Apple, The Company That Hated Clutter, Now Makes 17 Different Types Of Dongles

Short Bytes: You’ll be surprised to know that now Apple sells 17 different kinds of dongles to connect other devices to its computers. A Twitter user has aptly called “dongles” the fastest growing category of Apple devices. The latest MacBook Pro, which has ditched all the standard ports, continues to worsen this situation.

In the tech industry, no company is better at PC marketing than the genius gurus at Cupertino. Who can forget when they threw the hammer at IBM with the infamous 1984 ad. Another strong attempt was made by Apple in 1992 by mocking Microsoft for its user-unfriendliness.Talking about Windows PC and all the extra stuff that one needs to buy, another Apple ad said that, “I feel like I’m being pecked to death by ducks.” Steve Jobs channeled Mac’s “It just works” slogan and things turned out pretty great. Back then, Apple marketed itself as a superior company that didn’t make you buy extra stuff.

Over the years, things have changed drastically. After the recent MacBook Pro launch, Apple was bashed for removing all the standard connectivity ports, including the likes of HDMI port, SD card reader, regular USB port etc. Moreover, the latest Apple laptops can’t connect to Apple’s own flagship iPhone 7 without any dongle. Longtime Apple fans are saddened by these new profit-making complications brought by Apple and some of them are even looking for other alternatives like Ubuntu.

A Twitter user named Drew Breunig has compiled all kinds of dongles that are offered by Apple. This picture shows 17 types of ugly connectors that are sold by Apple. Breunig labels dongle as Apple’s fastest growing product category.

In another recent development, Apple has reduced the price of its dongles. “Through the end of the year, we are reducing prices on all USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals we sell, as well as the prices on Apple’s USB-C adapters and cables,” the company said in a statement issued to the media.

Have something to add? Share your views in the comments section below.

This Blog was first published on: http://thinkdebug.com/blog/apple-the-company-that-hated-clutter-now-makes-17-different-types-of-dongles/

Mobile Credit Score Checks: 4 Tools That Work

It’s both a benefit of the modern era and everyone’s worst nightmare: you’re out at the store when your phone beeps, alerting you to an abnormal charge on your credit card. You’re glad to know your credit card company is looking out for you, but now you’ve got to deal with this anomaly. Was it you or has your identity been stolen? And is this the first time an unusual charge has shown up on your card? It’s time to do some detective work. You may even need to dispute your credit report.

One way to reduce the likelihood of a credit problem arising is by keeping a close eye on your credit score using one of the many mobile credit apps available today. But how do you know which ones work and which ones will leave you fumbling?

We’ve done the research and these four apps stand out from the pack.

Get Wise

You may have seen the commercials recently – Capital One has been advertising the fact that they now provide free credit scores to anyone through their CreditWise program. Unlike many credit card companies that only provide credit scores to their clients, as recommended by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Capital One concluded that their program was a valuable advocacy tool for all people. You can grab your score online or through apps available for both iOS and Android.

Be Comprehensive

Not interested in an app that can only tell you your credit score? Then Mint might be the right program for you. Mint is best known for its budgeting services, but it also monitors your credit accounts and will calculate your credit score for you. It’s a smart all-around tool for those who want to see all their financial data in one place.

Build Your Karma

Another well-known credit score app available for iOS and Android is Credit Karma. The app is free and it outshines many others because it displays credit scores from 2 out of 3 major score providers and updates them weekly. Most other programs will only show you one of those scores, whereas having access to two different scoring systems will better allow you to determine whether there’s an error in one of your reports.

Credit Karma will also show you potentially beneficial credit card offers and provides basic interpretations of your credit score, ranking it using the standard “poor through excellent” scale.

Open Up To Knowledge

Finally, quite similar to Credit Karma is Credit Sesame, another app that delivers non-FICO credit scores. It currently uses TransUnion data and your credit score is updated monthly – so not quite as often as with Credit Karma. It’s worth noting that lenders rely on FICO scores when determining your eligibility for a loan or credit card, but your score on Credit Sesame will give you a ballpark range fairly close to your FICO score.

Knowing your credit score is an integral part of building your financial reputation, so it’s worth keeping at least one of these apps on hand. By monitoring your credit score, you can stay one step ahead of scammers who might want to crash your numbers through unauthorized purchases.

This blog was first published on: http://smarterware.org/2016/11/mobile-credit-score-checks-4-tools-work/

Top 10 Disruptive Technology Trends For 2017 That You Need To Know | Gartner

Short Bytes: Gartner has revealed its list of the top 10 strategic technology trends for the year 2017. These trends will act as an important factor for most organizations in the upcoming year. Unsurprisingly, technologies related to artificial intelligence, as suggest by machine learning, and IoT are here to stay and leave an impact.

 The top technology companies like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon are making heavy bets on algorithms and artificial intelligence. The latest example isGoogle’s Pixel phone that’s using AI-powered Google Assistant and algorithm-based camera processing as its selling point. If we break down the advanced machine learning and AI algorithms, they comprise of many technologies like deep learning, neural networks, and natural language processing. These companies are working hard to achieve a coherent mixture of these aspects.At the Gartner Symposium in Orlando, Gartner VP David Cearley identified the top ten strategic technology trends for 2017, placing AI and Advanced Machine Learning at the top. If you’re wondering what does the word ‘strategic’ mean, here, it stands for the technologies that will have significant disruptive potential over the next five years.

Top 10 Disruptive Technologies Trends For 2017

1. AI and Advanced Machine Learning

As said above, Artificial Intelligence and machine learning compose of many technologies. These technologies, which are different from traditional algorithms and programs, make the machines intelligent. Gartner predicts that the applied AI advanced machine learning will inspire applications like robots, autonomous vehicles, consumer electronics, virtual personal assistants, and smart advisors.

2. Intelligent Apps

Intelligent applications like personal assistants are making our lives easier. Gartner expects that future assistants will be more specialized and equipped with potential to transform the workplaces and homes. Over the course of next 10 years, every application, and service will make use of some kind of AI. It’ll be a long-term trend that’ll evolve with time and expand AI application in apps and services.

3. Intelligent Things

Intelligent things are the machines that use applied machine learning to interact with the surroundings and people more naturally. Gartner expects that intelligent things like drones, autonomous vehicles, and smart appliances will work together in an intelligent and collaborative environment.

4. VR and AR

In present times, VR and AR technologies are in their nascent phase. Gartner expects that the landscape of immersive consumer applications will evolve at a rapid pace through 2021. They’ll form a digital mesh by collaborating with apps, mobile, wearables, and IoT devices.

5. Digital Twin

Digital twin refers to a dynamic software model that uses sensor data to understand its state. It responds to the changes accordingly and improves its operations. They include a combination of metadata, state, event data, and analytics. Gartner predicts that within 3-5 years, hundreds of millions of things will be represented by digital twins. They’ll be used for planning and repairing equipment services, for operating factories and increasing the efficiency. They’ll replace the combination of skilled human resources and traditional monitoring devices.

6. Blockchain and Distributed Ledgers

In recent years, blockchain and distributed-ledger concepts are becoming popular as the industry thinks that they hold the power to transform the operating models. Apart from the financial industry, they have future applications in identity verifications, title registry, supply chain, music distribution etc.

7. Conversational System

In future, in the conversation interface arena, the focus will shift from chatbots and microphone-enabled devices to the digital meshes that will encompass a wide range of endpoints.

8. Mesh App and Service Architecture

In MASA, mesh app and service architecture, mobile, desktop, and IoT apps are connected to a mesh of back-end service to create an application for the end user. This architecture exposes APIs at different levels balancing the demand for agility and scalability of services. It allows the users to have an optimized solution for endpoints in the digital mesh.

9. Digital Technology Platforms

They act as a basic building block for a digital business. Gartner has specified 5 major focal points that help to enable new capabilities and model businesses. These points are – information systems, customer experience, analytics and intelligence, the IoT, and business ecosystems. Gartner says that every organization must have a mix of these five factors.

10. Adaptive Security Architecture

Last but not the least, the technology companies will be focussing more on the security applications due to a complex world of interconnected platforms and applications. With the addition of the IoT frontier, slowly, we are observing newer security implications.

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

This blog was first published on: http://thinkdebug.com/blog/top-10-disruptive-technology-trends-for-2017-that-you-need-to-know-gartner/

Google quickly clarifies the security tech in Android Nougat after the Pixel hack

After the Pixel phones were hacked in less than 60 seconds by a team Chinese dudes, Google has rushed to clarify the kind of security the smartphones come with. In its official Keyword blog, Google has outlined the improvements in security in Android Nougat as well as in the Pixel phones, which includes File-based Encryption, Direct Boot and TrustZone security. Google had earlier said that Android is now as secure as iOS. The company now has explained what exactly is going on behind the scenes to secure the devices. 

Android Nougat comes with file-based encryption which basically encrypts different files with different keys which are unlocked independently. This allows the rest of the files to remain uncompromised even when one file has been hacked. Earlier, Android used Full Disk Encryption which didn't do much good to the security. File-based encryption separates the data into device encrypted data and credential encrypted data, keeping the important credentials in a separate container.

Direct boot in Android Nougat uses the file-based encryption to keep the user experience seamless after a device reboots. For instance, applications like alarm clocks, accessibility settings and phone calls are available immediately after boot.

What's more, Anroid Nougat comes with TrustZone security tech that executes system-level codes in a mode that is secure even when the main kernel is compromised. It also stores the disk encryption keys and when it detects the operating system has been modified, it won't decrypt the keys to keep the data inside secure.

To prevent brute force attacks, TrustZone comes with a waiting period that gets longer each time a wrong sequence of the pattern is made. With over 162 valid four-point patterns and the ever growing waiting period, brute force attackers will need four years to hack into an Android Nougat phone.

In addition, the Pixel phones come with an inbuilt hardware encryption engine that provides hardware level encryption all the while maintaining the I/O performance.

This Blog was first published on:- http://www.gizmodo.in/indiamodo/Google-quickly-clarifies-the-security-tech-in-Android-Nougat-after-the-Pixel-hack/articleshow/55494872.cms 

5 Ways Tech Is Changing the Face of Event Planning

Today many facets of traditional event planning can have a substantial bearing on how successful the event will be. A major occasion is usually assigned to a specific physical venue, with decorations, food, and other details that can only be obtained in the offline market.

You may also have to write checklists to ensure good execution, schedule team meetings to keep everyone on the same page, and send out physical invitations to boost attendance.

Although these are all aspects of event planning that probably won’t change in the future, the practice of event planning is steadily shifting to a more Internet-based approach. This is having an impact on all industries, and event planning is no exception.

Thanks to the many kinds of available technology, every step of your planning process can be streamlined with the help of technology.

1. Apps

Every good event planner has at least a few apps in his or her toolbox. Apps can serve as portable organizers that keep both the head planner and team members on the same page. Here are some of the most highly recommended:

• Evernote: takes, organizes, and shares notes
• Boomset: tracks and monitors event registration and attendees
• Bizzabo: an all-in-one organizational app for event planners
• Heytell: turns your smartphone into a walkie-talkie
• ScannerPro: easily files paper documents digitally from anywhere

Each of these apps can be incredibly useful for an event organizer, and they’re just a few of the many apps available to you.

2. Attendee Data Tracking

Attendee data tracking is another function that can now be maintained online. Most smartphones have wireless transmitters, also known as beacons, that send location-specific messages to other WiFi, Bluetooth, or data-enabled devices.

The information can be collected during events to record numbers, behaviors, location origins, and even personal details about attendees. This is particularly useful for large events that have many people in attendance; you can track the flow of traffic and preserve data that could be useful for future events.

3. List Generation and Note Taking

There are many ways that tech can assist in this facet of event planning. If you’re on the move, and you suddenly remember that you haven’t called the caterers, you can make a quick voice note on your phone or in the Evernote app.

This can be used to create lists to be viewed later or provide a notification system that reminds you when things have to be done. The lists and notes can also be filed and stored online using tools such as DropBox or Google Drive.

This makes it easy to organize all your information and fill in the gaps as you go. It also makes collaboration easier, since you can share information immediately with team members.

4. Social Media Marketing

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be used to add quality to your event. First, they can assist significantly with your marketing for the occasion.

Facebook events can be created to get a more accurate head count and improve attendance. Social media can also be employed for open-ended events so you can get people to participate in word-of-mouth marketing.

During the event, social media sites can be an effective tool for branding and lead generation. Event organizers can encourage attendees to keep their phones on and interact on social media throughout the proceedings.

This is really great for events that happen on a regular, ongoing basis. They help to raise awareness of the gathering and get more people involved, both online and in person.

5. Total Communication

The multiple ways that technology enables us to communicate now are incredible. Not only can you call or text someone for instant feedback, but you can also video conference, instant chat, use your phone as a walkie-talkie, send email, and share files online.

Organizing and facilitating a party through communication has never been simpler for people who need to work with a team.

Tech also makes it easier to reach out to folks. When you’re seeking a speaker or entertainment, you can interact through video conference or coordinate everything via email.

When you send messages to event attendees, you can turn to social media, use email marketing, or send SMS messages to all invited. The options for communication are astonishingly broad.

The face of event planning is changing rapidly, and the shift is largely positive. Through apps, data collection, and constant communication, events can follow a smoother planning process, they’re a better fit from the attendees’ perspective, and they encourage and support higher attendance now and probably in the future.

This blog was first published on: http://smarterware.org/2016/11/5-ways-tech-changing-face-event-planning/

OnePlus 3T announced: New processor, larger battery, improved front-facing camera

With smartphones like the OnePlus 3 it's tough to justify paying more than $400 for a smartphone today. The company just announced the next model, the OnePlus 3T that brings improvements in the processor, battery, and camera with an option for more internal storage.

The OnePlus 3T will start at $439 for the 64GB model and is advertised as launching on 22 November.

The OnePlus 3 is an excellent Android smartphone available for $399. It was released in June and just five months later we are seeing an incremental bump in the internal specifications. Current OnePlus 3 owners likely won't have any need to upgrade, but others looking for an affordable Android phone with flagship specifications may definitely consider this powerhouse of a phone.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad core
• Display: 5.5 inch 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution Optic AMOLED, 401 ppi
• Operating system: Oxygen OS built upon Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
• RAM: 6GB
• Storage: 64GB or 128GB of internal storage
• Cameras: 16 megapixel rear camera with OIS and 16 megapixel front facing camera
• Wireless technology: NFC, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.2
• Battery: 3,400 mAh battery with OnePlus Dash Charge technology
• Dimensions: 152.7 x 74.7 x 7.35 mm and 158 grams

OnePlus has publicly stated that a beta build of Oxygen OS built on Android 7 Nougat is coming soon so we can expect the OnePlus 3T to be upgraded to this version within the next couple of months as well.

Instead of gray, a new gunmetal color will be available with the OnePlus 3T. It looks to be a darker gray than the standard gray found in the OnePlus 3.

The only things lacking here compared to the iPhone 7, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy S7 are a Quad HD display and water resistance. The cameras on these newest Android and iPhone devices are fantastic while the OnePlus 3 and 3T are fine for most well-lit environments. Consumers will have to decide if paying twice the price for these features is worth it as they consider the OnePlus 3T.

One aspect that I like about the OnePlus 3 and 3T is the ability to customize the smartphone to your personal preferences, even more so than you can with most Android smartphones. The OnePlus smartphones have always catered to the smartphone enthusiast, but with more people considering SIM unlocked devices at half the price of a flagship major brand there is an opportunity for OnePlus to succeed with these devices.

This blog was first published on: http://www.zdnet.com/article/oneplus-3t-announced-new-processor-larger-battery-improved-front-facing-camera/

How To Boost Your Android Gaming Performance With A Simple Trick

Short Bytes: By activating Force 4x MSAA setting in Android Developer Options, you can enjoy a better gaming performance. It forces your phone to use 4x multisample anti-aliasing in OpenGL 2.0 games and apps. However, enabling this setting can drain your smartphone’s battery faster.

Android’s hidden Developer Options menu contains a variety of advanced options for developers. However, these options can also benefit the normal users. Along the similar lines, in the past, I’ve told you how to make your Android device faster by disabling the animations. In this article, I’ll tell you about another secret setting in the Developer Options that will allow you to boost gaming performance.
Before going ahead and telling you about this trick, I would like to remind you how to access the Developer Options menu in Android smartphones.

How to access Android Developer options?

To do so, you need to open the Settings screen, find the About phone option at the bottom and tap on it. Now, in the next screen, find the Build number and tap a few times. This will show you a notification something like “You are now 3 steps away from being a developer.” Tap few more times and you’ll see the message “You are now a developer!”.

Now we are ready to explore the newfound setting and make some changes to improve the Android gaming performance.

How To Boost Your Android Gaming Performance?

Hidden in the Developer options is a setting that can help improve your gaming experience. Simply scroll down and look for the Force 4x MSAA option. For those who don’t know, MSAA stands for multi-sample anti-aliasing.

If you enable this option, your Android smartphone will render games at the highest possible quality. It forces Android to use 4x multisample anti-aliasing in OpenGL 2.0 games and apps.

Important note:

This feature drains tons of battery life. So, you might want to use it on a smartphone with a lot of battery juice. Turning on this option might give you a smoother performance but things will vary on different apps and devices. Also, after playing the game, you are advised to revert back the setting.

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

This Blog was first published on:- http://thinkdebug.com/blog/boost-android-gaming-performance-simple-trick/