Google announces the closure of Street View
03/11/2022The independent Google Street View application will stop working next March, as Google has reported. They also has confirmed that the service will remain active within Google Maps. At this moment, Street View works in parallel as an independent App in the Google and Apple stores and also as an integrated functionality of Google Maps, a duplication that is no longer considered necessary and for these reason it will disappear as an application next year, on march 21th. Street View allows users to explore, through real images, towns and cities of more than 65 countries, providing them panoramic views at ground level, and the possibility to choose which segments of the road they want to explore. The images that Google uses for this service are taken by vehicles, cars and tricycles, equipped with up to nine cameras. This vehicles just move around the world, taking the photos and generating three-dimensional data that are used on top of the images, in this case from Satellite, of each place.
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Google Maps introduces new search opcions of ecological routes
21/09/2022Google will incorporate in Google Maps , new ecological routes that will be able to guarantee a lower impact from vehicles on the environment and, also, minimize fuel consumption.This new functionality of more sustainable itineraries will be implemented in Europe during next weeks, after having been successfully tested in the United States and Canada, where, according to Google in a statement sent to Europa Press, they have contributed to avoiding more than half a million tons of carbon emissions, in only one year.To suggest the best ecological route, Google Maps will ask the user about the type of engine of the vehicle that is going to use and then will show the driver all his available itinerary options and an accurate estimate of the consumption efficiency of the vehicle.Additionally, the package of new Google Maps features also incorporates the option to activate the display of charging points for electric vehicles; new bike routes, and Live View option, to supervise streets in real time.
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The new USB 4 2.0 promise speeds up to 80 Gbps for data transfer
19/09/2022Next for his market presentation, the main characteristics of the new generation of USB are already known: USB 4 2.0 promises to double the speed of Thunderbolt 4 and the original USB 4.Although we will have to wait until November to know all their technical characteristics, USB Promoter Groupt has already explained that USB 4 2.0 will offer speeds up to 80 Gbps for data transfer, through a USB-C cable and connector.This significant increase in transfer speed is possible because the new USBs incorporate a new physical layer architecture, capable of supporting. So, the new USB are preparing, for example, to support the transfer of 4K or 8K videos from one computer to another without problems or to offer, also, the maximum gaming experience to gamer users thanks to its ultra-fast speed rate.Intel, meanwhile, is already working on Thunderbolt 5, which everything indicates will also offer speeds of 80 Gbps.
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The new version of the Internet satellite service Starlink V2 will eliminate coverage dead zones around the world
12/09/2022SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that next year, the second version of the internet satellite service, Starlink V2, will be up and running. The main novelty respect to the first version will be that Starlink V2 are going to be capable to transmit the internet directly to smartphones. This service, has explained SpaceX, will thus eliminate dead coverage zones, so will be able to guarantee internet connection in any corner of the world, although in its launch it will only be possible to make calls and send text messages, without being able to rival, for the moment, with broadband speed. In order to use Starlink services, an special antenna kit will continue to be necessary.
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The Spanish, the European citizens who know more about metaverse and virtual reality
27/06/2022The Spanish are the European citizens who most claim to know what the metaverse, virtual reality and augmented reality are. In fact, the results of the report presented by Ipsos in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, ensure that this knowledge would be not only above the European average, also the worldwide. Thus, 63% of Spaniards say they know the metaverse, compared to 52% of the world population, 30% of germans or 28% of France citizens. At the other extreme we find Turkey (86%), India (80%), China (73%) and South Korea (71%), which are presented as the countries with the largest population knowledgeable about the metaverse. "The results of this research work give a very optimistic view of the potential of the metaverse and show that many people are open to the technological change that is taking place," says Jame Ferrand-Gutiérrez, head of Data Intelligence at Ipsos in Spain. The director, however, points out that “we cannot ignore that the metaverse is still a concept that has not been fully realized […] Although it is planned as a parallel reality where everything has a place, in reality it is not. Well, at least at present. We will see in the future where it evolves". About the augmented and virtual reality, 77% of Spaniards say they know the first one well, and 85% the second, being, once again, Turkey, the country in the world where the percentages of familiarity with these technologies are more high, 94%. According to the report 'How the world sees the metaverse and extended reality', which collects data from 29 countries, obtained between April and May through the Ipsos Global Advisor platform, citizens expect that applications that use the metaverse will have a growing impact on their lives over the next decade and, according to the document, in Spain the greatest impact is expected in the field of virtual education and training (63%), entertainment (61%), video games (57%), work meetings (55%) and way of socializing and resources related to health (both with 54%).
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Microsoft Explorer is already history Microsoft stops supporting
17/06/2022After 27 years, Microsoft has definitively disconnected the Internet Explorer web browser and Microsoft Edge becomes, from now on, the only reference browser of this technologic company. Since last wendsday, June 15th, Microsoft is only supporting Microsoft Edge and any user who tries to access to the old browser or open any service that only works with Internet Explorer will be redirected to Microsoft Edge. Between 2002 and 2003, Internet Explorer was the most widely used browser in the world, 95% of users, although it was gradually losing market share. In fact, since 2016, Microsoft had already suspended the development of new features for this browser. After a first phase of redirection to Microsoft Edge over the next few months, Microsoft has already announced that it will release a Windows update that will make virtually all traces of the old browser disappear permanently, although it will remain active within Microsoft's Internet Explorer mode Edge, until the end of 2029. The withdrawal of support for Internet Explorer 11, the latest version available, will not affect server-based browser applications or the Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) or the Trident MSHTML engine.
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The EU wants to make USB-C the charging standard for all electronic equipment
27/04/2022The Commission for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection of the European Union has endorsed the proposal to make the USB type C charger the charging standard for all electronic equipment. With this decision, the objective is be able to reduce electronic waste and the environmental footprint linked to its production. In addition, the unification of standards in a single model eliminates the need for consumers to have a new charger every time we buy a new smartphone or other electronic devices, such as computers, peripherals, digital cameras and game consoles. The statement issued by the European Parliament indicates that the only equipment that will be left oyt of the implementation of the new standard will be the one that is too small to use it, such as smart watches or health trackers. The next steps related to this approval is reach an agreement with the EU governments on the final form of the legislation that will regulate the obligation to convert USB-C into a standard charging port for all electronic equipment. The EU is committed to making USB-C_the charging standard for all electronic equipment The introduction of the same charger for all devices aims to reduce electronic waste
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Video calling apps listen when the microphone is off, according to a study
25/04/2022A group of researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (United States) has determined that video conferencing applications can continue accessing audio data even if the user has disabled the microphone. To demonstrate this, they have studied the most popular video conferencing applications and have analyzed the behavior of the mute button until they has determined that all the applications that they has tested whether the microphone was open or closed, occasionally collected raw data and delivered it to the servers of their services. In their research they have worked with binary analysis tools to see how the audio was transferred from the application to the audio drivers of the computers and then to the network. They aslo have created, through machine learning models ( 'machine learning'), a classifier of daily activities that, with 82% accuracy, has determined which activities users were doing while their microphones were, theoretically, silenced. In relation to this, the authors of this work recall that beyond muting the microphone, you can turn off the microphone of a device through the settings menu, a safer option to limit access to confidential information and sensitive data. All the conclusions of this study will be known next July in the Privacy Improvement Technologies Symposium.
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Google Maps will use AI to update store hours
14/04/2022Google Maps will update the hours of more than 20 million businesses around the world in the next six months. To do this, they will use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a self-developed machine learning model, which identifies shop hours that are not updated. Through this system, the AI will update the hours according to itsel predictions based on parameters such the last update of the shop's profile, the hours of nearby stores and the busiest hours in that location. In addition, the algorithm will take datas from Google Business, information from the store's website, if it has one, and images from Street View. In some countries, Google will also use Google Duplex conversational AI technology to make calls with the quality of a human voice to the stores and confirm their opening hours. In this list of countries, France will be the only European country where the telephone verification will be carried out. The rest of the countries are Argentina, Australia, Chile, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru and the United States.
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Apple chooses March 8 to present their new products
07/03/2022Apple starts tomorrow, March 8, its 2022 presentation program. The company has advanced an invitation to "take a look at the performance" of its new products, and Bloomberg analyst Mark Gurman predicts that the event could host the presentation of the new iPhone SE. The first news placed this launch next April, but the fact that Apple will have this event tomorrow, suggests that the new iPhone SE will see the light before. This smartphone, explains Mark Gurman, will have support for 5G networks, a better camera and a better processor. In addition to this presentation, there is also speculation about a new iPad Air model, with a faster processor and 5G connectivity, and even a new Mac computer with the Apple Silicon processor.
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On December 13, Mozilla's Firefox Lockwise runs out of support and will no longer be updated
03/12/2021On December 13, Mozilla's Firefox Lockwise runs out of support and will no longer be updatedThe password manager for the Mozzilla Firefox web browser will no longer have support service from next 13th December and it will not be no longer installed or reinstalled from the App Store or Google Play. This doesn't mean that this password manager will stop working. The users will still be able to access their saved passwords as well as their password manager through the desktop browser. What will not be possible is to have the tool already more from the new updates and version 1.8.1 of iOS and version 4.0.3 of Android will be the last ones of Firefox Lockwise. Mozilla has reported that Firefox will synchronize iOS devices with the browser at the end of December. From this moment, Firefox iOS will have the ability to manage Firefox passwords throughout the system and other platforms.
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Spotify buys Findaway to expand its audiobooks service
16/11/2021Spotify is determined not to lose the battle as a digital entertainment platform, so they have announced the next acquisition of the Findaway audiobook service, with which, Spotiby will expand this type of content in its catalog. The operation is pending final approval by the regulatory authorities and is expected to be effective before the end of this year. The audiobook platform works for authors, publishers and consumers alike, and according to Spotify one of its goals with the acquisition is to work to remove current limitations and give better economic tools for audiobook creators.
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Google tests parcel delivery drones from shop's roofs
18/10/2021Google is testing a new drone product delivery system in Australia, with launch platforms from the store's roofs. To carry out the test, Google have the collaboration of the Vicinity’s shopping centres. Their customers can buy their products online and a drone waiting on the store's roof will take the items to the delivery address. In addition, Google tests the same take-off system from the store itself and not from the distribution centres, in Logan, United States, where more than 2,500 deliveries have already been made successfully with this system. As a curiosity and according to these results, the most demanded products by this system are teas, shakes, sushi and food. In the next weeks the system will be also prepare to delivered medicines and beauty and personal hygiene products.
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Google will install its Fuchsia operating system to more devices
13/10/2021Google wants to roll out its Fuchsia operating system to more devices in the near future. Fuchsia that Google started using on its Nest Hub smart displays earlier this year is not based on Linux as Android. Fuchsia uses the Zircon development kernel and also Flutter, a language that allow the use of apps from different platforms, including Android. Google has been working on its next-gen operating system for five years, and now has just posted a job offer for engineers to expand Fuchsia to new devices.
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Starlink will finish its satellite Internet tests in October
21/09/2021Starlink's beta program, the high-speed Internet service for rural areas without broadband connection, will end its trial period next October. After a year of testing this system, more than 1.800 satellites in orbit and a stable coverage in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Spain, Space X is waiting for the approval of the rest of the countries where the company has already registered its trademark to operate - Austria, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, France, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines and South Africa – being their goal to offer global satellite internet service in a short time. To take advantage of Starlink in areas without terrestrial Internet coverage you will need a special installation kit, which includes a terminal station, a WiFi 'router' and an antenna to connect to the satellite network.
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Apple wants to launch its own in-house 5G modems by 2023
17/05/20212023 is the date that most analysts estimate, as likely Apple does, to do the presentation of its first 5G modem. If the forecast comes true and Apple goes ahead with its own 5G modems manufacturing, Qualcomm, the current suppliers of the Snapdragon X55 modems for the iPhone 12 and Snapdragon X60 for the next iPhone 3, would be out of the equation, although the agreement they have signed until 2025 with Cupertino could lead to simultaneous Apple launches in the smartphone market with one or the other modem depending on the region of sale for a while. The development of Apple's 5G modems comes after the company bought the Intel division dedicated to these devices two years ago.
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