TECSWU #13

Tech Stuff We Use

๐Ÿ“Œ The much-hyped gadget, Humane AI Pin, has recently found itself rocked by bad reviews. The device, which aims to assist users in achieving a healthier and more balanced lifestyle, has garnered significant attention but is now facing the harsh reality of disappointing feedback. Despite its promises of being a revolutionary innovation, it seems that the Humane AI Pin has fallen short of users' expectations.

๐Ÿ’ก Highlights:
โ€ข The reviews have shed light on several issues with the gadget, including its inability to accurately track sleep patterns and overall health metrics.
โ€ข Users have reported frustration with the lack of customization options, limiting the device's effectiveness in adapting to individual needs.
โ€ข Many have criticized the Humane AI Pin's user interface as clunky and unintuitive, making it a frustrating experience for users trying to navigate its features.
โ€ข The device's apparent lack of durability has also been a cause for concern, as reports of malfunctioning and breakages have emerged.
โ€ข Despite its initial hype, the Humane AI Pin now faces a tough challenge of addressing these glaring issues to regain trust and deliver on its promised potential.

๐Ÿ” In conclusion, the Humane AI Pin's journey has taken a hit due to ๐Ÿ“‰ bad reviews that reveal multiple flaws and disappointments. The gadget's future success relies heavily on overcoming these obstacles and ensuring a user-friendly and reliable experience.

Oracle is offering 10,000 free slots for foundational training in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data management to help bolster Singapore's digital workforce. ๐ŸŽ“ Singapore aims to triple its pool of AI practitioners to 15,000 within five years. ๐Ÿ’ช Oracle has a long-standing commitment to investing in education and has supported computing education in 14 institutes in Singapore for over 15 years. The company is also offering internships and apprenticeships to 300 students and graduates. ๐Ÿค Oracle University will provide up to 10,000 places for free foundational training in various digital skills. The initiative aims to equip individuals with the necessary skills to thrive in the digital age. Additionally, Oracle plans to open a second data center in Singapore in July, driven by the growing demand for computing resources in the region. ๐Ÿ’ป CEO Safra Catz expressed interest in pitching Oracle's cloud solutions to the Singapore government. ๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿ“ถ TP-Link has unveiled the Deco XE70 Pro AXE4900 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System, a powerful solution that blankets your entire ๐Ÿ  with ultra-fast Wi-Fi. Here are some highlights from the article:

โ€ข ๐Ÿš€ With the new Deco XE70 Pro, users can experience speeds of up to 4.9 Gbps using the 6GHz band, thanks to Wi-Fi 6E technology.
โ€ข ๐ŸŒ The mesh networking function ensures seamless wireless roaming throughout the home, eliminating dead zones.
โ€ข ๐Ÿ’ช The system can handle up to 200 devices simultaneously, providing reliable connections for phones, laptops, TVs, game consoles, and smart home devices.
โ€ข ๐Ÿ”’ Enhanced security is available through TP-Link's HomeShield service, offering network security, parental controls, and real-time threat protection.
โ€ข ๐Ÿ’ผ In office settings, the 2.5G wired connectivity reduces strain on wireless bandwidth, making it ideal for high-speed backhauls.

The TP-Link Deco XE70 Pro AXE4900 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System is available as a 3-pack, 2-pack, and 1-pack options, with the 3-pack currently priced at $299 on Amazon with a coupon. Enjoy seamless connectivity and fast Wi-Fi speeds with TP-Link! โœจ๐Ÿ“ถ

Microsoft has announced an investment of $1.5 billion in UAE artificial intelligence (AI) company G42. The deal expands an existing partnership between the two companies, with Microsoft gaining a minority stake in G42. In return, G42 will run its AI services and applications on Microsoft's cloud computing platform, Azure. The agreement also involves the companies collaborating to develop a skilled AI workforce and build AI and digital infrastructure across the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. ๐Ÿ‘ฅ๐Ÿ’ป

Notably, G42 has cut its ties with Beijing, and the investment deal with Microsoft places protections on the AI products shared with G42 and includes an agreement to remove Chinese equipment from its operations. ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ Microsoft's investment in G42 highlights the growing importance of AI and strengthens the ties between Washington and Abu Dhabi. It also positions Microsoft to compete with other tech giants in the AI space. ๐Ÿ’ช๐ŸŒ

๐Ÿค– The New York Times article discusses the problem of measuring the intelligence and capabilities of artificial intelligence (A.I.) systems. Unlike other industries where products undergo rigorous testing before their release, A.I. companies are not required to do the same. This lack of standardized testing and evaluation means that claims made by A.I. companies about the improvements and capabilities of their models are often vague and unreliable. ๐Ÿ“Š Without reliable information about A.I. products, it becomes difficult for users to determine which tool to use for specific tasks. For example, people may struggle to decide between A.I. chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini for writing computer code, or between DALL-E 3 and Midjourney for generating realistic images of people. ๐Ÿ” The article highlights the need for better measurement and evaluation methods for A.I. systems to ensure transparency and enable users to make informed decisions. ๐Ÿ“

Voltpost, a company specializing in electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions, is bringing their innovative lamppost EV charging platform to metro areas in the United States ๐Ÿš—๐Ÿ”Œ. The company retrofits existing lampposts with their Level 2 EV charging technology, making it easier to install charging infrastructure in underserved communities and high-density areas known as "charging deserts" ๐Ÿ™๏ธโšก๏ธ. Some highlights from the article include:

โ€ข Voltpost aims to improve accessibility to EV charging in metro areas by utilizing existing lamppost infrastructure ๐ŸŒŸ.
โ€ข The company's charging platform is modular and upgradable, allowing for easy scalability and expansion ๐Ÿ”„๐Ÿ”‹.
โ€ข Users can access the charging stations through a mobile app, which provides real-time information about availability and usage ๐Ÿ“ฑ๐Ÿ’ก.
โ€ข Voltpost's solution can help reduce range anxiety by providing more charging options in convenient locations ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿš™.

Overall, Voltpost's lamppost EV charging solution has the potential to increase the adoption of electric vehicles and make charging more accessible and convenient for users in metro areas. โšก๏ธ๐ŸŒ†

Newcastle-based virtual reality simulation company Vrai has secured a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to provide a training system for the Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS) ๐Ÿš€. Vrai will develop a tactical simulator for the MLRS based in the 101 Royal Artillery Regiment. The pathfinder project, funded by the Defence and Security Accelerator, will result in an initial MRLS Tactical Capability Trainer. The system will simulate an MLRS cab, reducing training costs and carbon footprint โ™ป๏ธ. It will be used by the Royal Artillery's Army Reserve unit in the North East of England. Vrai recently secured a contract with BAE Systems to create a simulator for a Hawk aircraft โœˆ๏ธ.

โ€ข ๐ŸŒŸ Virtual reality simulation company Vrai has secured a contract with the Ministry of Defence to develop a tactical simulator for the Multi Launch Rocket System (MLRS).
โ€ข ๐Ÿ’ช Vrai's MLRS simulator will be used by the 101 Royal Artillery Regiment.
โ€ข ๐Ÿ’ฐ The project is funded by the Defence and Security Accelerator's 1st Customer Fund.
โ€ข ๐ŸŒ Vrai's simulator aims to reduce training costs and carbon footprint.

๐Ÿฅ The deployment of IoT in healthcare is transforming patient care and hospital management, but it also comes with challenges that need to be addressed. This article explores the obstacles that healthcare organizations face when adopting IoT and provides strategic insights into overcoming them.
๐Ÿ”“ Some key challenges include interoperability and compatibility, data security and privacy, scalability and management, and cost and ROI concerns.
๐Ÿ’ก The article provides several strategies for overcoming these challenges, including prioritizing interoperability standards, adopting robust cybersecurity measures, leveraging cloud solutions for scalability, conducting comprehensive ROI analysis, and engaging in pilot projects before full deployment.
๐Ÿ”ง By addressing these challenges, a more connected and efficient healthcare system can be created. Overall, IoT in healthcare holds enormous potential for enhanced patient outcomes, optimized therapy regimes, reduced costs, and more efficient resource management. ๐ŸŒŸ

Meta has explained a setting that all Quest owners should enable to improve the headset's boundary recall. By enabling the 'Share point cloud data' setting in the Privacy section of the device settings, Quest owners can activate the visual positioning system (VPS) feature. ๐ŸŒŸ VPS uses cloud storage and computing power to store and process more accurate spatial maps, making it more resilient to changes in lighting and clutter. ๐ŸŒˆ This feature has already helped users get into their apps faster over 100 million times and has reduced the frequency of "Boundary not found" prompts by 50%. ๐Ÿ˜ฑ Enabling this setting significantly reduces the hassle of setting up the VR or MR space before using the headset. ๐ŸŽ‰

Waymo's self-driving taxis are a reality and they're pretty awesome. ๐Ÿš• Unlike other hyped-up tech, these robotaxis actually work and are available for use in San Francisco and Phoenix. You can order a Waymo through an app, just like an Uber or Lyft, and it will take you to your destination autonomously. ๐Ÿ“ฑ๐Ÿš— While there are still some concerns and issues with the technology, such as figuring out how to get in the vehicle and responding to human signals like traffic cops, the overall experience is promising. Waymo has a couple hundred self-driving cars in San Francisco and Phoenix, but access is still limited. However, the company is expanding to new cities like Los Angeles and Austin. ๐ŸŒŽ While there are concerns about the impact of self-driving taxis on human drivers and the potential increase in costs as the technology becomes mainstream, the convenience and novelty of riding in a self-driving car is undeniably amazing. ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ’ฏ

In an article by TMJ4 News, the discussion around smart gun technology and its potential to prevent unintentional child shootings is the focus. The article uses a 360 reporting approach, interviewing various individuals in the community to gain different perspectives. Here are some highlights from the article:

โ€ข Trinika Walker, an anti-violence activist, shares the heartbreaking story of her grandson's unintentional shooting and expresses support for smart gun technology as a positive step towards preventing such incidents. ๐Ÿ’”๐Ÿ‘ช๐Ÿ”ซ
โ€ข Dr. Stephen Hargarten, a Senior Injury and Policy Advisor, discusses the need for gun safety regulations and highlights the potential benefits of smart guns, such as preventing unauthorized access and reducing gun-related injuries. ๐Ÿฉบ๐Ÿ”’โœ…
โ€ข The article also mentions that Milwaukee Police Department is testing smart gun technologies as part of the National Gun Safety Consortium, providing feedback to manufacturers. ๐Ÿš”๐Ÿงช๐Ÿ’ก
โ€ข Jennifer O'Hear, Executive Director of Common Ground, sees the involvement of law enforcement in testing smart gun technology as encouraging and believes this endorsement can influence gun owners to adopt the new technology. ๐Ÿ‘ฅ๐Ÿ‘ฎโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ†•
โ€ข However, there are opposing views, with Eddie Silas, a local gun shop owner, expressing skepticism towards smart guns and emphasizing the importance of firearm education instead. โŒ๐Ÿ”ซ๐ŸŽ“

Ultimately, the article recognizes the importance of protecting children and highlights the need for adults to take responsibility in ensuring their safety. ๐Ÿšธ๐Ÿ™

Electric vehicles have been around since the 19th century โšก๏ธ and had distinct advantages over gas-powered cars ๐Ÿ”‹. A timeline of 19th-century milestones in the development of electric vehicles includes:

โ€ข 1832: Scottish inventor Robert Anderson builds the first "horseless carriage" powered by an electric motor ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ.
โ€ข 1859: French chemist Gaston Plantรฉ creates the first rechargeable battery, allowing electric vehicles to become more practical ๐Ÿ”‹.
โ€ข 1881: French chemist Camille Faure invents a smaller and lighter lead-acid battery, making electric vehicles more practical for transportation โš–๏ธ.
โ€ข 1883: French engineer Charles Jeantaud builds and sells electric buggies powered by Faure's batteries, potentially beating Carl Benz in inventing the first automobile ๐Ÿš™.
โ€ข 1893: American chemist William Morrison showcases an electric-powered buggy at the Chicago World's Fair โšก๏ธ.
โ€ข 1897: The Electrobat, an electric taxicab, comes to New York City ๐Ÿš•.
โ€ข 1899: Belgian engineer Camille Jenatzy breaks the 60 mph speed barrier in an electric car called "La Jamais Contente" ๐Ÿš€.
โ€ข 1914: Henry Ford buys his wife an electric car, showing his interest in electric vehicles despite the dominance of gas-powered cars ๐Ÿ’‘.
โ€ข 1920: Gas-powered cars with electric starters become more common, leading to the decline of electric vehicles ๐Ÿš—.

Electric vehicles are now experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to advancements in technology and concerns about climate change โ™ป๏ธ๐ŸŒ.

BlackBerry has reported a surprise profit for Q4 2024, driven by higher demand for its cybersecurity services ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ’ฐ. The company's adjusted net profit was 3 cents per share, beating analysts' expectations of a loss of 3 cents per share. Quarterly revenue reached $173 million, surpassing the forecast of $154.78 million ๐Ÿ“ˆ๐Ÿ’ธ.

Highlights:
โœจ Revenue from the cybersecurity unit increased by 5% YoY to $92 million ๐Ÿ’ป๐Ÿ”’.
โœจ Revenue from BlackBerry's IoT business jumped 25% to $66 million ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿ“ฒ.
โœจ The company reduced 200 jobs and exited some offices, aiming for a $100 million annual profit increase ๐Ÿ’ผ๐Ÿ’ช.
โœจ BlackBerry expects Q1 2025 revenue in the range of $130 million to $138 million ๐Ÿ“†๐Ÿ’ฐ.
โœจ Full-year 2025 revenue is expected to be between $586 million and $616 million, with an adjusted loss per share of 3 to 7 cents ๐Ÿ’น๐Ÿ“‰.

The positive financial results, alongside the company's efforts in restructuring and focusing on profitability, have contributed to a 6.4% increase in its U.S.-listed shares ๐Ÿ“ˆ๐Ÿš€.

Italian luxury carmaker Maserati has unveiled the GranCabrio Folgore, the fastest electric convertible on the market. Here are some highlights from the article:

โšก๏ธ Maserati plans to launch seven electric models in the coming years as the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles.
๐Ÿ’จ The GranCabrio Folgore is characterized by its luxury and performance, with a stylish fabric roof that can retract in just 14 seconds, even while moving.
๐ŸŒŸ Inside, the convertible features a technologically advanced cabin with a large touchscreen display, digital panels, and eco-friendly seats made from recycled materials.
๐ŸŽ๏ธ The GranCabrio Folgore is powered by a remarkable powertrain derived from Formula E racing technology, delivering a combined output of 1,200 horsepower and offering mind-bending acceleration.
๐Ÿ”‹ The electric convertible is equipped with a 92.5 kWh battery pack, providing up to an estimated 278 miles of range. It can achieve a 20% to 80% charge in just 18 minutes on an 800-volt charger.ECHSWU #13