5G: The Future of Wireless Networks

5G technology is soon approaching. On the suppliers’ end, for Zalando and other companies, this will bring about faster responses and speedier service delivery. On the consumer's’ end, a wider range of products and services will be made available. Due to improved speeds and lower latency from 5G, processes can be expedited, for instance including payment verification and order identification, which means same day delivery of in-stock items becomes the norm in the 5G age.

5G is another step up in mobile connectivity, and it is currently in the works globally. Many countries around the world are preparing for this new shift in mobile data networks. Let’s take a closer look at this technology and how it may change the future of wireless communication.

Although plans for official release for consumer use is still at least four years away, demonstrations of 5G capabilities effectively started hype earlier this year at the Mobile World Congress (MWC). Exhibitions showed the potential of the next generation of mobile.

How is 5G different?

5G’s mission is much more than just to improve basic communication services such as phone calls, SMS, or data connection in general. It has numerous other potential applications and according to surveys, the best use for 5G will be in the Internet of Things. This will be important for major global processes like automation and transportation.

As for network speeds, the figure 5G aims for is 100 times faster than the current 4G and LTE networks. Nokia’s demo at the MWC reached 20Gbps, the same speed being reached by South Korea’s SK Telecom. Ericsson’s set up yielded 26Gbps, while T-Mobile got 70Gbps, the latter of which was shown on a live feed from a Huawei base station in Germany.

Results were varied as it was dependent on frequency spectrum, and some booths used a wider spectrum than others. In comparison, however, today’s fastest LTE speeds just reach 1Gbps. Imagine if you register your smartphone for automatic updates, and a software upgrade was just released. As soon as you notice, the file would’ve been downloaded already. That’s a very plausible scenario with 5G mobile.

Low latency is also another target feature of 5G. The goal is to reduce latency down to 1 millisecond. To show just how fast it is, T-Mobile conducted a separate demonstration in their booth at the MWC.

Two metal balls, one 5G connected and the other 4G, were placed on top of a suspended platform. A robotic arm then passes under the platform, and when it’s detected, the holes beneath the balls open. The 5G ball drops in time and gets caught by the arm, while the 4G ball falls too late, missing the arm. Remember here that the balls and platform were wirelessly connected to the robotic arm.

Necessary preparations

Of course, 5G cannot be deployed for end users without the proper technological infrastructure. All over the US, there are around 300,000 cell towers. 5G will more likely need more infrastructure, as its frequency waves travel for shorter distances, for now at least, as opposed to the frequency bands of current networks.

A higher number of receiver cells will also be required for the same reason, thus, more permits will be required as well not only from governments, but from millions of other property owners. These are just a few of the challenges ahead of making the 5G concept a reality.

The same problems are also being faced in Europe. As stated by Brendan O’Reilly, CTO of O2, their network alone has a consumer usage that doubles each year. To effectively support potential 5G usage, the digital infrastructure must be radically improved.

Indoor and outdoor large scale tests are ongoing and upcoming

AT&T has applied for a temporary license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to proceed with indoor testing at the Texas Wireless Summit. The carrier plans to use the 28GHz spectrum for 5G trials at the Edgar A. Smith Bldg. in Austin, Texas.

On the other side of the world, Japan and South Korea have begun their tests and the latter’s KT has announced its plans to debut 5G at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. China’s ZTE on the other hand has finished the first phase of its high-frequency field tests.

Seeing this many nations with their eyes and hands on 5G, all hopes of improving network connectivity look very promising in the coming years.

This Blog was first published on: https://tech.zalando.com/blog/5g-the-future-of-wireless-networks/

3 Ways Technology Is Making Your Driving Experience More Fun

As a general consensus, it’s safe to say that people in the world have a love and affinity for cars; Especially the really cool ones like the Lincoln Continental or Lincoln MKZ that emanate class and sex. Of course, there are so many high-class vehicles out there that make the driving experience what it is. The makers of these vehicles know what it is they’re doing, and they know what people want.

The first automobile to make its way into existence ran for the first time on New Year’s eve in 1879. Now, just 119 years later and the world has been utterly transformed by the invention. Technology is quite the marvelous thing.

So while driving can be loads of fun by itself, since the majority of the world alive today has been brought up knowing the car so intimately that it’s lost a bit of its pizazz, technology innovators around the world are doing their best to keep the driving experience fresh and fun. They keep giving you more, you come back for more. It’s the way the game works. So without further ado, here are 3 ways technology is spicing up your driving life today:

It’s All About the Bass

Don’t get us wrong, a sexy piece of machinery is sexy all by itself; It’s body style, the way it drives, and the way the sun shines off the fresh paint is enough to make any person with eyes faint with desire. However, the people who make the magic happen know that there is so much more involved in making a vehicle that will have people running to purchase like it’s the new iPhone. One way technology is making the driving experience better is by realizing it’s all about the bass.

Great sound systems in place with Bluetooth technology and speakers that feature the perfect mix of high to mid to low range of sound are what people want. Music is a universal language of the world and since so many people spend so much time in their vehicles, it’s important that the bass can really get bumping.

It’s Fun Not Hitting Things

Different vehicles have different perks and downfalls. Some cars have crazy large blind spots that make changing lanes, parallel parking, or backing out of any parking spot frightening and dangerous, but thanks to technology, this problem is being solved a bit more every single day. Not only are there cameras in place that show you what’s behind you to safeguard from accidents, there are also cars that put off sounds to warn you when you’re getting close to hitting something. Some cars are going so far to stop themselves before you hit something like a pedestrian.

Hitting anything is no fun considering the cost of a vehicle in the first place and the hazard it places on so many lives. Technology might have opened up the door to trouble in the first place, but it’s quickly making strides to make living life more fun and efficient.

Comfort is Key

In the end, cars are doing so much to redefine the way that the world operates. Different technologies must work together as a whole to make the world a better place to live. People drive an average of 10,658 miles a year. With this being said, comfort is key in these moments.

Cars that don’t cater to the human desire for comfort spend a lot more time on the lot instead of being driven. Innovators of technology know this and are constantly finding out what it takes to make the driving experience better for everyone. Plush seating and butt warmers are just the beginning. It might not be too long before car seats start acting as chiropractors and shrinks. 

This Blog was First published on : http://smarterware.org/2016/10/3-ways-technology-making-driving-experience-fun/

Xiaomi Mi 5s And Mi 5s Unveiled Sporting Ultrasonic Fingerprint Scanner And Dual-Cameras

The much hyped Xiaomi Mi 5s smartphone finally launched yesterday in China, along with the Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus. Keeping up with rapidly changing tech trends, these are, on paper, an upgrade over the flagship Mi 5 with better hardware and innovative new features.

Both the Mi 5s and the Mi 5s Plus come in two variants- 64GB with 3GB RAM and 128GB with 4GB RAM. Earlier rumors of a 256GB variant remained elusive. Under the hood, both the phones run on the Snapdragon 821 processor and has USB-Type C port with Quick Charge 3.0.

But that’s where the similarities end.

The Mi 5s features a 5.15-inch full HD display with 2.5D glass and 600 nits of brightness. The 128GB variant of the Mi 5s comes with a pressure sensitive display with Synaptic’s tech underneath. The display can distinguish between a light and a hard tap, much like how Apple’s 3D display works in the new iPhones.

However, the highlight of the Mi 5s is the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor embedded underneath the display of the phone. The Qualcomm SenseID Ultrasonic Fingerprint scanner is extremely fast and accurate. The tech makes use of ultrasonic waves to map the pores and ridges of an user’s finger and it can also recognize prints from an oily or sweaty finger. This is definitely the natural progression from sensor pads found in the back.

But here is also where Xiaomi did a double take. In the Mi 5s Plus, Xiaomi has put a more orthodox fingerprint scanning plate at the rear, beneath the camera.

Thankfully, it took away one feature and gave another- a dual camera setup. The Mi 5s Plus has two 13-megapixel cameras with Sony’s sensors. Among them, an RGB sensor captures color while the other one captures only in monochrome. Does it sound oddly familiar? (hint: Huawei P9)

As for the Mi 5s, there is a 12-megapixel camera at the back with a Sony CMOS sensor. It features 4-axis OIS and f/2.3 aperture. At the front, there is a 13-megapixel snapper for selfies.

The Mi 5s comes with a 3,200mAh battery while the Mi 5s Plus comes with a 3,800mAh battery.

The phones come in four colors- dark grey, silver, gold and rose gold.

The 64GB variant of the Mi 5s costs 1,999Yuan (roughly Rs 19,900) while the higher-end 128GB variant with ultrasonic fingerprint scanner costs 2,299 Yuan (roughly Rs 22,900). On the other hand, the dual-camera sporting Mi 5s Plus costs 2,299 (Rs 22,900 approximately) for the 64GB variant and 2,599 Yuan (roughly Rs 26,000) for the 128GB variant.

This Blog was first published on: http://thinkdebug.com/blog/xiaomi-mi-5s-and-mi-5s-unveiled-sporting-ultrasonic-fingerprint-scanner-and-dual-cameras/

Motorola’s Moto Z phones are slick modular smartphones

Slick is the word that comes to mind when you talk about Motorola’s new Moto Z phones launched in India. Both phones; the Moto Z and the cheaper and thicker Moto Z Play will be available later this month on October 17 on Flipkart and Amazon and these phones also represent the future of the smartphone.

Like LG’s G5 which launched earlier this year, the Moto twins are modular smartphones. The functionality of these phones can be augmented with mods which seamlessly can be strapped on to the device using magnetic connection points.

So while LG jumped the industry with a modular smartphone of its own, its implementation was horrendous and clearly wasn’t something that most users would’ve enjoyed. LG’s system entailed the user snapping open a section of the phone, detaching the battery and connecting the mod with it.

It was an ugly implementation to say the least. Motorola has a slick and functional solution. Mods magnetically connect on the back and the phone intelligently understands when the mod is enabled.

There are some useful mods too. There’s one from Hasselblad, which costs a bomb at Rs 14,999, but it adds a 10x optical zoom and full point and shoot camera system to the device. There’s a boombox mod from JBL which also doubles as a battery mod. This one comes for less at Rs 5,999.

Then there are other novel things like a battery mod essentially a battery attachment giving the phones monstrous battery life and a projector mod which can come in handy for watching movies or showcasing pictures.
There are some back plates too which come in various materials that include wood and a matte finish plastic.

The phones themselves too seemed to be very good in the short time I spent with them. The cheaper Moto Z Play is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 chip and has a 5.5-inch full HD screen. It also rocks a large 3,500mAh battery. The phone looks gorgeous clad in metal and glass and frankly looks sexier than the iPhone 7, but it isn’t the most ergonomic thing to hold in the hand. It also is a massive fingerprint magnet on the back which is home to a glossy plastic finish.

The flagship Moto Z is drop dead gorgeous. Copious amounts of metal has been used in its construction and the phone feels like a really really expensive phone. It is also the slimmest 2016 flagship phone at 5.9mm. That’s drastically thinner than the iPhone 7 and the Galaxy S7.

This also means that Motorola had to remove the 3.5mm jack something what Apple did with the iPhone 7. But Motorola’s reasons seem more genuine and understandable. There’s an adaptor for the same in the box which can be used with the USB Type C connector on the phone.

Processing chops wise, the phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 four core processor, 4 gigs of RAM and 64GB of storage which can be further expanded. There’s also vibrant 5.5-inch quad HD OLED screen. The battery on this one is smaller 2,600mAh, so you may need the battery mod if you’re a heavy duty user.

Both phones come with decent camera hardware too. The high-end Z gets a 13-megapixel sensor on the back with an optically stabilised lens. The Z Play gets a 16-megapixel snapper which is electronically stabilised.

Both are also running a stockish version of Android Marshmallow and Lenovo executives have promised that the phones will be one of the first ones to get the Nougat update, but that’s something time will tell.

Overall, the pricing is attractive for what the Motorola brand represents and what its competition is doing. Moreover, in the short time I spent with the phone, I could say that the mods do work well and do represent some real innovation from the folks from Chicago. In the meanwhile keep an eye out at the Gizmodo India reviews page for the full review of both the phones.

This Blog was First published on: http://www.gizmodo.in/indiamodo/Motorolas-Moto-Z-phones-are-slick-modular-smartphones/articleshow/54674980.cms

Google Pixel: Leaked Again, more details now

There’s just a day more to go for the much-awaited Google phones to launch, but an UK retailer has played the spoilsport and leaked the design and specifications of the upcoming Pixel phones from Google.

Carphone warehouse, which is a UK based retailer has put up an ad on its website to start pre-orders for the phones, leaking a very clear idea of what the phones are going to look like.

Based on the leaks, it is now clear that the phones made by HTC come with rounded edges and a half cut glass panel at the back, which houses the fingerprint scanner.

Larger among the two, the Pixel XL is going to sport a 5.5-inch quad-HD AMOLED display with a 2560x1440 pixels resolution. The smaller Pixel will have a 5-inch Full HD display with 1920x1080 pixels resolution, all underneath a Corning Gorilla Glass 4 protection.

The AMOLED displays, apart from producing vibrant colors and deep blacks, can also power Google's Daydream VR platform.

Both the devices are expected to be powered by the new Snapdragon 821 processor, coupled with 4GB of RAM. They are going to come in two storage variants- 32GB and 128GB solid state storage. This would mean that these become the first mass produced devices with Qualcomm’s new processor.

As for the camera, both phones are likely to feature a 12-megapixel shooter at the back with f/2.0 aperture and optical image stabilization (something that was missing from the previous Nexus devices) and an 8-megapixel front-facing selfie camera.


The Pixel will be powered by a 2,770mAh battery and the Pixel XL will have a 3,450mAh battery.

But the hardware apart, what will make Google's Pixel phones stand out will be the infusion of Google Assistant into every bit of the operating system. Google Assistant is a heavily integrated artificial intelligence-based digital assistant, much like Apple's Siri.

Google is also expected to release the 4K Chromecast dongle on October 4th, along with Google's Smart Home speaker that the company first teased in its I/O conference this year. Along with this, Google may also tease Andromeda- a lovechild of Chrome OS and Android operating system.

This Blog was first published on:- http://www.gizmodo.in/indiamodo/Google-Pixel-Leaked-Again-more-details-now/articleshow/54654966.cms

IBM, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon form enormous AI partnership

On Wednesday, the world learned of a new industry association called the Partnership on Artificial Intelligence, and it includes some of the biggest tech companies in the world. IBM, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, and Amazon have all signed on as marquis members, though the group hopes to expand even further over time. The goal is to create a body that can provide a platform for discussions among stakeholders and work out best practices for the artificial intelligence industry. Not directly mentioned, but easily seen on the horizon, is its place as the primary force lobbying for smarter legislation on AI and related future-tech issues.

Best practices can be boring or important, depending on the context, and in this case they are very, very important. Best practices could provide a framework for accurate safety testing, which will be important as researchers ask people to put more and more of their lives in the hands of AI and AI-driven robots. This sort of effort might also someday work toward a list of inherently dangerous and illegitimate actions or AI “thought” processes. One of its core goals is to produce thought leadership on the ethics of AI development.

So, this could end up being the bureaucracy that produces our earliest laws of robotics, if not the one that enforces them. The world “law” is usually used metaphorically in robotics. But with access to the lobbying power of companies like Google and Microsoft, we should expect the Partnership on AI to wade into discussions of real laws soon enough. For instance, the specifics of regulations governing self-driving car technology could still determine which would-be software standard will hit the market first. With the founding of this group, Google has put itself in a position to perhaps direct that regulation for its own benefit.

But, boy, is that ever not how they want you to see it. The group is putting in a really ostentatious level of effort to assure the world it’s not just a bunch of technology super-corps determining the future of mankind, like some sort of cyber-Bilderberg Group. The group’s website makes it clear that it will have “equal representation for corporate and non-corporate members on the board,” and that it “will share leadership with independent third-parties, including academics, user group advocates, and industry domain experts.”

Well, it’s one thing to say that, and quite another to live it. It remains to be seen if the group will actually comport itself as it will need to if it wants real support from the best minds in open source development. Below, the Elon Musk-associated non-profit research company OpenAI responds to the announcement with a rather passive-aggressive word of encouragement.

The effort to include non-profits and other non-corporate bodies makes perfect sense. There aren’t many areas in software engineering where you can claim to be the definitive authority if you don’t have the public on-board. Microsoft, in particular, is painfully aware of how hard it is to push a proprietary standard without the support of the open-source community. Not only will its own research be stronger and more diverse for incorporating the “crowd,” any recommendations it makes will carry more weight with government and far more weight with the public.

That’s why it’s so notable that some major players are absent from this early roll coll — most notably Apple and Intel. Apple has long been known to be secretive about its AI research, even to the point of hurting its own competitiveness, while Intel has a history of treating AI as an unwelcome distraction. Neither approach is going to win the day, though there is an argument to be made that by remaining outside the group, Apple can still selfishly consume any insights it releases to the public.

Leaving such questions of business ethics aside, robot ethics remains a pressing problem. Self-driving cars illustrate exactly why, and the classic thought experiment involves a crowded freeway tunnel, with no room to swerve or time to brake. Seeing a crash ahead, your car must decide whether to swerve left and crash you into a pillar, or swerve right and save itself while forcing the car beside you right off the road itself. What is moral, in this situation? Would your answer change if the other car was carrying a family of five?

Right now these questions are purely academic. The formation of groups like this show they might not remain so for long.

This blog was first published on: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/236459-ibm-google-facebook-microsoft-amazon-form-enormous-ai-partnership

8 Amazing Things Google Is Going To Launch At Its October 4 Event

Short Bytes: At its upcoming October 4 event under the tagline “Made by Google”, the company is expected to launch a wide range of new hardware. It’s being speculated that Google will show off its new Pixel smartphone, Pixel tablet, Google Home, a new OS named “Andromeda”, and a lot more.

Move over Apple, it’s Google’s turn to open its pandora box. On October 4, the tech giant is going to expand its hardware range by launching new smartphones, tablets, home automation devices etc. Google has even created a dedicated website for the event.

Google October 4 Event: What to expect

1. Pixel and Pixel XL phones

The company is calling the October 4 event “Made by Google”, suggesting that it’s going to launch lots of new hardware. It’s being speculated that Google is going to leave behind the Nexus brand and produce Pixel-branded smartphones.

The media reports suggest that Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones will be manufactured by HTC. Pixel, the smaller of the two phones, will feature a 5-inch display. Pixel XL will come with a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display. They are expected to run Android N and offer support for Google Daydream VR platform.

2. New Pixel tablet

According to the renowned phone leaker Evan Blass, Google is looking to release a Huawei-made tablet that’ll feature a 4GB RAM.

3. Daydream VR

Virtual reality is one of the fastest growing technologies at the moment. Google plans to go beyond Google Cardboard and leave a mark with its new Daydream VR platform. It’s expected that Google will showcase Daydream VR running on its new hardware. Google has also confirmed that it’s working on its own headset and controller.

4. 4K Chromecast

It’s expected that Google will refresh Chromecast in the form of Chromecast Ultra or Chromecast Plus. Introduced at ~$70, it’ll support HDR and 4K. It’s also expected to arrive with updated design, refreshed app, and improved internals.

5. Google Home

Google aims to compete with Amazon Echo by launching Google Home. It’s like Google Now for your home. It’ll activate with “OK Google” prompt and let you interact with different home automation systems.

6. Google Wi-Fi

Google is also expected to release a new Wi-Fi device named Google Wi-Fi. The reports suggest that it’ll let you mesh multiple networks and enjoy a better internet connection. It’ll be similar to previously released OnHub router. Google Wi-Fi is expected to feature dual band and 2 ports, AC1200 speeds, Bluetooth, and 802.15.4 radios.

7. Andromeda OS

Last year, we came to know that Google is willing to kill Chrome OS and merge its best features into Android. This will be followed by a unified operating system by 2017.

Now, the October 4 event is expected to mark the official debut of this merger in the form of a new OS named Andromeda. We expect it to follow the open source philosophy.

8. Pixel 3 Laptop

The launch of Andromeda OS is expected to accompany a new laptop in the form of a new Pixel 3 laptop codenamed “Bison”. The company expects to develop an actual rival to Windows and Mac.

Pixel 3 laptop will come in an ultrabook form factor, featuring Intel processors, 32GB/128GB storage, 8GB/16GB RAM, and a battery life of 10 hours. It’s also possible that Google might skip the Pixel 3 launch and unveil it next year.

Did you find this article interesting? Don’t forget to drop your feedback in the comments section below.

This Blog was First published on:- https://fossbytes.com/8-amazing-new-things-google-is-going-to-launch-at-its-october-4-event/