection for playing Super Mario Run is
an attempt from Nintendo to keep the pirates out of the picture.
However, this may limit the number of places where people can enjoy the
game.
The game comes in 10 different languages and it’s released in 150
countries over the world. Nintendo touts the game by saying it can be
played using one hand. So, you can enjoy the game while you’re on the
subway.
Super Mario Run is free to download from the App Store but it only
allows you to play the first three levels for free. After this, a $10
(varies by country) payment has to be made to continue the game.
The gameplay has three modes, Toad Rally, World Tour, and Kingdom
Builder. You can choose from a total of six runners including Mario,
Luigi, Peach, Yoshi, Toad, and Toadette.
Nintendo, in the post-2000 years, has underestimated has the
potential of the mobile market. The company was picky enough to favor
their own hardware to develop games for their franchise characters
including Mario. It was only after Pokemon Go, Nintendo tasted the
success fruit in the mobile gaming market.
For Android users, Super Mario Run is expected to release sometime in the year 2017.
After the death of KickassTorrents, the world’s most famous torrent website, a number of fake proxies arrived on the scene. This also helped the other torrent websites gain popularity.
Back in July, we told you about Katcr.co. This website was a result
of the original KickassTorrents staffers who grouped to build a community website.
Then, it didn’t offer any torrent links. Now, a larger group of
KickassTorrent employees have launched the website loaded with torrents —
KATcr.co
This fully operating torrent site looks similar to the deceased Kat.cr. Talking to TF,
the KATcr team said that the majority of original KAT site admins and
crew have joined the new endeavor. “This shows the loyalty, dedication
and real love for KAT that we all share,” he added.
The website is back with a clean user database. Some of the renowned
uploaders of KickassTorrents, whom the pirate community trusts, are also
back. It’s expected that the website will be soon filled with fresh
content.
To keep the member safe, the site was rebuilt and only the safe elements were kept, according to KATcr crew.
The staffers also believe that the original staffers of the website
will be soon free and the outcome of the pending legal action will be in
their favor.
At the moment, probably, due to high server load KATcr.co is loading
very slowly. It’s also possible that some of you won’t be able to load
it at all.
Wednesday, 7 December 2016
How To Install Multiple Bootable Operating Systems on One USB Stick
A bootable USB flash drive comes handy when if you have problems with
your operating system, mostly when you are facing the dreaded Blue
Screen of Death screen again and again. The option of having a bootable
version of your operating system helps you to isolate the software
issues with your PC/laptop. Further, almost all operating systems make
it very easy to put ISO files on portable flash drives by using various
tools. For example, the Windows USB/DVD tool and the Startup Disk
Creator in Ubuntu.
While having a USB pen drive with a single operating system may come
in handy if you are a non-technical person, there are many of us out
there who need multiple instances of operating systems to test various
software. With so many OS available in the market, it is not worthwhile
to keep a separate USB pen drive for each and every one of them. It
would be great if you put all the ISO files on one flash drive and take
the advantage of installing multiple operating systems through a single
multiboot USB flash drive.
So, in this article, we are going to take a look at how you can put
multiple ISO files on a single USB stick and create a multiboot USB
pendrive. Since most ISOs are resource heavy, your flash drive must but
of at least 16GB or 32GB capacity. For instance, putting three Windows
ISOs in the multiboot USB disk, you will need a 16GB flash drive.
At the heart of installing multiple ISO files on your USB stick lies a
popular tool called WinSetupFromUSB. This tool allows you put multiple
ISOs in one installation disk. You can put Windows and Linux in a same
bootable disk or create a master boot drive with Windows 7, Windows 8.1,
and Windows 10 operating system.
You can refer this article
for installing any version of Windows on PC from USB. Before proceeding
with the method, if you don’t have the ISO files for Windows OS, this link would guide you through the process to download them legally.
Now let us get down to the business of installing multiple ISO files of different operating systems on a single USB pen drive.
How to install an ISO file of any operating system on a USB stick
Download WinSetupFromUSB and extract the software on your PC/laptop.
Connect your USB stick to your PC/laptop.
Open WinSetupFromUSB. Open the 32-bit and 64-bit version according to your OS.
Select your USB stick from the drop down menu. If the software doesn’t recognise your pen drive, press refresh.
Tick Auto format it with FBinst. Remember you have to choose this option only during the first ISO installation.
Now click on Advanced options and select Custom menu names for Vista/7/8/Server Source checkbox. Click the Cross (X) button to exit Advanced Options.
Now come back to the main screen of the App and select the checkbox of the OS you want to install on your USB stick. Note:
If the size of your ISO is larger than 4 Gb, it will show a message to
split the file into parts. This is because you’ve chosen the FAT32
option. Click OK.
Press GO. That’s it. The software will now format your pen drive and install the ISO that you have selected.
How to install second bootable ISO file of any operating system on that same USB pen drive
Start the WinSetupFromUSB tool again.
Select your flash drive in the drop down menu.
Click Advanced Options and look for Custom menu names for Vista/7/8/10/Server Source.
During second ISO installation, kindly uncheck Auto format with FBinst. Enabling this will remove your previous ISO file.
Add the ISO file.
Click GO and follow the same process.
Follow the same process to add more ISO files.
This method will help you create a multiboot USB flash drive which
allows you to choose between multiple operating systems you desire.
Remember there are many tools you can use to create such multiboot USB
drives. Check out the video below to create a multiboot USB stick using Xboot Windows Tool.
Saturday, 3 December 2016
WhatsApp to kill support for older smartphone models
The idiom “No pain, no gain” is going to be true for those people who
wish to continue using the WhatsApp messaging service, but currently
own an old phone handset.
Earlier this year, the ubiquitous messaging app announced via its
blog, that it would be dropping support for a range of mobile operating
systems by the end of 2016, before updating the page to say some will be
supported until June 30, 2017.
The company claim that this move will make the messaging service more secure and keep up with constantly upgrading technology.
“Earlier this week WhatsApp turned seven years old. It has been an
amazing journey and in the coming months we’re putting an even greater
emphasis on security features and more ways to stay in touch with the
people that you care about,” said the company in a blog post.
“When we started WhatsApp in 2009, people’s use of mobile devices
looked very different from today. The Apple App Store was only a few
months old. About 70 percent of smartphones sold at the time had
operating systems offered by BlackBerry and Nokia. Mobile operating
systems offered by Google, Apple and Microsoft – which account for 99.5
percent of sales today – were on less than 25 percent of mobile devices
sold at the time,” they continue.
The app will no longer work on the iPhone 3GS and all iOS 6 or earlier, all BlackBerry operating systems and BlackBerry 10, the Nokia S40 and Symbian S60, Android 2.1 and 2.2, and the Windows Phone 7.
“While these mobile devices have been an important part of our story,
they don’t offer the kind of capabilities we need to expand our app’s
features in the future,” the company revealed in a blog post.
“As we look ahead to our next seven years, we want to focus our
efforts on the mobile platforms the vast majority of people use,” they
added.
However, a recent update on their website reads: “WhatsApp is
extending support for BlackBerry OS, BlackBerry 10, Nokia S40 and Nokia
Symbian S60 until June 30, 2017.” Therefore, if you have one of these
devices or operating systems, you have additional six months to make an
upgrade to continue using WhatsApp.
Friday, 11 November 2016
What Is The Difference Between RAM and ROM? What Is Their Use?
RAM (Random Access Memory) and ROM (Read-only Memory) are the two
important memory types found on a computer. RAM is fast it but can’t
hold data permanently. The ROM can hold data but frequent read-write
operations are not possible in this case. This article is about all the
differences between RAM and ROM.
Various
components of a computer house memory to store some sort of data. The
hard drive is the primary storage device used to store all the important
data like OS files, music, videos, etc. Other than the hard drive, we
have the RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read-only Memory), etc.
RAM (Random Access Memory)
After
the magnetic hard drive or SSD, RAM is the biggest piece of memory
which exists on the computer hardware. RAM is used to store the programs
and data being used by the CPU in real time. The data on the random
access memory can be read, written, and erased any number of times.
It
is a volatile memory which means the data stored in the RAM evaporates
the moment you cut the power. That’s one of the reasons random access
memory can’t be used as a permanent storage despite the fact that it’s
way faster than the traditional magnetic disk-based hard drives. Types of RAM: SRAM (Static RAM): It stores a bit of data using the state of a six transistor memory cell. SRAM is way faster than DRAM, but costlier.
DRAM (Dynamic RAM): It stores a bit data using a pair of transistor and capacitor which constitute a DRAM memory cell.
ROM (Read-Only Memory)
Another
notable memory type present on the computer is the ROM. As the name
suggests, the data on the memory can only be read by the computer. So,
what’s the reason these read-only memory chips are in use when we have
the RAM chips?
The ROM is a non-volatile memory, it doesn’t forget
the data even if the power supply is removed. ROM is used to store
firmware for the hardware which hardly gets any regular updates, for
instance, the BIOS.
The data on the traditional form of ROM is
hard wired to it i.e written at the time of manufacturing. Over time,
the read-only memory has been developed to support erasing and rewriting
of data, although, it can’t achieve the efficiency level of a random
access memory. Types of ROM: Mask ROM: This is the type of ROM for which the data is written during the manufacturing of the memory chip. PROM (Programmable Read-only Memory): The data is written after the memory chip has been created. It is non-volatile. EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory): The data on this non-volatile memory chip can be erased by exposing it to high-intensity UV light. EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-only Memory):
The data on this non-volatile memory chip can be electrically erased
using field electron emission (Fowler–Nordheim tunneling). Modern
EEPROMs are quite efficient in terms of the read-write capabilities.
The
above-mentioned types were the semiconductor-based ROMs. Optical
Storage media like CD-ROM is also a form of read-only memory. Recommended: 4GB, 8GB Or 16GB; How Much RAM Do You Need?
Difference between RAM and ROM
RAM
ROM
Data
The data is not permanent but it can be altered any number of times.
The data is permanent. It can be altered but only a limited number of times that too at slow speed.
Speed
It is a high-speed memory.
It is much slower than the RAM.
CPU Interaction
The CPU can access the data stored on it.
The CPU can not access the data stored on it. In order to do so, the data is first copied to the RAM.
Size and Capacity
Large size with higher capacity.
Small size with less capacity.
Usage
Primary memory (DRAM DIMM modules), CPU Cache (SRAM).
Firmware
like BIOS or UEFI. RFID tags, microcontrollers, medical devices, and at
places where a small and permanent memory solution is required.
Cost
It doesn’t come cheap.
Way cheaper than RAM.
Winding up
Both
RAM and ROM have their set of pros and cons. The ROM is cheap and can
hold data permanently but it has its limitations. On the other hand, RAM
is quite useful than the read-only memory but it can make a burning
hole in your pocket.
ROM is not that much incompetent as you might
think. The Flash memory we find on removable storage media like USB
drives, SD cards, SSDs, etc. is an advanced implementation of the EEPROM
type of read-only memory.
How To Enable “WhatsApp Video Calling” Feature On Your Android Smartphone?
WhatsApp Inc. is about to add video calling feature to its
instant messaging app. The WhatsApp video calling feature currently in
Beta testing can be tried after opting to the beta testing program. This
article includes the steps to use the WhatsApp video calling feature.
It
has been recently known that the much-awaited video calling feature has
arrived on the instant messaging platform WhatsApp. Other messaging
apps including Messenger and the recently launched Google Duo already have the video calling functionality. In this article we have mentioned the steps by which you can try the WhatsApp video calling feature which is currently in the beta testing stage.
How to enable video calling in WhatsApp?
We tried this method on Android devices. Here are the steps to enable video calling in WhatsApp instant messenger.
On your Android device, visit the following link: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/com.whatsapp Or Open Chrome on your Android (with your Google account signed in), search WhatsApp beta tester andvisit the first link or the link which looks similar to the one mentioned above. Note: Make sure you have used the same Google account to setup your Android device.
Tap Become A Tester button.
Tap Download the WhatsApp Messenger app on Google Play.
Now, the WhatsApp in the Play Store will appear as Beta.
Update the app from there and you’re done.
Now, you can enjoy the video calling feature on WhatsApp.
Rollback to the normal app
If you’re done with the video calling feature on WhatsApp, you can follow these steps to get back the normal WhatsApp version:
Visit the same link mentioned in Step 1 above.
Tap Leave the program.
Go to the Play Store and update WhatsApp from there.
So, this method was to give you an idea of the upcoming video calling feature on WhatsApp.
If you have something to add, tell us in the comments below
Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Contrary to reports, Nokia will be launching its Android smartphones only in 2017
After it was confirmed that the first of Nokia Android device, Nokia D1C was, in fact, a 13.8-inch tablet running on Android 7.0 Nougat,
Nokia fans were awaiting the release of the tablet and other Nokia
Android smartphones during the busy holiday season of 2016. However, new
reports indicate that Nokia’s four Android devices (1 Android Tablet
and 3 Android smartphones) will be available only in the first half of
2017.
The news was confirmed after a company called HMD
Global purchased the rights to manufacture, sell and advertise all Nokia
smartphones. According to a new report on Adweek, HMD
Global will kick off a huge marketing campaign for the four Nokia
smartphones only in early 2017. This means that the Finnish smartphone
manufacturer plans to launch its first Android smartphone only next
year.
In fact, HMD Global has chosen the famous ad agency,
Mother as its lead global agency to make advertisements for Nokia
Android smartphones. Both companies have already confirmed the deal and
offered comments on the matter.
“Nokia is a truly iconic, globally recognized
and trusted brand. As the exclusive licensee of the Nokia brand for
mobile phones and tablets, our ambition was to find a like-minded agency
who grasped both the opportunity and responsibility in bringing a new
product range to market. We are confident that in Mother we have found a
partner who can help us do so for a new generation of consumers around
the world,” said HMD Global CMO Pekka Rantala stated.
Rumors suggest that the Nokia Android smartphones will feature QHD
displays, metal shells 22.6MP camera and top of the class batteries like
the old Nokia feature phones. Also, Nokia smartphones are speculated to
feature high-end Snapdragon 820 processors together with water and dust
resistance features.
From the above news, it is confirmed that the first
of Nokia Android smartphones will only be available to buyers in the
first half of 2017. Those buyers who had been putting off buying new
Android smartphones till the holiday season in expectation of buying
Nokia’s first Android offerings will have to put off their buying plans
till 2017. Their patience would be well worth it provided Nokia comes
out with quality Android smartphones like the rugged and long lasting
Nokia 1100 and 3100 phones it is remembered for.
Here are some websites that every programmer should visit at least once!
The world of technology giving rise to different kind of jobs, skill
sets, and programming languages. As a student who wants to learn
programming, one must learn that every day there new coding languages
being written, new frameworks being created and new systems emerging.
You will be surprised to know that a whopping 300 different programming
languages being used in one form or the other.
Since, it is difficult to learn all those languages, as a programmer,
it is very important to keep one’s eyes and ears open to the emerging
trends so that one doesn’t lose out on the potential opportunities. Over
the years there have been several articles on the websites which every
programmer should bookmark and follow but the articles always list the same 10-15 top sites like CodeAcademy, Udemy, Coursera, KhanAcademy etc.
In this article, we are going to list some alternate websites which
are a must follow for all those who want to learn programming. Some of
these sites offer great depth of knowledge while others give free
tutorials to learn to code. The websites are listed in no particular
order and offer the best there is in programming.
Here are the best websites a programmer should visit!
Programming Practice and Contest :
Every programmer needs to practice coding so that he/she can stay in the loop. There is this story about a programmer who automated his job for six years,
spent his time surfing and playing games on company money all the while
drawing his salary and in the meantime forgot how to code. If you as a
programmer don’t practice what you have learned, you might easily forget
it. Here are some top sites where you can practice programming and take
part in coding contests.
The below websites offer great tutorials for learning programming.
There are some sites which offer programming puzzles and problems which
need to solve.
Apart from learning programming, a coder always needs to be in touch
with the real world. The reasons for this is that technology is very
fluid and dynamic. What will work today won’t even be touched upon
tomorrow. To know the latest from the world of programming, you need to
bookmark the below sites.
Coding Calendar is
one App that every programmer and wannabe coder should have on his/her
smartphone. The Coding Calendar App notifies you about various
programming contests happening on sites Hackerrank, Hackerearth,
Topcoder and much more
Facebook ‘pauses’ WhatsApp data sharing after United Kingdom’s ICO intervention
After Facebook-owned WhatsApp announced its plans to share user data
such as phone numbers and preferences with its parents, it has been at
loggerheads with privacy groups from the world over. Earlier in
September, Facebook and WhatsApp were taken to a provincial High Court
in India over its data sharing plans while Germany’s privacy watchdog
has already banned Facebook or WhatsApp from sharing user data. Now
Facebook and WhatsApp have been asked to ‘pause’ the data sharing plans
till the Information Commissioner completes its investigations into
privacy breach.
A controversial decision this summer by Facebook-owned messaging
giant WhatsApp to share data of its users with its parent company —
including for advertising purposes has put it at war with civil privacy
groups as well as European privacy watchdogs.
In a strongly worded blog
post information commissioner Elizabeth Denham noted that, “I had
concerns that consumers weren’t being properly protected, and it’s fair
to say the enquiries my team have made haven’t changed that view. I
don’t think users have been given enough information about what Facebook
plans to do with their information, and I don’t think WhatsApp has got
valid consent from users to share the information. I also believe users
should be given ongoing control over how their information is used, not
just a 30 day window.”
“We’ve set out the law clearly to Facebook, and we’re pleased that
they’ve agreed to pause using data from UK WhatsApp users for
advertisements or product improvement purposes,” she adds.
Denham also hits out at “vague terms of service” for generally failing to give consumers “the protection we need”.
Readers would remember that the Facebook-owned WhatsApp updated its
privacy policy in September which offered users an opt out of sharing
their data with Facebook but default opted them in — unless they clicked
to read the terms more closely and turned the sharing option off,
having understood what the toggle represented. Users were also given a
30-day window to revoke consent via the settings in the app — after
which they would be unable to withdraw consent.
Facebook spokesperson rejected criticism and said that, “WhatsApp
designed its privacy policy and terms update to give users a clear and
simple explanation of how the service works, as well as choice over how
their data is used. These updates comply with applicable law, and follow
the latest guidance from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.”
Facebook’s spokesperson added: “We hope to continue our detailed
conversations with the ICO and other data protection officials, and we
remain open to working collaboratively to address their questions.”
WhatsApp data sharing plans seem to be in jeopardy in Europe but it remains to be seen whether it is challenged in US courts.
Friday, 4 November 2016
Top 10 countries for computer programming
Recently, HackerRank published a study showing which countries have
the best developers. HackerRank is a free coding practice website that
allows developers to enhance their coding skills by solving challenges.
In other words, the HackerRank platform is the destination for the best
engineers to perfect their skills and companies to find top engineers.
The company has ranked 1.5 million developers based on the speed and
accuracy with which people complete the challenges.
This study
ranked which countries were best overall, which countries ruled in each
type of challenge, which types of challenges were most popular, and
which languages each country favoured.
The United States and India overall put up disappointing numbers
despite having the most participants on the site with U.S. coming at 28th position and India following a little behind at the 31st position.
Let’s have a look at who’s made into the top list and why? 1 China
In HackerRank’s overall list, China clinched the 1st
position for the best performing computer programmers. When it comes to
specific types of challenges, China is the best performing country in
data structure, mathematics, and functional programming. 2 Russia
It is no surprise that Russia’s strong performance in HackerRank’s
challenges has got them to this list. Russia is the most dominant
country when it comes to algorithms, which is the most popular kind of
challenge on the site. 3 Poland
Java is the preferred language among many of the HackerRank’s users.
It is particularly remarkable to see Poland in the list, as it has won
Java challenges on HackerRank’s site. Poland also offers coding classes
in their schools like many of the other countries on this list. 4 Switzerland
Switzerland is one of the most dominant countries across the board,
as it scores the top five in nine of them of the 15 top types of
challenges on HackerRank. Switzerland was also the origin of Pascal, one
of the first computer programming languages. Additionally, Switzerland
was also ranked no. 1 in the Global Innovation Index’s 2016 report. 5 Hungary
Hungary tops the world in performance on tutorial challenges and
comes in at a remarkable no. 5 spot in the rankings. Hungary was one of
the first European countries to implement computer programming classes
into their education system, in both primary and secondary schools. 6 Japan
Japan is making great strides in AI (artificial intelligence). So,
it’s no surprise when it comes to HackerRank’s AI challenges that Japan
is the best country in the world. For instance, early this summer, the
University of Tokyo was apparently able to save a woman’s life using AI
to diagnose her cancer. 7 Taiwan
Scoring high in database, algorithm, functional programming and data
structure challenges, Taiwan comes in at no. 7. The survey found that
Python is the dominant language. 8 France
French programmers dominate C++ challenges, according to the
HackerRank study. One reason for this is that France started providing
programming classes in elementary schools in June 2014. 9 Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is dominant in shell scripting challenges, which
makes the country stand at the no. 9 spot on the list of best
programmers. They also ran second in mathematics challenges on
HackerRank. 10 Italy
When it comes to HackerRank’s database and tutorial challenges, this
country is specifically impressive as it ranks second in both those
areas. It is not only HackerRank that thinks extremely high of Italy.
Apple announced a new school for 600 programmers at The University of
Napoli Federico II on the coast of Italy
well its a suprise that usa and india are not on the top.
How Safe Is It To Charge Your Laptop With Your Friend’s Charger That Has Different Specifications
A charger or ‘power adapter’ is the soul of your laptop. Without a
charger, your laptop has zero use. It mostly happens when you forget
your charger at home when you are out somewhere. Or your charger goes
kaput due to an internal fault and your new charger will only arrive in a
weeks time. These are some difficult situations that every laptop user
faces. In such situations, there is no option but to borrow chargers
from your friends or use an old charger lying around.
Does using such a charger create problems? Does a charger of a
different wattage and different make harm your device? Is it safe to use
a power supply with a different configuration? These are some questions
that every laptop users face and we will try to answer them in this
article.
What if I use a different make power adapter to charge my laptop?
First and foremost you have to understand how a power adapter works.
A power adapter basically converts the normal local electric input
voltage (110-120 Volts in the United States, Most other areas 220-240
Volts) into DC output that charges and runs our electronic devices. The
normal DC output is 12 volts but it may differ in varying devices. Power
adapters are a bit like canned food. Some manufacturers put a lot of
information on the label. Others put just a few details. And if there is
no information on the label, proceed with extreme caution.
The other important term to know is polarity. For
direct currents, there is a positive pole (+) and a negative pole (-).
For an adapter to work, the positive plug must mate with a negative
receptacle or vice versa. Direct current, by nature, is a one-way
street, and things just won’t work if you try to go up the downspout.
The next thing to match is the connector. Different laptop
manufacturers come with different type of connectors supposedly to be
able to market their chargers and other accessories.
So, if your charger is has gone kaput or you have forgotten it at
home, here are a few things you should note while connecting your
friends power adapter to your laptop.
The connector should be the same. Kindly check if the size and shape
of the male connector on the power adapter matches with the female
socket on your laptop
Once you get a charger with matching connector shape and size,
kindly check the voltage and polarity. If you have forgotten your
charger at home or someplace else, you can get the exact specifications
of your power adapter online.
Make sure your friends charger has equal or higher Amps
If you have found a charger which checks the above three points, you
should have no issues using your friend’s charger to charge your laptop.
Remember, using a charger with the wrong voltage rating can potentially
damage your laptop. This is typically caused by too high voltage. But
using a charger with too high current won’t damage your laptop. Using a
charger with too low current rating might fry the power supply, but not
the laptop
Hackers Use Mirai Botnet 14 To Shut Down The Internet Of An Entire Country
Experts have been arguing about how hackers are conspiring to bring down the entire Internet infrastructure and plunge the world into ‘cyber darkness.’ Such a scenario has been actually predicted by a security researcher, Bruce Schneier. In fact, Schneier says that some unknown entity is already working on bringing down the whole Internet.
This was proved when a cyber attack against Dyn DNS provider, which brought down the Internet
to the entire Mid-West and the Eastern United States on 21st and 22nd
October and now hackers have managed to bring down the Internet services
to the African country of Liberia.
An unprecedented cyber attack has knocked entire Liberia’s internet
offline, as hackers targeted the nation’s infrastructure using the same
Mirai botnets that shut down hundreds of the world’s most popular
websites at the end of last month.
The attack, which is the same used to shut off sites including
Twitter, Netflix, eBay and Reddit, fuels fears that cyber criminals are
practicing ways to sabotage the US’ internet when the country heads to
the polls on November 8.
Hackers used Botnet 14, a Mirai botnet, knocked an entire Liberian
Internet offline. Though the task for the hackers was easy considering
that Liberia has a population of about 4.5 million and only 10 percent
of these have Internet access which is provided by two Internet service
providers using a single optic fiber cable.
Security researcher Kevin Beaumont made a post on Medium detailing
the Liberia hack attack and Mirai Botnet 14. He says that DDoS attack
against the Liberian ISPs was one of the largest ever recorded. The
attacks were launched in short bursts of few minutes, over the course of
a week.
For those who missed it, Mirai botnet 14 starting communicating to us yesterday, along with continuing to hit Liberia. pic.twitter.com/Oq0uQNs4MT
Here is all you should know about Mirai botnets and how they operate
Beaumont has called the botnet Shadows Kill as warns
security researchers before going in for the kill. “Over the past week
we’ve seen continued short duration attacks on infrastructure in the
nation of Liberia,” says K Beaumont “The
attacks are extremely worrying because they suggest a Mirai operator
who has enough capacity to seriously impact systems in a nation state.” No one has yet claimed
responsibility for the Liberia attack or the one against Dyn, but they
are very similar in nature, according to experts.
“Given the volume of traffic, it appears to be owned by the actor which attacked Dyn,” said Beaumont.
The source code, or instructions for how to use, the Mirai botnet was
released online earlier this year and is free to use for anyone with
the technical understanding. It remains to be seen what will be the
next Mirai botnet ahead of the November 8 Presidential Elections and the
busy holiday season.
Is Apple Working On An iPhone That Bends?
It looks like Apple is working on an iPhone that can bend in the middle. According to tech site Patently Apple,
Apple has managed to get the patent for the bendable and foldable
mobile screen technology that the Cupertino giant has been exploring
since 2013.
The site explains that this new patent shows “a perspective view of
an illustrative electronic device such as a future iPhone that bends
along a flexible portion such as a flexible seam associated with a
hinge.”
All the technical details are included in the patent such as how a
bendable screen would work, but it seems like it is basically a new
technology that would be centred on conductive carbon nanotube
structures that are flexible and resistant to strong pressure and
cracks.
From the patent: Conductive carbon nanotube paths can form signal paths that are
flexible and resistant to cracking. The carbon nanotube structures may
be incorporated into signal cables such as flexible printed circuit
cables, rigid printed circuit boards, printed circuits that include
rigid portions with flexible tails (sometimes referred to as “rigid
flex”), portions of display structures, portions of touch sensors such
as capacitive touch sensor arrays for displays or track pads, camera
structures, antenna structures, housing structures, internal device
structures, electrical components, substrates, brackets, housing walls,
other structures, or combinations of these structures.
While patents are filed all the time, it is not necessary that every
patent is converted into a finished commercial product or even a
prototype. Whether or not, we will be able to a foldable iPhone from
Apple, only time will tell.
Saturday, 15 October 2016
Panasonic Shows Off An “Invisible TV” That Becomes Transparent When Turned Off
Just when people started to claim that with the arrival of 4K displays,
there won’t be any prominent advancement in the field of television, big
players like Samsung, Panasonic, and LG, started teasing pathbreaking
technologies like foldable and transparent displays.
Earlier
this year at CES, Panasonic showed off its futuristic television that
became a transparent glass when turned off. Similar technology was showed off by Samsung
at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Last week Panasonic
showed off an improved version of its older invisible TV at Combined
Exhibition of Advanced Technologies in Japan.
Panasonic’s
engineers have worked hard to make sure that the newer display looks as
good as the other televisions in the market. While the previous screen
was LED, the new screen has been upgraded to a new OLED display. This
will let you see clearer and brighter images even against a bright
background.
This screen is made from a thin mesh embedded in a
glass panel. One can even slide the panel, just like a cabinet panel.
The OLED displays put a fine plastic layer between two electrodes over a
glass slab. So, when there’s no electric signal, the display looks
transparent.
This futuristic technology is the latest sci-fi technology that has turned into a reality. Similar transparent displays have been a part of movies likes Avengers and Minority Report.
According
to the company representatives, the consumers would have to wait for
another 3 years before being able to buy this invisible TV
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE FREE WIFI OFFERED BY THE UGANDAN
GOVERNMENT
Recently, the government through the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) announced that they will provide free WiFi hotspot (wireless internet) dubbed #MyUG in Kampala city using
the existing Fiber National backbone Infrastructure. This news was
welcomed with mix emotions especially the majority who were suspicious
of this move by government to offer internet as a free public good.
NITA-U has come out to clarify in an FAQ all the burning questions from
the public and we have summarized the 10 most important things you must
know about this new internet service. 1. Location of service
The service will initially be available in Kampala CBD and some areas
in Entebbe whoever, NITA says that additional residential areas will be
covered using a phased approach. They have also promised a detailed
coverage hotspot location list that they will be share on their various
social media platforms as we roll out the service.
2. Time to use service
The #MyUG initiative is to make use of internet bandwidth that is not
being utilized by Government offices after official working hours. This
initiative is to utilize the internet bandwidth to provide a free
service to the Public.
3. Competing with the Telecos
NITA-U says that they are not competing with ISPs. The #MyUG
initiative complements the provision of internet wireless access to the
Public.
4. Security concerns
According to NITA-U, they have implemented industry standard security
controls and measures in order to provide a safe and secure service for
the Government departments and ministries whose bandwidth will be used,
as well as for users who log on to the service. NITA-U will monitor
usage in the following ways;
a. Login sessions will be monitored to flag suspicious usage patterns
b. Access will be through a firewall that protects the end users against any internet threat
5. Speeds to expect
The Public accessing the #MyUG service shall enjoy maximum speeds of
up to 2mbps. They aim at providing a service that meets basic internet
access needs and complements access provided by Commercial Internet
Providers.
6. Reliability
We intend to offer a reliable service of up to 99.7% availability.
7. Capacity of the Backbone Infrastructure to support the Free Wi-Fi initiative
The National Backbone Infrastructure has two rings that offer
bi-directional protection to traffic carried on the network thus
providing redundancy and reliability. NITA-U also runs a Network
Operations Center (NOC) that has 24/7 view of the entire network and can
therefore immediately identify and mitigate any network issues.
8. What plans are in place to enhance equitable access across the country?
NITA-U is extending the National Backbone Infrastructure to cover the
entire country. Priority is being placed on Universities, Schools,
Hospitals and Local Governments, which reach a large number of users
accessing critical information and social service data off the internet.
9. Why do I need to register my details?
Initially NITA has asked what seemed to look like some one was
signing away their lives when they subscribe to the service. They have
come out to assure the public that it is important to note that all
information gathered will be treated as confidential. As per industry
best practice, user registration is mandatory for authentication and for
access to Government services. The information gathered during
registration and use of the service may be used internally to improve
the #MyUG service as well as advise NITA-U on how to develop more
services and rollout special offers to the Public.
10. Any other terms and conditions
Where as NITA-U gives more terms and conditions in the login page we
shall give you some here. There will be a time limit of 30 minutes where
one will be allowed to stay connected to the free WiFi hotspot, after
this time elapses and one is not using the network, they will be
disconnected and they will have to login again to resume using the
service. As per now there is no download limitation (unlimited at 2mbps)
but NITA has promised to implement precautions depending on user
patterns.
For those wondering which kind of sites will be restricted to the
public, these will include; Pornographic websites, sites blacklisted for
malware, violence Inciting websites (Terrorist groups) and Bit torrent
sites
