Today, when mobile communications have become available to almost everyone, many people give up landline phones, relying on their favorite gadget. And in vain. Although smartphones are indeed very convenient, a desktop device has many advantages. Especially if it's a DECT cordless phone.
The best standard for home and business
What is a DECT phone? This is not a brand or model, but rather a wireless communication technology at frequencies of 1880-1900 MHz, which is used in modern cordless phones, such as Panasonic phones. The DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) standard is the most popular cordless telephone standard in the world due to the ease of network deployment and very high quality communications. This standard is often called the “little brother” of the GSM mobile standard, and a brother that is in no way inferior, and sometimes even superior, to its “relative”.
The fact is that the reliability of mobile communications largely depends on the number of GSM mobile communication base stations that provide coverage of the area. If there is no such station nearby, even expensive phones have difficulty picking up the signal. This is why country houses, new buildings and dachas often have problems - a weak or constantly interrupted signal.
Interruptions in mobile networks also occur due to weather disasters - many have noticed that during a severe thunderstorm the reception is “capricious”, and sometimes it is impossible to reach the subscriber. A DECT phone will solve these problems and provide uninterrupted and reliable communication in any conditions, which is important both for ordinary people and for businesses, where any missed call can mean a lost contract or client.
The DECT signal operates stably within a radius of up to 50 m indoors and up to 300 meters outdoors. If there are several base stations, you can provide uninterrupted coverage of an arbitrarily large area.
Cyber Threat Protection
In addition, DECT phones mean not only reliability, but also, which is important in our age of cyber threats, security. Hackers will not hack a DECT phone, unlike a smartphone. The handset and base are assigned a unique PIN, which they exchange upon first contact. The devices then calculate an authentication key, which they send to each other during the call. Without knowing this key, it is impossible to connect to the system. And although a landline phone can also be tapped, this will require the equipment and capabilities of special services, and not just a self-taught hacker who can get into your gadget.
Finally, do not forget that anything can happen in life. What if you need to call an ambulance, but your mobile phone suddenly runs out of charge or the gadget just “goes glitchy”, which, we admit, happens quite often with modern mobile technology. Don’t run to a repair shop when you urgently need a doctor. A DECT phone will be reliable insurance for any eventuality, so in addition to mobile devices, there must be a stationary device in the house.
Home assistant
DECT phones have a lot of other advantages besides reliability, although this alone is enough to get one. Let's start with the fact that calling landline numbers by home phone is simply cheaper, even though mobile operators today offer fairly competitive rates. But it's not just about the money.
Modern DECT phones, such as those from Panasonic, come with a host of indispensable features, many of which will seem like something out of Back to the Future to older generations. This is no longer just a handset with buttons, although there are such models for lovers of simplicity and brevity. But there are also devices on sale that are literally packed with useful “features.”
For example, Panasonic has a model that integrates with smartphones using the Smartphone Connect function, so that your gadget actually becomes a DECT handset, and the contact list is synchronized between devices. Thus, you can use the phone book from your mobile phone, even when making calls on a landline.
By the way, the DECT handset can withstand up to 14 hours of talk time without recharging and up to two weeks in standby mode. Without exaggeration, another vital function of phones is power backup. Even if the power goes out, the phone will still work.
Phones for every taste
Separately, it is worth mentioning how indispensable a DECT phone is for older people. Anyone who has tried to find a convenient smartphone with large buttons and good sound for parents knows how difficult it is. The models on the market almost always have shortcomings - the buttons are hard to press, the sound is weak, the screen is small, or the price is high. It is much easier to buy a DECT phone that is familiar to use, equipped with large, clear buttons that will help an elderly person always stay in touch.
A DECT phone can also be of great use to young parents. Some models have a baby monitor function, which will save you from buying another gadget.
And that's not all. In general, among the line of DECT phones you can find a model for every taste - from a basic “dialer” that will never let you down, to a miracle of technology that is not much inferior to a smartphone.
Surely you have come across the concept of a virtual number more than once and did not understand what it is. Do you know what makes it virtual and how it differs from the usual? Let's look into these issues and learn about its features.
Virtual numbers are a telecom operator service that a client receives when purchasing a cloud PBX. Its main feature is that it does not require installation at a specific address. To use a cloud number, you only need a device with Internet access and software that allows you to use it on any device: smartphone, laptop, tablet, PC, etc.
Such a number may have a code like Toll free (8-800), the most common landline or even mobile. Calls from it can be received on smartphones and tablets through the PhonerLite, Zoiper, 3CX, X-Lite programs, and on mobile and landline phones using forwarding.
What are virtual numbers for?
The answer to this question depends on what goal the user is pursuing. Some users need this product for a short period of time. They connect/rent it to re-register on social networks to receive a code via SMS. Others enable it to avoid spam during multiple registrations/subscriptions on different platforms or to protect against scammers. But perhaps the most common motive is to use communications for business.
The demand for a virtual number for so many methods is determined by the number of its advantages:
- Low cost. It varies depending on the operator, and calls within VATS are completely free. Also, their use is much more profitable when making calls abroad.
- Easy to connect. Connection does not require special skills or expensive equipment, just Internet access. It will also take a little time to connect such a number, a maximum of 30 minutes and you are already a full user.
- Lack of location. You will not be tied to the office. Even while traveling around the world, you can respond to clients or contact them as if you were at work.
- Creating a reputation. Your company can be located in any city, but you can purchase a virtual number with the city code that your company interacts with most. So a farmer from the region selling milk to Moscow stores will look more prestigious with a Moscow number than with a local one. Seeing familiar code will make clients feel more relaxed. If you want to declare yourself as a large company that cares about the comfort of its customers, you can give preference to number 8,800.
Features and benefits of a virtual number?
You might mistakenly think that using cloud numbers you can only make and receive calls. Everything is much more personalized and interesting.
In accordance with the different preferences and requirements of clients, a virtual number can perform a variety of functions needed by a specific user. So you can choose the one most suitable for receiving SMS or free calls, bulk SMS mailings, or even organizing multi-channel communication lines to process a large number of incoming calls.
When you connect to the service, you receive many pleasant bonuses in the form of additional services. You can connect a voice menu so that the client can choose which department to contact. Or set up routing to distribute calls to those departments or employees in the order you see fit.
This product can easily be included in the must-have list for modern business. It will help reduce communication costs and not miss a single client.
If this question seems stupid, then you are already very familiar with smartphones. However, think about the millions of people who have never held this wonderful device in their hands. They use regular dialers. A touch screen, lack of physical buttons, fragility, large dimensions, the need to charge almost every day - all this will be unusual for them.
The transition from a regular phone to a smartphone means a complete revision of the model of interaction with a mobile communication device.
If you are going to buy your first smartphone, then first find out what you will have to deal with. If it is a gift for someone, then first introduce the person to the device and clarify whether he needs all this at all.
Have you decided that you still need a smartphone? In this case, you need to determine the parameters of your dream gadget in order to get everything important and not overpay.
Budget
The combination of uncertainty about acceptable expenses, poor understanding of the topic and the persuasiveness of the sales consultant can hit the wallet hard.
Any purchase begins with the formation of a budget.
There are thousands of smartphone models. You can get a decent device for 9 thousand rubles, or you can get it for 209 thousand!
If the speed and quality of a wireless connection is critical to you, then you can go ahead and buy the necessary equipment and create the “mesh of your dreams” at home or at work. Otherwise, there is no need to worry about the presence of 5 GHz Wi-Fi in your smartphone.
operating system
Windows-based mobile devices are not worth considering. The strength of smartphones lies in the range of application stores, and only the iOS and Android operating systems can boast of it. By the way, there is no particular difference between them.
iPhones are, to put it mildly, not cheap and do not have a variety of characteristics. Accordingly, you won’t be able to buy an Apple gadget, for example, with a larger battery.
The advantage and at the same time disadvantage of the Android system is that it controls thousands of device models for any budget and needs, while there are only a few current iOS gadgets.
What's the downside? The diversity of Android causes system fragmentation. Some people have the seventh version, while others still have an A or even a B. Manufacturers often forget about support and updates, but try to create their own user interfaces. And they don’t always succeed.
Fragmentation is a headache for Android application developers and a potential problem for users related to compatibility and stability of a particular device.
In favor of Android, we can write down greater freedom and flexibility of customization, but the average user often needs a convenient system out of the box without tinkering or pre-settings.
The confrontation between Android and iOS has been going on for a very long time and it seems that it will never end. Gigabytes of text have been and will continue to be written by not very smart people during fierce Internet battles. In fact, the truth is always the same, and it sounds very simple: “Everyone chooses what he likes.”
Hold an iPhone and several Android smartphones in your hands. Compare the systems in use and choose the one that seems more convenient to you.
The new Air Pix device from the legend AirSelfie is a small drone for taking selfies (photos or videos). It can be used as the easiest and most enjoyable way to free your hands when taking selfies. The Air Pix drone, hovering in the air, allows the user to create stunning panoramic photos and videos in high resolution. You can use your own pocket-sized personal photographer in almost any environment and share the created selfies on social networks.
Latest drone news: AirSelfie's miniature, portable Air Pix flying camera.The flying camera drone started out as a crowdfunding project (using crowdfunding on Indiegogo and Kickstarter). He raised more than two million dollars for his development.
What can a user do with the Air Pix mini drone?
Easily create stunning HD aerial photos and video footage, edit them right in the app, and then instantly share them on your favorite social networks.
Technical characteristics of Air Pix drone with camera
AirSelfie Air Pix has a compact size (pocket size), weighs lighter than a golf ball, creates 12 Megapixel photos or videos in 1080p format with 30 frames per second, can track people's faces during autonomous flight, is additionally controlled by a touch mobile application, and has built-in memory for 8 Gigabyte.
Video review of the flying small drone Air Pix:
Why do you need a mobile version of the site? In the complex modern world, more and more advanced technologies are being created. Over the past decade, we have witnessed amazing growth in the development of mobile technology. Almost every week we see new gadgets appearing on the global market. Smartphones and tablets seem to be outpacing laptops and computers. More and more people use mobile devices in their lives. Entertainment, getting information or even running a business, all this can be done easily. Despite this obvious growth in mobile technology, there are still some webmasters who are too stubborn to convert their websites into mobile websites.
Website Building Technology News: The Benefits of Converting Your Website to a Mobile Optimized Website.In this article, let's start discussing a very hot topic that seems to irritate webmasters a lot, why we should convert an existing website into a mobile website. The first obvious reason is that most websites that have not been converted to mobile sites will not display correctly on mobile devices. You can easily lose repeat visitors and sales in this situation. For example, if a mobile user is looking for something to buy on your website, but finds out that your site structure is loading too slowly, he will certainly leave to look for the required item on other mobile websites.
Mobile sites are the best
Why does a website need a mobile version? Moreover, mobile websites also rank higher in search engines. It is clear that in classic search engine optimization (SEO), things have already gone too far. But with mobile SEO, it's just the beginning! The largest search engine in the world, Google will, in fact, first display results that are optimized for mobile users. Here's how you can get the means to achieve your goals and beat the competition!
With mobile websites, you can be there for your visitors all the time. Most mobile phone users are on the move and search for information on the go. If you display a phone number on your mobile site, your visitor can call you directly from their mobile device. For example, if you are a restaurant owner, this hungry user appears to be passing through your site. He can call the restaurant directly from his mobile phone and inquire about the food, location or any other information he needs! That's what the mobile version of the site is for.
Now you can see how great it can be to convert your existing website into a website for mobile devices (phones, smartphones, phablets, tablets)!
Before you finish reading, consider some numbers. The world population is 6.7 billion people. Of these, five billion are mobile users. If that's not enough to convince you to convert your site to a mobile website version, here's another fact; an incredible 80 percent of these mobile users access the Internet using mobile devices every day! That's four billion users every day. It is undoubtedly clear that the mobile industry is moving very quickly. Over the next two years, the mobile Internet will overtake the natural website industry. So, friends, don't forget to take care of your mobile website today!
Electronics manufacturer Cooler Master has a range of hardware products such as keyboards, power supplies, headsets, computer (PC) cases, mice and, of course, coolers. Each of its products has been specifically designed based on community feedback. Including hybrid keyboards. Cooler Master even had a Kickstarter project for an analog keyboard with pressure-sensitive keys called the ContolPad. With that said, let's take a closer look at what can make the new Cooler Master SK621 keyboard special for the user.
Keyboard news today: Cooler Master SK621 review - a mechanical wireless keyboard with a separate wired connection option.The first thing that is noticeable during the review is the ability to conveniently pair the wireless keyboard with three different devices. Connecting your device is as simple as holding the function button and Z, X or C. This feature makes it very easy to switch from using your phone to your computer. Turning on the Cooler Master SK621 keyboard is also easy. Either connect it via a USB Type-C cable, or on the left side activate the very simple switch for wireless mode.
Technical characteristics of the Cooler Master SK621 wireless keyboard:
You can map a wide variety of colors (shades) to any key, customize lighting modes, or customize macros using the Cooler Master software.
How does a wireless keyboard work?
When using the SK621 for the first time, it is recommended to connect to your computer via USB Type-C and install the Cooler Master Portal. This will allow you to control the different lighting effects and settings of the wireless keyboard. It is possible to create preset profiles, which makes it easier to switch between profiles when using elements. You can also adjust the lighting effects using the controls, but the above mentioned portal is more user friendly. The wireless keyboard setup is very easy to use and has many combinations. There are options - adjusting the speed, direction and brightness of the keyboard backlight effects.
Macros can also be programmed. It’s also worth adding that all functions such as RGB lighting, macros and controls are also available when using the SK621 via a Bluetooth connection. The wireless keyboard's battery life is also impressive. It may take a couple of full business days before the light turns red, indicating that the battery is low. Charging the SK621 wireless keyboard is also easy. Just connect your keyboard via USB Type-C. The keyboard can still be used as a wired keyboard as long as the cable charges the keyboard's battery.
The keyboard's body is crafted from polished aluminum, making it lightweight, durable, and provides a premium appearance. There's also a nice sleek aluminum edge accent that adds a touch of elegance. The keys are made of plastic and don't have much texture.
Low-profile Cherry MX keys are quiet enough for office use. The key switches are incredibly sensitive and using the Cooler Master SK621 Wireless Keyboard takes some practice. This is because the keys register key presses to within a millimeter or less.
The SK621 hybrid keyboard is designed to be compact and quite portable. A nice addition is the velvet bag. It's definitely made for gaming thanks to its Cherry MX keys, but it's easy to use for work.
The Cooler Master SK621 does everything it's designed to do. However, the keys are great for gaming but are too sensitive for typing. Plastic keys are also prone to oil stains on your fingers, so eating while gaming can be difficult. Perhaps if the keys had some kind of oil-resistant coating or more texture, the oil marks wouldn't be as pronounced.
Features of SK621 Wireless Keyboard:
Brushed aluminum body design;
Featuring a flat, brushed aluminum keyboard top, floating keycaps, and a slim, minimalist body design.
Colored keyboard backlight Cooler Master (RGB LEDs);
Individually customizable LED key backlighting and surrounding LED ring.
Hybrid wired and wireless;
Connect up to three devices via Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology or wired connection and charge the battery at the same time.
Minimum keyboard layout by 60%;
We can say that this thin wireless mini keyboard has a unique design for maximum portability.
Easy to use software.
Low profile Cherry MX keys;
The reduced travel distance and actuation point performs with equal durability and accuracy (according to the wireless keyboard manufacturer).
Available controls;
In real time, you can customize keyboard backlighting and macros without the need for software.
Summary of the Cooler Master SK621 wireless keyboard:
Overall, electrical and keyboard maker Cooler Master has exceeded all expectations. It's especially impressive because it can make a really interesting wireless keyboard. The SK621 model has a variety of lighting effects and individual settings, has a compact design and a lot of user-friendly functions. Using the SK621 at work and then bringing it home for gaming could make it a favorite wireless keyboard for the price of nearly $200.
ETH Zurich has unveiled details of "Concrete Choreography", an installation that recently opened in Riom, Switzerland. The innovative installation features the first robotically constructed 3D printed concrete stage, consisting of formless columns 3D printed to full height in 2.5 hours. The process is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of concrete structures while achieving the fabrication of complex material components and construction robots.
3D printing news: ETH Zurich creates concrete columns using a special 3D concrete printer.In Riom, Switzerland, the Origen festival features nine 2.7-meter-high columns. Each column is 3D printed concrete. The new columns were individually designed using custom software and manufactured using a concrete printer, a new automated concrete 3D printing process developed by the ETH Zurich team with support from NCCR DFAB.
3D concrete printing like this
MSc Digital Fabrication and Architecture students explore the unique capabilities of multi-layer extrusion printing, demonstrating the potential of computer-aided design and digital fabrication for the future of concrete construction. Perhaps in the construction industry, this process will become more environmentally friendly in the future if they develop new eco-friendly concrete for 3D printing.
Video review of 3D concrete printing: Concrete choreography.
This is how easy and fast 3D concrete printing works.
3D printing of houses and buildings made of concrete is a prospect for construction.
Hollow concrete structures are printed for the strategic use of materials, resulting in a more sustainable approach to specific architecture. Additionally, the calculated material structure and surface textures are an example of the versatility and significant aesthetic potential of 3D concrete printing when used in large-scale structures.
The new review will be about printing on a 3D printer with metal.
It is worth noting that there is technology to carry out 3D printing with metal. This is also a promising direction for construction, but for this, other materials are used (for example, powder), programs and other types of printers (which we will talk about soon).
What color is your mobile phone? Is it black, red, white, gold or blue? Most likely, the back of your phone has some kind of solid color option that you will find in a coloring book for beginners. It has taken too long for most phone manufacturers to realize that phone colors actually matter to consumers, and it is only recently that they have started giving mobile phones not just a rarely used color, but fancy shades like coral red or canary green.
Honor News: With new 3D holographic color phones from Honor, it's possible to add a little new color to life.It's no surprise that most people don't mind hiding the backs of their phones behind an opaque plastic case. In cases, the user can choose a suitable color for the phone case to give the mobile a little personality. But China's new Honor 20 Pro and Honor 20 series phones are the world's first smartphones with 3D dynamic holographic design, and their reflective appearance could become a new industry standard.
"Always better" is the company's motto. Perhaps this motto suggests that she refuses to follow the industry standard by simply experimenting with layers of paint with each new phone model.
Color 3D holography for the phone case.
In order for the phone body to achieve a shimmering optical illusion, the manufacturer Honor designed its Honor 20 model with a deep layer containing millions of shimmering microscopic prisms, and on top of this a so-called 3D curved glass layer is placed. The combination of these technologies causes the light to "play and dance" on the back of the phone as the user turns it in different directions.
Two colors for the Honor 20 phone can be found under these dynamic layers, Midnight Black and Sapphire Blue. Unlike the newfangled phrases for some phone colors, Honor mobile has color gradients for phones that actually evoke the effect of a shimmering night sky or a shimmering jewel.
While the color options sound exciting, you can go even further with the Chinese Honor 20 Pro phone. This upgraded model features the signature "Triple 3D Mesh" containing three layers. Instead of just painting the back of the phone itself, this time a layer of body color sits between the outer 3D layer and the inner depth layer. According to the phone maker, this makes color shifting effects much more dynamic.
The Honor 20 Pro mobile phone is actively sold in two colors such as Phantom Black and Phantom Blue. Although the names of these phone colors are not so metaphorical, do not think that their rear panels are less dynamic.
Honor's obsession with choosing the right colors may seem overly dramatic, but in the UK, for example, a survey of hundreds of Brits found that forty-nine percent of them consider color when choosing a phone to buy.
Why is a phone with a changing color scheme being sold?
What is a phone for? Choosing a mobile phone, as Honor designer Jun-Soo Kim puts it, is “Extending human life.” Essentially, Honor is saying that customer identity cannot be captured in one unchanging color.
The history of the creation of Honor color phones.
The Honor 20 demonstrates the natural evolution of the company's experiments with dynamic color in phone design (irridescent colors). The Honor 8 model started the trend of a 2.5D multi-layer back wall, which creates a 3D lattice effect. Then the Honor 9 version turned into a phone with a curved 3D glass, echoes of which can already be found in the Honor 20 model. Well, last year, the Honor 10 model was equipped with an Aurora rear glass that reflected colors from all sides.
What is the screen like on an Honor phone?
Honor's design innovations don't stop at the color of the phone's body. It's worth paying attention to the placement of the Honor 20's camera. Instead of trimming the screen to make room for the "selfie" camera. The phone maker has cut a 4.5mm hole in the top left corner of the screen, thereby leaving more screen space for the user's needs.
Camera with artificial intelligence or AI camera in your phone.
According to the description of the phone, it is worth noting that on the back of the device, the Honor 20 AI camera has four lenses and is located so as to leave more space for a battery with more memory. But most importantly, the result is a 48-megapixel camera that uses the Kirin 980 AI microchip to take DSLR-quality photos and enhance photos.
Summary of Honor phone color.
Bottom line, phone descriptions, technical compatibility and cutting-edge hardware innovations are what usually attract attention to Chinese Honor phones. But in this case, the technology is almost overshadowed by the uniquely colored body design, which may make some users reluctant to go back to simple 2D phone body colors in the future.
Rumors continue to arise regarding the launch of the Google Pixel 4 mobile phone. A new set of information or predictions comes from a leaked image (3D rendering of colored cases) on the Internet, which is believed to be of the Google Pixel 4. It is not uncommon for users to spy Because of the theme of new products, such images are overlooked. Meanwhile, for some analysts, the new picture helps make a few assumptions about more than just the color of the phone.
A new unofficial image of the Google Pixel 4 is sparking rumors about color options for the mobile phone's body.
While another image of the phone body itself doesn't seem to show more than what was previously discussed online, the model seen in the background of the photo raises eyebrows due to its color. That mobile phone has a shade of purple that the Pixel model didn't have before.
Elsewhere, there have been other leaks of the same Google Pixel 4 with "three phones" (variants) stacked in a row. There are white and black colors, plus the third has a bluish tint, which some call mint green. Would you like to buy a blue phone? Probably the name of the phone colors will still be updated.
Whatever leak about the phone's colors is true or false, it's safe to assume that the new Google Pixel 4 will definitely have an additional color this year. What's even more interesting is that in the image, the physical buttons on the sides of the phones contrast with the color of the body. You can see white, blue and yellow buttons which give the phone a fun look.
For some strange reason, all the images and leaks seen so far have only shown the rear panel of the Google Pixel 4 smartphone. As reported by various sources, Google allegedly shared a render of the phone, and there was also a part where the square camera bump was featured. The dual camera unit was visible.
The leaked photos being discussed, including the image along with the cases, show the back panel in different colors and the camera module. What do you think is the best phone color?
About the technical characteristics of Google Pixel 4:
Obviously, the idea of a fingerprint scanner is not leaving fans alone. Some people want the phone to either have Face ID to unlock the phone, or an in-display fingerprint scanner, or both.
Some other aspects and specifications, such as the dimensions of the phones and the overall thickness being 8.2 millimeters higher compared to the 7.9 mm seen in the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, can be taken as close to reality.
There is speculation that the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL versions of the phone may look more like the "Apple iPhone 11" variant that is slated to launch in a couple of months. When, exactly? Technology company Google has yet to announce an official release date for the Pixel 4, but various sources are hinting at a new phone launching later in the year.
Have you ever wondered why you need the latest model phone? We'll tell you more about this soon, so stay tuned for news about new smartphones from Google.
The robot set a world record for solving a Rubik's Cube. This robot was developed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students Jared Di Carlo and Ben Katz in a student laboratory. For comparison, the fastest human record is held by Australian Felix Zemdegs, who solved the Rubik's Cube in just 4.22 seconds in 2018. By the way, the original size Rubik's Cube has 43 quintillion possible combinations for one solution. Watch the video of the record-breaking robot below.
Robotics news: MIT's nimble Robot solves a Rubik's Cube in a world record time of 0.38 seconds.Many people have a special place in their hearts for the Rubik's Cube. This is a good workout for the intellect. Many people loved or still love to play with this ingenious toy, and over the years there have been many competitions, challenges and variations to solve the Rubik's Cube.
The popularity of the Rubik's Cube can be attributed to the simplicity of its design combined with the mind-boggling complexity of the puzzle.
New record for solving a Rubik's Cube 3x3x3.
Engineers and hobbyists have been using robots to solve Rubik's Cubes for years. 10 seconds used to be considered a quick assembly, but by today's digital age standards, that's a time that makes you smile.
It was only a matter of time before engineers and roboticists began to tackle the challenge of creating a new robot. Back in 2016, the robot set a new record for solving a Rubik's Cube in 0.637 seconds. But for some enthusiasts, that time wasn't fast enough.
Just recently, two MIT students, Jared Di Carlo (a third-year electrical engineering and computer science student) and Ben Katz (a mechanical engineering graduate student), thought they could build a faster robot that could solve a 3D combination puzzle.
They watched videos of previous robots, and noticed that the robots' motors were not the fastest that could be used to solve the problem. So they thought they could do better with better engines and controls.
How a robot solves a Rubik's Cube
Students installed an electronically controlled motor that powers each face of the Rubik's Cube. Using a pair of web cameras pointed at the cube, special software determines the initial state of each side of the cube (which colors are on which side of the cube at a given time). Then, based on the information received, using existing software for solving the Rubik's Cube, the robot solves the puzzles using an algorithm.
What is the result of the work? Their robot solved a Rubik's Cube in 0.38 seconds! It is safe to say that no person is physically capable of breaking the record for this speed. We can add another achievement to the list of robots surpassing humans.
There is a man who holds the fastest world record for hand assembly, his name is Felix Zemdegs. He was able to solve the Rubik's Cube in 4.22 seconds. The skills and talents that robots are replacing are vast and varied, to say the least. Not to mention that robots can still surprise. Next is a video demonstration of the robot; it’s better not to blink while watching.
Video review of assembling a Rubik's Cube in 0.38 seconds:
Just like that, hardware hackers Ben Katz and Jared Di Carlo broke the previous record for robotically solving a Rubik's Cube. Their robot solved the puzzle 40 percent faster than the previous record.
Details about the record-breaking robot
The robotic device is assembled from motors from the Kollmorgen ServoDisc U9 series, PlayStation Eye cameras (for scanning the cube) and, of course, a Rubik's Cube was needed. According to the robot's creators, "The entire software process takes about 45 milliseconds. Most of the time is spent waiting for the webcam driver and determining the colors on the sides of the Rubik's Cube."
Facebook Inc. Artificial Intelligence Research Group. introduced a new robotics platform called PyRobot. This platform (framework) was developed jointly with researchers from Carnegie Mellon University. PyRobot aims to help AI researchers and students integrate deep learning models built using the PyTorch platform (a machine learning library for the Python programming language) with the robots they create. The basic idea is that they can create their robots more easily by using artificial intelligence skills such as natural language processing.
News from the world of robots with AI (AI): Facebook introduces a platform for robotics PyRobot is an open source framework for controlling robots.Facebook said it wants to promote long-term robotics research to help develop embedded artificial intelligence systems that can learn more efficiently by interacting with the physical world.
Previously, to stimulate the production of artificial intelligence models, the company introduced PyTorch Hub.
What is PyRobot today
PyRobot is a lightweight, high-level interface that provides hardware-independent APIs for robotic manipulation and navigation. The PyRobot repository also contains a low-level stack for LoCoBot, a low-cost mobile manipulator hardware platform (robot assembly toolkit). Now artificial intelligence and machine learning are becoming more accessible to those new to robotics.
Research supervisor Abinav Gupta and Saurabh Gupta, as a research fellow at Facebook, explained in a blog post that: PyRobot is a lightweight, high-level interface on top of the robot's operating system. It provides a consistent set of hardware-independent middle-level APIs (application programming interfaces) for controlling a variety of robots. PyRobot abstracts away the details of low-level controllers and inter-process communication, so machine learning specialists and others can simply focus on building high-level AI (artificial intelligence) robotics applications.
Facebook's source also says PyRobot has dozens of potential applications, such as helping researchers share data and set benchmarks and build on each other's work. The company solicited proposals from the broader AI research community on how to democratize robotics using LoCoBot and PyRobot, which are hardware specifications and tools for building low-cost robots.
PyRobot works by using APIs to abstract the functions that robots need to use. Perform tasks such as kinematics, path planning, position, speed and torque control for joints, and visual simultaneous localization and mapping. PyRobot comes with a number of pre-trained deep learning models that allow robots to navigate, grasp objects, and more.
This means developers can program their robots using just a few lines of Python code, Facebook says.
Facebook researchers also say that: The cost of hardware and the complexity of specialized software limit the scope of robotics research. With lower barriers to entry, researchers can, for example, build multiple robots that collect data and learn in parallel. Providing a common platform for various equipment. PyRobot will lead to the development of benchmarks in robotics, similar to other areas in AI, and will quantify the pace of progress in AI robotics.
Like Amazon's RoboMaker, PyRobot runs as an interface on top of the robot operating system (ROS), extending the infrastructure. In May, technology company Microsoft released a set of robotics tools with a limited preview, and last year integrated the ROS platform into Windows 10.
Back when Apple was still planning to use Intel modems in its iPhones, there were rumors that the "iPhone 2020" phone model would be the first to receive 5G support. However, the Apple company has since switched from its modem supplier to Qualcomm. For which they had to settle a long patent dispute with an American chip manufacturer, pay at least 4.5 billion dollars and not use Intel modems. Intel may even have shut down its 5G plans after this news.
According to a note by analyst Kuo Ming-Chi, the development of a new version of the iPhone 5G mobile phone is proceeding exactly on schedule. Allegedly, we will see Apple announce the release of the 5G iPhone in 2020. Kuo's note also mentions that both the 5.4-inch iPhone model and the 6.7-inch iPhone model will have a 5G modem. A hint is given of some kind of update to the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max smartphones.
Ming-Chi Kuo also said that all three iPhone models in 2020 will come in multiple colors and feature an OLED screen, as opposed to the LCD screen on the current iPhone XR. However, we'll probably still get an iPhone XR upgrade with an LCD display this year, so if an OLED screen in a mobile is too much of a deal for you, maybe wait a year.
5G iPhone competitors:
Currently our best Android competitors are the following 5G phones:
1) Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G (128 GB memory, 6 GB RAM and battery with fast charging);
2) OPPO Reno 5G (innovative design, affordable price, powerful camera);
3) LG V50 ThinQ (screen 1440 by 3120 pixels, memory expansion up to 1 TB, 4000 mAh battery);
4) OnePlus 7 Pro 5G (frameless AMOLED screen has no notches or holes);
5) ZTE Axon 10 Pro 5G (48 megapixel camera, Snapdragon 855 chip).
New articles will contain a unique video review of 5G phones with prices.
Global sales of 5G phones.
Global deliveries to stores of mobile phones supporting 5G technology (this is the fifth generation of fast mobile communications) may be higher than market analysts' expectations. It's worth noting that some mobile market observers believe such shipments are likely to reach 150 to 200 million units, or more than a dozen percent of global 5G phone shipments next year.
Facebook has unveiled a new project called Calibra, a digital wallet for storing and sending Libra “crypto coins.”Billions of people are expected to be able to make payments using cryptocurrency from social media giant Facebook through their mobile apps. The social network Facebook plans to officially launch a new cryptocurrency project, Libra, in 2020. Libra is a new type of digital money that is intended for billions of people using mobile applications and the social network.
The popular social network Facebook has more news for the world of cryptocurrency.
That a new digital wallet would be created that would allow Facebook app users to store and exchange cryptocurrency. Facebook is creating a new subsidiary, Calibra.
Why is Facebook betting on a cryptocurrency called Libra? Perhaps the lofty goal of the latest development is to go beyond social networks.
Digital wallets for storing, sending and spending Libra cryptocurrency will be connected to messaging platforms.
Initially, the cryptocurrency will be available in the Facebook Messenger / WhatsApp application, and of course in separate applications for iOS or Android.
Facebook said in a press release that: “Initially, Calibra will make it easy and instant to send Libra at a low cost to virtually anyone with a smartphone.”
It also says that: “Over time, additional services will be offered to businesses and people, such as buying a cup of coffee with a scanned code, paying a bill with the touch of a button, traveling on public transport without having to carry cash.”
Security of the Facebook cryptocurrency wallet.
To improve the security of the new cryptocurrency, it will use similar verification and fraud protection features that are already used by credit cards and banks. Facebook's cryptocurrency service will have user support. And in case someone else gains access to the user account, compensation for lost assets is promised.
Cryptocurrency coins will be stored by users in a digital wallet. But the world of cryptocurrency itself is not always stable! Time will tell if Facebook's own digital money will help people save money by sending and spending it as easily as sending text messages.
The cryptocurrency will be managed by the founding members: Facebook, more than two dozen different organizations and a separate Swiss foundation.
Why Libra?
What does the word Libra mean?
Former PayPal executive David Marcus, who heads the Facebook project, said something like this: "The choice of the name Libra (Libra) was inspired by several reasons, namely the French word for Liberty, the Roman measurement of weight, the astrological sign of justice."
What would you like to know about Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency?
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Today, smartphones and other gadgets have become an integral part of our lives. With their help, we communicate with loved ones, watch movies, listen to music, and play games. And it seems that we have studied our smartphone inside and out.
But there are some important smartphone features that you definitely didn't know about.
But your smartphone is a real treasure trove of interesting functions and various useful options.
Hidden smartphone functions
1. Black wallpaper reduces battery consumption
Each of us has encountered an unpleasant situation when the mobile phone battery was discharged at the most inopportune and unexpected moment.
Some options help save battery consumption. For example, if you set your smartphone to a plain black background instead of a light or colored wallpaper, the automatic pixel lighting feature is disabled.
This way you extend the life of your gadget's battery. You will see that your mobile phone or tablet will work longer without any recharging.
Practice has shown that the phone's operating time increases by about 20-30 percent if the screen is constantly on.
This function works on so-called OLED displays, which are equipped with many Samsung models.
If you don't know what type of display is on your mobile phone, ask the search engine for a hint: just enter the phone brand, in the characteristics - display type and find out what type you have.
2. Remote control via smartphone
Just go to Settings -> Security -> Device Administrators and check the boxes next to the Android Device Manager option.
Remotely locate this device, allow remote locking and erasing. Now, if you lose your smartphone, you can easily locate it and block it without losing any data.
3. Control your phone by moving your head
Sometimes situations arise when you need to quickly use your smartphone, but your hands are busy or dirty, or it’s so cold outside that you don’t want to take off your gloves to press the keys.
What to do in such cases? There is a solution!
You just need to install the free EVA Facial Mouse application on your smartphone, which is suitable for any Android device.
With this simple application, you can control your mobile phone using simple head movements.
4. Secret video shooting
Sometimes a situation may arise when it is necessary to film a video, but without anyone knowing about it.
You can use your iPhone for this. So, follow these instructions: you need to lock the screen, then turn on the camera by simply pressing the button and using your fingers to raise the shutter up.
Activate video mode, start recording. It is important to keep the display half-locked and then click on the Home button 3 times.
You must wait until the screen goes completely dark. That's it, video shooting has already begun.
5. Badoo (People nearby)
Agree, it’s always interesting to know what kind of people surround you at the moment. Who are they, what are their names, what age are they and, of course, what are they interested in?
For example, you see an attractive girl or a handsome guy in a cafe or just on the street. However, not everyone will decide to approach.
What if you could send a message to this person or like a photo you like.
It is for such situations that the Badoo app exists. It detects people who are in your immediate vicinity.
A clear example of how the application works: setting a limit "Girls from 20 to 25 years old" and see what the search engine gives us. Then we look at the photo and choose the one that caught our attention.
If desired, you can like the pictures, send an emoticon to the user, and the bravest ones can even send a message.
If the object of your affection responds to your message, you start a conversation, and after that you can not be afraid to make an actual date.
It is worth noting that this is a free application that is supported on all platforms. You can download it on Android, iOS and even Windows Phone.
6. Access to private notifications
Many of us are faced with the fact that we regularly receive many different notifications. This happens because there are a huge number of applications installed on our smartphones.
However, most of these notifications can be safely classified as spam, since they are absolutely unnecessary and useless.
As a rule, you immediately close unnecessary notifications, but sometimes one careless movement is enough to delete or close an important message, which is then difficult to find.
In such cases, the Past Notifications application will help you. With its help, you can easily view closed notifications.
This application allows you to delete selected notifications or blacklist unwanted programs, and mark unwanted notifications as spam.
This way you will be less distracted by notifications that are absolutely useless.
7. Text-to-Speech Function
So, if you don't want to strain your eyes and prefer to listen to incoming information rather than see it, go to Settings -> Accessibility and simply turn on the option Text-to-Speech.
8. Activate guest mode
If you have a situation where you need to give your smartphone to someone else for temporary use, but you don’t want anyone to rummage through your phone, you can activate guest mode.
With its help, you will keep your personal data confidential. Simply swipe down with two fingers and tap the user icon in the top right corner. After this manipulation, the “Add Guest” icon should appear on the screen, and you yourself choose what actions the person controlling your smartphone will perform.
What can your smartphone do?
9. Screen magnifier
A screen magnifier will be a real lifesaver for people with poor vision.
Many people don't even realize how useful this feature can be. Just go to Settings -> Accessibility -> Zoom Gestures. And that's it, you can enlarge any part of the display by simply clicking on this screen enlarger.
10. Hotspot mode
You no longer need to buy a separate 3G modem or router to use the Internet on different devices because your smartphone can easily handle the task.
Go to Settings -> Tethering and Portable Hotspot, activate Portable WLAN hotspot. All is ready!
