An Israeli Startup Sightful Unveils Spacetop: World’s First AR Laptop

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May 21, 2023

Laptops have long been favoured for their portability and convenience, but their small screens and lack of privacy have been a constant disadvantage. However, Sightful, a pioneering Israeli tech company, claims to have tackled these issues head-on with the introduction of their latest innovation, the Spacetop laptop. The Spacetop offers a unique solution by eliminating the traditional screen altogether and instead utilizing augmented reality glasses to create a virtual 100-inch display.

Designed with users in mind who crave a larger screen without compromising privacy. This Arm-based business tool runs on the Android open-source OS (AOSP) and comes equipped with a custom AR headset. The laptop’s body closely resembles a regular laptop, measuring 26.6 cm wide, 25 cm deep, and weighing 1.5 kg, including the headset. The only notable difference lies in its thickness, measuring 4 cm, which deviates from the slim profile seen in most modern laptops. Manufacturing for the Spacetop is handled by the Chinese ODM manufacturer, Wistron.

Under the hood, the Spacetop AR laptop is powered by the Snapdragon 865 processor, a flagship mobile chip from 2019. It boasts 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of built-in storage. Connectivity options include 5G NR Sub-6, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1 wireless modules. The laptop features a high-resolution webcam with a pixel count of 2560 × 1920. Additionally, a built-in fingerprint scanner provides an added layer of security. Two 10Gb/s USB-C ports supporting the DisplayPort 1.4 standard allow for the connection of an external display if required.

The centrepiece of the Spacetop experience is the augmented reality headset, delivering a 1080p resolution to each eye at a refresh rate of 72Hz. Weighing a mere 106 grams when unfolded, the headset measures 146 x 175 x 44 mm and supports an interpupillary distance range of 56 to 70 mm, ensuring a comfortable fit for users. With a 53-degree diagonal field of view, the headset strikes a balance between displaying the virtual and real worlds.

When wearing the AR headset, users are presented with a large curved virtual screen featuring a multi-window interface reminiscent of Windows. Navigation is similar, with users utilizing the touchpad to drag the cursor, resize windows, and move them around the screen. Unique gestures, such as swiping up and down with three fingers, allow for easy zooming in and out on the virtual “screen.” This feature enhances comfort and enables users to examine windows more closely. A small “taskbar” located at the centre of the screen provides easy access to adding windows and selecting applications.

Reviews from those who have personally experienced the Spacetop indicate that text on the virtual screen is clear and usable. The developers of the Spacetop laptop have justified the relatively low volume and sound quality of the built-in speakers by emphasizing the importance of maintaining confidentiality.

The Spacetop’s battery lasts over five hours on a single charge, which is comparable to other modern laptops. However, it charges up to 85% in less than two hours, providing some convenience for users who need to quickly recharge and get back to work.

To gauge market response and assess the viability of their product, Sightful has announced the release of a limited edition of 1,000 Spacetop AR laptops. Priced at $2,000, this laptop represents more than just a current technological gadget; it is an investment in the future of computing.

Interested customers can order the limited edition Spacetop AR laptops on Sightful’s official website. As technology enthusiasts and professionals eagerly await the arrival of their screenless laptops, the true impact and user experience of the Spacetop will become clearer over time.

Google to Follow Meta’s Lead by Incorporating Generative AI into Advertising Tools

By

Adwaith

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May 20, 2023

Google Generative AI into Advertising Tools

Following Meta’s recent announcement about integrating generative AI into its advertising tools, it appears that Google, the internet advertising giant, is also set to embrace this technology in its own advertising business. According to internal documents obtained by CNBC, Google is planning to leverage generative AI to automate ads and enhance various aspects of its advertising ecosystem.

One of Google’s initiatives involves utilizing PaLM 2-powered tools to assist advertisers in generating their own media assets. These tools will offer suggestions for YouTube creators to produce videos, streamlining the content creation process. Additionally, Google is currently testing PaLM 2 for youth content on YouTube, exploring the use of generative AI to create titles and descriptions. Furthermore, the company is experimenting with providing creators with five video ideas based on relevant topics, aiming to boost their creativity and engagement.

According to the leaked materials, Google is also developing a generative AI chat model that can automate service inquiries from advertising customers. This technology has the potential to propose tailored advertising plans to users, improving the overall user experience.

Further details about Google’s plans regarding generative AI in advertising are anticipated to be unveiled on May 23 during the company’s annual online event, Google Marketing Live. It is expected that Google will shed more light on how this technology will be integrated and the specific benefits it will bring to advertisers and content creators.

With Meta’s recent announcement and Google’s imminent adoption of generative AI in advertising, it is clear that this technology is gaining significant traction within the industry. The ability to automate various aspects of ad creation and improve the personalization of advertising plans holds great promise for advertisers and content creators alike. As the world of digital advertising continues to evolve, generative AI is set to play a vital role in enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in the advertising landscape.

MediaTek to Partner with NVIDIA for Next-Gen GPU in Flagship Chipsets

By

Subith

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May 20, 2023

Rumours are swirling about a potential partnership between MediaTek and NVIDIA that could revolutionize the mobile chipset market. MediaTek, known for using Arm’s Mali GPU in its Dimensity 9200+, may be looking to collaborate with NVIDIA to introduce a new GPU architecture in its next flagship smartphone chipset.

According to a recent report from DigiTimes, the alliance between NVIDIA and MediaTek would not only strengthen their market presence but also open doors to new opportunities. MediaTek’s products were once seen as affordable options for mid-range smartphones, but with the success of the Dimensity 9000 series, they have emerged as strong competitors to flagship offerings from Qualcomm and Apple.

Adding fuel to the speculation, reports suggest that MediaTek is already testing its upcoming Dimensity 9300 chipset, expected to be manufactured on TSMC’s advanced N4P process. This chipset is rumoured to feature four high-performance Cortex-X4 cores, promising unmatched single-core and multi-core performance. While details about the GPU cores remain scarce, previous reports indicated that MediaTek would stick with Arm’s offerings. However, the latest rumours suggest a departure from this path.

If MediaTek indeed partners with NVIDIA and integrates a powerful GPU, it could potentially pose a significant threat to Qualcomm’s Adreno series, which has long dominated the market in this segment. While specific information about the GPU name, core count, and performance is still unknown, the speculation is fueling anticipation in the tech industry.

Enthusiasts and experts eagerly await the official announcements of the Dimensity 9300 from MediaTek and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 from Qualcomm, which will probably take place in the fourth quarter of this year.

As the market evolves, partnerships and collaborations like these not only shape the future of mobile technology but also offer consumers enhanced performance and capabilities in their smartphones.

Apple Previews New Accessibility Features in iOS 17, Focusing on Inclusive User Experience

By

Anu Thomas John

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May 20, 2023

Apple has provided a sneak peek into the upcoming iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, showcasing a range of new accessibility features to enhance user experience for individuals with disabilities. While the official announcement of iOS 17 is set to take place at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, Apple offered a preview of the accessibility updates, focusing on cognitive accessibility, speech impairments, and visual impairments.

One of the key additions is Assistive Access, designed to assist individuals with cognitive disabilities. This feature introduces larger high-contrast buttons, prominent text labels, and customizable options to facilitate easier navigation and selection on the screen. Users who rely on visual communication will benefit from features like a message keyboard with pictograms and video message recording. The home screen will offer larger icons, grid-style visual layouts, and text-based columns.

Live Speech, available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, enables users to input text for real-time audio output during phone calls, FaceTime calls, and in-person meetings. Additionally, a feature called “Personal Voice” generates a voice that closely resembles the user’s own, allowing individuals at risk of losing their voice, such as those with ALS, to maintain a more personal and authentic voice for speech synthesis.

Apple has also introduced Point and Speak in Magnifier, an update to the Detection Mode of the Magnifier tool. This feature assists visually impaired individuals in reading text labels on physical objects and devices. By utilizing the camera app, LiDAR technology, and on-device machine learning, users can glide their fingers across the surface to have the text on buttons or labels read aloud.

In addition to these major enhancements, Apple has made several other improvements to accessibility across its devices and platforms. Made for iPhone, hearing devices can now be directly paired with Macs, Voice Control offers word suggestions for voice typing, and Switch Control allows users to turn any switch into a virtual game controller. Apple has also introduced various customization options for low-vision users, including adjustable text sizes in Mac applications and the ability to automatically pause images with moving elements in Messages and Safari for those sensitive to rapid animation.

Apple’s accessibility features preview coincides with Global Accessibility Awareness Day on May 18th. In celebration, Apple is offering new features and curated collections in its apps, showcasing the impact of augmented and alternative communication applications, presenting movies and series curated by members of the disability community, and introducing American Sign Language music videos on Apple Music, among other initiatives.

As Apple continues to prioritize accessibility, these forthcoming features aim to empower individuals with disabilities, making technology more inclusive and ensuring that everyone can fully benefit from the capabilities of iOS and iPadOS.

Samsung Initiates Mass Production of DDR5 DRAM Chips on Advanced 12nm Process Node

By

Adwaith

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May 20, 2023

Samsung has officially announced the commencement of mass production for DDR5 DRAM chips using its latest 12nm manufacturing process. This technological breakthrough allows Samsung to enhance the efficiency and performance of its DRAM devices while reducing costs compared to previous generation nodes.

The new DDR5 memory chips, featuring a capacity of 16 gigabits, are manufactured using Samsung’s industry-leading 12nm class process technology. While Samsung had previously produced 16Gbit DDR5 chips, the adoption of the newer and smaller 12nm process delivers notable advantages in terms of power consumption and die size. In comparison to DDR5 dies manufactured on the company’s previous-generation 14nm node, the 12nm dies exhibit up to 23% lower power consumption and enable the production of 20% more dies per wafer, according to Samsung.

A significant innovation in the 12nm DRAM manufacturing process is the utilization of a new high-k material for the capacitors in the DRAM cells. This advancement allows for improved static electricity within the cells, enhancing performance without increasing the dimensions or size of the die. Higher capacitance in a DRAM cell translates to increased data storage capacity and reduced power-consuming refresh cycles, thereby boosting overall performance. Samsung’s achievement of shrinking the die size is particularly noteworthy since analogue components like capacitors face limitations in further size reduction as process nodes shrink.

Samsung’s 12nm DDR5 ICs not only introduce new high-k materials but also feature reduced operating voltage and noise, offering an optimized balance between performance and power consumption compared to their predecessors.

Another remarkable aspect of Samsung’s 12nm DRAM technology is that it appears to be the third generation production node employing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The initial D1x node served as a proof of concept, while its successor, the D1a, has been in use since 2021, utilizing EUV for five layers.

Moreover, Samsung’s new 12nm DDR5 die exhibits the potential for faster memory speeds, capable of reaching DDR5-7200 (or 7.2 gigabits per second per pin). This speed surpasses the current official JEDEC specification, opening possibilities for future XMP/EXPO memory kits. Although the required voltage has not been specified, this development instills hope for further advancements in memory technology.

How to keep your online business safe from digital threats

By

Subith

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May 20, 2023

Businesses need to be more aware of online security every year, as the number of potential threats increases and criminals find new ways to defraud organizations.

Cybercrime has grown over the last few decades to become one of the major threats to businesses. US citizens are more worried about having their personal or financial information stolen by hackers than they are about any other type of crime, and it’s not hard to see why. Businesses, therefore, need to be careful about their security to avoid falling victim to cybercrime.

However, this doesn’t have to be extremely complex or technical. While there are absolutely elements of digital security that will need IT professionals to implement, such as firewalls, mostly it is to do with changing your actions. Some of the most common forms of cybercrime don’t involve hacking or computer viruses, but simply exploiting human behavior.

While you should absolutely check with security professionals to make sure you are as protected as possible online, there are several steps you can take to keep your business safe that don’t require any technical knowledge. Here are some of the main steps you should take.

Learn to spot phishing scams

The most common type of cybercrime by far is phishing. This form of attack involves sending a message to a target pretending to be someone the target knows or trusts. This could be their boss, their bank, their phone provider or more. The message will look professional and ask for details that would make sense to ask for, such as pretending to be a bank and asking for your account information. The target may not realize they are giving away sensitive information to a criminal.

The best defense against phishing is awareness. If your employees are in the habit of double checking the addresses of any emails they are sent, they will be more likely to spot fraudulent emails. If they know to double check with colleagues before sending over any sensitive information, they will be more likely to realize they are being phished before it is too late.

Protect your files

It’s always good to have a contingency plan. What happens if an employee gets phished and sends confidential information to a criminal? If that information is secured with a password, it will be much harder for that criminal to use it and will give you the time to realize you’ve been scammed and take action.

Password protecting documents is simple, and the best way to do it is to convert them to PDFs using an online word to PDF converter. Then you can set a password, make sure your employees know it and ensure they do not give it out to anyone, even each other. This will give you that extra layer of security that can make all the difference.

BEC scams

While phishing is more common, business email compromise (BEC) scams are much more expensive for businesses, losing them over $2.7 billion in 2022. These scams involve gaining access to an employee’s email account and using it to commit fraud. This could include:

Using a finance employee’s emails to create fake invoices that pay the criminal’s bank account
Hacking the CEO’s email account and asking employees to send money or buy gift cards
Hacking the email of a vendor your company works with and generating fake bills for you to pay
Gaining access to an HR employee’s email and requesting other sensitive data from employees

You can protect against this in a number of ways. The most common is two-factor authentication, where anyone logging into their email address must also provide a code that is texted to them, or some other method of verification. This means criminals can no longer get into an email account with just the password.

Keeping your business safe from cybercrime might seem scary, but a lot of defenses against digital threats are common sense. Learn to spot scams and keep your documents safe, and you will be much better protected than you might think.

Google Cloud Unveils AI Suites to Accelerate Drug Discovery and Precision Medicine

By

Avinash A

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May 19, 2023

Google Cloud’s entrance into the field of AI-assisted drug development has been marked by the introduction of two new suites — the Target and Lead Identification Suite and the Multiomics Suite. These suites are designed to aid pharmaceutical companies in their drug discovery efforts and advance precision medicine.

The Target and Lead Identification Suite focuses on enabling researchers to understand the crucial proteins and amino acids involved in drug development. By identifying these biological targets, pharmaceutical companies can expedite the discovery of therapeutics and reduce costs associated with the process. Notably, prominent industry players such as Pfizer and Cereval have already become early adopters of this suite. Pfizer’s Principal Computational Scientist, Nicholas Labello, expressed enthusiasm about leveraging Google Cloud’s scalable computing platform and AlphaFold2 to accelerate drug discovery.

On the other hand, the Multiomics Suite addresses the analysis of genomic data. This suite aims to investigate how genetic mutations contribute to diseases and develop tailored treatments, even personalized ones. Genomic databases are typically vast, and the Multiomics Suite provides researchers with efficient access to the required data, ultimately expediting treatment development.

Ben Lamm, CEO of Colossal Biosciences, commended the significance of Google Cloud’s tool, emphasizing that their progress in drug development would not have been possible without it. This statement highlights the value and impact of the Multiomics Suite in supporting scientific advancements.

With these new suites, Google Cloud aims to contribute to the pharmaceutical industry by leveraging AI technology to enhance drug discovery processes and promote precision medicine. The integration of AI in the field has become increasingly prevalent as drug development costs rise and clinical trial failure rates remain high. By offering effective solutions to these challenges, Google Cloud is positioning itself as a key player in this rapidly evolving landscape.

Amazon Introduces Echo Pop, a New Addition to the Smart Speaker Lineup

By

Anu Thomas John

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May 19, 2023

Amazon has announced a new line of Echo products, starting with new Echo series of smart speakers called the Echo Pop. This innovative device is set to launch on May 31st at a price of $39.99.

The Echo Pop, like its predecessors, is a voice-controlled device capable of a variety of activities such as streaming music, managing smart home devices, setting timers, and adding goods to shopping lists. Moreover, it supports the standard “Matter” for smart home devices, simplifying the setup process for connected home products.

The Echo Pop features a distinctive hemispherical design, resembling a divided “Echo Dot,” which has been Amazon’s most basic model of the Echo speaker series. However, it’s important to note that the Echo Pop is not priced at half the cost of the Echo Dot.

With speakers distributed over its whole surface and an AZ2 processor, the Echo Pop provides a superb music experience. Furthermore, it is available in a variety of colour variants, including lavender, teal green, charcoal, and glacial white, enabling customers to select the one that best matches their own taste.

It’s worth noting that the Echo Pop appears to have an extension function for the mesh network if you have an eero mesh filter acquired from Amazon.

Amazon has also introduced updates and new additions to its Echo device lineup. The Echo Show 5 has undergone a redesign with several enhancements, including a faster processor, an improved display, an additional microphone, and enhanced speaker performance.

As a fresh addition to the product range, Amazon has also introduced Echo Buds, wireless earphones that are sweat-resistant. These earbuds offer up to 5 hours of music playback on a single charge and a total playtime of up to 20 hours, including charging. Additionally, a quick 15-minute charge provides up to 2 hours of music playback. The price for Echo Buds is expected to be $49.99.