On December 22th 2016, Avid announced the released of Pro Tools 12.7. The new update comes hot on the heels of the release of Pro Tools 12.6, which was released in September 2016. It now comes fully cloud enabled to allow creators to collaborate via the internet. There are also added features such as Soundbase, and Avid has included a 2GB sound library from Loop Masters. Pro Tools 12.7 also includes access to new plug-ins like Ibanez Tube Screamer and Leslie cab emulator.
Soundbase is a new feature in Pro Tools 12.7 that allows creators to use a search pane to search browse, and audition loops, samples and sound effects from any sound library. With Soundbase, creators can search the 2GB Loop Masters sound library, which features newly curated content from the industry's leading producers and sound designers. All sounds can be easily referenced and previewed in tempo with their current projects.
There's also Revision History. This feature allows creators to manages multiple versions of projects, backups, media and meta data. As per usual, all of the new features can be obtained with the purchase of a new annual upgrade plan for $99. Pro Tools users can keep their plug-ins current with the purchase of a plug-in and support plan that is also $99. A monthly subscription cost only $24, and if you haven't yet tried Pro Tools, visit Avid for a free 30 day trial.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
New Release!
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Microsoft To Add Cortana To Connected Devices
On December 12th 2016, at its WinHEC conference in ShenZhen, China, Microsoft announced that it intends to use Windows 10 to add Cortana to all devices that connect to the internet. The idea is to allow developers to add Cortana to devices such as refrigerators, toasters, robots, doorbells, and thermostats, etc, as long as these devices have a screen or visual display. The devices will use, "Wake on Voice from Modern Standby," and "Far-Field Voice," support to make this possible.
The, "Wake on Voice from Modern Standby, " command is what allows Cortana to turn on computers from off to a fully powered state. This is made possible through the use of Windows 10's "Modern Standby," Power management Support. The "Far-Field Voice," technology will give Cortana the ability to work in rooms where there is ambient noise, and will work at a distance of up to 13 feet away.
Microsoft expects to release its Windows IoT (Internet of Things) Core, as a part of its Windows 10 Creators Update, in the spring of 2017. Devices equipped with the new technology should arrive by late 2017.
The, "Wake on Voice from Modern Standby, " command is what allows Cortana to turn on computers from off to a fully powered state. This is made possible through the use of Windows 10's "Modern Standby," Power management Support. The "Far-Field Voice," technology will give Cortana the ability to work in rooms where there is ambient noise, and will work at a distance of up to 13 feet away.
Microsoft expects to release its Windows IoT (Internet of Things) Core, as a part of its Windows 10 Creators Update, in the spring of 2017. Devices equipped with the new technology should arrive by late 2017.
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Amazon Introduces Amazon Go
On December 5th 2016, Amazon opened a brick and mortar grocery store in Seattle called, Amazon Go. Amazon Go is an 1,800 square foot store whose main features are the absence of long lines, cash registers, or self checkout machines. Amazon is testing the feasibility of allowing shoppers to grab the items that they want and just leave. The purchased items are later charged to the shoppers Amazon accounts.
The Amazon Go concept uses computer vision and sensors to determine what items shoppers are taking from the shelves. Shoppers start the experience by scanning an app as they enter the store. Shopping is done normally, while cameras monitor every move. Items placed into shopper's carts are scanned and identified by sensors that run throughout the store. When shoppers are finished, they pass through senors that scan their purchases as they leave.
Amazon is calling Amazon Go, the "Just Walk Out," shopping experience. The Amazon Go store not only offers grocery items such as bread, milk, etc, but the store also offers ready to eat meals that are prepared by on site chefs as well as from local kitchens and bakeries. While the store offers its Amazon Prime members a new shopping experience, there are no special privileges for members as of yet. If the test is successful, Amazon plans to open 20 such stores, with as many as another 2,000 stores planned for the future.
The Amazon Go concept uses computer vision and sensors to determine what items shoppers are taking from the shelves. Shoppers start the experience by scanning an app as they enter the store. Shopping is done normally, while cameras monitor every move. Items placed into shopper's carts are scanned and identified by sensors that run throughout the store. When shoppers are finished, they pass through senors that scan their purchases as they leave.
Amazon is calling Amazon Go, the "Just Walk Out," shopping experience. The Amazon Go store not only offers grocery items such as bread, milk, etc, but the store also offers ready to eat meals that are prepared by on site chefs as well as from local kitchens and bakeries. While the store offers its Amazon Prime members a new shopping experience, there are no special privileges for members as of yet. If the test is successful, Amazon plans to open 20 such stores, with as many as another 2,000 stores planned for the future.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
7,000 Year Old Egyption City Discovered
On November 23rd 2016, the Egyptian Ministries of Antiquities announced that archaeologists there had found the ruins of a 7,000 year old city. The discovery was made 400 meters from the temple of Seti I, during an excavation of parts of Abydos, in Egypt's Sohag province. Researchers say that Abydos was once Egypt's capital city during the fist four dynasties and near the end of the predynastic period.
So far, archaeologists have uncovered huts, remains of pottery, iron tools, and 15 huge graves. Some of the graves were larger than those of the kings of Abydos. It is believed that the size of some of these larger graves indicates that the people who were buried there were very important. They may even have held some high social social standing, during this particular period of Egyptian history, which dates back to 5,316 BCE.
So far, archaeologists have uncovered huts, remains of pottery, iron tools, and 15 huge graves. Some of the graves were larger than those of the kings of Abydos. It is believed that the size of some of these larger graves indicates that the people who were buried there were very important. They may even have held some high social social standing, during this particular period of Egyptian history, which dates back to 5,316 BCE.
Thursday, November 24, 2016
A Scientist Proposes New Theory Of Gravity
On November 8th 2016, Professor Eric Verlinde of the University of Amsterdam published a paper that proposes a new theory of gravity. Professor Verlinde suggests that Dark Matter doesn't really exist. Dark Matter is the name for an invisible substance that scientist believes makes up 27% of all of the mass in the universe. It has been used to explain inconsistencies in the gravitational rotations of galaxies.
The new theory is called Emergent Gravity, and was actually first proposed by Professor Verlinde in a paper he wrote in 2010. In that paper, Professor Verlinde put forth that gravity is not a true force of nature, but it emerges as the result of an exchange of bits of information that are fundamental and stored in space time it self. In his latest work, Professor Verlinde contends that it is this information exchange and not Dark Matter that gives rise to gravitational effects observed across the universe.
Professor Verlinde contends that the bits of information stored in space time are actually the effect of the amount entropy in the universe. Entropy is the second law of thermal dynamics which states that things in a given system tend to move from order to disorder. According to Professor Verlinde, this can also account for what is being called Dark Energy. Dark Energy has been described as gravity's propensity to push objects away from each other and is credited with the accelerated expansion of the universe.
The new theory is called Emergent Gravity, and was actually first proposed by Professor Verlinde in a paper he wrote in 2010. In that paper, Professor Verlinde put forth that gravity is not a true force of nature, but it emerges as the result of an exchange of bits of information that are fundamental and stored in space time it self. In his latest work, Professor Verlinde contends that it is this information exchange and not Dark Matter that gives rise to gravitational effects observed across the universe.
Professor Verlinde contends that the bits of information stored in space time are actually the effect of the amount entropy in the universe. Entropy is the second law of thermal dynamics which states that things in a given system tend to move from order to disorder. According to Professor Verlinde, this can also account for what is being called Dark Energy. Dark Energy has been described as gravity's propensity to push objects away from each other and is credited with the accelerated expansion of the universe.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Adobe Creates Photoshop For Audio
On November 3rd 2016, at its Adobe Max Conference, the company announced that it had created an application that can reproduce human speech. The project code named, VoCo, is what Adobe is calling Photoshop for audio. VoCo allows a user to manipulate a piece of audio simply by editing lines of text. Words can be rearranged to change sentences or inserted where they were never spoken.
Voco works by sampling a large amount of voice data, which takes about 20 minutes. It then breaks down that data into "phonemes." Phonemes are the distinct sounds that make up a particular spoken language. Next, it voice models the speaker, using cadence, stresses, quirks and other artifacts. Then, to reproduce speech, VoCo either finds the word in the 20 minute sample or uses "phonemes" from the raw data to build it.
While users can make edits entirely from the raw data, it is suggested that copying and pasting the existing words sounds more realistic. Right now, the VoCo technology is only a prototype. However, Adobe is considering "watermarking and detection," to prevent fraudulent use. Adobe intends for VoCo to be used to make edits of podcasts, commercial voice overs, and/or audio book recordings.
Voco works by sampling a large amount of voice data, which takes about 20 minutes. It then breaks down that data into "phonemes." Phonemes are the distinct sounds that make up a particular spoken language. Next, it voice models the speaker, using cadence, stresses, quirks and other artifacts. Then, to reproduce speech, VoCo either finds the word in the 20 minute sample or uses "phonemes" from the raw data to build it.
While users can make edits entirely from the raw data, it is suggested that copying and pasting the existing words sounds more realistic. Right now, the VoCo technology is only a prototype. However, Adobe is considering "watermarking and detection," to prevent fraudulent use. Adobe intends for VoCo to be used to make edits of podcasts, commercial voice overs, and/or audio book recordings.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Scientists Create Artificial Synapse
On September 26th, 2016 a team of scientists from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, announced that they had created an artificial synapse. A synapse is the point where nerve impulses pass between neurons. Dr Joshua Yang, who led the research team believes that this achievement will make it possible for computers to successfully emulate the human brain.
The new technology is an electrical component called a memristor. Dr Yang and his team discovered that a memristor's resistance level is determined by how much electrical charge has passed through it. They found that this mimics the behavior of calcium ions at the junction of two human brain neurons. Dr. Yang and his team believe that this new device could lead to a breakthrough in "brain inspired," or nueromorphic computers.
The human brain has about 100 billion neurons and an estimated 1 quadrillion synapses. Older devices such as transistors and capacitors can work like a synapse, but don't function like a biological system. They don't operate efficiently, create a larger device area, and consume more power. Dr Yang went on to say that with their device, " You don't just simulate one type of synaptic function, but also other important features and actually get multiple synaptic functions together."
The new technology is an electrical component called a memristor. Dr Yang and his team discovered that a memristor's resistance level is determined by how much electrical charge has passed through it. They found that this mimics the behavior of calcium ions at the junction of two human brain neurons. Dr. Yang and his team believe that this new device could lead to a breakthrough in "brain inspired," or nueromorphic computers.
The human brain has about 100 billion neurons and an estimated 1 quadrillion synapses. Older devices such as transistors and capacitors can work like a synapse, but don't function like a biological system. They don't operate efficiently, create a larger device area, and consume more power. Dr Yang went on to say that with their device, " You don't just simulate one type of synaptic function, but also other important features and actually get multiple synaptic functions together."
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Scientists Discover More Galaxies In The Universe
On October 13th 2016, an international team of astronomers announced in a report published in the journal Nature, that they had discovered that the universe is larger than once believed. Using the Hubble Space Telescope, the scientists have determined that the universe may be 10 to 20 time bigger than what was thought, containing 1 or possibly 2 trillion more galaxies.
The team, led by Professor Christopher Conselice of the University of Nottingham in England used the Hubble to create a 3D map made from deep space images taken of the known universe. The deep field images contained 100 to 200 billion galaxies and were the most distant ever photographed. The team then applied new mathematical models to calculate where other galaxies might exist.
When they did the math they found that, for the numbers to add up, the universe has to contain 10 times more galaxies then those known to exist. The team believes that those galaxies are so far away that they are too faint to be seen by our most advanced telescopes. Professor Conselice says, "Who knows what properties we will find when we observe these galaxies with the next generation of telescopes.
The team, led by Professor Christopher Conselice of the University of Nottingham in England used the Hubble to create a 3D map made from deep space images taken of the known universe. The deep field images contained 100 to 200 billion galaxies and were the most distant ever photographed. The team then applied new mathematical models to calculate where other galaxies might exist.
When they did the math they found that, for the numbers to add up, the universe has to contain 10 times more galaxies then those known to exist. The team believes that those galaxies are so far away that they are too faint to be seen by our most advanced telescopes. Professor Conselice says, "Who knows what properties we will find when we observe these galaxies with the next generation of telescopes.
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
AT&T Makes Deal To Buy Time Warner
On October 22nd 2016, AT&T agreed to buy Time Warner Inc for $85.4 billion. Time Warner owns multiple media properties which include HBO, CNN, Warner Brothers, TBS, TNT and others. The sale of Time Warner follows the deal that brought Comcast and NBC/Universal together and serves to further consolidate the communications and entertainment industries.
With the growth of wireless beginning to slow, AT&T has been looking to expand into the entertainment business. In 2015, it acquired Direct TV for $49 billion. It recently announced that it will be releasing its own Direct TV Now, live TV streaming service. The service will offer 100 channels for $35 month and will allow AT&T an opportunity to compete with other streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube.
While this would potentially be the largest media deal in recent memory, it still has to be approved by federal regulators. This could take as much, if not more than a year, as did the Comcast/Universal deal. Some competitors are already sounding the alarm bell. However, AT&T has played down the possibility of a regulatory roadblock, citing that the company is not eliminating a competitor, but acquiring a supplier.
With the growth of wireless beginning to slow, AT&T has been looking to expand into the entertainment business. In 2015, it acquired Direct TV for $49 billion. It recently announced that it will be releasing its own Direct TV Now, live TV streaming service. The service will offer 100 channels for $35 month and will allow AT&T an opportunity to compete with other streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu and YouTube.
While this would potentially be the largest media deal in recent memory, it still has to be approved by federal regulators. This could take as much, if not more than a year, as did the Comcast/Universal deal. Some competitors are already sounding the alarm bell. However, AT&T has played down the possibility of a regulatory roadblock, citing that the company is not eliminating a competitor, but acquiring a supplier.
Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Bob Dylan Wins A Nobel Prize
On October 13th 2016, the Swedish Academy announced that it had awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature to singer, songwriter, Bob Dylan. The win makes Mr Dylan the first musician and the first American to win the award since it was bestowed on novelist Tony Morrison won in 1993. The Honor also puts him in the company of T.S. Eliot, Samuel Beckett, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Mr Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth Minnesota in 1941. He started playing guitar at age 14 and used that skill to join local high school bands. Later, he changed his name to Dylan after the poet Dylan Thomas and began to perform folk music. He he moved to New York in 1961, and a year later he released his first album entitled "Bob Dylan."
As a prolific singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist, Mr Dylan went on to produce many successful albums including, "Blonde on Blonde, "Blood on the Tracks," and Highway 61 Revisited. He has had many hits including, "Blowin In the Wind," and the iconic "Like a Rolling stone." He once credited himself with ending the days of Tin Pan Alley by opening the door for other artists to record their own songs.
Mr Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in Duluth Minnesota in 1941. He started playing guitar at age 14 and used that skill to join local high school bands. Later, he changed his name to Dylan after the poet Dylan Thomas and began to perform folk music. He he moved to New York in 1961, and a year later he released his first album entitled "Bob Dylan."
As a prolific singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist, Mr Dylan went on to produce many successful albums including, "Blonde on Blonde, "Blood on the Tracks," and Highway 61 Revisited. He has had many hits including, "Blowin In the Wind," and the iconic "Like a Rolling stone." He once credited himself with ending the days of Tin Pan Alley by opening the door for other artists to record their own songs.
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
European Space Agency Gears Up For Schiaparelli's Mars Landing
On October 9th 2016, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced that it expects its ExoMars spacecraft to arrive in Mars orbit on Wednesday October 19th 2016. The spacecraft consists of two vehicles, the Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli lander. The two vehicles will separate on October 16th as Schiaparelli prepares for its descent to its Meridani landing site on the Martian surface.
The Schiaparelli lander, is named after Giovanni Schiaparelli who was first to observe what he called "canali" or canals on Mars. The lander is basically a demonstrator and its function on this mission is to serve as a trial of procedures and technologies that be will used in future Mars missions. Schiaparelli has a small science package that will be used to measure the wind speed, temperature, humidity and the electric fields of Mars.
While Schiaparelli works on the ground, the Trace Gas Orbiter will carry out its part of the mission from a 400km high orbit. Its science payload features instruments that are designed to detect atmospheric trace gases such as methane, nitrogen oxides, acetylene, and water vapor. It will also keep track of seasonal changes in the atmospheric composition and temperature of Mars, so that detailed models can be created.
The ESA says that this ExoMars mission is the first of two parts. The second part will be the landing a robotic rover that is expected to touch down on the Red Planet in 2021.
The Schiaparelli lander, is named after Giovanni Schiaparelli who was first to observe what he called "canali" or canals on Mars. The lander is basically a demonstrator and its function on this mission is to serve as a trial of procedures and technologies that be will used in future Mars missions. Schiaparelli has a small science package that will be used to measure the wind speed, temperature, humidity and the electric fields of Mars.
While Schiaparelli works on the ground, the Trace Gas Orbiter will carry out its part of the mission from a 400km high orbit. Its science payload features instruments that are designed to detect atmospheric trace gases such as methane, nitrogen oxides, acetylene, and water vapor. It will also keep track of seasonal changes in the atmospheric composition and temperature of Mars, so that detailed models can be created.
The ESA says that this ExoMars mission is the first of two parts. The second part will be the landing a robotic rover that is expected to touch down on the Red Planet in 2021.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Rosetta Spacecraft Goes End Of Mission
On September 30th 2016, The European Space Agency's (ESA) Rosetta spacecraft officially ended its mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by crash landing on it. The history making mission officially came to an end at 7:19am EDT as its last images were sent back, seconds before it touched down on the comet's surface. The spacecraft had orbited comet 67/P sending back valuable science data for the past two years.
Rosetta entered orbit around comet 67/P in August of 2014. Several months later it sent down a robot lander called Philae. The lander, however, was lost when its tethering hooks failed to keep it grounded to the comet's surface and it end up in a ravine facing a rock cliff. Philae's solar panels were unable to keep the lander charged. Eventually the radio Rosetta used to stay in contact with the lander was shut down to save power.
While Rosetta orbited comet 67/P, it was able to determine that the water ice on the comet was a different "flavor" then that of the Earth. Comet 67/P's water ice has a higher ratio of deuterium to hydrogen, suggesting that it's very likely that Earth's water did not come from a crashing comet. Rosetta's CONCERT instrument discovered that the comet is composed of loose bits of rock and ice melted together.
Rosetta's biggest find was the detection of organic materials such as phosphorus. Phosphorus is important in cell walls, DNA, and the amino acid glycine. Glycine is important for the building of proteins, which are essential to the formation of life.
Rosetta entered orbit around comet 67/P in August of 2014. Several months later it sent down a robot lander called Philae. The lander, however, was lost when its tethering hooks failed to keep it grounded to the comet's surface and it end up in a ravine facing a rock cliff. Philae's solar panels were unable to keep the lander charged. Eventually the radio Rosetta used to stay in contact with the lander was shut down to save power.
While Rosetta orbited comet 67/P, it was able to determine that the water ice on the comet was a different "flavor" then that of the Earth. Comet 67/P's water ice has a higher ratio of deuterium to hydrogen, suggesting that it's very likely that Earth's water did not come from a crashing comet. Rosetta's CONCERT instrument discovered that the comet is composed of loose bits of rock and ice melted together.
Rosetta's biggest find was the detection of organic materials such as phosphorus. Phosphorus is important in cell walls, DNA, and the amino acid glycine. Glycine is important for the building of proteins, which are essential to the formation of life.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Elon Musk Reveals SpaceX's Mars Colonization Plans
On September 27th 2016, at the 67th annual International Astronomical Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico, Elon Musk, founder and CEO of SpaceX announced his company's ambitious plan for the colonization of Mars. The plan calls for the creation of what Mr. Musk is calling the Interplanetary Transport System (ITS). This system involves the combination of a rocket more powerful than the Saturn 5 and a spaceship that can hold 100 people.
At the heart of the ITS (Interplanetary Transport System) is a scaled up version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster that will feature 42 Raptor engines. When the crewed spaceship is place on top of the ITS it will stand a whopping 400 feet tall, making it the largest space flight system that's ever been built. It will be a potent machine that's capable of lifting 300 tons into low earth orbit.
The spaceship by it self will be 162 feet tall by 57 feet wide. It will have its own set of nine Raptor engines. The booster will carry the spaceship to orbit and return for a soft landing back on Earth. A second ITS will then be launched carrying fuel. It will rendezvous with the orbiting spaceship in order to fill its tank. The spaceship will blast off for a mission once Earth and Mars are aligned.
The spaceship will be able to carry from 100 to 200 hundred people at one time. The craft will be large enough to contain movie theaters, lecture halls, and a restaurant. The Raptor engines will allow the flight to take only 80 days at the outset. When the ITS is up and running, Mr Musk envisions a fleet of 1,000 ships heading off on the journey to the Red Planet.
At the heart of the ITS (Interplanetary Transport System) is a scaled up version of SpaceX's Falcon 9 booster that will feature 42 Raptor engines. When the crewed spaceship is place on top of the ITS it will stand a whopping 400 feet tall, making it the largest space flight system that's ever been built. It will be a potent machine that's capable of lifting 300 tons into low earth orbit.
The spaceship by it self will be 162 feet tall by 57 feet wide. It will have its own set of nine Raptor engines. The booster will carry the spaceship to orbit and return for a soft landing back on Earth. A second ITS will then be launched carrying fuel. It will rendezvous with the orbiting spaceship in order to fill its tank. The spaceship will blast off for a mission once Earth and Mars are aligned.
The spaceship will be able to carry from 100 to 200 hundred people at one time. The craft will be large enough to contain movie theaters, lecture halls, and a restaurant. The Raptor engines will allow the flight to take only 80 days at the outset. When the ITS is up and running, Mr Musk envisions a fleet of 1,000 ships heading off on the journey to the Red Planet.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
HDR TV: The Next Big Thing?
One of the tech standouts at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) that took place in January of 2016, was the introduction of HDR TV. While OLED, 4K, and Quantum Dot TV have already made their mark on the flat screen tech market, HDR TV is now about to come into its own. But while those technologies are about more pixels, HDR TV is more about the quality of the images, which are comprised of those pixels.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and it is responsible for making widely varying lights and darks look better on your screen. HDR used in still cameras combine multiple images that may have different exposures. However, HDR in video uses a wider color pallet with greater depth of range to create greater contrast between light and dark areas of a scene. The result is a more realistic image.
HDR TV also involves a technology called Electro-Optical Transfer Funtion (EOTF) which is the process by which an electronic value is assigned to the real world brightness of your TV. EOTF allows a TV to brighten or darken a scene according to the brightness value it receives from the broadcast or playback source. This can give content producers more control of how an image will appear on your screen.
To watch HDR you'll need an HDR TV and HDR encoded content. Currently all 4K Blu Ray discs come HDR 10 encoded. Dolby Vision and UHD premium discs are available as well.
HDR stands for High Dynamic Range and it is responsible for making widely varying lights and darks look better on your screen. HDR used in still cameras combine multiple images that may have different exposures. However, HDR in video uses a wider color pallet with greater depth of range to create greater contrast between light and dark areas of a scene. The result is a more realistic image.
HDR TV also involves a technology called Electro-Optical Transfer Funtion (EOTF) which is the process by which an electronic value is assigned to the real world brightness of your TV. EOTF allows a TV to brighten or darken a scene according to the brightness value it receives from the broadcast or playback source. This can give content producers more control of how an image will appear on your screen.
To watch HDR you'll need an HDR TV and HDR encoded content. Currently all 4K Blu Ray discs come HDR 10 encoded. Dolby Vision and UHD premium discs are available as well.
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Avid Releases Pro Tools 12.6
On September 9th 2016, at the International Broadcasting Conference (IBC) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Avid announced the release of Pro Tools 12.6. The new version of Pro Tools features a large array of new editing features. This version will mark the first time that, Pro Tool HD software can be purchased or subscribed to as a stand alone item, freeing Pro Tools buyers from past hardware requirements.
One of the biggest new features (Pro Tools HD only) is Clip Effects. This is a new plugin format that allows users to apply effects on a clip by clip basis. This is handled via a dedicated plugin that is based on the Avid Channel Strip and is accessed from the universe window. Also in Pro Tools 12.6, an indicator light now shows you when a track has more than one playlist, making them easier to manage.
Pro Tools 12.6 has many other features including track freeze, real time fade manipulation, and Improved dubbing (Pro Tools HD only). A new lower pricing model will now make going from the standard Pro Tools package to an HD upgrade. A Pro Tools Digilink I/O license can be purchased for $299, bring your own interface. Avid expect to make Pro Tools 12.6 available by late September 2016.
One of the biggest new features (Pro Tools HD only) is Clip Effects. This is a new plugin format that allows users to apply effects on a clip by clip basis. This is handled via a dedicated plugin that is based on the Avid Channel Strip and is accessed from the universe window. Also in Pro Tools 12.6, an indicator light now shows you when a track has more than one playlist, making them easier to manage.
Pro Tools 12.6 has many other features including track freeze, real time fade manipulation, and Improved dubbing (Pro Tools HD only). A new lower pricing model will now make going from the standard Pro Tools package to an HD upgrade. A Pro Tools Digilink I/O license can be purchased for $299, bring your own interface. Avid expect to make Pro Tools 12.6 available by late September 2016.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Apple Introduces The iPhone 7
On September 7th 2016, Apple announced the release of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Billed as the best iPhones ever, the new devices have an array of new features, but the one the tech world has been buzzing about, is most definitely missing. As promised, Apple has removed the analog headphone jack. Prospective iPhone 7 owners will have to use Apple's lightning port or wireless headphones for audio.
The new iPhone 7 comes water resistant, and in a wide variety of colors. Apple has revamped the the home button which now comes pressure sensitive, as a way to allow gesture control. The new devices now offer a new quad-core A10 fusion chip that improves the phones' performance by 120 times, giving them better efficiency and longer battery life. Also, the iPhone 7 Plus now features a rear facing, two camera system that offers a wide angle and a telephoto lens.
The iPhone 7 will give up its 16GB base model for a 32GB base model which will sell for $649. The iPhone 7 Plus will start at $769 for a 32GB model. Both phones will be available with storage sizes that go up to 256GB. For those interested in getting a new iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, apple will begin taking pre-orders from its website on September 9th 2016. Actual delivery of the phones will begin on September 16th 2016.
The new iPhone 7 comes water resistant, and in a wide variety of colors. Apple has revamped the the home button which now comes pressure sensitive, as a way to allow gesture control. The new devices now offer a new quad-core A10 fusion chip that improves the phones' performance by 120 times, giving them better efficiency and longer battery life. Also, the iPhone 7 Plus now features a rear facing, two camera system that offers a wide angle and a telephoto lens.
The iPhone 7 will give up its 16GB base model for a 32GB base model which will sell for $649. The iPhone 7 Plus will start at $769 for a 32GB model. Both phones will be available with storage sizes that go up to 256GB. For those interested in getting a new iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, apple will begin taking pre-orders from its website on September 9th 2016. Actual delivery of the phones will begin on September 16th 2016.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Scientists May Have Discovered A Fifth Force Of Nature
On August 15th 2016, a group of scientists announced that they may have discovered a fifth force of nature. The discovery was made by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, when they were going over data from a Hungarian study that was done in 2015. Physicists from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences were able to isolate an anomaly that appeared to indicate the presence a of particle of light that was 30 times heavier than an electron.
In the Hungarian Academy of Sciences experiment the physicists fired protons at an atom of lithium. This caused the lithium atom to transmute from a litium-7 atom into a beryllium-8 atom. When the beryllium atom shed the extra proton, it emitted a photon that quickly decayed into an electron, positron pair. Repeated collisions revealed that the particle being released from the beryllium-8 atom had a higher release angle and electron volt energy than a normal photon.
The University of California researchers believe that the Hungarian team may have discovered what is being called a "dark photon." This would be evidence of the presence of dark matter, which scientists believe makes up 85% of the universe. They further believe that this new particle may help them to understand the other four forces which are electromagnetism, the strong force, the weak force, and gravity.
In the Hungarian Academy of Sciences experiment the physicists fired protons at an atom of lithium. This caused the lithium atom to transmute from a litium-7 atom into a beryllium-8 atom. When the beryllium atom shed the extra proton, it emitted a photon that quickly decayed into an electron, positron pair. Repeated collisions revealed that the particle being released from the beryllium-8 atom had a higher release angle and electron volt energy than a normal photon.
The University of California researchers believe that the Hungarian team may have discovered what is being called a "dark photon." This would be evidence of the presence of dark matter, which scientists believe makes up 85% of the universe. They further believe that this new particle may help them to understand the other four forces which are electromagnetism, the strong force, the weak force, and gravity.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Astronomers Discover Planet Oribiting Proxima Centauri
On August 24th 2016, a group of astronomers announced that they had discovered a small rocky planet orbiting the the star Proxima Centauri. At 4.2 light years away, Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf star, is the closest to our own solar system. The astronomers say that the earth like planet is within the star's habitable zone, which is the range of distances that produce temperatures that allow a planet to possess liquid water.
The planet has been named Proxima Centauri b and is believed to be 1.3 times the mass of the Earth. It orbits at a distance of only 4.7 million miles, and it is estimated to take Proxima Centauri b just 11.2 days to orbit its host star. The planet may be tidally locked, which means that it always has the same side facing its sun. It is not known whether Proxima Centauri b has an atmosphere, however, computer models suggest that it does.
Proxima Centauri b was discovered by astronomers working on the Pale Red Dot Project. Michael Endl, one of the authors of a paper published in the journal Nature, said that he began his observations of Proxima Centauri in 2000. Eventually, he and his team found the exo planet by using the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher or HARPS, located at the European Southern Observatory in Chile.
The planet has been named Proxima Centauri b and is believed to be 1.3 times the mass of the Earth. It orbits at a distance of only 4.7 million miles, and it is estimated to take Proxima Centauri b just 11.2 days to orbit its host star. The planet may be tidally locked, which means that it always has the same side facing its sun. It is not known whether Proxima Centauri b has an atmosphere, however, computer models suggest that it does.
Proxima Centauri b was discovered by astronomers working on the Pale Red Dot Project. Michael Endl, one of the authors of a paper published in the journal Nature, said that he began his observations of Proxima Centauri in 2000. Eventually, he and his team found the exo planet by using the High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher or HARPS, located at the European Southern Observatory in Chile.
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
USB Type-C To Bring An End To The Headphone Jack
On August 16th 2016, Intel announced that the next generation of smartphones may drop the 3.5mm analog audio port in favor of the new USB Type-C. The move is seen as a step forward in the evolution of the smartphone, by bringing digital audio to the technology. Replacing the 3.5mm jack will allow smartphone makers to reclaim valuable space that is now being taken up by digital to analog circuitry.
While many may lament the loss of the 3.5mm audio jack, Intel is promising that the new USB Type-C audio port will offer some new features that should more than make up of for the loss. First, the elimination of the jack will make the phones cheaper to make. By using USB Type-C ports, headphones will then be able to use smart power management that would automatically turn off the microphone when not in use.
USB Type-C will also offer the user other features such as noise cancelling and the ability to use sound effects to change how the audio sounds. The Apple MacBook and Samsung Galaxy Note 6 are already using USB Type-C, while it has been rumored that the Apple iPhone 7 will be adding the new port when it is released later in 2016. For those worried about using their current headphones, Intel says that dongles will be made available.
While many may lament the loss of the 3.5mm audio jack, Intel is promising that the new USB Type-C audio port will offer some new features that should more than make up of for the loss. First, the elimination of the jack will make the phones cheaper to make. By using USB Type-C ports, headphones will then be able to use smart power management that would automatically turn off the microphone when not in use.
USB Type-C will also offer the user other features such as noise cancelling and the ability to use sound effects to change how the audio sounds. The Apple MacBook and Samsung Galaxy Note 6 are already using USB Type-C, while it has been rumored that the Apple iPhone 7 will be adding the new port when it is released later in 2016. For those worried about using their current headphones, Intel says that dongles will be made available.
Wednesday, August 10, 2016
Walmart Buys Jet.Com
On August 7th 2016, Walmart announced that it is buying e-retailer Jet.Com for $3 billion dollars. It's a cash deal that also includes $300 million is Walmart stock that will be paid out over time. Jet.Com is an e-commerce startup that was co-founded by entrepreneur, Marc Lore in 2014. It was recently valued at $1.6 billion. Lore will stay on and run both Walmart.Com and Jet.Com.
The deal signals Walmart's intent to step up its online presence and challenge Amazon.Com's e-commerce dominance. Walmart currently averages $14 billion in online sales compared to Amazon's $99 billion. While Walmart has been on line for 15 years and has spent billions building up its e-retail site, which includes seven distribution centers, its growth rate has been slow and has actually decelerated in the last year.
Jet.Com made its mark through the use of "gain sharing," which offers buyers the opportunity to reduce the price of their orders by adding additional items. Shoppers could also reduce their transaction fees by using their debit cards instead of credit cards. Walmart hopes to use Jet.Com's pricing technology to further reduce its shipping costs, while ramping up its delivery speed.
The deal signals Walmart's intent to step up its online presence and challenge Amazon.Com's e-commerce dominance. Walmart currently averages $14 billion in online sales compared to Amazon's $99 billion. While Walmart has been on line for 15 years and has spent billions building up its e-retail site, which includes seven distribution centers, its growth rate has been slow and has actually decelerated in the last year.
Jet.Com made its mark through the use of "gain sharing," which offers buyers the opportunity to reduce the price of their orders by adding additional items. Shoppers could also reduce their transaction fees by using their debit cards instead of credit cards. Walmart hopes to use Jet.Com's pricing technology to further reduce its shipping costs, while ramping up its delivery speed.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Microsoft Releases Windows 10 Anniversary Update
On August 2nd 2016, Microsoft began the roll out of the Anniversary update to its Windows 10 operating system. Microsoft offered Windows 10 as a free upgrade on July 29th 2015 and gave the OS away until July 29th 2016. Those who missed the free upgrade must now pay $119 if they wish to make their computer current. The roll out of the Anniversary update will be done in phases with those who own newer machines getting their downloads first.
Some of the new features in the Windows 10 Anniversary update include Windows Ink which allows users to enter information with the aide of a stylus. Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant will become a much more integral part of the system, and users will no longer be able to turn it off. From now on when you use the search box you will essentially be using Cortana. However, while Cortana can't be turned off, users can limit its access to their personal data.
Microsoft's Edge browser will get Chrome like extensions that include AdBlock, 1Password, LastPass, and EverNote. There's also a new Skype App, Windows Apps on Xbox, Windows 10 UI Tweaks, and Bash in Windows. Bash is a Linux command line that's intended primarily for developers and has to be enabled in order to use. And, Windows 10 will allow you to sync your Windows or Android phone and use Cortana to receive your notifications on your computer.
Some of the new features in the Windows 10 Anniversary update include Windows Ink which allows users to enter information with the aide of a stylus. Cortana, Microsoft's digital assistant will become a much more integral part of the system, and users will no longer be able to turn it off. From now on when you use the search box you will essentially be using Cortana. However, while Cortana can't be turned off, users can limit its access to their personal data.
Microsoft's Edge browser will get Chrome like extensions that include AdBlock, 1Password, LastPass, and EverNote. There's also a new Skype App, Windows Apps on Xbox, Windows 10 UI Tweaks, and Bash in Windows. Bash is a Linux command line that's intended primarily for developers and has to be enabled in order to use. And, Windows 10 will allow you to sync your Windows or Android phone and use Cortana to receive your notifications on your computer.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Verizon Buys Yahoo
On July 25th 2016, Verizon announced that it is buying internet pioneer, Yahoo, for $4.83 billion in cash. The deal will allow Verizon to join Yahoo with AOL (America On Line), which it purchased in 2015 for $4.4 billion. As part of the deal Verizon will also gain access to Yahoo's search, news, finance, sports, video, and email brands, as well as the storage site Flickr and the Tumblr social network.
Yahoo was founded in 1994 by two Stanford graduates, Jerry Yang and David Filo who called the site, Jerry & David's Guide To The World Wide Web. They quickly changed the name to Yahoo and by 1996, the Yahoo brand was being publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. It rode the dot com bubble and manage to trade as high as $500 a share. At one point, Yahoo's search engine was the third most popular.
The sale of Yahoo to Verizon will not include Yahoo's cash. Nor will it include its shares in Alibaba Group holdings, Yahoo Japan, Yahoo's convertible notes, or its non core patents. Those Yahoo assets will be brought together as a new publicly traded company under a new name. The sale of Yahoo to Verizon must still be approved by federal regulators, but both companies feel confident that the sale will close some time in early 2017.
Yahoo was founded in 1994 by two Stanford graduates, Jerry Yang and David Filo who called the site, Jerry & David's Guide To The World Wide Web. They quickly changed the name to Yahoo and by 1996, the Yahoo brand was being publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange. It rode the dot com bubble and manage to trade as high as $500 a share. At one point, Yahoo's search engine was the third most popular.
The sale of Yahoo to Verizon will not include Yahoo's cash. Nor will it include its shares in Alibaba Group holdings, Yahoo Japan, Yahoo's convertible notes, or its non core patents. Those Yahoo assets will be brought together as a new publicly traded company under a new name. The sale of Yahoo to Verizon must still be approved by federal regulators, but both companies feel confident that the sale will close some time in early 2017.
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Apple Proposes New Streaming Royalty Rate
On July 15th 2016, Apple submitted a proposal for a fixed royalty rate to the U.S. Copyright Royalty Board. Apple's stated intention for the proposal is to simplify the way that music streaming companies pay songwriters and publishers. Under the new proposal, all streaming services would have to pay 9.1 cents per 100 streams.
Music streamers with "free tiers" such as Spotify and YouTube will be most noticeably affected. These ad supported services don't bring in as money as the subscription services, and therefore have a much smaller revenue payout. Apple, however, says that it's proposed royalty rate structure would only make accounting simpler and more transparent.
The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board is a panel of three judges, whose job is to set the terms and rates for statutory licenses. The Board is still in the process of determining the statutory rates to be paid to songwriters and publishers for downloads and streams for the period from 2018 to 2022. Until they rule, Apple's proposal will remain just that. However, the era of the "free tier" may be coming to a close.
Music streamers with "free tiers" such as Spotify and YouTube will be most noticeably affected. These ad supported services don't bring in as money as the subscription services, and therefore have a much smaller revenue payout. Apple, however, says that it's proposed royalty rate structure would only make accounting simpler and more transparent.
The U.S. Copyright Royalty Board is a panel of three judges, whose job is to set the terms and rates for statutory licenses. The Board is still in the process of determining the statutory rates to be paid to songwriters and publishers for downloads and streams for the period from 2018 to 2022. Until they rule, Apple's proposal will remain just that. However, the era of the "free tier" may be coming to a close.
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Carbon Dioxide Can Now Be Turned Into Stone
On June 10th 2016, it was announced in the journal Science that scientists have found a way to successfully turn carbon dioxide emissions into stone. Researchers in Iceland say that they have advanced the carbon capture and sequestration process to the next level. The process is called Carbfix, which was developed in 2012, and is now being used to store carbon dioxide underground.
The breakthrough, which was made at Iceland's Hellisheidi Power Plant just outside of Reykjavik, was the discovery that carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide could be mixed with water and then injected into volcanic basalt rock. Doing this causes a series of chemical reactions to take place that turns the basalt into a whitish, chalky mineral called calcite. This process, known as carbonation was believed to take many years.
However, in 2012, the researchers injected 250 tons of carbon dioxide mixed with hydrogen sulfide into basalt rock that was 1,500 feet down. After two years, 95% of the injected carbon dioxide beneath the plant had turned into stone. Martin Stute, a hydrologist at Lamont-Dorhety Earth Observatory at Columbia University and co-author of the study said, "This means we can pump down a lot of CO2 and store it in a very safe way over a short period of time.
The breakthrough, which was made at Iceland's Hellisheidi Power Plant just outside of Reykjavik, was the discovery that carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide could be mixed with water and then injected into volcanic basalt rock. Doing this causes a series of chemical reactions to take place that turns the basalt into a whitish, chalky mineral called calcite. This process, known as carbonation was believed to take many years.
However, in 2012, the researchers injected 250 tons of carbon dioxide mixed with hydrogen sulfide into basalt rock that was 1,500 feet down. After two years, 95% of the injected carbon dioxide beneath the plant had turned into stone. Martin Stute, a hydrologist at Lamont-Dorhety Earth Observatory at Columbia University and co-author of the study said, "This means we can pump down a lot of CO2 and store it in a very safe way over a short period of time.
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Juno Spacraft Now Orbits Jupiter
On July 4th 2016, NASA announced that its Juno spacecraft had been successfully inserted into orbit around the planet Jupiter. The mission's success came at 11:53 pm (EDT), after a nearly five year, 1.7 billion mile journey. Juno is expected to orbit the gas giant for twenty months or 37 orbits. It will become the first of NASA's spacecraft to assume a polar orbit and will fly at an altitude of 31,000 miles.
The main objective of Juno's mission is to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter. While in orbit, Juno will investigate the possibility of a sold Jovian planetary core. Other mission goals include mapping Jupiter's electromagnetic fields, measuring the amount of water and ammonia within the atmosphere, and a closer inspection of the planets auroras. The mission is also to gain an understanding of how giant planets like Jupiter are formed.
Juno is the second spacecraft designed under NASA's New Frontiers Program. The first was the New Horizons probe which flew by Pluto in 2015. Juno was launched in august of 2011. After its twenty month mission is over, the spacecraft will be deliberately flown into Jupiter's atmosphere where it will be destroyed by the planet's extreme temperatures and pressure. This will serve to protect the moons of Jupiter from any possible earthly contamination.
The main objective of Juno's mission is to understand the origin and evolution of Jupiter. While in orbit, Juno will investigate the possibility of a sold Jovian planetary core. Other mission goals include mapping Jupiter's electromagnetic fields, measuring the amount of water and ammonia within the atmosphere, and a closer inspection of the planets auroras. The mission is also to gain an understanding of how giant planets like Jupiter are formed.
Juno is the second spacecraft designed under NASA's New Frontiers Program. The first was the New Horizons probe which flew by Pluto in 2015. Juno was launched in august of 2011. After its twenty month mission is over, the spacecraft will be deliberately flown into Jupiter's atmosphere where it will be destroyed by the planet's extreme temperatures and pressure. This will serve to protect the moons of Jupiter from any possible earthly contamination.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Rosetta Mission: Building Blocks Of Life Found
On May 27th 2016, scientists at the European Space Agency announced in an article published in the journal Science Advances, that the Rosetta spacecraft had detected the building blocks of life on comet 67/P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. The orbiter discovered the amino acid glycine, which living organism use to make proteins. The scientists believe that this could mean that the ingredients for life may have come to Earth from space.
This marks the second time that glycine has been detected on a comet. The first time was in 2006 when samples were brought back from a mission to comet Wild 2. That and the comet 67/P discovery have given the scientists reason to believe that it's possible that glycine is a common substance that is found where stars and planets are formed. Lead researcher, Kathrin Altwegg said, "Amino acids are everywhere, and life could possibly also start in many place in the universe."
The orbiter also detected the presence of phosphorus which is another key element found in all living organisms. Until now, phosphorus had never been found in the vicinity of a comet. This aligns with the scientific hypothesis that comets and asteroids brought organic molecules to Earth when they crashed into its oceans billions of years ago. Having completed its two year mission, the Rosetta orbiter will fly very close to comet 67/P before crashing onto its surface in September 2016.
This marks the second time that glycine has been detected on a comet. The first time was in 2006 when samples were brought back from a mission to comet Wild 2. That and the comet 67/P discovery have given the scientists reason to believe that it's possible that glycine is a common substance that is found where stars and planets are formed. Lead researcher, Kathrin Altwegg said, "Amino acids are everywhere, and life could possibly also start in many place in the universe."
The orbiter also detected the presence of phosphorus which is another key element found in all living organisms. Until now, phosphorus had never been found in the vicinity of a comet. This aligns with the scientific hypothesis that comets and asteroids brought organic molecules to Earth when they crashed into its oceans billions of years ago. Having completed its two year mission, the Rosetta orbiter will fly very close to comet 67/P before crashing onto its surface in September 2016.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Streaming Changes The Grammys
On June 16th 2016, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences announced that it will now accept streaming only songs toward the issuing of a Grammy Award. The move was one of five new rule changes that will take place immediately and will effect the make up the 2017 Grammy Award nominees. The revision will apply to both albums and singles that have been released on streaming service such as Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal.
Under the new rules, albums and singles must be released from October 1st 2015 and September 30th 2016 to be eligible for the 2017 Grammy Awards Show. The 59th annual Grammy Awards will air on February 12th 2017, while the nominees for those awards will be announced on December 6th 2016. Bill Freimuth, senior vice president of the awards said, "We noticed that there were a number of higher-profile artists who were choosing to release through streaming-only, and we did not want to be exclusionary toward them."
Other rule changes include a decrease in the number of categories that Academy members can vote in, from 20 to 15, along with, album of the year, best new artist, record of the year, and song of the year. There will now be two Blues categories, best traditional Blues album and best contemporary Blues album. The best new artist will no longer have to release a full album to qualify. Those nominees need only release a minimum of five singles. And, the best rap/sung collaboration was changed to best rap/sung performance.
Under the new rules, albums and singles must be released from October 1st 2015 and September 30th 2016 to be eligible for the 2017 Grammy Awards Show. The 59th annual Grammy Awards will air on February 12th 2017, while the nominees for those awards will be announced on December 6th 2016. Bill Freimuth, senior vice president of the awards said, "We noticed that there were a number of higher-profile artists who were choosing to release through streaming-only, and we did not want to be exclusionary toward them."
Other rule changes include a decrease in the number of categories that Academy members can vote in, from 20 to 15, along with, album of the year, best new artist, record of the year, and song of the year. There will now be two Blues categories, best traditional Blues album and best contemporary Blues album. The best new artist will no longer have to release a full album to qualify. Those nominees need only release a minimum of five singles. And, the best rap/sung collaboration was changed to best rap/sung performance.
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Microsoft Buys Linkedin
On June 13th 2016, Microsoft announced that it is buying Linkedin, the social networking site for professionals, for $26 billion. This is Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's first major acquisition since he became the head of the company. Linkedin will be keeping its own brand as well as its independence. Current Linkedin CEO Jeff Weiner will stay on in that role, reporting directly to Mr. Nadella.
Both Microsoft and Linkedin view this deal as perfect for both companies. Mr. Nadella see it as the joining of the "world's leading professional cloud," with the "world's leading professional network." Each company could experience growth through the integration of such Microsoft tools as Office 365, Skype and Dynamics. Mr Nadella also mentioned giving its Cortana digital assistant access to data from Linkedin.
Meanwhile Lynda.com, a channel for training videos which was purchased by Linkedin for $1.5 billion in 2014, could be offered inside Microsoft software, such as Excell. In so doing, Microsoft could not only sell software products, but assist people in learning how to use them. The Linkedin acquisition is expected to close later in 2016, as the deal was unanimously approved by the board of directors of both companies.
Both Microsoft and Linkedin view this deal as perfect for both companies. Mr. Nadella see it as the joining of the "world's leading professional cloud," with the "world's leading professional network." Each company could experience growth through the integration of such Microsoft tools as Office 365, Skype and Dynamics. Mr Nadella also mentioned giving its Cortana digital assistant access to data from Linkedin.
Meanwhile Lynda.com, a channel for training videos which was purchased by Linkedin for $1.5 billion in 2014, could be offered inside Microsoft software, such as Excell. In so doing, Microsoft could not only sell software products, but assist people in learning how to use them. The Linkedin acquisition is expected to close later in 2016, as the deal was unanimously approved by the board of directors of both companies.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Synthetic Human Genome Proposed
On June 2nd 2016, it was announced in the journal Science that a group of 25 scientists have proposed the building of a synthetic human genome. The meeting which took place at Harvard University, consisted of scientists who work at various academic and other institutions around the US. The project will be called the Human Genome Project-write (HGP-write) after the original Human Genome project which ended in 2003.
Jef Boeke of the New York University Langone Medical Center said, "The new project will include whole-genome engineering human cell lines and other organisms of agricultural and public health significance, or those needed to interpret human biological functions." The project would essentially synthesize the three billion letter chemical blueprint of human life.
Some concerns have been raised about the possibility of humans being made entirely in the laboratory. George Church, who is an organizer of HGP-write and a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, says that the project is not aimed at creating people. Church and his colleagues say that their hope is by synthesizing human genomes from scratch, they may spur rapid developments in human organ transplants and cancer resistance.
The project is still in the idea phase, but the scientists are hoping to get $100 million in public and private funds in order to begin HGP-write some time in 2016. They expect that the total cost of the project will be less than $3 billion, which is the actual cost of the original Human Genome Project.
Jef Boeke of the New York University Langone Medical Center said, "The new project will include whole-genome engineering human cell lines and other organisms of agricultural and public health significance, or those needed to interpret human biological functions." The project would essentially synthesize the three billion letter chemical blueprint of human life.
Some concerns have been raised about the possibility of humans being made entirely in the laboratory. George Church, who is an organizer of HGP-write and a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School, says that the project is not aimed at creating people. Church and his colleagues say that their hope is by synthesizing human genomes from scratch, they may spur rapid developments in human organ transplants and cancer resistance.
The project is still in the idea phase, but the scientists are hoping to get $100 million in public and private funds in order to begin HGP-write some time in 2016. They expect that the total cost of the project will be less than $3 billion, which is the actual cost of the original Human Genome Project.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Indus Valley Civilization Maybe 8,000 Years Old
On May 25th 2015, the journal Nature published evidence that the Indus Valley Civilization of India could be older than those of Egypt or Mesopotamia. A new study done by scientist at IIT-Kharagpur and Archaeological Survey of India has shown that the Indus Valley Civilization of India is at least 8,000 years old. They've also found evidence of a pre-Harappan civilization that existed for about 1,000 year before that.
The research team excavated an unexplored site in the Bhirrana area. There they found large quantities of animal remains. Those remains were put through Carbon 14 analysis to determine the antiquity and climate. The study revealed that a pre-Harrapan society began in an area along the Ghaggar-Hakra rivers, in a climate that favored human settlement and agriculture.
Based on the radio carbon dating, the settlement at Bhirrana is believed to be the oldest on the sub Indian continent. However, to check the validity of their findings, the research team dated pottery taken from two cultural levels using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). They investigated the interrelationship between the cultural levels and climate change that took place in the region. The team believes that a change in crop pattern and a declining monsoon, ultimately lead the the civilization's decline.
The research team excavated an unexplored site in the Bhirrana area. There they found large quantities of animal remains. Those remains were put through Carbon 14 analysis to determine the antiquity and climate. The study revealed that a pre-Harrapan society began in an area along the Ghaggar-Hakra rivers, in a climate that favored human settlement and agriculture.
Based on the radio carbon dating, the settlement at Bhirrana is believed to be the oldest on the sub Indian continent. However, to check the validity of their findings, the research team dated pottery taken from two cultural levels using Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL). They investigated the interrelationship between the cultural levels and climate change that took place in the region. The team believes that a change in crop pattern and a declining monsoon, ultimately lead the the civilization's decline.
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Google To Release Modular Smartphone
On May 20th 2016, Google announced that the success of its Project Ara will allow them to release a modular smartphone. The announcement was made on the last day of Google's I/O developers conference. A developers edition of the new modular phone is expected to ship this fall. The phone will run Android and have a 5.3 inch screen. Google plans to release a consumer version some time in 2017.
Google had originally reported that it had been working on a modular phone in October 2013. A year after that, they announced that they were going to being doing trials in Puerto Rico, but the program was cancelled after the discovery of design flaws. A new design, which frees up space for modules, integrates the phones technology into the frame. A consumer can choose to change or add new speakers, a camera, or expandable storage at any time.
The key to Ara's success is a redesign of the connectors on the back of the phone. Each connector had to be able to withstand a high volume of connecting and reconnecting. Google's ATAP team created a proprietary port that uses an open standard called UniPro. Each phone has six of them and they can push up to 11.9 gigabits of data in both directions. The ports only consume as much power as USB-3.
Google had originally reported that it had been working on a modular phone in October 2013. A year after that, they announced that they were going to being doing trials in Puerto Rico, but the program was cancelled after the discovery of design flaws. A new design, which frees up space for modules, integrates the phones technology into the frame. A consumer can choose to change or add new speakers, a camera, or expandable storage at any time.
The key to Ara's success is a redesign of the connectors on the back of the phone. Each connector had to be able to withstand a high volume of connecting and reconnecting. Google's ATAP team created a proprietary port that uses an open standard called UniPro. Each phone has six of them and they can push up to 11.9 gigabits of data in both directions. The ports only consume as much power as USB-3.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Apple Is Not Closing Itunes
On May 11th 2016, Digital Music News reported that an unnamed source with a close and active business relationship with Apple, had told them that Apple was planning to phase out the iTunes Music store in as little as two years. In a response posted to Recode, Apple spokesman, Tom Neumayr simply said, "Not true." He also made it clear that an alternate time line of 3 to 4 years was also out of the question.
There is much speculation as to what Apple's plans for iTunes really are. While downloads have been declining in the last few years, its streaming service, Apple Music is only a year old and still working out the kinks. And, the fact that the iTunes Music store brings in three times as much revenue as Apple Music, it would appear unlikely that Apple will be abandoning it anytime soon.
Digital Music News contends that Steve Jobs' history of phasing out older products in favor of newer ones, even when the older products are still profitable has become the driving force at Apple, as they strive to stay ahead of emerging technological trends. Some analysts are already stating the obvious fact that many artists, especially independents, need the iTunes store get their releases out to the public, and may create a backlash by withholding their music from streaming services.
People still like to buy music. To those people, there is nothing like owning your own copy of your favorite artist's music. While every music delivery system has had its heyday, most of them are still around. CDs, cassettes, and vinyl are all still around. While streaming is rising to the forefront, there still remains the possibility that some as yet unreleased method of music delivery may soon arrive. In fact, with the current pace in the release of new technologies, it's almost a guarantee.
There is much speculation as to what Apple's plans for iTunes really are. While downloads have been declining in the last few years, its streaming service, Apple Music is only a year old and still working out the kinks. And, the fact that the iTunes Music store brings in three times as much revenue as Apple Music, it would appear unlikely that Apple will be abandoning it anytime soon.
Digital Music News contends that Steve Jobs' history of phasing out older products in favor of newer ones, even when the older products are still profitable has become the driving force at Apple, as they strive to stay ahead of emerging technological trends. Some analysts are already stating the obvious fact that many artists, especially independents, need the iTunes store get their releases out to the public, and may create a backlash by withholding their music from streaming services.
People still like to buy music. To those people, there is nothing like owning your own copy of your favorite artist's music. While every music delivery system has had its heyday, most of them are still around. CDs, cassettes, and vinyl are all still around. While streaming is rising to the forefront, there still remains the possibility that some as yet unreleased method of music delivery may soon arrive. In fact, with the current pace in the release of new technologies, it's almost a guarantee.
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Charter Buys Time Warner
On May 6th 2016, the FCC officially approved Charter Communications' bid to buy Time Warner Cable. The deal also includes the purchase of Bright House Networks which is based in New York. The two companies were purchased for $55.1 billion and $10.4 billion respectively. The merger will make Charter the second largest cable and internet company in the US, behind Comcast.
The deal was approved by the FCC with certain conditions, and it still has to be approved by regulators in California. The conditions were imposed in order to prevent the new company from "erecting barriers to video competition." Under the terms of the agreement, Charter can't charge online video streaming services for improved content delivery.
Charter will also not be allowed to implement any policies that would prevent online video providers from delivering content through Charter's networks. And, Charter will have to expand it's high-speed broadband service to two million more homes. Charter originally made its deal with Time Warner in 2015, after a Comcast bid for Time Warner fell through.
The deal was approved by the FCC with certain conditions, and it still has to be approved by regulators in California. The conditions were imposed in order to prevent the new company from "erecting barriers to video competition." Under the terms of the agreement, Charter can't charge online video streaming services for improved content delivery.
Charter will also not be allowed to implement any policies that would prevent online video providers from delivering content through Charter's networks. And, Charter will have to expand it's high-speed broadband service to two million more homes. Charter originally made its deal with Time Warner in 2015, after a Comcast bid for Time Warner fell through.
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
IFPI Reports Growth Of Music Industry Revenue In 2015
On April 12th 2016, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) released its global music report which revealed that there had been an increase of 3.2 % in music industry revenue for 2015. The increase was to the tune of $15 billion. Such an increase had not been experienced since 1998, and was due in large part to the success of paid music subscription services.
The report further revealed that 2015 saw digital overtake physical formats, such as CDs, to become the primary revenue stream for recorded music, for the first time. Streaming revenue alone was up 45.2 %. This amounted to $2.9 billion, which was about half of the total global digital revenue. The number of paid music subscribers in 2015 rose to 68 million which was up from 41 million in 2014.
The IFPI's report also noted the music industry's concern over what it called a widening, "value gap." The report went on to say, that while music is being consumed at a record rate, the remuneration to artists and record levels is not keeping pace. The problem is the amount of music that is being consumed on free and user upload sites. The report stated that a true return to form for the music industry can't be made until artists, labels, and rights holders are duly compensated.
The report further revealed that 2015 saw digital overtake physical formats, such as CDs, to become the primary revenue stream for recorded music, for the first time. Streaming revenue alone was up 45.2 %. This amounted to $2.9 billion, which was about half of the total global digital revenue. The number of paid music subscribers in 2015 rose to 68 million which was up from 41 million in 2014.
The IFPI's report also noted the music industry's concern over what it called a widening, "value gap." The report went on to say, that while music is being consumed at a record rate, the remuneration to artists and record levels is not keeping pace. The problem is the amount of music that is being consumed on free and user upload sites. The report stated that a true return to form for the music industry can't be made until artists, labels, and rights holders are duly compensated.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Astronomers Discover Dwarf Planet With Tiny Moon In The Kuiper Belt
On April 26th 2016, astronomers working with the Hubble Space Telescope released a photo of the dwarf planet Makemake and its tiny moon. The dwarf planet is believed to be the second largest object in the Kuiper Belt, with Pluto being the largest. It was recognized as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union in July 2008, after being first discovered in March of 2005.
Makemake has a diameter of 1,434 kilometers and takes 309.9 years to orbit the sun. It's moon, nicknamed MK2 was discovered in a Hubble Wide Field Camera image taken in April of 2015. MK2 has an estimated diameter of 100 miles and orbits Makemake at a distance of 13,000 miles. MK2 was difficult to detect because it appears as 1,300 times fainter than Makemake.
Since the tiny moon appears to be orbiting edge on relative to earth, astronomer Alex Parker from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder CO. said, "That means that often when you look at the system you are going to miss the moon because it gets lost in the glare of Makemake. The discovery of MK2 now gives Makemake more similarities with Pluto as both of them are covered with frozen methane.
Makemake has a diameter of 1,434 kilometers and takes 309.9 years to orbit the sun. It's moon, nicknamed MK2 was discovered in a Hubble Wide Field Camera image taken in April of 2015. MK2 has an estimated diameter of 100 miles and orbits Makemake at a distance of 13,000 miles. MK2 was difficult to detect because it appears as 1,300 times fainter than Makemake.
Since the tiny moon appears to be orbiting edge on relative to earth, astronomer Alex Parker from the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder CO. said, "That means that often when you look at the system you are going to miss the moon because it gets lost in the glare of Makemake. The discovery of MK2 now gives Makemake more similarities with Pluto as both of them are covered with frozen methane.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
New Release!
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Solar Panels That Can Make Electricity From Raindrops
On April 11th 2016, it was reported that a team of researchers in China had created a new solar panel that can not only make electricity from the sun, but can also make electricity from the falling rain. Scientists from the Yunnan Normal University and Ocean University of China wrote in journal Angewandte Chemie, that they had produced an all weather solar cell through the use of graphene.
The team, led by Qunwei Tang developed a dye-sensitive solar cell. They did this by coating the cells with a thin layer of graphene film. Graphene is a two dimensional form of carbon whose atoms are arranged into a honeycomb pattern. Graphene has unusual electronic properties that allow it to conduct electricity. It's rich in electrons that freely flow across its entire surface.
Graphene can bind positively charged ions with its own electrons. This characteristic inspired Qunwei Tang and his research team to use graphene electrodes to get power from the impact of raindrops. Raindrops contain salts that dissociate into positive and negative ions. Sodium, calcium, and ammonium ions are positively charged and can bind with the surface of the graphene.
When the raindrops and the graphene connect, the water becomes enriched in positive ions and the graphene becomes enriched with delocalized electrons. This produces what is known as a pseudocapcitator and results in the production of current and voltage. The new solar cells are capable of producing a solar conversion efficiency of 6.53% from sunlight and hundreds of micro-volts via stimulation by raindrops.
Tang and his team feel that this is a positive step and that, "All weather solar cells are promising in solving the energy crisis."
The team, led by Qunwei Tang developed a dye-sensitive solar cell. They did this by coating the cells with a thin layer of graphene film. Graphene is a two dimensional form of carbon whose atoms are arranged into a honeycomb pattern. Graphene has unusual electronic properties that allow it to conduct electricity. It's rich in electrons that freely flow across its entire surface.
Graphene can bind positively charged ions with its own electrons. This characteristic inspired Qunwei Tang and his research team to use graphene electrodes to get power from the impact of raindrops. Raindrops contain salts that dissociate into positive and negative ions. Sodium, calcium, and ammonium ions are positively charged and can bind with the surface of the graphene.
When the raindrops and the graphene connect, the water becomes enriched in positive ions and the graphene becomes enriched with delocalized electrons. This produces what is known as a pseudocapcitator and results in the production of current and voltage. The new solar cells are capable of producing a solar conversion efficiency of 6.53% from sunlight and hundreds of micro-volts via stimulation by raindrops.
Tang and his team feel that this is a positive step and that, "All weather solar cells are promising in solving the energy crisis."
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Artificial Skin Is Grown In The Lab
On April 1st 2016, it was announced in the journal Science Advances, that researchers have successfully grown skin in the lab. Scientists at the RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology in Japan say that using the stem cells of mice, they've been able to build artificial skin that has hair follicles and sweat glands.
Takashi Tsuji, leader of the research team said, "Up until now, artificial skin development has been hampered by the fact that the skin lacked the important organs, such as hair follicles and exocrine glands, which allow the skin to play its role in regulation. He said that the skin was made by extracting cells from the gums of mice. These cells were then converted into a specialized type of stem cell.
Those cells were genetically modified to glow florescent green for easy identification, and were then transplanted into hairless mice, which caused them to grow into complex skin. Next, the researchers took that skin and implanted it into other mice. From there the tissue successfully connected it self to nerves and muscles. The skin not only had the important glands, but it also had the three layers that normal skin should have.
Takashi and his team feel that they are at least five to ten years away from reproducing this same procedure in humans. They also believe that their procedure could revolutionize skin grafts, which currently use skin from other parts of the body
Takashi Tsuji, leader of the research team said, "Up until now, artificial skin development has been hampered by the fact that the skin lacked the important organs, such as hair follicles and exocrine glands, which allow the skin to play its role in regulation. He said that the skin was made by extracting cells from the gums of mice. These cells were then converted into a specialized type of stem cell.
Those cells were genetically modified to glow florescent green for easy identification, and were then transplanted into hairless mice, which caused them to grow into complex skin. Next, the researchers took that skin and implanted it into other mice. From there the tissue successfully connected it self to nerves and muscles. The skin not only had the important glands, but it also had the three layers that normal skin should have.
Takashi and his team feel that they are at least five to ten years away from reproducing this same procedure in humans. They also believe that their procedure could revolutionize skin grafts, which currently use skin from other parts of the body
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
The Earh Could Be Hit By Super Solar Flare
On March 24th 2016, a new study published in the journal, Nature Communications, revealed evidence that suggests that the Earth could one day be hit by what is known as a super solar flare. A solar flare happens when magnetic energy that has built up within the sun's atmosphere is suddenly released. This occurrence sends highly charged particles hurtling toward the Earth where most of it is deflected by the electromagnetic field.
Here on Earth we witness these particles as the auroras that happen at the north and south poles. According to professor Christopher Karoff, of Aarhus University in Denmark, who led the team who researched the phenomenon, super solar flares are much more explosive events that are one to six orders-of-magnitude larger than the largest flare observed on the sun, through the space age.
Prof Karoff and his team used the Guo Shou Jing telescope in China to observe nearly 100,000 stars. What he and his team found, was that about one in ten of those stars were producing super solar flares, and that those stars had a magnetic field similar to, or weaker than our sun. Prof Karoff said that he and his team did not expect this finding. It leaves open the possibility that our sun could one day produce a super flare.
If the Earth were hit by a super flare eruption today, it would not only damage electronic equipment, but it would damage our atmosphere and the planet's ability to support life. However, there is evidence that the Earth has been hit by a super flare in the past. Tree rings from a geological archive, from 775 AD have shown an anomalously large amount of carbon 14 which is a radioactive isotope. Carbon 14 is formed when either cosmic rays or highly energetic protons from the sun enter the Earth's atmosphere.
On the bright side, if the Earth were hit by a super flare, it wouldn't necessarily be as bad as the ending of the 2009 movie, "Knowing." And, we would at least have some warning time. A Coronal Mass Ejection or CME, would take anywhere from 18 hours to five days to reach us.
Here on Earth we witness these particles as the auroras that happen at the north and south poles. According to professor Christopher Karoff, of Aarhus University in Denmark, who led the team who researched the phenomenon, super solar flares are much more explosive events that are one to six orders-of-magnitude larger than the largest flare observed on the sun, through the space age.
Prof Karoff and his team used the Guo Shou Jing telescope in China to observe nearly 100,000 stars. What he and his team found, was that about one in ten of those stars were producing super solar flares, and that those stars had a magnetic field similar to, or weaker than our sun. Prof Karoff said that he and his team did not expect this finding. It leaves open the possibility that our sun could one day produce a super flare.
If the Earth were hit by a super flare eruption today, it would not only damage electronic equipment, but it would damage our atmosphere and the planet's ability to support life. However, there is evidence that the Earth has been hit by a super flare in the past. Tree rings from a geological archive, from 775 AD have shown an anomalously large amount of carbon 14 which is a radioactive isotope. Carbon 14 is formed when either cosmic rays or highly energetic protons from the sun enter the Earth's atmosphere.
On the bright side, if the Earth were hit by a super flare, it wouldn't necessarily be as bad as the ending of the 2009 movie, "Knowing." And, we would at least have some warning time. A Coronal Mass Ejection or CME, would take anywhere from 18 hours to five days to reach us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)