It was announced on February 4th 2015, that Apple is in the process of integrating Beats Music into iTunes as it works to create a new subscription music service to rival Spotify. Apple will not just create a Beats app for iPhones, iPads, or Macs, but it will deeply integrate Beat into its mobile iOS, iTunes Media Store, and even, Apple TV.
Beats Music users will be able to merge their existing accounts with Apple/iTunes IDs. The mobile app's design will move away from the Beats' traditional red and black and will have a user interface that has the look and feel of iTunes. There will also be new social features added for sharing music and playlists. A search feature will allow users to search for any song in either the iTunes or Beats catalogs. It will also be cloud based.
Apple had hoped that it would be able to release the new service by March 2015, but it has been in negotiations with the major labels in an effort to offer the new service at a lower price than Spotify. Right now, Spotify's service is being offered for $9.99 a month. Apple had been trying to get a deal that would allow them to offer their service for $5.00 a month. However, Apple was reportedly able to reach an agreement that will allow them to offer its new service for $7.99 a month.
Apple's new streaming service will be available for android as well as iOS. This will be the first time that the company has created an app for android as an in house project. However, no Windows phone app will be available. Because of delays in the negotiation process, Apple may be forced to wait until its annual WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) in June, to announce the release of its new streaming service.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Clouds Over Mars
On February 16th 2015, it was announced that scientists had no explanation for the appearance of cloud plumes seen rising above the surface of Mars. The data being used was provided by amateur astronomers who first observed the clouds in the spring of 2012.
The cloud like plumes were enormous, reaching a height of 250 km above the Martian surface. The most logical of explanations is that the clouds were caused by either ice crystals or carbon dioxide gas. But due to the thinness of the Martian atmosphere, neither explanation seems plausible. One of the plumes developed in about 10 hours and lasted for 11 days.
Apparently, this was not the first time that the clouds of Mars had appeared. A look through the Hubble Space Telescope image archive from 1995 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2014 revealed an occasional cloud at the limb of Mars, but only at a height of up to 100 km. However, one set of images taken from Hubble on May 17th 1997 did reveal an abnormally high cloud plume similar to those that were seen in 2012.
Some scientists believe that the clouds might have been the result of an aurora like those found at the north and south poles here on earth. The northern and southern lights here on earth are caused by charged particles emanating from the sun and colliding with the earth's electromagnetic field. Mars does not have a magnetic field. Instead it only has pockets of magnetization, of which one cloud was observed over such an area.
But to explain the 2012 incidents, an aurora would have been 1,000 times brighter than the northern lights. There was not enough solar activity to produce that effect. So it is, that the clouds on Mars continue to go unexplained.
The cloud like plumes were enormous, reaching a height of 250 km above the Martian surface. The most logical of explanations is that the clouds were caused by either ice crystals or carbon dioxide gas. But due to the thinness of the Martian atmosphere, neither explanation seems plausible. One of the plumes developed in about 10 hours and lasted for 11 days.
Apparently, this was not the first time that the clouds of Mars had appeared. A look through the Hubble Space Telescope image archive from 1995 to 1999 and from 2001 to 2014 revealed an occasional cloud at the limb of Mars, but only at a height of up to 100 km. However, one set of images taken from Hubble on May 17th 1997 did reveal an abnormally high cloud plume similar to those that were seen in 2012.
Some scientists believe that the clouds might have been the result of an aurora like those found at the north and south poles here on earth. The northern and southern lights here on earth are caused by charged particles emanating from the sun and colliding with the earth's electromagnetic field. Mars does not have a magnetic field. Instead it only has pockets of magnetization, of which one cloud was observed over such an area.
But to explain the 2012 incidents, an aurora would have been 1,000 times brighter than the northern lights. There was not enough solar activity to produce that effect. So it is, that the clouds on Mars continue to go unexplained.
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Earth's Inner Core Has An Inner Core
On February 10th 2015, it was announced that scientists have discovered that there is an inner core within the inner core of the earth. A team of researchers at the University of Illinois used seismic waves from earth quakes to make this astonishing discovery.
What makes the inner-inner core so unique is the way that the iron crystals, which the inner core is made of, align. The iron crystals of the inner core align north and south along the earth's axis. The iron crystals of the inner-inner core, however, align east and west along the plane of the equator.
While multiple components of the inner core have been suggested some 10 years ago, this is the first time that a distinction in polarity has been determined. The discovery was made using technology that collects data from the resonating waves of a tremor's aftermath. The jolt from an earth quake is similar to that of a hammer striking a bell.
It was noted by one of the researchers that the coherent signal enhanced by the technology is clearer than the ring itself. When the scientists looked through the inner core, they discovered that it had some complex structural properties. The inner-inner core is believed to be about half the size of the inner core, and could hold some clues to how the earth evolved.
What makes the inner-inner core so unique is the way that the iron crystals, which the inner core is made of, align. The iron crystals of the inner core align north and south along the earth's axis. The iron crystals of the inner-inner core, however, align east and west along the plane of the equator.
While multiple components of the inner core have been suggested some 10 years ago, this is the first time that a distinction in polarity has been determined. The discovery was made using technology that collects data from the resonating waves of a tremor's aftermath. The jolt from an earth quake is similar to that of a hammer striking a bell.
It was noted by one of the researchers that the coherent signal enhanced by the technology is clearer than the ring itself. When the scientists looked through the inner core, they discovered that it had some complex structural properties. The inner-inner core is believed to be about half the size of the inner core, and could hold some clues to how the earth evolved.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Radio Shack Goes Bankrupt
On February 2nd 2015, it was announced that one time electronics giant, Radio Shack was in talks to sell half of its stores to Sprint in a bankruptcy deal. In the deal that's currently on the table, Radio Shack, which operates more than 4,000 stores, would agree to turn over the leases to 2,500 of them, while the rest would be closed.
Radio Shack began its existence in 1921, as a mail order electronics retailer and over the years it expanded to become a formidable force in personal computer sales. The 1980s saw its greatest popularity as its reputation briefly became synonymous with quality. However, the rise of superstores such as Walmart and e-retailers such as Amazon has given consumers the chance to buy the same merchandise for a lower price.
It has been suggested that Sprint may decide to either co brand with Radio Shack, or it may replace the Radio Shack name with its own. It is also possible that another bidder such the Sanpower Group of China, which has expressed interest in Radio Shack, may try to purchase the failing electronics chain's assets. Amazon, looking for a chance to build a physical presence at brick and mortar is said to be interested as well.
Radio Shack began its existence in 1921, as a mail order electronics retailer and over the years it expanded to become a formidable force in personal computer sales. The 1980s saw its greatest popularity as its reputation briefly became synonymous with quality. However, the rise of superstores such as Walmart and e-retailers such as Amazon has given consumers the chance to buy the same merchandise for a lower price.
It has been suggested that Sprint may decide to either co brand with Radio Shack, or it may replace the Radio Shack name with its own. It is also possible that another bidder such the Sanpower Group of China, which has expressed interest in Radio Shack, may try to purchase the failing electronics chain's assets. Amazon, looking for a chance to build a physical presence at brick and mortar is said to be interested as well.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Avid To Launch Pro Tools 12
On January 25th 2015, at Winter NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants), Avid announced the up coming release of two new products, Pro Tools 12 and Pro Tools First. With Pro Tools 12, Avid makes its transition to the could, while Pro Tools First will allow those new to Pro Tools to get a fully functional copy of the software for free.
Pro Tools First comes with a set of plug-ins that are a subset of the original version. There are 21 effects total. There are instrument plug-ins available that will allow users to start creating right away. However, there is no support for extra tracks, score editing, or video playback. Avid is giving new users cloud storage for three tracks, but they can export their tracks for free. No hardware is needed to use Pro Tools First.
Pro Tools 12 is featuring a new set of music collaborating tools that will allow users to make and store their music in the cloud. Features like built-in text/video chat and Avid Marketplace Artist Community will allow users to either invite other artists to collaborate on a session or find someone to collaborate with.
What's also new with Pro Tools 12 is the new flexible licensing plans. Users can get a monthly subscription to Pro Tools 12 for $29.99 a month, while an annual subscription is $299 a year. A software upgrade with a year of updates can be purchased for $199, and a perpetual license plus a year of updates cost $899. Those who are interested in Pro Tools 12's availability can leave their information at Avid.com.
Pro Tools First comes with a set of plug-ins that are a subset of the original version. There are 21 effects total. There are instrument plug-ins available that will allow users to start creating right away. However, there is no support for extra tracks, score editing, or video playback. Avid is giving new users cloud storage for three tracks, but they can export their tracks for free. No hardware is needed to use Pro Tools First.
Pro Tools 12 is featuring a new set of music collaborating tools that will allow users to make and store their music in the cloud. Features like built-in text/video chat and Avid Marketplace Artist Community will allow users to either invite other artists to collaborate on a session or find someone to collaborate with.
What's also new with Pro Tools 12 is the new flexible licensing plans. Users can get a monthly subscription to Pro Tools 12 for $29.99 a month, while an annual subscription is $299 a year. A software upgrade with a year of updates can be purchased for $199, and a perpetual license plus a year of updates cost $899. Those who are interested in Pro Tools 12's availability can leave their information at Avid.com.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
A Large Asteroid To Pass By Earth
NASA announced on January 14 2015, that they expect a large asteroid to safely pass by the earth on January 26 2015. The asteroid, dubbed 2004 BL86 will pass by the earth at a distance of 745,000 miles or about 3 times the distance between the earth and the moon. 2004 BL86's pass by will be the closest of any large object of its size until the appearance of asteroid 1999 AN10 which is expected to pass by the earth in 2027.
Although asteroid 2004 BL86 is about 1,800 feet, or a third of a mile in diameter, NASA has reassured us that it will pose no threat to the earth. Astronomers will be using dish antennas at NASA's Deep Space Network in Goldstone, California and Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico to track the asteroid. Astronomers at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories) hope to use the fly by to get their first detailed images of 2004 BL86, as not much is known about the asteroid.
Those wishing to get a glimpse of 2004 BL86 can do so with either a small telescope or a pair of large binoculars, while looking at the constellation Cancer on January 26th 2015. The asteroid will have a magnitude of 9, which is about the brightness of a faint star using a telescope with an aperture of 10 centimeters. Those using large binoculars are encouraged to use a steady mount. Maximum brightness is estimated to occur between 11:07 and 11:52 pm.
Although asteroid 2004 BL86 is about 1,800 feet, or a third of a mile in diameter, NASA has reassured us that it will pose no threat to the earth. Astronomers will be using dish antennas at NASA's Deep Space Network in Goldstone, California and Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico to track the asteroid. Astronomers at JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories) hope to use the fly by to get their first detailed images of 2004 BL86, as not much is known about the asteroid.
Those wishing to get a glimpse of 2004 BL86 can do so with either a small telescope or a pair of large binoculars, while looking at the constellation Cancer on January 26th 2015. The asteroid will have a magnitude of 9, which is about the brightness of a faint star using a telescope with an aperture of 10 centimeters. Those using large binoculars are encouraged to use a steady mount. Maximum brightness is estimated to occur between 11:07 and 11:52 pm.
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Super Cookies Maybe Tracking You
On January 2 2015, Sam GreenHalgh of the UK based RadicalResearch, posted a blog about Super Cookies and how they can track internet users, even if their browsers are in privacy mode. Cookies have been used by websites for years to help them identify users whenever they return to a site. As more internet users have gone mobile, Microsoft and Google began looking for a way to track users' preferences across multiple devices.
Super Cookies were designed to do what Cookies do, remember a user's browsing history, etc, but they are intended to reside on your computer permanently. And, they can persist even when you are browsing in incognito mode. They do this by exploiting HTTP Strict Transport Security or HSTS. HSTS is a web feature that tells a website that it should only communicate with a user in HTTPS or an encrypted connection.
HSTS allows your browser to store the secure connection information from every secure website that a user might visit. Most browsers maintain HSTS, and because it is a security feature, they do so whether the browser is in normal or private mode. Though HSTS is not intended to be used for tracking, the data can be manipulated to fingerprint a prospective internet user and track their movements around the web.
Chrome, Firefox, and Opera all erase cookies and HSTS flags so that any stored data will be cleared. Apple iPads and iPhone, which use the Safari browser, have no way to clear HSTS flags. Internet Explorer doesn't support HSTS and is not vulnerable. At this time it is not clear if any websites are using HSTS to track users.
Super Cookies were designed to do what Cookies do, remember a user's browsing history, etc, but they are intended to reside on your computer permanently. And, they can persist even when you are browsing in incognito mode. They do this by exploiting HTTP Strict Transport Security or HSTS. HSTS is a web feature that tells a website that it should only communicate with a user in HTTPS or an encrypted connection.
HSTS allows your browser to store the secure connection information from every secure website that a user might visit. Most browsers maintain HSTS, and because it is a security feature, they do so whether the browser is in normal or private mode. Though HSTS is not intended to be used for tracking, the data can be manipulated to fingerprint a prospective internet user and track their movements around the web.
Chrome, Firefox, and Opera all erase cookies and HSTS flags so that any stored data will be cleared. Apple iPads and iPhone, which use the Safari browser, have no way to clear HSTS flags. Internet Explorer doesn't support HSTS and is not vulnerable. At this time it is not clear if any websites are using HSTS to track users.
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