Apple TV box comes back around with a third generation – and what a generation is it rumored to be! If we’re to believe the fansite predictions, Wednesday is scheduled to reveal a whole new direction that gamers will certainly celebrate.
A new processing power, touch-sensitive controllers and its own App Store, the new Apple TV might steal some dedicated gamers from their PlayStations and Xboxes. Marking Tim Cook’s most recent attempt to bring Apple into the living room, the device will take a substantial price hike, and that’s no wonder.
Previously retailed at a mere £60, the tech company’s TV was surprisingly modest, considering that it sported the Apple logo. But get ready, cause the updated will surely bring the device closer to the price ranges the company has got us used to.
With smart TVs increasing in prevalence at a speeding rate, users’ demand for ‘just’ a video streaming system is slowly dying out, so Apple’s revamp is more than welcome. Gaming has become such a popular alternative use for people’s TVs that we’re surprised Apple didn’t start considering it sooner.
The question now is whether Apple stands a chance at stealing a piece of the lucrative business Sony and Microsoft have kept for themselves for years; is the geeky industry of heavy-duty video gaming ready for another major player?
It’s a two-fold answer. Yes, Apple definitely should be recognized in making such an intentional move into this field. It’s a well-known fact that any participants in a market that Apple decides to test are going to face one of the strongest, richest and most successful rivals.
And while both Sony and MS have relied heavily on gaming as a reliable market that keeps brining consistent revenue, they probably don’t have too much to fear from the Apple TV’s third gen. It will take more than a powerful processor and new controllers to woo many gamers away from their high-end consoles.
But it’s not the hardcore gamers that the new Apple TV is aimed at. CEO Tim Cook might have in mind the ‘casual gamer’ when he announced the new direction they were heading into.
Imagine that the target audience here is the milder-mannered users who probably had the nice iPad experience of Farmville or Candy Crush and want to take it to the next – but equally restful – level, on a bigger screen HD, but still at a reasonable price.
So there’s little worry for the big boys, the Apple tanks are invading their lawns just yet. But there are ‘other’ video game players in the game, such as Nintendo’s Wii console, also aimed at casual gamers, who might feel the threat of Apple breathing down their neck pretty soon.
Image Source: Storage Review
After being informed of some allegedly suspicious activity on a teen’s Instagram profile, the police from Fresno, CA arrested him, and then performed a house search that resulted in a stash of guns and ammunition.
The day before the search, the teen – whose name was kept private during the ongoing police investigation – had posted some lyrics from an Eminem song called “I’m Back,” which might indeed offer cause for worry used outside context.
The rapper says “I take seven kids from Columbine, stand ’em all in a line / Add an AK-47, a revolver, a nine / A MAC-11 and it oughtta solve the problem of mine / And that’s a whole school of bullies shot up all at one time / I’m just like Shady and just as crazy as the world was over this whole Y2K thing.”
At the press conference that happened after the arrest, the police revealed they had apparently mistaken the teen’s post for lyrics from another song by Eminem, “Rap God,” which only contain the first two verses, “I take seven kids from Columbine, stand ’em all in a line / Add an AK-47, a revolver, a nine.”
It turns out that the police thought, initially, that the teen had made up the next two lines, which had caused concern. Fresno Police chief Jerry Dyer later retracted his statement in which he said the Instagram post contained lyrics from the track “Rap God.”
As explained in the Fresno Bee, the police followed through on their first assessment of the situation, considering that the Instagram post was still evidence that the teen was guilty of making terrorist threats, a felony, and of attempting to disrupt school activity.
Even though the teen has allegedly taken down the post since, the police said some of the comments written under did nothing but increase concern, because another teen wrote, “Bring me with man. I got some stuff [to] settle.” To which the arrested 15-year-old San Joaquin Memorial High student replied, “Ill text you when. I got a couple idiots’ blocks I could knock off.”
The police was first contacted by the school’s vice president; the teen claims he was not behind the posts and blamed them on an alleged hacking.
However, in spite of his statements, there’s no denying that the warranted house search performed with the father’s consent revealed “a replica AK-47 Airsoft rifle, a handgun, a .357 Magnum revolver, a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition, and a bulletproof vest.”
School was canceled on Tuesday for both San Joaquin Memorial High and St. Anthony’s Catholic School, the teen’s actual and former school. The principals of both institutions made the decision considering the perceived threat, but after the teen was arrested, they reopened on Wednesday.
Image Source: Fresno Bee
Motorola’s new collection contains both male and female models.
During the Wednesday’s IFA presentation, Motorola debuted Moto 360 Sport smartwatch in Berlin. The new collection contains both male and female models, which can be customized according to users’ preferences. Wearers may change cases, bands, colors and materials in the Moto Maker design studio.
Tech companies race to attract customers during this year’s IFA event in Berlin. Although Samsung and other tech giants have stolen the show, smaller companies still manage to draw the attention with the products they release. Motorola, too, has introduced a new line of smartwatches that boasts many interesting features.
The Moto 360 Sport model has the same round shape of its predecessor, Next Generation Moto 360. The male model is a little bit larger; it comes in 46mm and 42mm sizes, whereas the female prototype is slightly smaller with a 42mm case and a 16mm wrist band. Both timepieces have a resistant display due to the Gorilla Glass 3 case, the developer has explained.
The battery life is better compared to the one of the preceding models. Developers have stated that the female model has a 300mAh battery that lasts one day and a half with mixed activities. When the Ambient Light option is turned on the battery life drops to one day of battery life.
For the male model, a 400mAh battery has been provided. This guarantees up to two days of continuous use, but ambient lights have to be turned off, nonetheless.
There are many options that Motorola has added to its new smart timepieces to make them more useful to wearers. They have heart-rate monitors, Gyroscope, Ambient Light and Accelerometer. The Snapdragon 400 1.2 GHz quad-core CPU delivers fast responses to all users’ queries, together with the 512MB of RAM.
Wearers can store data of up to 4GB on all Moto 360 Sport Watches. The gadgets are dust and water resistant and they can even support wireless charging. In addition, they work with both Android and iOS based devices. iPhone users, too, may also pair the Moto 360 Sport Watch with Apple’s smartphone.
Moto 360 watches will be available for purchase starting this September, but developers have added that the first model to hit store shelves will be the standard version. BestBuy, Verizon, and Nordstrom are the retailers that will begin commercializing the new watch, according to Motorola.
The collection will be available in North America, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Prices may vary from $299.99 to $429.99, depending on the embedded features.
Image source: cdn0.vox-cdn.com
The strong bond between young and old members of the colony favors jet propulsion mechanisms.
According to scientists’ recent discovery, a new species of jellyfish colony inspires new technology for underwater jet propulsion systems. The colony called Nanomia bijuga uses team work to swim and each individual member has a specific role, according to researchers’ new studies.
Colonies are renowned for the strong relationship existing between each member and for the conjoined efforts they are willing to make to keep the colony going. This behavior was believed to be specific only for land species until a new study came to debunk all our previous knowledge.
It appears that there is a new species of jellyfish that encourages every member in the colony to put their shoulders to the wheel. Based on the observations that researchers have made, there is a strong bond between young and old members of this underwater species and together they make the entire community move from one place to another.
By closely observing the movements of the colony, marine biologists at the Providence College have concluded that the movements that jellyfish make are similar to jet propulsion mechanisms. The leading positions of the colony are held by young members. The latter release small jets that allow them to turn and steer; thus, orienting the entire colony towards the desired direction.
Older members can release larger jets; therefore they are placed at the end of the colony. Their jets boost the speed of the colony, scientists have concluded. According to the lead author of the study, John H. Costello, the jet propulsion mechanism is made possible due to the long lever arm of the young members.
He provided the example of a door handle to better illustrate the movements of the jellyfish colony. The long lever arm has the same effects humans have on door handles when they push them at a farther distance from the axis of rotation. Doors open easier in this case, compared to the case when the hinges are pressed.
These findings have been accomplished with the help of underwater cameras that scientists have set up at the Friday Harbor in Washington. Images have revealed that the nectosome, the jet-producing members of the colony are identical clones.
The new discovery will be used for the improvement of the technology that is required for underwater jet propulsion mechanisms.
Image source: www.biologybfinalproject.com
This species of algae can destroy the natural habitat of many U.S. fish species.
Based on recent reports, many U.S. lakes have been invaded by Starry Stonewort plant threatening the local vegetation. Authorities are making efforts to prevent this plant from spreading because it can have a negative impact on fish species.
Starry Stonewort (Nitellopsis obtuse) is a species of algae that usually lives in small waters of one to six meters. The name derives from the manner in which its six leaves are arranged, according to scientists.
While the plant may seem innocent to normal people, authorities claim the algae has the potential to pollute many of the U.S. lakes. Many negative consequences could arise from this invasion as the Starry Stonewort is a parasite growing on other plants and suffocating them.
Fish, too, may be affected as they will no longer find the plants they need to feed themselves. Consequently, their habitat will be destroyed and reproduction will drop, researchers have concluded.
While the Starry Stonewort is not directly noxious for the human beings, it could definitely affect local residents. Water will be hard to filter and it could become dangerous for inhabitants to swim in the lakes. In addition, water equipment could be damaged unless owners clean them every time they use them.
It is unclear what might have caused this unexpected invasion of the Starry plant. The algae is specific for slow moving or still water that is rich in calcium carbonates. Saline environments with very small sources of light are said to favor the diffusion of the Starry Stonewort plant.
The situation has become all the more troublesome, especially in Minnesota where many lakes have been invaded by the algae. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources the plant was found in 23 lakes on the territory of Minnesota, but there could be other lakes infested, as well.
The first time the plant was spotted in American waters was in 1978 in St. Lawrence River. Since then, the algae has moved towards the northern states causing small and temporary inconveniences to residents. In 2014, Wisconsin confirmed the presence of the Starry Stonewort in some of its lakes.
Image source: www.mymlsa.org
Google will provide the best and most recent information about upcoming hurricanes.
Almost precisely ten years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the U.S. Golf Coast, so now, all destructive storms will be watched by Google and carefully tracked to provide the population the best safety measure possible. Information is vital during a situation of crisis.
With hurricane season sadly upon us, the tech giant is taking preventive measures that will hopefully save thousands of lives, homes and billions of dollars in damage, so they may better keep the population informed about dangerous storms incoming.
With their partnerships with several third-party companies in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Australia, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, India and Indonesia, Google Alert will now provide vital information about upcoming storms, status updates and safe security measures individuals should take before a devastating event of nature hits.
Once again, the company manages to revolutionize already existing pieces of software by properly and successfully applying their warnings to each person in part, as opposed to their general area. Google takes it a bit further by personalizing safety measures and data according to the searcher’s precise location.
Due to the ample resources at their disposal, the company manages to offer a map that will show the storm’s location in relation to where you are, ample data about its status, including severity, forecast and arrival time, along with detailed and precise instructions on how to remain safe.
It will constantly update to provide as close to real-time news of the storm’s or hurricane’s progression throughout the United States. If you use the search engine to track down a specific storm several days before it hits, Google will show you a map and likely a recommendation on when you should start preparing an emergency kit.
According to your location, the tech giant has also provided a means to garner information about how to properly avoid serious injury or collision with debris, along with its own Crisis Response Team. All in all, Google seems adamant on covering all their bases.
Because of the devastation left behind by Katrina, they have also come up with a searchable database where users can look up their friends and family who might’ve been caught in a destructive storm. According to the company, they want to be as “prepared and helpful as possible” for the unknown, and provide as much useful information as they possibly can.
The effects of Katrina in New Orleans can still be felt today, so Google is attempting to make a potential disaster lessened in its destructive path, which might save lives in the end and prevent grave injuries. We may not know what is ahead of us, but it’s best that we’re prepared and have all the tools required as close as possible.
Image source: wtnh.com
There’s a good side to being neurotic: you can become a creative genius.
Tell us what you dream, so we could tell if you’re a creative genius – this is the saying that could better sum up the conclusions that scientists have reached during their most recent experiment. Adam Perkins, a psychologist at the King’s College from London has strong reasons to believe that neurotic people, that is, people who worry more are more creative.
Adam Perkins has teamed up with Jonathan Smallwood, a neuroscience expert to find why some people are more creative than others. Their initiative has been praised, considering that people have always tried to understand the genius of famous people like Isaac Newton, Isaac Asimov, Winston Churchill, etc.
The new theory starts from the recent finding that Smallwood has made related to people’s daydreaming activities. He has performed a series of MRI scans on various respondents to determine the brain region that is activated when people start imagining. Based on results, the medial prefrontal cortex that is responsible for memory recollection becomes highly active during daydreaming sessions.
Some respondents were much more active during tests than others. By comparing the MRI scans and the information that Perkins has collected from participants, the two researchers have concluded that neurotic people are generally creative geniuses.
Adam has explained that neurotic people are usually much more worried than other categories of individuals. They tend to become anxious, scared, unhappy and even angry if something goes wrong.
Their emotional expressions can be more or less powerful, depending on their extrovert or introvert nature. When confronted with a problem, introvert neurotics linger as much as possible in their memories until they find the answer they were looking for. These practices make them true creative geniuses, scientists have concluded.
History has confirmed the new finding on many previous occasions. Some of humanity’s brilliant minds were neurotics in that they could not leave a problem unsolved. Isaac Newton himself stated that he could stay for days on end thinking of the possible solutions to a math problem.
There are still many questions that need to be answered and many studies that need to be conducted before scientists can all conclude that neurotic people are creative geniuses.
The current study was published in the journal of Cognitive Science.
Image source: www.omdukblog.com
For a long time, it was believed that spinal stenosis is greatly relieved by steroid injections, but recent research proves otherwise. The new study has analyzed both the positive and the negative effects of the treatment based on data collected from adult patients diagnosed with low back pain or spinal stenosis.
According to senior author of the study Dr. Roger Chou from Oregon Science and Health University, this recommended course of treatment isn’t as effective as previously perceived. It is true, however, that the injections offer immediate pain relief, which is why doctors were recommending them.
But for the long run, epidural steroids injections had no better effects than a placebo, as researchers have noticed, and the patient’s need for surgery was not reduced at all. Reviewing the evidence showed that the outcome was not influenced by the technique of injection or by the type of steroid administered.
The good news, however, is that the study did not find the injections to have any negative impact; apart from rare blood clots, small bleeding events, and sometimes nerve soreness, the patient’s situation did not worsen.
Dr. Chou emphasized that in spite of the immediate pain relief, the patients need to understand and weigh the short-term benefits against potential side-effects, such as nerve injury or infection. When you take the injections off the table, however, another problem arises: there are limited options for treatment, and surgery remains the patients’ only viable alternative.
Not all experts in the field agree with the new analysis, and Dr. Zack McCormick from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine thinks that the recent findings are not applicable for real cases of spinal medicine.
He explains that administering epidural steroid injections is not meant to become a long term cure, but rather offer pain relief. That way, the patient can enjoy a better sleep, and have its quality of life restored in order for the physical therapy to take effect.
Despite previous studies showing similar results, doctors keep on recommending these injections as treatment for stenosis – the narrowing of the spaces between the spine’s bones – or for low back pain.
They might not be as beneficial as physicians have thought, but they offer significant relief to 60 percent of the patients who receive them. Each year, more than a million people are administered epidural injections either with local anesthetic or steroids, and so far, their benefits are still outweighing the risks.
Image Source: Indian Express
Tesla hopes the agreement will allow them to install 100 electric car chargers in California by the end of the year.
Based on official reports, Airbnb and Tesla announce new partnership to promote electric car chargers. The move has long been anticipated by promoters of renewable energy, who were hoping to see more support on behalf of auto makers.
Tesla car producer launched their electric Model S sedan in 2012 promising that there will be many similar projects in the making in the following years. Three years have gone by, but Tesla made no significant announcements in this direction.
On Friday, the vehicle producer has surprised customers and market analysts alike through the recent deal that they have signed with home rental and travel website Airbnb. There is little connection between the two companies, you might be tempted to think, but Tesla has made it all clear for us.
It appears that the two companies have joined hands to make home car electric chargers more popular. Based on their agreement, Airbnb is inviting users to register their homes as possible hosts for Tesla’s electric chargers. The two companies aim to select 100 homes by the end of the year and thus, enable Tesla drivers to “Be free. Go far” as the advertisement says.
Not all home owners can take part in the selection, according to Airbnb’s declarations. Only 4+ star rated homes that have been booked at least five times before can be added to the list. Most homes will be located in California, where Tesla is currently developing its electric car projects.
Interested home owners must be aware that Tesla is not covering all costs and requirements for the provision of the new home electric car chargers. The auto maker has agreed to offer the US$750 charger for free, but the costs of the installation will be covered by the home owner.
Our calculations have revealed us that the installation costs will probably amount to approximately US$900. This explains Airbnb’s decision to select only 4+ star properties; their owners are the only ones who may be willing to agree to this condition.
The new deal is said to bring many benefits to home owners, Tesla and Airbnb customers alike. The two companies could both register revenue growths, whereas home owners could increase their booking rates due to the new electric car chargers.
Image source: www.usattravel.files.wordpress.com
We’ve had some hot, hot, hot days in the last couple of weeks. But not as hot as the month of July was – because it has never been this hot, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration records dating back to the late 1800s.
And it won’t be long until Earth will experience its hottest year on record. Data released by NASA, NOAA, and the Japan Meteorological Agency shows that in spite of July being on average the hottest month we have, this year’s July has exceeded all expectations. Temperatures have most likely reached their highest threshold ever experienced on record.
The previous warmest month, July, 1998 was 0.14 degrees colder than this year’s, according to NOAA calculations. Jake Crouch, NOAA’s climate researcher, says he isn’t surprised at all that this new milestone has been reached, because it falls in line with what we already know: our planet is warming.
While Africa has yet to surpass its hottest temperature – recorded in July 2002 – other regions around the globe have also experienced their warmest this year, such as most of northern South America, regions in central Asia and southern Europe, and the far western United States.
Surprising, however, is that even though the western states were blistering hot, the surrounding area of Toledo has experienced a much cooler and wetter weather than what’s usually normal in this time of year.
According to the average daily mean temperature reported form the Toledo Express Airport, the temperatures were 2.8 degrees cooler than normal. The National Weather Service defines the ‘normal’ based on an average calculated from 1981 through 2010.
NASA’s global analysis coincides with the worrying trends spotted by NOAA, where every month of this year has brought a new warmth record, with the crowning records brought by June and July, the back-to-back warmest months ever caught on record.
Experts worry that 2015 will imminently bring with it the record for the warmest year, stealing the title from 2014. Jessica Blunden, climate scientist at NOAA, is 99 percent certain that, under the current circumstances, 2015 will blow out of the water any other warm year.
One of the surefire signs indicating this is the fact that oceans are trending warmer, and a dramatic cooling down that would prevent it is less likely to occur. Sea surface temperatures in the eastern and central tropical Pacific have also been much warmer than normal, surpassing with 1.35 degrees the recorded temperatures for the region and month of the year.
All the data presented in the collaborative report point to one thing: it doesn’t matter what climate-change doubters say, the Earth’s warming is a trend that has had no rest since 1998.
Image Source: National Geographic