Saturday, January 28, 2017
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Samsung Gear S3 review: giving a full-on phone-on-a-watch a third go - CNET
Samsung Gear S3 review: giving a full-on phone-on-a-watch a third go - CNET
At Trump's inauguration, tech sputters President Donald Trump promised the crowd that "everyone is listening." On the ground in DC, CNET's Maggie Reardon says, it wasn't so easy to get the word out.- CNET
"January 20th, 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again," Trump told the crowd during his 16-minute speech from the Capitol Steps. "Everyone is listening to you now."
Well, not if you were one of the people on the ground in Washington, DC, like me, trying to reach out to colleagues, family or friends on social media.
You'd think in an age of 4G communication and Twitter, it would be easy to share videos, photos and thoughts as the 70-year-old real estate mogul was sworn in as the 45th president of the United States."
At Trump's inauguration, tech sputters - CNET
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
The Story of NASA's Real "Hidden Figures" - Scientific American
"In the 1960s, Mercury astronauts Alan Shepard, Gus Grissom, John Glenn and others absorbed the accolades of being the first men in space. Behind the scenes, they were supported by hundreds of unheralded NASA workers, including 'human computers' who did the calculations for their orbital trajectories. 'Hidden Figures,' a 2016 book by Margot Lee Shetterly and a movie based on the book, celebrates the contributions of some of those workers. Beginning in 1935, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), a precursor of NASA, hired hundreds of women as computers. The job title designated someone who performed mathematical equations and calculations by hand, according to a NASA history. The computers worked at the Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory in Virginia. Human computers were not a new concept. In the late 19th and early 20thcentury, female ‘computers’ at Harvard University analyzed star photos to learn more about their basic properties. These women made discoveries still fundamental to astronomy today. For example: Williamina Fleming is best known for classifying stars based on their temperature, and Annie Jump Cannon developed a stellar classification system still used today (from coolest to hottest stars: O, B, A, F, G, K, M.) During World War II, the computer pool was expanded. Langley began recruiting African-American women with college degrees to work as computers, according to NASA. However, segregation policies required that these women work in a separate section, called the West Area Computers—although computing sections became more integrated after the first several years. As the years passed and the center evolved, the West Computers became engineers, (electronic) computer programmers, the first black managers at Langley and trajectory whizzes whose work propelled the first American, John Glenn, into orbit in 1962. 'Hidden Figures' focuses on three computers, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan. Here are brief biographies of these women: "
(Via.). The Story of NASA's Real "Hidden Figures" - Scientific American
All new Chromebooks will get Android app support | PCWorld
"If you’re buying a Chromebook released in 2017 or later you’ll no longer need to worry about whether or not it will run Android apps.
Google recently added a note saying as much to its Android apps for Chrome OS support page, as first spotted by Android Police. ‘All Chromebooks launching in 2017 and after...will work with Android apps in the coming future,’ the note says.
That was pretty much expected to be the case, but it’s nice to see Google guarantee this for buyers of new devices. Even though Google is saying Chromebooks from here on out are getting Android support, it still plans to extend support to older devices. Chromebooks designated for Android support are still listed as they were before, and Google says they will still get Android support."
(Via.). All new Chromebooks will get Android app support | PCWorld
Monday, January 23, 2017
One of Trump's First Moves--The End Of "An Open Internet"
"Say goodbye to an “Open Internet.” Say hello to “slow and fast lanes” where the quality and responsiveness of websites you click on will be subject to the whims of your warm-hearted Internet Service provider. And if they don’t agree that the sites you like to visit are “worthy,” you’ll have to pay more to access them in any reasonable manner.
Trump has tapped net neutrality foe Ajit Pai to become Chairman of the FCC, the agency responsible for enforcing and promulgating rules that assure an open Internet. His appointment, like many Federal appointments, will not require initial Senate approval (although he will need to be reconfirmed by the Republican-dominated Senate in 2017).
Why is this important? Because as head of the FCC, that agency will now be dominated by officials opposed to the idea of an “open Internet:”
Net neutrality is the idea that your Internet provider must treat all Web traffic equally. A court decision in January struck down FCC rules meant to ensure that Internet providers do not discriminate by blocking or slowing certain content.
That decision opened the door for Internet providers like Comcast and Verizon to cut deals with content providers, which would pay to stream their content in an Internet “fast lane.”
(Via.)
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Samsung answers burning Note 7 questions, vows better batteries - CNET
"Sure, blame the batteries. But it's not quite that simple. During a press conference Sunday, Samsung said two separate battery defects caused both the original batch of Galaxy Note 7 phones and the replacement units to overheat.
The first battery, it said, suffered from a design flaw. The battery's external casing was too small for the components inside, causing it to short-circuit and ignite.
The second battery, which came from another supplier, didn't have the same flaw, Justin Denison, head of product strategy and marketing for Samsung's US arm, said in an interview ahead of the press conference. In the rush to pump out enough batteries for the replacement units, though, the supplier introduced a manufacturing defect that led to the same result, he said.
The explanation puts to rest the mystery behind the exploding Note 7, but it kicks off a new challenge for the embattled company: winning back your trust after a disastrous several months that included two recalls and the decision to kill the critically acclaimed phone. The Sunday press conference marked the start of a Samsung campaign to rebuild company credibility, which will include the upcoming launch of the flagship Galaxy S8 phone, as well as another Note later in the year."
(Via.). Samsung answers burning Note 7 questions, vows better batteries - CNET
Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA - Full Review and Benchmarks
“There's a lot to like about the Chromebook Flip C302CA, including its elegant aluminum design, sharp screen, solid battery life, strong performance and bend-back design. When the Google Play Store finally rolls out to Chrome OS in earnest, the Flip will be even more compelling than it is today.
You can save $100 and still have access to Android apps with the Acer Chromebook R 13, though that notebook lags behind in speed. The Lenovo ThinkPad 13 Chromebook with Core i5 is much faster, but it costs more, and its nontouch screen means this machine won't be as well-suited to Android apps. However, if you want a powerful Chromebook 2-in-1 that's ready for Android apps, the Flip C302CA should be at the top of your list."
(Via.). Asus Chromebook Flip C302CA - Full Review and Benchmarks