noemi

The History of Computing: Microsoft vs. Apple

August 2, 2023 by noemi

No, this is not an infographics site, and I know I just published an infographic yesterday. This one is too good to pass up on, though.

What is the first name, or brand, that comes to name when you think about computers/computing? Without a doubt, it is either Microsoft or Apple. ((You may have a different answer if you’re part of specific niches, but in general, I am willing to bet that it’s going to be either of the two.)) Arguably, these two companies have played the largest parts in the world of computers.

Computer geeks and number crunchers, here is the perfect infographic to ~~waste~~ spend some time on today. Go back in time and rediscover how computers as we know them today came into existence. Reaffirm your knowledge of the roles that Microsoft and Apple have played. And in case this is the first time that you are going to encounter these bits of information, then you’re going to have a blast.

Some of the more interesting points:

Windows XP still has the largest market share with 40.7 percent.
In the Internet browsers war, Microsoft one ups Apple with the Internet Explorer (48%). Apple’s Safari only has 5%.
While the Apple iPhone seems to be the most popular phone these days, Microsoft still has a larger market share with Windows OS at 26%. Apple’s iOS only has 7%.
When it comes to mp3 players, though, Apple is the undisputed leader with 76% market share. Microsoft has a measly 1%.

For tons more info – numbers, dates, and what have you – scroll down and enjoy this immense infographic.

Nokia Is NOT Dead – Or Is It?

August 2, 2023 by noemi

I still remember the days when owning a Nokia 5110 was the coolest thing ever. Then the Nokia 3210 came out – or it may have been another one of those models. All I know was that back then, Nokia kept spewing out mobile phones that every one wanted to get their hands own. In my part of the world, whether people admit it or not, having the “right” kind of mobile phone is a status symbol. Many years ago, it was a Nokia. Today, I am not entirely sure what the “right” kind of phone is, but I am pretty sure it is not a Nokia. ((Yes, yours truly has a several-years old Nokia.))

The fact is that it is common knowledge that Nokia is dead. Or is it common knowledge, really? Those in the western countries – the US in particular – may not even know much about the Finnish mobile phone manufacturer anymore, but apparently, Nokia is still king of the mobile world – the Asia-Pacific mobile world. Believe it or not, they have 40 percent (well, almost) of the market share in this region. Now that I think about it, I still do see lots of Nokias here. ((Oh yeah, I do own a Nokia, old as it may be.))

Don’t believe me? Check out this infographic below from InnerActive. ((Source))

It does seem that, far from being dead, Nokia is very much alive and kicking. Does this mean that the next phone I get should be a Nokia or should I go ahead and finally get the iPhone? What phone are you using?

Let Your Fingers Do the Charging: Possible “Everlasting” Battery

August 2, 2023 by noemi

If this new technology fully becomes reality, you might have no issues with your phone’s battery life anymore. Researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia have found a way to generate electricity in a manner that suits every touchscreen user’s habits – by applying mechanical pressure to piezoelectric thin films.

Think about your iPad (or Samsung Galaxy for that matter). Think about your iPhone or iPod Touch (or any other touchscreen device). Now think about how long the battery lasts. Depending on your usage and how “old” the gadget is, you probably have to charge your device every day.

Now imagine this scenario. The more your type or touch the screen of your device, the less need for charging it. I don’t know about you, but it is brilliant! No more having to lug around a cable just to make sure you don’t run out of juice while you’re on the go. No more worrying if you’re going to have enough power to last all night. All you need to do is keep on typing…

The science behind the idea I can’t spell out for you, but Dr. Madhu Bhaskaran – the lead co-author of the research – says “the research combined the potential of piezoelectrics – materials capable of converting pressure into electrical energy – and the cornerstone of microchip manufacturing, thin film technology.” He further explains that this concept has been proven and shown, although there remains the problem of implementation in the real world. ((Source: Physorg))

No doubt that the team – or some other guys – will be able to rise to the challenge of actually using this technology to benefit the countless technophiles all over the world. As for those who keep fiddling with their phones, you’ll finally have the excuse to keep on typing – you need more juice!

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BeautifulPeople.com Hit by Shrek Virus; “Ugly” People Let In

August 2, 2023 by noemi

If Anonymous and LulzSec were to hit targets such as BeautifulPeople.com, then perhaps they would bring about more lulz. The social network for the good looking has been hit with a virus called “Shrek”, which allowed applicants to pass through the screening process more easily. Indeed, it seemed to approve people who normally would not have passed the site’s requirements.

If you have not heard of this site yet, it is an online dating site that only allows – as the name says – beautiful people. And how do they determine who is beautiful? Who is to say what’s beautiful and what’s not? That’s where their “strict” rating system comes into play, where the voices of the members are heard. In short, existing users vote on whether or not an applicant is beautiful enough to be part of the site. In other words, it is nothing but an extension of social cliques you find in high school, college, or wherever.

Still, the site has not been unsuccessful. To date, they have over 700,000 members from all over the world. This number suddenly swelled by the tens of thousands recently, which made the management suspicious. (I wonder why – isn’t it possible that there are tens of thousands beautiful people wanting to be part of their site?) In any case, they discovered that there was something wrong – the virus.

As if the original premise is not already borderline ridiculous as it is, the management decided to inform the “incorrectly accepted” people that they cannot retain their membership status. As managing director Greg Hodge says, “We have sincere regret for the unfortunate people who were wrongly admitted to the site and who believed, albeit for a short while, that they were beautiful. It must be a bitter pill to swallow, but better to have had a slice of heaven then never to have tasted it at all.”

New Search Engine Inspired by Human Vision

August 1, 2023 by noemi

That is, vision as in how we literally see objects around us. Everyone knows about Google, Yahoo, and the other search engines that we use today. No matter how good these search engines may be, though, they are still limited by the fact that we have to enter search terms to get results. That means we need to have a name, a word, or a phrase for what we are looking for.

Now what if there were a search engine that takes images as the search query? Say you’re at a supermarket and you find something in a nice package, but you are not sure if it is good. You can always go visit Google and enter the name of the product and look for reviews. Alternatively, you can use your smartphone to take a picture of the item and use it to search.

Is that really possible? With the new technology that Cortexica ((Cortexica)) is working on, searching this way just might become the norm soon. The basis of the technology is simple – it is “a bio-inspired vision system enabling intelligent image recognition using principles derived from the human visual cortex.” The platform is patented – of course – and it provides a whole new way of doing things, at least search-wise.

How do they do it? Much like how our vision system works, the VisualSearch platform recognizes objects by identifying key features. These key features remain unchanged in spite of differences in lighting, orientation, and size.

To see what this technology can actually do, they already have an iPhone app called WINEfindr, which can be found in the app store. Obviously, this app is limited to wines, but it showcases what can be done.

The technology is very new, but work continues to be done, making the possibility of visual searching becoming part of our routine very real. Exciting? Definitely! Something that will take the place of barcodes and QR codes? Perhaps.

Four Steps to Going to the Dark Side (of the Internet)

August 1, 2023 by noemi

The recent spate of hacker attacks on high profile web sites have spawned a renewed interest in the “dark side of the Internet” – if the interest has waned at all. I don’t know much about being a hacker except for what I hear from other people and what I read online. And if there is one interesting article that you ought to read on hackers and hacking, it’s this recent one published on the BBC by Jane Wakefield.

Now I don’t know just how accurate the details are, but coming from BBC, one would expect the article to be well-researched and verified. So if you want to go over to the dark side of the Internet – not that I am encouraging you to – there are four steps to follow. ((Source: BBC))

Start lurking in different underground hacking forums.
Become an active participant in topics.
Bring some ‘proof’ of what you’ve said – for example ‘I’m posting for free five credentials to Paypal. Want more? Call me up!’.
Earn a reputation and you’re in.

I don’t know if there are any of you out there who will verify these steps, but go ahead and start a discussion if you wish!

The article also covers the “human” side to hackers. They’re secretive but social – as long as they operate within their circles, I suppose. They also like to talk philosophy, apparently, and they are keen on literature. They’re also a collaborative community, with a structure akin to the mafia.

If anything, this article makes one’s interest level spike as to what the life of a hacker really is. What makes them tick? What makes them do what they do?

Photo via The Tech Herald