Apple have done the coolest drag and drop demo ever
Apple debuted its latest macOS version today at the Worldwide Developers Conference, along with a feature dubbed Universal Control, which allows you to use your Mac's mouse or trackpad to control the cursor on an iPad or another Mac's screen, reaching into and across many devices. On the surface, it may not appear to be revolutionary, but Craig Federighi did something pretty remarkable during the demo: he moved his cursor onto an iPad, then clicked on a photo and dragged it across two other machines to place it into a Final Cut timeline.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PcKvaW5jzw
While Logitech's Flow and programs like Synergy have also enabled users to easily switch between PCs, it's not always as remarkable in practice - some solutions require specific hardware, some don't support true dragging and dropping, and still, others have cumbersome configurations. Apple's version appears to be flawless.
It is worth noting that, according to Apple’s site, there are a few small caveats for Universal Control — it will only work with three devices (so Apple was showing its full capabilities in this demo), and it won’t work on every device getting the new versions of macOS and iPadOS.
Here’s the list of Macs that can initiate Universal Control:
- MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
- MacBook (2016 and later)
- MacBook Air (2018 and later)
- iMac (2017 and later)
- iMac (5K Retina 27-inch, Late 2015)
- Mac mini (2018 and later)
- iMac Pro
- Mac Pro 2019
As for iPads, it’ll work with:
- iPad Pro
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad (6th generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
While the function works with iPads, it must be activated on the Mac – thus if you were hoping to transfer a file to your Mac using an Apple Pencil or your finger, you're out of luck (as fun as that sounds).
Apple claims that the function requires no setup (other than having your two devices logged in with the same Apple ID and Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Handoff turned on), but we won't know how fast and reliable it is until we test it. Will it work every time you place your iPad next to your iMac, or will you be tapping your fingers on the desk waiting for them to understand they should be communicating?
Obviously, we'll have to wait and see how Universal Control works in practice, but the demo makes it appear as though everything just works - Federighi moved the machines close to one other and could switch between keyboards, mice, and screens. It makes for a great demo, hinting at the everlasting goal of computing: being able to use all of your gadgets together, regardless of form factor or operating system (though, of course, this version of the dream ignores non-Apple devices).
Windows 10 Tips and Tricks: Life - Changing Productivity Hacks
For most computers (about one billion, to be precise) that OS has Windows 10, your PC is nothing without your operating system. Windows has been around long enough to be able to find the way around the last edition even for a technical incompetent. However, you don't just want to be able to use Windows 10 if you are a technology enthusiast; you want to master it. Only then can you appreciate your system's success and use what you and your program, the omnipresent OS, can do as a consumer.
In order to optimize the OS relationship with your pc and ensure it works as you want with your computer, we have described some of the handiest Windows 10 tips and tricks. This means tips for optimizing productivity apps for Windows 10, memorable Windows 10 hacks, guides for troubleshooting Windows 10 to keep your backpack and answering your queries.
Windows 10 Troubleshooting Tips
If you’re the kind of person people call when they can’t get their system to work properly, you’ll want to get a firm grasp of all the following Windows 10 troubleshooting tutorials.
- How to Fix a Windows Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
- How to Use a Minidump File to Fix Your Windows BSOD
- How to Factory Reset a Windows 10 PC
- How to Boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode
- How to Find a MAC Address in Windows 10
- How to Monitor Your CPU Temperature
- How to Test RAM: Making Sure Bad Memory Isn't Crashing Your PC
- How to Pause Windows 10 Updates
- How to Fix the 'Page Fault In Nonpaged Area' Error in Windows 10
Apple set to debut a foldable iPhone in 2023
For Apple, the question isn't "if" they'll create a foldable, but "when." We've been hearing talk about it since at least 2017, but nothing has come to fruition yet. And, in fact, it's usually best to stand back and let others go first, so they can see what works and what doesn't in the real world.
According to a respected industrial analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to launch a folding iPhone with 8-inch QHD+ flexible OLED display in 2023.
Kuo told investors that he reached that conclusion based on his new industry survey in a recent note from MacRumors. SDC will function as the sole display provider "and the sole DDI fundry provider is Samsung Foundry," added Kuo.
The analyst anticipates that Apple will embrace the silver nanowire contact solution for TPK due to its advantages over Y-Octa technology for SDC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OesVttlQVF8&t=91s
Kuo believes that the company aims in 2023 to ship between 15 and 20 million foldable iPhones based on Apple's requested capacity. He predicts more folding components are going to be a must and help build the next major upgrade super cycle.
The new crop of folding smartphones doesn't trick to blur the distinctions between smartphone and tablet, as Kuo correctly points out. They are also a little tough around the edges because manufacturers still deal with design and durability problems. However, Kuo finally sees flippables as devices that combine the mobile, tablet and laptop components into a single computer more seamlessly.
Sony has released a more powerful wearable AC
Sony has revealed a follow-up product to the Reon Pocket, an app-controlled "wearable air conditioner" that the company launched last year after crowdfunding it on its own website. The Reon Pocket 2 looks similar to the original model, but Sony claims that the newly built internals can achieve up to twice the level of heat absorption, resulting in more efficient cooling efficiency. Sony also claims that the sweat-proofing in the Reon Pocket 2 has been improved, making it more suitable for light workout situations.
The previous model was primarily marketed as something to wear with a special undershirt to make summer commuting more bearable, but Sony is emphasizing more flexible use cases — especially golf — this time around. The company has collaborated with sportswear brands such as Le Coq Sportif, Munsingwear, and Descente to create a line of golf clothing with pockets for the unit.
Sony has also created a neckstrap accessory to enable the Reon Pocket to be worn with regular clothing. Previously, you had to purchase a slew of pocketed undershirts from Sony.
The Reon Pocket 2 is out today in Japan for 14,850 yen (about $138). No word on a release elsewhere.
Will.i.am reveals his $229 face mask featuring dual fans, ANC headphones, Bluetooth and so much more
Will.i.am, better known as the Black Eyed Peas' frontman, has made many forays into the field of technology, not all of which have been successful. However, the rapper has not been deterred by a few previous defeats. His most recent prototype is a high-tech face mask with noise-cancelling headphones and Bluetooth compatibility. It's also far more costly than other masks, at $299.
The Xupermask (pronounced "Supermask") was developed in collaboration with Honeywell and includes dual three-speed fans and HEPA filters. That's the same setup as LG's similarly Cyberpunk 2077-inspired PuriCare Wearable Air Purifier mask.
Since Will.i.am was involved in the design of the Xupermask, it includes built-in active noise-cancelling headphones for listening to music while dressing up as a Fallout character. A microphone, Bluetooth 5.0, and a magnetic earbud docking device are also included.
Taking a page from Razer's Project Hazel, the Xupermask features LED day glow lights, but they aren't RGB like the PC accessory maker's product. There is also a 7-hour battery life.
Jose Fernandez, the Hollywood costume designer who worked on Black Panther, The Avengers, and X-Men 2 created the futuristic look of the Xupermask. He also designed Elon Musk's SpaceX suits.
"For comfort and high performance, the XUPERMASK is made of advanced materials such as silicone face seal and is protected by an elastic band. The versatile accessory is easily customizable to a variety of face shapes and has the versatility to be worn up to 365 days a year anywhere in the world "according to the press kit
Jose Fernandez, the Hollywood costume designer who worked on Black Panther, The Avengers, and X-Men 2 created the futuristic look of the Xupermask. He also designed Elon Musk's SpaceX suits.
"For comfort and high performance, the XUPERMASK is made of advanced materials such as silicone face seal and is protected by an elastic band. The versatile accessory is easily customizable to a variety of face shapes and has the versatility to be worn up to 365 days a year anywhere in the world "according to the press kit
Is now the right time to introduce a costly mask, with the vaccine rollout continuing and more states removing their mask mandates? According to Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan: "Even with vaccines, we're hearing you still need to be masked because there's still a risk factor that even though you're vaccinated, you still need to be extremely cautious. Second, many countries are unlikely to receive the entire [scale] of vaccines in the next year or even two, so anyone traveling should exercise extreme caution."
LG ANNOUNCED ITS EXIT FROM THE PHONE BUSINESS
If you're reading this on a tablet, it's unlikely that LG designed it. For years, the Korean tech behemoth has been losing money and market share with its mobile division, so it came as no surprise when it announced plans to shut it down today.
LG has spent years seeing its share of the phone market shrink to about 2%—the company was the third-largest phone manufacturer in 2013—despite being one of the most influential players in the world of TVs, home appliances, and monitors.
LG delivered only 6.5 million smartphones in the third quarter of 2020, down 7.2 million from the previous quarter. It is expected to ship 23 million phones in 2020. Samsung, on the other hand, shipped 256 million units.
LG's mobile division took steps to resolve its issues in its final year. The Explorer Project was developed to create more creative projects, such as the lovely yet underpowered Velvet and the interesting dual-screen Wing. The company unveiled a Rollable prototype phone at CES this year, which it said it intended to bring to market.
That won't happen now, and it's difficult to call it a big setback considering that companies like Oppo and TCL are likely to fill the gap with their own models. However, in the sense of the US phone industry, there will be fewer options, and whoever replaces LG's lost market share will be unlikely to be as inventive.
It's a shame to see LG leave the phone space, which accounted for just 7% of its total revenue—the smallest of the company's five divisions. It was known for innovating, not always successfully, in an area often afraid of the word. There was the modular G5, the dual-screen LG G8X, the flexible LG G Flex 2, and the futuristic LG Wing 5G, to name a few. From those of us who have owned an LG handset or still do, we bid a sad farewell.
Despite COVID-19 Nvidia and AMD generated over $25 billion combined in revenue last year
According to a TrendForce study (via PC Gamer), although the pandemic initially seemed to devastate the IC design industry, the rise in remote working/learning and more people gaming resulted in unprecedented demand.
When it came to the Top 10 IC design companies in 2020, Qualcomm and Broadcom took the first and second slots, respectively, but Nvidia was the leader in terms of year-on-year growth in third place. Last year, Team Green produced $15.4 billion, a huge 52.2 percent improvement over 2019. It should be noted that the acquisition of Mellanox improved the company's data center products, which produced approximately $6.4 billion in revenue.
AMD, which finished fifth, had a strong year as well. The company's revenue of $9.7 billion was a 45 percent increase over the previous year. Intel's market share was further eroded by its 7nm CPUs for both consumer and business use. Chipzilla recently announced plans to open up its existing and expected manufacturing ability to other businesses, including AMD and Nvidia, with the introduction of Intel Foundry Services.
Broadcom was the top dog in 2019, but according to TrendForce, the unexpected demand for network equipment, coupled with Apple's decision to reintroduce Qualcomm's baseband processors, helped the Snapdragon manufacturer take the top spot with a revenue of $19.4 billion, up 33.7 percent year on year.
Concerns have been raised about the global chip shortage, which could be aggravated by the current drought in Taiwan, which will soon impose additional water restrictions.
Motorolla rolls out a Dex-style desktop to the Edge Plus
Motorola is expanding its flagship handset, the Edge Plus, with a new desktop machine interface named Ready For. Ready For, like Samsung's DeX, allows users to plug their smartphone into a larger screen (via a USB-C to USB-C or USB-C to HDMI cable), allowing the Edge Plus (and potentially future Motorola phones) to be used as a device or even a set-top box option.
Ready For can be used in four different ways, according to the company. Users can turn the Edge Plus into a mobile desktop computer system, complete with a Bluetooth mouse or keyboard — similar to DeX.
However, Motorola has some more intriguing ideas about how to use Edge Plus. Another, for example, transforms the Edge Plus into a videoconference station, using the smartphone's superior cameras (either the 108-megapixel main lens or the 16-megapixel ultrawide lens) for a better video chat experience. There are also opportunities for entertainment. Players can attach a controller to the Edge Plus and use it as a makeshift console for native mobile games like Fortnite or game-streaming services like xCloud. Users may also use their phone as a portable set-top box — Motorola envisions plugging the Edge Plus into a hotel room TV, for example, allowing you access to all your already logged-in streaming apps when traveling without having to think about your room's Wi-Fi configuration.
Ready For (also known as DeX) is not the first effort to turn a smartphone into a device. The history of cell phones is riddled with unsuccessful attempts, such as the Palm Foleo or Motorola's own Atrix 4G's LapDock adapter. Although Motorola's use cases are a little naive (and even too optimistic about the number of users who keep HDMI to USB-C cables on hand), there are definitely more innovative ideas for converting a phone to a larger screen than a half-baked desktop computer experience.
Motorola's Ready For experience is scheduled to begin rolling out to Verizon Edge Plus users today.
Importance of a server
A lot of people think that a server is just like a PC desktop, which is a major misconception. PCs can carry a server operating system, but this often doesn't operate the same way a server system does. The server is designed to monitor, store, submit information, and process data all the time. It works 24 hours a day and is highly stable compared to a laptop. There are a variety of features you will find on a server that will give you the best network for your company, including:
- Redundancy: This means that the information you want to store is stored in more than one place. Meaning if it's ever going to go down for some reason you've put it in another place, so the information isn't lost.
- Scalable: this means that you are able to meet current needs and also future needs.
- Dual Processor: This applies to a machine of two different processors. Instructions and knowledge are sent to both processors, enabling computers and networks to operate faster than a desktop PC.
- Hot-swappable components: The hot-swap component means that if your server has power loss, device failure or storage device failure for some reason, you can swap components while your computer system is still in service.
A 64-core Mac Pro priced at €16,000+ is rumored to arrive next year.
The speculation comes from @LeaksApplePro, which says that at least three Mac Pro configurations will arrive next year, featuring Arm-based SoCs that mix performance and efficiency cores, much like the M1. The rumored flagship comes with a monstrous 64 CPU cores (48 of which will be powered), 512GB of RAM, 128 GPU cores, and starts at €16,000
Sixteen grand is a lot of money, but the Mac Pro is usual. You could spend more than $50,000 on a top-spec Xeon powered current model, and that's without the $5,000+ Pro Display XDR and $700 wheels.
The middle configuration includes 48 CPU cores (36 performance), 256GB of RAM, 64 GPU cores, and starts at $12,000. Meanwhile, the cheapest choice is 32 core CPUs (24 performance), 64GB RAM, and 32 core GPUs. It starts at $5,499, which is around $100 less than the new Mac Pro base model.
Apple has spent years trying to reduce its dependence on Intel, and with the popularity of the M1, we can definitely expect its in-house chips to start appearing soon enough on more Macs; that's partly why the iMac Pro has been discontinued. But the specs here are supposed to be taken with a large grain of salt. One Twitter user noted that a 64-core Mac Pro desktop is unlikely to need 16 efficiency cores, adding that all versions are likely to feature only four or eight of these low-power cores.
