The kitchen is a popular place for smart displays in many homes, and for good reason. Whether you’re listening to music, getting the news or catching up on a popular TV show, your Nest Hub keep you entertained while you’re prepping dinner or doing the dishes. It’s also the ultimate cooking companion, with access to tons of YouTube videos ranging from cooking clips to how-to videos. And now, for the first time on any smart display, you can add watching Netflix to your list of kitchen activities: Starting today, Netflix is available on Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max.
The only display for your Netflix fix
Netflix is rolling out on Nest smart displays globally wherever the service and Nest devices are currently available. If you have a Netflix subscription, simply link your account in the Google Home or Assistant app and you can play Netflix movies, TV shows and documentaries by using your voice. Say, “Hey Google, play Queer Eye” to start streaming instantly, or try, “Hey Google, open Netflix” to scroll through select content and start watching with a simple tap. Hands tied up while you’re cooking? Just pause, play or skip forward with a simple ask.
Hands tied up, but still want to watch? Just ask
Maybe your hands are dirty from cooking, and you don’t want to touch your screen while finding something to watch. By simply using your voice, you can stream many of the services you’re subscribed to.
The smart display with the most entertainment
Now you might even look forward to the nightly post-dinner clean up when using your Nest display as a kitchen TV: You’re also able to cast from your compatible mobile devices to your Nest Hub from streaming services like Disney+, Prime Video and thousands of other apps that have mobile cast support by opening the streaming service’s mobile app and tapping the Cast icon.
Catching all your favorite shows on your Nest display just got a little more affordable, too: Head over to the Google Store for deals on Nest devices, that are running over the next few weeks. With so many entertainment options on your Nest smart display, your biggest challenge now might just be deciding what to watch.
Summer is in full swing and people across the world are opting to hop on their bikes. Coming in at no. 22, Ireland ranks among the top 30 countries in the world in terms of biking directions usage in Google Maps. Since February, requests for cycling directions in Google Maps have jumped by 69 percent—hitting an all-time high last month.
In Ireland, Google Maps have seen requests for cycling directions increase by 76% and search interest for “bike repair near me” more than doubled over the past year. Whether people are hitting the road to get their heart pumping or commute safely during COVID-19, Google Maps is making it easier for cyclists everywhere to get on their own bike or a shared one.
Ten years ago, Google introduced biking directions in Google Maps. Now it’s available in nearly 30 countries around the world and millions of people use it every day. As biking habits change, especially as things evolve with COVID-19, we’re constantly updating this information to help you uncover the most reliable bike route.
Raise the (handle)bar on biking routes
To give you the most up-to-date bike route, Google Maps uses a combination of machine learning, complex algorithms and an understanding of real-world conditions based on imagery and data from government authorities and community contributions. Google Maps also consider various forms of bike lanes and nearby streets that might be less friendly for your two wheels (like tunnels, stairs and poor surface conditions) so you can have the best and smoothest biking route. You can also see how flat or steep your route will be, so you’ll know if you’re in for an easy breezy ride or one that will really get the heart pumping.
However, the best route can always change and we are hard at work to reflect new information. For instance, due to COVID-19, many cities are adding and widening bike lanes to encourage cycling and accommodate more riders. Google Maps is already working to integrate hundreds of thousands of new bike lanes in the coming months. Local government agencies can provide this data through the Geo Data Upload tool to have their latest bike lane information reflected in Google Maps.
Gear up for new docked bikeshare directions in 10 cities
As more people choose to cycle, they’re buying new bikes, fixing up old ones and turning to bike sharing options. In fact, worldwide search interest for “bike repair near me” hit an all-time high this month—more than double what it was last year.
For riders opting to use bike sharing, Google Maps is rolling out more detailed information. Over the last several years, Google have launched a dockless bike and scooter integration with Lime in more than 100 cities and introduced real-time docked bikeshare information to help travellers in select cities locate bike sharing stations and real-time availability. With bikeshare providers seeing sharp increases in usage during COVID-19, it’s even more important to quickly and easily check how many bikes are available at the station you’re headed toward and if there are docks available to drop off your bike near your destination.
Starting today, when you look up biking directions, you’ll see end-to-end directions that include docked bikeshare information. Steps will include detailed walking directions to bikeshare stations near your starting point along with live bike availability, turn-by-turn cycling directions to the bikeshare station closest to your destination with live dock availability, and, finally, walking directions from there to your final destination. And, for some cities, Maps will show you links to open the relevant bikeshare app to book and unlock the bike.
Wednesday 22nd July 2020 at 16:00 BST/UK Time, ASUS will be officially unveiling the latest member of the ROG Phone family to the world; the ROG Phone 3!
At ASUS, their mission has always been to ‘defy ordinary’ by standing out from their peers. ASUS believe all phone users have unique requirements and the new ROG Phone 3 has been specifically designed as the ultimate gaming device for the global gaming community and mobile gaming enthusiasts.
This device is the ultimate expression of their passion for innovation and commitment to their customers and are excited to share this experience by encouraging you to follow the link to a live streaming of the virtual launch event on the day: Also stay tuned for a review soon..
Shure has partnered with Adobe to offer a two-month subscription of Adobe Premiere Rush for customers who purchase a Shure MOTIV ™ Microphone starting July 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. Specifically designed for mobile creators, Adobe Premiere Rush is a premium video editing software that gives users the flexibility to record and edit pro-quality video content on their mobile devices wherever they are. When used together with MOTIV microphones, content creators can record professional quality audio right out of the box.
“By partnering with Adobe, MOTIV customers now have full video editing capabilities at their fingertips,” said Paul Crognale, Senior Marketing Manager of Musician and Consumer Audio, at Shure. “They can easily create a professional production on the go while also saving valuable time with the intuitive Adobe Premiere Rush software.”
To inspire content creators, Shure enlisted professional videographer Paul Hüttemann to produce the cinematic short film, "The Sounds Of India & Sri Lanka," using only his mobile device, the Shure MV88+ Video Kit, and Adobe Premiere Rush. Watch the film here and learn how he created the film with behind-the-scenes footage here.
“The MOTIV x Rush combination is a perfect set up for filmmakers,” said Hüttemann of huettehuette. “You can record great sounds, customize the file names in ShurePlus MOTIV app, and sync shots to accelerate and finalize footage on the go with Adobe Premiere Rush.”
Shure’s award-winning MOTIV line of microphones enables creators to produce high-quality audio with ease. Now users can take their professional-grade content captured with MOTIV, edit the footage directly in Adobe Rush Premiere, and share to all social channels on the go. Available on both mobile and desktop, the software syncs all content to the cloud, making it easy to work across mobile and desktop platforms. The microphones that are part of the promotion include:
MV88+ Video Kit – Portable audio and video recording kit features a digital stereo condenser microphone, a Manfrotto ® PIXI tripod, phone clamp, and mount as well as Lightning and USB-C cables for next-level compatibility and connectivity. Just add phone to capture content wherever. MV88 Digital Stereo Condenser Microphone – Connected via the Lightning port on iOS, the MV88 records video with crystal clear sound and captures the performance of a lifetime. This multi-directional masterpiece tilts, rotates, and is made to withstand demanding conditions, producing best-in-class stereo audio. MV51 Digital Large-Diaphragm Condenser Microphone – The MV51 offers unparalleled audio in all- metal construction with simple touch panel controls. Deny distortion and enjoy sound excellence in every environment, from demo sessions to field recordings. MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone – The MV5 delivers pristine sound recording via Lightning or USB directly to your mobile or desktop, without sound distortion. Use vocal, instrument, or flat settings to customize recordings.
MVL Lavalier Microphone – Compatible with smartphones and tablets, this omnidirectional condenser microphone connects to portable devices for interviews, videography, and more with superior acoustic clarity.
This limited-time offer gives customers an added value of $28 USD with every purchase and is available worldwide in all countries where Adobe is permitted. Customers can sign up and register for their Premiere Rush subscription at: www.shure.com/adobe.
By Boris Cergol, Head of AI at Comtrade Digital Services
Over the past few years, digitalisation has been a buzzword for many companies, as they try to take advantage of new technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), cloud environments, and machine learning, to improve operations, centralise data, and enhance customer engagement. If you are interested in the last one, be sure to check out the best online machine learning courses around”.
However, in reality, this transition into the virtual or digital world isn’t without its challenges. One common problem for organisations is bridging the gap between the implementation of AI or data science and the delivery of a real business value.
In fact, when the data scientist role emerged, it was a sort of “unicorn” role because these individuals were expected to not only manage the technology infrastructure and build AI models, but also translate data into actionable predictions and communicate effectively with more business-minded colleagues.
Mixed results in the beginning
Of course, some companies had more success than others in terms of the AI application. Typically, larger companies with the economies of scale have done better, as have technology companies and those working in ecommerce or finance where the use and value of AI is more straightforward.
Many small businesses, who decided to embrace such technologies, have probably been disappointed with what they got out of it, especially considering the amount of hype surrounding it.
Boris Cergol, Head of AI, Comtrade Digital Services
Therefore, the question became: how can AI have a bigger impact in the real world, spreading beyond the confines of the digital, to provide greater value to a wider circle of businesses and people?
Key enablers of AI
There are a number of enablers that are having an impact on the success rate of AI, the first of which is computing power. To date, it has already enabled a Deep Learning revolution and, since 2012, computing power has increased 300,000 times. Taking the ImageNet dataset as an example, the time needed to train a network to perform image classification has gone from 10 hours in 2017 to 88 seconds in 2019!
As well as having more compute available and this process being more cost-effective, the efficiency of algorithms is also increasing exponentially. Again, compared to a model in 2012, computing the same task today with the newer algorithms takes 44 times less compute.
Data is another strong enabler of AI and significant progress is being made in relation to overcoming the issue of data labelling within Deep Learning – because there’s so much data and not that much of it labelled, supervised models have been unable to make use of it, resulting in the need for data labellers. However, self-supervised models are addressing this as they are now able, in circumstances where there is a large amount of data and one data point is removed, to guess what has been removed based on the remaining data.
Auto Machine Learning (Auto ML) methods are also on the rise, helping to automate classic data science research and acting as a strong driver in terms of a real-world AI application. In fact, in some circumstances, end users are already directly interacting with Auto ML models. The delivery of ML on the edge devices is another exciting area of development which supports AI implementation: for example, WeWalk′s canes for visually impaired people, designed to give users more independence.
Ethical considerations will inevitably arise
Ethics can often be an obstacle to AI ad ML implementation. What happens with all the data? If different users are accessing the same model, what is the impact on privacy? Does the payoff of using AI for health purposes justify the use of data? How can we combat AI being intentionally used for deception? And so on…
Take Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) as an example. These networks can generate images that are representative of training set data and then a second network tries to determine if the image is from the set or fake. By competing against each other, in the end, the generator learns how to create images that look like they were from the training set. While it has the potential to be used in retail and cosmetics to digitally show consumers what an outfit or makeup product might look like on them – a sort of virtual “try-on” experience – it could also be used in advertising to deceive the audience. Another instance is using digital avatars or deep fakes to build a fake persona on social networks.
For the most part though, AI is being used for the right reasons and is generating some impressive results. One area in particular is natural language processing, which has led to the next generation of chatbots that are much more receptive and customer-friendly than before.
So, what comes next?
In the future, there’s a strong possibility that each of us could have a digital companion which would have a large amount of data on us, but use it to watch over us and be the ultimate example of a supportive AI (which, to date, includes creations such as the shoe that monitors sports performance).
There are also signs that we aren’t far away from unsupervised reinforcement learning or imitation within robotics. In the not-too-distant future, there is potential for robots to learn like children do – by witnessing their behaviours, playing around with them and, accordingly, adapting how they act.
Undoubtedly, there’s a great deal of research and development needed in the area of the real-world application of AI, but progress is certainly being made and models are being put to good use in a range of industries, including healthcare.
As the well-known researcher Jürgen Schmidhuber recently said: “Although the real world is much more complex than virtual worlds, and less forgiving, the coming wave of real world AI or simple real AI will be much bigger than the previous AI wave, because it will affect all of production, and thus a much bigger part of the economy”.
Technical Development – internally referred to at Audi as “TE” – is the place where the brand’s heart beats. It is the place where “Vorsprung durch Technik” becomes a reality. The engineers develop innovations from the initial idea to market level. The new “Audi TechFocus” online newsletter provides detailed insights behind the scenes of TE. The topic of the premier issue: patents. Or: this is how we document “Vorsprung durch Technik.”
In 1970 – exactly 50 years ago – the “Technical Development” department moved into the first new facilities on the northern periphery of Ingolstadt. The complex has continuously been expanded ever since. By now, nearly 10,000 technicians and engineers are engaged in research and development just at the Ingolstadt location. Together with the nearly 2,000 TE employees in Neckarsulm and the developers in Győr, Beijing and San José Chiapa they form the innovation laboratory of Audi– and very successfully so. The number of patent applications filed is one of the benchmarks for the brand’s strong innovative prowess.
How many patent applications does Audi file per year?
In 2019, there were more than 1,200 patent applications filed, more than three on each day of the year. The subject matter and focus of patents change in line with shifts in social awareness. In earlier years, the main emphasis was put on ideas and inventions from the areas of chassis, conventional engine technology and transmission. At the moment, digitalisation and electric mobility are at the top of the list. In total, the company currently holds some 13,000 patent families worldwide, which equates to approximately 23,000 individual patents and patent applications. For the complex procedures involved, Audi employs specialised patent attorneys.“We protect the ideas and inventions of our engineers and thus our ‘Vorsprung durch Technik,’” says Jama Askaryar, the patent attorney responsible for electric and hybrid drives.
AUDI AG is the leader in patent applications filed for electric drives in Germany
Whereas many competitors purchase electric drive technology, Audi develops it in-house in many areas. As the most innovative premium brand, Audi is the leader in patent applications filed for electric powertrains in Germany. The statistics prove this, too: According to an analysis of the German Patent and Trade Mark Office and the European Patent Office (EPO), in 2019, a total of 660 patents were filed with effectiveness just in Germany. These applications refer only to vehicles with electric powertrains. Compared to 2017, this corresponds to an increase of 42 percent. With 57 patent applications filed for the plug-in hybrids and the models of the all-electric Audi e-tron, Audi occupied the top spot. “This is ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ and shows the great innovative spirit of our developers,” says Roman Straßer, Head of Development, Power Electronics and Charging Systems. But not just the Patent Office documents Audi’s top ranking in the area of ideas and inventions. In 2020, the renowned Center of Automotive Management (CAM) recognises Audi as the winner in the area of alternative drives with the Automotive INNOVATIONS Award.
What are examples of patent applications?
Two Audi engineers have invented a new method of operating the electric machines of the Audi e-tron. Their function for predictive energisation of the e-machines via smart and innovative power electronics enhances driving dynamics. At the same time, it minimises electric power consumption by “anticipating” the desired driving commands and predictively initiating them.
Audi patents are also found in the field of fluid mechanics – the utilisation of the physical flow behaviour of fluids. For instance, to efficiently cool the rotor in an electric motor. Traditionally, the heat is dissipated from the outside. Audi does this additionally via a coolant fluid and smart cooling ducts directly in the rotor core, from the inside. The complex technological feat of assembling the individual rotor sheets results in particularly effective rotor cooling.
Another example of e-mobility ingenuity at Audi is a patent on a solution enabling the absorption of hectic accelerator pedal actuations, which makes it possible to avoid load alterations from acceleration to deceleration mode. This is achieved by complex filtering of driving behaviour, which considers and optimises all parameters from the driver’s wish to the current torque distribution on the two axles and on all four wheels. Similar technology is now being adapted to the newer models of high-end kids electric cars.
Technology highlights from Audi’s history
The fast-running permanent quattro all-wheel drive has been and will remain a shining beacon of “Vorsprung durch Technik.” With the all-wheel drive technology unveiled in the original quattro at the 1980 Geneva Motor Show following a three-year development period, Audi revolutionised not only the automotive industry but motorsport, too.
A large number of other Audi innovations and patents have decisively shaped the automobile as well. For instance, the Audi Space Frame (short: ASF) unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show IAA in 1993, on which aluminum replaced the previously used steel as the material for the unibody in the Audi A8. To this day, this lightweight engineering know-how has seen consistent further development. The current Audi A8 in its structural components even combines a material mix of four different lightweight materials: aluminium, steel, magnesium and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) – for a new level of multi-material design.
Dreams and ambitions are what keeps us going through challenging periods in life. It is the same for students – they have to put in a lot of efforts during their studies, but what motivates them is the desire to hold a Master’s degree.
We won’t lie to you – the process is not easy. You will have to be dedicated, and maybe even ask others for help, such as hiring a master’s thesis writing service, for example AdvancedWriters. But if you are determined to get that degree, here is a list of things that can help you get it shortly and effortlessly.
Find the Program That Suits You
The first thing you want to do is to find a program that suits your preferences and desires. We assume you will stick to pursuing masters in the niche you are passionate about, but what type of program fits your schedule? If you have started working or plan to return to your hometown to cut expenses, you can consider online programs. They may require a great level of focus, but if you dedicate to the studies, you can complete them effortlessly.
For those that are employed, there are also night and hybrid programs they can consider. These are tailored to your busy schedule and might be more feasible for a working person.
Create a Support System and Rely on It
You can count on two different types of support systems when on master’s studies. As with anything else in your life, you probably cannot achieve long-term goals without the support of your close ones. Make sure that your family and friends understand when you do not have enough time for them, and ensure that they will be there to listen and offer tips when you need support.
Additionally, you want to create a network of people that are experts in your niche. Get to know the other students, and do not be afraid to talk to professionals in your industry and ask for input or advice.
How Professional Writers Can Help
When you are close to completing the master studies, you will face writing a thesis. It is the final academic assignment you will do in the written form, and it is extremely important to impress your professors. It is not easy to write any paper, let alone a thesis. If you feel overwhelmed with the project, how about hiring experienced writers to help you? You will find many teams offering their custom writing services online.
Make sure to find reliable authors – the ideal scenario is to find someone with the degree in your niche and an author with previous experience on similar topics. We advise you to learn the mistakes essay writing service users make before you pay for papers.
The Importance of Time Management
Once the studies start, there is one crucial thing to take care of – time management. You are a student with experience now, and you probably know that productivity directly depends on how well you design your schedule. Some of the tips to apply to include prioritizing and using a checklist. Make sure to eliminate any distractions, and stay focused on the current task you have to complete. Do not forget about the reward concept – if you completed a significant task in the last several hours, you deserved a little break.
Talk to the Professors
We already mentioned establishing a network, and professors should be an important part of it. When you are pursuing a master’s degree, communicating to professors becomes even more important. Keep in mind that your tutors and school want you to complete the program because it would make them look good. That is why professors are more than happy to offer guidance should you need it. Make sure to see what is the preferred method of communication for your tutor – some prefer e-mail messaging while others like to talk in person.
The critical thing to ensure when starting your master’s pursuit is that you have plenty of motivation and desire to complete the studies. Make sure to remind yourself that you want to be respected in your field, and that is why you are doing this. If necessary, get some assistance from experienced writers, and make sure to organize your schedule properly to maximize productivity. As long as you make smart use of your time, you will be on the right path to obtaining the degree you have been dreaming of since you were a teenager.
Plantronics, Inc. (“Poly” – formerly Plantronics and Polycom), a global communications company that powers meaningful human connection and collaboration, today announced that Poly now has the largest portfolio of Microsoft Teams certified headsets available, offering greater flexibility and choice with more than 20 headsets and personal speakerphones certified for Teams. This solidifies Poly as having the most comprehensive end-to-end suite of Teams certified headsets, video devices, phones and speakerphones available.
Poly has sold nearly 17 million Microsoft compatible devices over the last three years. Our latest portfolio of certified devices with the dedicated purple Teams button includes the Voyager 4200 Office Series and Voyager 5200 Office Series headsets, Calisto 3200 and 5300 speakerphones, Blackwire 3300 Series, and the recently announced Blackwire 8225 headsets. The dedicated Teams button allows you to instantly invoke your Teams meeting as well as receive alerts and notifications so you never miss a beat.
“Customers and users need options when they’re determining which premium headset or USB audio device they need to get their work done – especially as we navigate new working environments like our kitchen tables,” said Christine Roberts, senior vice president and general manager of enterprise headsets, Poly. “When it comes to high-quality options that seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Teams, no one else can give you as much choice and flexibility as Poly.”
“As distance and remote working continues for many organisations, the need for a wide variety of UCC integrated devices, including Microsoft Teams, will remain a top priority,” said Alaa Sayed, industry director, Frost and Sullivan. “No other vendor comes close to Poly’s deep portfolio of Teams certified devices for home, office, and everywhere in between. Poly’s ability to offer simple, flexible and reliable communications endpoints is just one of the reasons Poly continues to be a leading provider of global enterprise headsets.”
Poly’s portfolio offers Teams certified devices ranging from wireless DECT™ headset systems like Savi 8200 Office and UC Series, to premium Bluetooth® headsets that connect to PCs and mobiles like the Voyager family, to portable USB speakerphones like Calisto 5300. All certified products have been rigorously tested and Microsoft certified to ensure the best audio and user experience and have been thoughtfully designed to work flexibly and seamlessly with Microsoft Teams – creating a one-stop shop for your organisation’s collaboration device needs whether you’re a Microsoft Teams aficionado or just starting your journey to leverage Microsoft Teams.
For a full list of Poly Microsoft Teams certified devices now available for order and shipping, please visit here for more information.
The Jabra Elite Active 75t and Elite 75t in-ear true wireless earbuds are now available with wireless charging. This will allow users to charge their earbuds by simply placing the case on the charger*. Jabra has developed the wireless charging variant of the Elite 75t range so that users are no longer restricted by low battery levels. The wireless charging capabilities are not only convenient but also practical, as users have the choice to charge their earbuds as they wish.
Many users are always on the go, which creates a need for the availability of fast and extended charging solutions. The new wireless charging variants are the same in looks and features as their non-wireless charging counterparts and can be charged both via a charging pad, or via the USB-C cable – offering double the options to charge up your earbuds. Both the Elite Active 75t and the Elite 75t come with up to 7.5 hours battery life, extending to 28 hours with the charging case, allowing users to totally immerse in calls or music for hours on end.
The new wireless charging variants of the Elite 75t range are a testament to Jabra’s commitment to expanding its true wireless offerings. With multiple colours, wireless charging, as well as Active and non-Active versions to choose from, the Elite 75t earbud range is set to provide a choice for any user.
All variants of the Elite Active 75t and Elite 75t now include MySound, a feature that enables automated hearing tests for users to calibrate their earbuds to their own unique hearing profile. MyControls is now also available, which gives users the option to personalise the button use of the earbuds. This means the ‘Next Track’ and ‘Previous Track’, or Mute on/off functions can be moved from the left to right earbud, or fitted to personal taste.
Calum MacDougall, SVP at Jabra, said: “The award-winning Elite range is a testament to Jabra’s engineering expertise, proving our commitment to creating the best user experience in the market. We are so excited to take this further by incorporating wireless charging.
“We wanted to provide our busy, on the go users with practical and convenient charging options. Instead of being bogged down by low battery levels, our users now have the choice to charge their earbuds as they please.”
Jabra Elite Active 75t key features and specifications:
Compact earbuds, tested for a secure active fit with optimal noise isolation
Up to 7.5 hours battery life, and 28 hours with the charging case
4-microphone technology for crystal-clear calls in every environment
Wireless charging enabled (wireless charger not included)
Customisable equaliser in the Jabra Sound+ App makes your music sound even betterIP57-rated durability and 2-year warranty against dust and sweat
One-touch access to Siri® and Google AssistantTM Jabra MyControls to define button settings and Jabra MySound for individualised sound
Jabra Elite Active 75t Pricing and availability Jabra Elite Active 75t wireless charging are now available in selected retailers, MSRP £209.99. The wireless charging earbuds are available in two colours: Navy and Grey
Compact new earbud shape tested for comfort and secure fit
4-microphone call technology for superior calls wherever you are
Up to 7.5 hours battery, up to 28 hours with the charging case
Wireless charging enabled (wireless charger not included)
Customisable equaliser in the Jabra Sound+ App makes your music sound even better
IP55-rated durability and 2-year warranty against dust and water
One-touch access to Siri® and Google AssistantTM
Jabra MyControls to define button settings and Jabra MySound for individualised sound
Jabra Elite 75t Pricing and availability
Jabra Elite 75t wireless charging are now available in selected retailers, MSRP £189.99. The wireless charging earbuds are available in two colours: Black and Titanium Black
