Google takes over military robot-maker Boston Dynamics

Google has confirmed completing acquisition of Boston Dynamics, a company that is known for developing super-fast robots for the US Army. The latest acquisition is considered to be Google's major push into the field of robotics. Prior to Boston Dynamics, Google has taken over seven robotics firms in the last six months.

According to reports, Google's Andy Rubin is leading the company's secretive robotics division. So far, the price and size of the project haven't been revealed. Google's other robotics companies include Autofuss and Bot & Dolly, Schaft, Industrial Perception, Meka, Redwood Robotics, and Holomni.

In a statement posted on the Google Plus, Chief Executive Larry Page recently said: “I am excited about Andy Rubin's next project. His last big bet, Android, started off as a crazy idea that ended up putting a supercomputer in hundreds of millions of pockets. It is still very early days for this, but I can't wait to see the progress."

Boston Dynamics was founded in 1992 by Marc Raibert, an former professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company hasn't launched robots commercially, but works with US Army, Navy, Marine Corps and the Defense Department's Advanced Research Projects Agency.

Boston Dynamics has developed quite a few robots such as LS3, Atlas, Petman, Cheetah and BigDog. Videos of its walking robots have created a lot of excitement on the web. The BigDog robot is known for its impressive agility. It can climb hills, travels through snow, skitters precariously on ice. WildCat, a four-legged robot, shows off running a car park at high speed.

Google's new acquisition comes at a time when other Internet companies such as Amazon have also been exploring the field of robotics. Amazon recently created a lot of buzz with its plans to deliver packages via drones within a mere 30 minutes.

Mozilla pushes for open mobile standards

Mozilla Corporation has now ventured into the open mobile operating system and has joined hands with global partners, in an attempt to push for open mobile standards. The move is also aimed at gaining  momentum in its effort to create smartphones taking on the likes of Google and Apple operating systems.

The California based non profit entity has collaborated with Deutsche Telekom, Spain's Telefonica, Korean giants LG, Soc manufacturer Qualcomm, Chinese manufacturer ZTE and TCL/Alcatel to create an Open Web Device Compliance Review Board.

The new open mobile operating system could turn out to be a worthy alternative to the closed systems architecture now used in smartphones based on Apple's iOS and Google's Android. Mozilla smartphones were launched earlier this year, made by China's ZTE and the small Spanish-based manufacturer GeeksPhone.

Mozilla widely popular for its open-source Firefox browser, will have tough time to compete against the already dominating existing platforms. However, Mozilla's Andreas Gal has other ideas and said, “users want a wide selection of devices and great apps.”

Having consistent technical standards would help get new products in the market, says Gal. “This is the next step in building the ecosystem and will make it easier for partners to get a wide selection of high-quality solutions into consumers’ hands quickly and efficiently,” adds Gal.

Qualcomm Technologies vice president Jason Bremner said, “will set a clear path for any organisation to commercialise open Web devices”.

The ZTE Firefox phone was put up for sale in the US and UK this year, meanwhile Mozilla Corporation claims to have at least 17 operators on-board and is planning to launch the phones in Brazil, Hungary, Mexico, Montenegro, Poland and Serbia. There were also reports earlier of a Firefox OS tablet after its tie up with Foxconn.

Ten Must Haves for every Photographer

If you thought that getting a camera was enough, you couldn't be farther from the truth. We've compiled an absolute essentials list that would help you make the most of your newly acquired gadget.

So you’ve snagged yourself a brand spankin’ new DSLR eh? Well, that’s great, but your purchases don’t just stop there. If you think your camera is all you need, you’d be sorely mistaken. Sure you can get by in most day to day conditions, but that’s just what you’re doing; getting by. To really take things up a notch. These aren’t major expenses, but small things that make every photographer’s life way easier, so pay heed.

Get a BAG!
Damn straight! Before we get to what you should definitely have in your bag, you need a bag and the LowePro Fastpack 200 is our strongest recommendation for a starter bag. It can easily host one camera body two lenses, along with leaving you with enough room to store little knick-knacks. IF you want to go super pro, you can look at the LowePro Transit 350 AW or the Dakine Reload 30L.
 

Micro Fiber Cloth
Rarely will you find yourself in a shooting condition that is absolutely clean. Many a times, you would just want to walk around the streets of your city taking photos! Dust is everywhere and hence, it gets on your camera and lens. A microfiber cloth is the best and safest way to clean that grime off your precious gear, without hurting it.

Contact Free Cleaner
Giotto’s Rocket Blower is another cleaning tool, very essential to keeping the camera body clean. It is essentially an air blower that will knock dust particles off the lens and the camera body. Ideally should be used before releasing the lens from the lens mount so that no dust particles fall onto the sensor.
 

Hot Shoe Flash
If you thought that the puny pop-up crap flash on your DSLR was decent enough for anything, you’re sorely mistaken. If you want good quality illumination, invest in a hot-shoe flash, preferably first party (for maximum benefit). Yes, this can be a somewhat expensive proposition, but the returns in terms of image quality make it worth the investment.
 

Power for the Flash
Eneloop has pretty much set the standard for rechargeable batteries here and any pro will swear by their products. They cost almost twice (or thrice) as much as regular rechargeable batteries, but are definitely worth the premium. Why are they so special? Well, for one, they come charged, meaning you can use them the minute you buy them, but more importantly, these batteries do not lose charge when stored. Normally NiMH batteries will lose their power if they are stored for long periods of time, but Eneloops retain up to 95% of their charge.
 

A Harness
While the standard strap that comes with your camera is okay, it is not something we recommend you rely on. Instead, see if you can get yourselves a Kata or a BlackRapid Strap. These third party straps offer far more security for your camera as they lock into place on your shoulder so as to not slip off. Secondly, they also have a mechanism of preventing the camera from sliding all over the place, which can be quite annoying. A BlackRapid strap will prevent all of this, and make the camera accessible even with the strap slung around your shoulder, something the stock straps cannot do.

Backup Camera
Avert disaster, but in the unfortunate even that you can’t and end up damaging your main DSLR, you should not be without a tool to create your images. We strongly recommend having a small backup camera in your bag, either the Fujifilm X100s if you can afford it (or the Ricoh GR if you want something slightly cheaper), or you could go with a simply Canon SX240 HS travel zoom camera. All these cameras will at least allow you to make decent images in the event your main camera is out of commission, so you don’t feel like the day was a total waste.
 

A Compact Flashlight
You’d be surprised just how handy this little tool can be. Shooting in very low light where your camera can’t lock focus? Flash your light. Just got done shooting in the wild and its now dark? Flash your light! Shooting a concert in a dark, dingy venue and need something out of your bag? FLASH YOU LIGHT! We think you get the point.
 

More Memory than you Camera has Room for
Chances are the guy who sold you the camera would have tossed in a freebie memory card. Chances are, it’s an utter crap slow card. We STRONGLY recommend getting yourselves a few 8GB Sandisk Extreme Pro SD cards which have a 95MB/second rating. Also, don’t be stingy. Get yourself atleast TWO of these puppies, in case one card gets full on a shoot, or is damaged, or worse yet, is eaten by your puppy.
 

 

UV and Polarizer Filters
There are about a million and a half posts on the internet that will tell you that UV filters are bad for image quality, and then there’s an equal number highlighting their benefits. We recommend getting GOOD quality filters (such as SinghRay, or B+W or if you’re on a tight budget, then Tiffen/Hoya. The UV filter will protect your lens’s front element from serious damage and a polarizer will add a lot of good value to your landscape shots. IF you’re feeling a little generous, then even get the Cokin Neutral Density (graduated and non-graduated) filters, but make sure they’re the Cokin P system (which can be fit on any lens).
 

Microsoft launches new email import tool to help switch from Gmail to Outlook.

Microsoft has lately stepped up its efforts highlight flaws in Google's services with its Scroogled campaign – it even launched an online store to sell Scroogled merchandise. And now Microsoft has come up with a tool that makes it to easier import your Gmail account to Outlook.com. The new tool will be rolled out to users in coming weeks.

According to Microsoft, the new tool is part of the ongoing efforts to address 'growing frustration with outdated e-mail services'.

“...the response to our work with Outlook.com has been overwhelmingly positive and we continue to be humbled by how much so many of our customers love using it. At the same time, there are people who aren't quite as happy with their email service. For example, discontent with Gmail seems to be on the rise,” says Microsoft in a blog post.

The company highlights a study by market research firm Ipsos that says 1 out of 4 users will switch email providers if it was easy to do. The study pointed out factors such as interference of ads with email experience, improved spam filters and simplistic user interface are among key areas customers identify as the most important.

Microsoft says the new tool helps import Gmail emails into Outlook.com inbox. With the import (after connecting Gmail account (using OAuth) to your Outlook.com account) , Google contacts will automatically appear in Outlook.com. The company promises to preserve structure of your inbox, including read/unread status of emails.

The tool also helps set up Gmail address as a "send-only" account so you can continue to send email from your @gmail.com address, from Outlook.com.

To know more about Outlook's new tool, click here. To begin, simply start the process here.

Nokia Normandy, budget Android smartphone rumoured for 2014 release

Nokia, which has been launching a slew of Windows Phone devices seems to be finally making its foray in the Android category of smartphones, according to a report from The Verge's Tom Warren.

The report cites that the Finnish handset giant has been working on its first Android phone, codenamed Normandy. Twitter leakster@eveleaks revealed last month an image of the rumoured Nokia Normady. However, the leaked image shows lack of hardware shutter button, capacitive buttons and LED flash suggested that this mystery device was most likely an Asha, aimed at budget buyers and emerging markets, expected to be launched in 2014.

Apparently, the report also states that Nokia is rather taking Amazon's lead, working on a forked version of Android that will not be associated with Google services, implying that Nokia will full leverage over the device's OS, much like the Amazon's Kindle Fire tablet range.

Multiple sources have revealed to The Verge that Nokia employees working on Normandy were told that the device is scheduled for a 2014 release, with one insider who describes the Nokia Normandy efforts as 'Full steam ahead'. This suggests what Nokia intends to do with its Asha range, targeted at budget buyers who with the ability to have access to more traditional smartphone apps.

Nokia has been working on Android powered phones despite Microsoft's plans to acquire the Nokia's handset business. So the question here is whether Nokia will release the handset before its deal with Microsoft is finalised.

However, contradicting the above rumours, former Nokia CEO, Stephen Elop said in July that the company has made the right call by choosing Windows over Android, first reported by The Guardian. Earlier reportsalso revealed that Nokia apparently experimented with Android for Lumia devices.

Currently, Nokia accounts for 80 percent of all Windows Phone sales. While Samsung and HTC have also made Windows Phones in the past, the poor sales number of these devices seems to have deterred them from heavily investing in the platform.

It seems almost inevitable if Nokia wants to recapture its fast depleting market share, could this be Nokia's next Android phone - we'll be waiting for announcement.

The Stanley Parable Review

Digit Rating: Good

4/5

NA

Features:

NA

Performance:

NA

Value:

NA

Design:

PROS

• Great game design
• Brilliant dialogue
• Thought-provoking
• Metaphysical

CONS

• Occasionally pretentious

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next

MRP: 915

Best price on 

Summary

The Stanley Parable is a game that will make you question the very reason for your own existence and possibly cause a mild case of paranoid insanity and an aversion to the metaphysical. The Stanley Parable is an interesting game with a simple gameplay, but a very unique narrative structure. Definitely a must-play!

Review

The Stanley Parable is a game that is built to uncannily take a peek into your head and anticipate your every move, regardless of how creative you get in the game world. The creator is your God, and regardless of you trying to prove that you are in control of your life, you will be smitten. The Stanley Parable was originally built as a Hal-Life 2 mod before expanding to a standalone game.

 

Advance warning: There is ONE spoiler in the review below. So please, make the meaningful decision.

 

The Stanley Parable is joins the likes of Dear Esther and Gone Home – story-based interactive gameplay with a penchant for messing with your head. Avoid at all costs if you dislike having dreams of walking down endless corridors with a deep voice whispering in your head telling you how worthless you really are. Also, expect to have your share of lightbulb moments. Some of the best moments in The Stanley Parable depend on how slowly they start making sense; because when they do strike you, the reward is in that moment of revelation itself.

 

Built on a healthy dose of witty (and occasionally, dark) humour and a heavy existentialist influence, this game is surreal and never fails to surprise you (well, unless you’ve played it a few hundred times over, but that can be said for anything, right?). It is engrossing to a point of making you actually talk to your computer and expect a reply. Followed by a moment of complete incredulity when you realize how stupid you really feel. The Stanley Parable pushes the metaphysical to a level beyond anything we have seen in gaming, so far.

 

 

The RED Door

 

The Stanley Parable is smart, and sometimes borders on pretentious. The narrator is the saving grace in most of these situations, but he is, after all, one man against an army of billions of gamers. Cutting him that slack, there’s also the problem of mechanical gamers who will follow the rules, refrain from stepping out of line, ending The Stanley Parable confused and completely missing the point.

 

Intelligent and insightful, this game is highly recommended for psychiatrists to conduct personality evaluations. On a philosophical level, it takes quite a few runthroughs to understand its depth, what with dozens of easter eggs and an equal number of possible endings (and even more routes to get there), this game will either enthrall you, or make you curl up in the corner and make you really wish the Matrix has you.

 

Before you choose whether or not to immerse in The Stanley parable, please remember – Not doing so…

...is also a choice.

 

Can you stay on the Adventure Line?

 

Download link: http://dgit.in/tspgame

 

Minimum System Requirements:

OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8 

Processor: 3.0 GHz P4, Dual Core 2.0 (or higher) or AMD64X2 (or higher) 

Memory: 2 GB RAM 

Graphics: Video card must be 128 MB or more and should be a DirectX 9-compatible with support for Pixel Shader 2.0b (ATI Radeon X800 or higher / NVIDIA GeForce 7600 or higher / Intel HD Graphics 2000 or higher - *NOT* an Express graphics card). 

Hard Drive: 3 GB available space 

Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible

Hands on with the Samsung 4K TV: The Future is Now!

You now have a brand new method of showing the friends and neighbors how rich you are (or how much your parents love you), without saying a word - The Samsung F9000 series Ultra High Definition TV. To be precise, 65-inches of full glory, sitting in your living room, or as part of what you may lovingly call your home theater setup.

We have the 65-inch Samsung F9000 UHD TV in the Digit Test Centre, and before a detailed review comes along, here is a quick first look at the beauty that may be the future of televisions. Or may not be, depending on how much love the 4K standard manages to gather. But, for the moment, we are being told this is the way forward.

The UA65F9000 is Samsung’s earnest attempt at a mainstream 4K TV. By 4K, we are referring to the 3480 x 2160 pixel resolution, which surpasses the 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution that your TV might have. The TV packs in a quad core processor, a gamut of smart TV features like gesture and voice control, the Smart Hub for apps and services and the up-conversion to 3D on the fly.

Unlike Sony’s 4K TVs, Samsung has kept a rather minimalistic design, which also includes reducing the SAMSUNG logo size below the screen to a rather classy small font size. Aesthetically, this is very pleasant to look at, with the rather thin bezel and the redesigned table stand that keeps the TV a lot closer to the surface it is placed on.

Moving away from the traditional method of plugging in the devices directly to the TV, via HDMI, this time around there is a different approach. Which is why, there is the One Connect box, which packs in all the connectivity options for video, and does not need its own power. Connect the proprietary cable to the TV, and hook up all video sourced to the One Connect. There are 4 HDMI inputs, LAN connectivity (in-case you don’t want to use the built-in Wi-Fi for some reason) and optical audio out, for an AV Receiver.

 

But, apart from the spec sheet fun, what is most critical is the performance of the TV - with 4K content, with 1080p and 720p content, and even with sources that may be much worse off. Trust us, not everyone of us has methods to access Netflix in India, and the good old DTH box is the source of entertainment most of the time! There is the assumption that anyone buying a 4K TV would scoff at any source less than Full HD, but that would be a wrong basis for any judgement.

For this, we hooked up a notebook with the F9000 and played back a variety of content, including a 4K video.

First up, was the big day - Sachin batting in Mumbai, in what could be his last innings in test cricket. For this, we streamed the match live on starsports.com, and the results were fantastic. The streaming, which is claimed to be “as good as HD”, looked extremely good on this panel. Just to have some fun, we turned on the 2D -> 3D feature and adorned the active 3D glasses. The depth can be adjusted, and for upconverted content, the higher the better is the logic. It was superb fun while it lasted, because I happen to be one of those people who get a splitting headache with active 3D, after about 10 minutes of faffing around. But, what we did take away in that short while was that you can have some fun, if 3D is what you like. Second, we played back some 1080p content, and the scaling was extremely good. Inevitable, that a panel this size would throw up instances of edge noise and judder a tad more than usual. Finally- 4K video, for which, the quality you see depends on how far away from the screen you sit.

Anything less than 9 feet, and any difference between 4K content and 1080p content would be negligible and missed by the eye. The real difference only shows up - the crispness, richer details and better colour, is visible only when you are inside the virtual 9 feet range. Though we would not recommend that, because the eye strain from a 65-inch panel up close would be immense.

Before we leave you for the time being (there will be a complete review soon), we would like to leave you with a video of 4K gaming on the Samsung F9000 UHD TV, thanks to the adequately powerful Nvidia GeForce GT 730M (2GB) GPU in one of the ultrabooks lying in the test centre. See the video, and we would leave the quality rating to your judgement. However, if this is what a graphics card, that's not even top end and additionally shackled by a ULV processor can do, we wouldn't be surprised if this TV becomes a part of your gaming setup. 

What's New? Intel Threading Building Blocks 4.2

One of the best known C++ threading libraries Intel Threading Building Blocks (Intel TBB) was recently updated to a new release 4.2. The updated version contains several key new features comparing to previous release 4.1. Some of them were already released in Intel TBB 4.1 updates.

The new synchronization primitivespeculative_spin_mutex introduces support for speculative locking. This has become possible using the Intel® Transactional Synchronization Extensions (Intel® TSX) hardware feature available in 4th generation Intel® Core™ processors. On processors that support hardware transactional memory (like Intel® TSX), speculative mutexes work by letting multiple threads acquire the same lock, as long as there are no "conflicts" that may generate different results than non-speculative locking. So no serialization happens in non-contended cases. This may significantly improve performance and scalability for “short” critical sections. If there is no hardware support for transactional synchronization, speculative mutexes behave like their non-speculating counterparts, but possibly with worse performance.

Intel TBB now supports the exact exception propagation feature (based on C++11 exception_ptr). With exception_ptr, exception objects can be safely copied between threads. This brings flexibility in exception handling in a multithreaded environment. Now exact exception propagation is available in prebuilt binaries for all platforms: OS X*, Windows* and Linux*. On OS X there are two sets of binaries: the first is linked with the gcc standard library – it is used by default and doesn’t support exact exception propagation. To use the feature, you should take the second set of binaries linked with libc++, the C++ standard library in Clang. To use these, set up the Intel TBB environment and build your application in the following way:

     # tbbvars.sh libc++

     # clang++ -stdlib=libc++ -std=c++11 concurrent_code.cpp -ltbb

In addition to concurrent_unordered_set and concurrent_unordered_map containers, we now provideconcurrent_unordered_multiset and concurrent_unordered_multimap based on Microsoft* PPL prototype.concurrent_unordered_multiset provides the ability to insert an item more than once, which is not possible in concurrent_unordered_set. Similarly, concurrent_unordered_multimap allows inserting more than one<key,value> pair with the same key value. For both “multi” containers find will return the first item (or <key,value> pair ) in the table with a matching search key.

Intel TBB containers can now be conveniently initialized with value lists as specified by C++ 11 (initializer lists):

1
tbb::concurrent_vector<int> v ({1,2,3,4,5} );

Currently initialize lists are supported by the following containers:

concurrent_vector
concurrent_hash_map
concurrent_unordered_set
concurrent_unordered_multiset
concurrent_unordered_map
concurrent_unordered_multimap
concurrent_priority_queue

The scalable memory allocator has caches for allocated memory in each thread. This is done for the sake of performance, but often at the cost of increased memory usage. Although the memory allocator tries hard to avoid excessive memory usage, for complex cases Intel TBB 4.2 gives more control to the programmer: it is now possible to reduce memory consumption by cleaning thread caches with the scalable_allocation_command() function. There were also several improvements in overall allocator performance.

Intel TBB library is widely used on different platforms. Mobile developers can now find prebuilt binary files for Android in the Linux OS package. Binary files for Windows Store applications were added to the Windows OS package.

Atomic variables tbb::atomic<T> now have constructors when used in C++11. This allows programmers to value-initialize them on declaration, with const expressions properly supported. Currently this works for gcc and Clang compilers:

1
tbb::atomic<int> v=5;

The new community preview feature allows waiting until all worker threads terminate. This may be needed if an application forks processes, or if the Intel TBB dynamic library can be unloaded at runtime (e.g. if Intel TBB is a part of a plugin). To enable waiting for workers, initialize the task_scheduler_init object this way:

1
#define TBB_PREVIEW_WAITING_FOR_WORKERS 1




2
tbb::task_scheduler_init scheduler_obj (threads, 0, /*wait_workers=*/true);

Find the new Intel TBB 4.2 at commercial and open source sites. Download and enjoy the new functionality!

Now a 'smart' ring to manage your smartphone updates

Now a new Bluetooth enabled 'Smarty Ring' that allows users to check smartphone alerts and manage incoming calls right from your finger. The ring can also be used as a watch, phone finder and a timer. The Smarty Ring is compatible with both iOS and Android devices as long as they have Bluetooth 4.0.

Users can manage the settings of their smarty ring with a smartphone app. The Ring also acts as a phone tracker and will beep to alert the user if he moves more than 30 feet away from his phone. The ring has a stainless steel water resistant design and gives the user 24 hours of battery life.

The Smarty Ring gives all incoming and outgoing call notifications as well as alerts for Text and e-mail messages. User also gets real time updates from social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Hangout and Skype. The Ring also acts as a remote control and the user can accept or reject incoming calls, make outgoing calls to preset numbers, Trigger the camera on your smartphone, control music, change profiles and much more.

Wearable technology is on the rise, with Samsung, Sony, Qualcomm, Google all launching wearable tech devices. Qualcomm has recently announced Qualcomm Toq smartwatch that will be launched on December 2, 2013 in the US. The smartwatch will be compatible with Android smartphones and will have a 'Qualcomm Mirasol display'. According to Qualcomm this is the first smartwatch with a touch-enabled "Mirasol" color screen that can be easily be viewed outdoors even in bright sunlight.

Jaguar Land Rover partners with Intel to develop in-car infotainment systems

aguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced a formal partnership with PC and smartphone chip maker, Intel. This partnership will focus on developing in-car infotainment systems. JLR is the latest addition to the ever expanding list of car manufacturers looking to develop in-car systems. The car maker has opened a new Technology Research & Development centre in Portland, Oregon putting it in close proximity with Silicon Valley and Seattle, where it is partnering with other technology majors. Additionally, the proximity with Intel Labs will make collaboration easier.

Several development programs are under way, for what JLR calls “in-vehicle cockpit experience that connects car, device and cloud”.

This isn’t the first time Jaguar Land Rover has shown an interest in developing in-car systems. At the Frankfurt Motor Show earlier this year, JLR showed off the C-X17 concept with the InControl telematics system developed in partnership with Bosch which utilized interconnected touchscreens running the length of the car, layered with acrylic glass and a heads-up windscreen display for the driver. Ford has partnered with Microsoft for the Sync in-car connectivity system, the update for which will be arriving in the models next year. Mercedes-Benz recently set up a centre in Silicon Valley, allowing it to develop the same systems. Also, the company is ready with Google Glass integration for its' in-car systems, and is waiting for Google to officially announce its retail plans. 

Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, Jaguar Land Rover Engineering Director, said: "Our aim is to innovate and develop the ultimate user experience for our customers and by taking a collaborative approach with both technology start-ups and large organisations such as Intel, we will push the boundaries of future infotainment technology. Working with Intel will help both partners define and develop platforms and systems appropriate for premium global brands like Jaguar and Land Rover. This will ultimately develop unique and innovative technologies that will continue to drive the appeal of our products. Our research and the partnerships we are developing in the US will help us ensure our new products remain innovative and globally competitive."

An artist's impression of the JLR Tech Centre in Portland

Elliot Garbus, vice president and general manager, Automotive Solutions Division, Intel Corporation, said: "Consumers expect their in-vehicle experiences to be an integrated part of their digitally connected lifestyle; this requires enhanced levels of connectivity and intelligence in the car.  As part of our work with Jaguar Land Rover, we are exploring innovative ways to inform, entertain and assist drivers and passengers in a safe way; speeding development of unique experiences from the car to the cloud.  Our goal is to accelerate opportunities for new types of in-vehicle services and applications in the Internet of Things.".

Jaguar Land Rover has two engineering test facilities in the US:  a hot weather test facility in Phoenix, Arizona and cold weather test facility in International Falls, Minnesota.

Now a Facebook app that discovers friends who hate you

All your friends, acquaintances and colleagues are on Facebook, but now you can find which are your genuine friends. The Facebook "Hate With Friends" app helps you find which friends hate you, but only if you hate them back!

To use the app users need to log in to the site with your Facebook account, then the app which show you all your friends. Users can choose which friends you hate and they wont come to know if they don't hate you too. When the hate is mutual the app informs both parties via email. If you hate a friend, the app also gives you an option to unfriend.

Once you have added friends to the app, your friends list will be separated into three categories including, "Everyone," "Who I Hate" and "Who Hates Me Too." The 'Hate with Friends' app was created by Chris Baker who says that over 10,000 people have used the app till now. The app is similar to the controversial 'Bang with Friends' app now known as 'Down'. The app notifies users when both friends express an interest to hook up.

Facebook has recently replaced its Hideall button with unfollow. The feature gives you an option to unfollow friends from whom you don't want to receive posts and daily updates in your Facebook News Feed. The button will be placed prominently next to the 'Message' button on Facebook, it gives the option to remain friends with a person or follow them. Facebook states that the aim of the feature is to help people curate their newsfeed and focus on quality content that they want to see everyday.

KitKat running on 1.1% of Android devices, Jelly Bean grows to 54.5%: Google

Google's latest Android version 4.4, KitKat, is now running on 1.1% of the total number of active Android devices. According to Google's updated platform versions distribution for Android, Jelly Bean's all three iterations – v4.1x, v4.2x and v4.3 – combined run on 54.5% of devices (v4.1x on 37.4% devices, v4.2x on 12.9% and v4.3 on 4.2%).

Rate of Android v4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich installations has slipped from 19.8% to 18.6%, while Gingerbread (Android 2.3) has slid from 26.3% to 24.1%.

Google's new Android dashboard that assesses installations rate of Android devices reveal a relatively quick adoption rate of KitKat. Google had launched its new Android iteration along with the new Nexus 5.

Comparing KitKat to the Android v4.3, the iteration was released in July on the new Nexus 7, but made it first appearance in the Android dashboard in October's figures, where it was running on about 1.5% of devices.

It's notable KitKat has already started rolling out to some devices such as Google Play editions of Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, Nexus 4 and Moto X. KitKat's share is expected to grow significantly in the near future, as Samsung, HTC, Motorola and Sony plan to roll out KitKat across their devices over the coming weeks and months.

Source: Google

New technology lets you control a paper plane with your smartphone

Power Up 3.0, built by US designer Shai Goitein, turns your self made paper airplane into a smartphone controlled flying machine. The device comes with a small attachable propeller and rudder for speed and steering control that makes you paper plane fly faster.

The Power Up 3.0 comes with inbuilt Bluetooth smart technology that lets you control your paper airplane via your smartphone with an accompanying app. The user can tilt there phone to left or right to control the plane even at 60 yards. The app comes with a compass, controls for thrust and readouts for battery life and range. The device comes has a crash proof fiber frame and comes with precision control for easy flying. It has a Lithium Polymer battery that provides 10 minute of flight on a single charge.

To use the device users have to fold a piece of copier paper into a paper airplane and attach the Smart Module to it with the patented clips underneath the Smart Module. Users need to start the app to connect to the Smart Module with your iPhone. Then just push throttle to full and launch the paper airplane high up into the sky. Users can tilt your smartphone to the left or to the right to control your plane, to go up or down and increase or reduce throttle.

The Smart Module works with iPad Mini, iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C and iPhone 4S for now. The designers are working towards making the app available for iOS and Android soon.