technology

You no need to touch the phone with Microsoft Pre-Touch Technology

May 4, 2016 by computerera

Microsoft researchers have now focused on a new technology which is useful to operate the phone without touching it. If their attempts success, we can open and close the applications, browse the websites and adjust various settings on the phone without touching the phone.

Myself, I am already using the similar functionality with my Samsung Galaxy Note 4, with the help of “Air View” gestures. Not only Samsung earlier Sony introduced similar technology with the name Floating Touch. But the technology Microsoft developing right now is completely innovative compared to any existing technology.

By using this latest technology if you want to get video controls just you need to hover your fingers, touching the phone is never required. Not only video controls you can select text in emails and SMS messages without touching the screen. While browsing the Internet hovering your fingers on any link will reveal the hyperlink behind it.

If this technology comes true, it will become more convenient to operate the phone without any fingerprints and greasy marks on the phone. Right now this concept is in the research phase, and it will take a lot of time to implement it in the smartphones.

Touchscreen technology didn’t changed since it’s arrival. Just we came across two major technologies called Resistive and Capacitive. Mobile manufacturers are trying to equip with a stronger screen which is damage proof. But with touch screen functionality, there has a lot of scopes to explore in the coming days. We can witness those changes.

Mobile hotspot name caused Flight Delay

May 4, 2016 by computerera

While naming the mobile hotspots people think creatively. It’s our choice to tag any name to the mobile hotspot that we create, but we have to consider other factors also. In Melbourne, Australia suspicious WiFi hotspot name caused a Qantas flight to delay.

One of the passengers found a hot spot with the name”Mobile Detonation Device”, and immediately he reported to the flight crew. Security and the captain announced to the passengers that the flight would be delayed for reasons of safety.

Finally, when they started investigating they ended up with the mobile hotspot which caused panic environment among the passengers.

Such type of practice is not new for us, and I think you already came across phone Bluetooth module names with “Virus,”malware”danger” etc. people feel crazy while naming their devices, but it sometimes leads to trouble. This is the best example of that.

Ban Whatsapp in India – petition filed in Supreme Court

May 3, 2016 by computerera

Sudhir Yadav, an activist from Gurgaon, filed a petition in Supreme Court against Whatsapp’s strong encryption.

You may be already aware that Whatsapp introduced end-to-end encryption to the messenger application. Few people across the nation raised their voice considering the security aspects. Now slowly everything went into silence, and people adapted end-to-end encryption without any further discussions about the security.

According to the Indian encryption policy, Indian laws permit only 40-bit encryption. The government sets these norms to make investigation easy for antisocial element activities on social networking sites and messenger applications.

But contrary WhatApp introduced 256-bit Encryption, and the white papers Whatsapp released on encryption clearly indicates that it is highly impossible to decrypt messages, photos, videos exchanged through Whatsapp conversation.

While introducing encryption Whatsapp itself mentioned that they don’t store the decryption key on their server, for any message exchanged through Whatsapp.

Terrorist attacks and other antisocial activities growing rapidly in recent times. Terrorist groups using advanced technology more efficiently than normal users. Whatsapp treats end-to-end encryption as a great privacy measure for its users, but this stops the investigative agencies to solve typical antisocial activities.

The Indian Encryption Policy sets the encryption norms for cellular operators and ISPs only. As per the law technically it doesn’t effect OTT players like Whatsapp. But the Law is for the common good, when the situations demand amendments to the existing Law; OTT players will also come under the purview of the Law.

I’m eagerly waiting for the Judgement on Sudhir Yadav’s petition in the Supreme Court.

Facebook is in Big Trouble in the form of user engagement

May 2, 2016 by computerera

Facebook is facing user engagement issue, yeah, what you heard is correct. These are not my words, “GlobalWebIndex” clearly stated this in its latest report.

In recent times I observed a few posts from the friends, in which they mentioned that they are losing interest on Facebook. On an average Facebook posts declined dramatically around the globe. Even though Facebook continues as the number one social networking platform, the percent of the users who post at least a single status update once in a month declined to 33% compared to last year’s percentage i.e. 44%.

Not only status updates, but people are also not willing to share the photos active on Facebook. Last year, 46% of the total Facebook users shared their personal photos on Facebook platform, but this also declined to 37% this year.

Earlier, when Facebook found downtrends in its social engagement it tried to overcome it by creating new applications into the Facebook platform. As per the reports right now Facebook is building a photo sharing application which has the characteristics of the Snapchat. You can also record live video and share them with friends, by using this new application.

When we consider Facebook’s similar attempts earlier, the latest app’s success is also unpredictable. Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012, at the same time Facebook came up with another app called Camera. But it didn’t taste the success and Facebook stopped it in 2014. Facebook released another application immediately in 2014, with the name Singleshot, directly targeting Snapchat. It is also a big failure for the Facebook, which killed the application after 18 months of its arrival.

Right now Facebook is enjoying its top position in social media, but the user engagement trends create fear in the Facebook team. If the users found a better alternative than the Facebook, they will migrate to that platform mercilessly.

I hope Facebook will not lose its social dominance. It knows the great tactics to follow in critical situations.