As the toys move technology

The best-known technologies that have become popular due to the useless devices.

At IFA 2015 in Berlin, many manufacturers have introduced not only new items of its mainstream products, but the original electronic gadgets and toys, which are useful in daily life is questionable. Nevertheless, these are the toys help disseminate important technological innovations that are changing the world and life of people.

One of the most popular toys are useless gadgets and a copy of the attributes of the works of mass culture. For example, in Berlin, it was presented a mini-replica droid shown in the trailer of the new "Star Wars". Buy his fans of the series will be able to in December. Like the Japanese robotic dog Aibo, which appeared in 1999, these toys allow robots to find application in the home and develop principles of human interaction with them.

Thus, the robot vacuum cleaner iRobot and its analogs initially perceived exclusively as a high-tech toy, but now the existence of such a device in the house is no longer surprising.

One of the brightest new products at IFA 2015 became Mate S smartphone Huawei's technology Force Touch. It allows the unit to respond to the pressing force of the finger on the screen.
Developers Huawei demonstrate one focus - they weighed on the screen of the gadget orange. And honestly smartphone showed a lot of fruit - 280 grams.

Today, it looks fun and surprise the audience. But Huawei has shown that the potential of touch screens is not exhausted. Although unlikely in the near future, smart phones will be used for accurate measurements, mass audience today saw a similar method of application.

Format 4K-video is also can be called not too useful for most users. Its use is limited as the proliferation of devices that can capture and play back 4K video, and a small number of relevant content. However, not so long ago, YouTube has allowed to add video to 4K, and in late August to add to it the format of 5K. Current models of monitors, televisions, and even smart phones can play video in this format, but necessary camera capable of recording as such.

At IFA 2015 include cameras from Panasonic has been a model of LUMIX GX8, recording in 4K. And the company recently introduced the Vantage Robotics folding quadrocopter Snap with the camera, and shoot in 4K resolution. Distribution of these gadgets will help promote the new video format.

Video games are often the basis for the promotion of new technologies. So, sign Microsoft's Kinect controller began his story is a gaming trade show. Despite the fact that the first sketches and algorithms Natal (early name Kinect) appeared in 2000, the project was presented only in 2010.
Thanks to Kinect Microsoft wanted to increase the popularity of Xbox. Now Kinnect and become popular thanks to him the basics of human-machine interface based on gestures used in interactive devices, public places and shopping malls.

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Apple and Google compete for the mobile video.

Major Internet companies combined to create progressive video standard

The volume of video viewing on mobile devices is rapidly increasing. The largest Internet companies Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Mozilla, Cisco, Intel and Netflix united in the "Alliance of public media" to create a new standard for free Internet video, which will speed up the playback on mobile devices and reduce the consumption of battery power smartphones.

Current users of video delivery technologies such as Adobe Flash, cause more discontent among software vendors and mobile devices because of its insistence to computer processing power and battery life gadget. At the same time attempts to introduce new standards carried out repeatedly, but so far none of the major Internet companies are not able to achieve this success.

In particular, Google has previously developed its own standard VP10, Mozilla has released another standard Daala, and Cisco has created its own version, called Thor. This Cisco has one of the most popular services for business conferencing WebEx.

Google engineers and Cisco already have experience working together in the framework of the project Daala. Now participants of the new alliance hopes to combine the best of all three products, reports Wired.

"The resolution and number of frames in the video are growing, - said the head of the development of Mozilla David Bryant. - The need for a progressive codec with substantially greater degree of video compression will only increase."

Bryant is convinced that the combination of developments Daala, Thor and VP10 will develop a foundation for the creation of a totally free codec, world-class, which is then able to use the company and developers, including as part of paid products. Standard will focus on streaming video device with a small amount of battery. It will also support the copy protection, which is important for companies such as Netflix.

The project has a greater chance of success, as member of the alliance have become producers of the three most common browsers and operators of the largest web services using video players. However, the standard may not support Apple in its Safari web browser and on devices with iOS and Facebook, video publishing service has implemented in the past year. Apple is also going to announce its video service Apple TV, a rival Netflix, and continues to maintain its codec QuickTime.

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Why Microsoft has created a "Minesweeper".

Microsoft said, which was added in Windows solitaire and "Minesweeper"
Built-in Windows games have long gained a cult status, because they played everyone who has ever sat at a computer. However, Microsoft has added them to its system, not only for the entertainment of its users, but also to train them.

Led Mouse

The best-known Solitaire, "Klondike", appeared in Windows 3.0 in 1990. Then Windows was not yet an independent system, but is merely an add-on DOS, though very difficult. Because of this, many users by inertia continued to use the "command-line" to control the system.

Microsoft also had already released the mouse, but users do not want to move to a complex and unusual input method. To this end, the company and introduced a system of "Solitaire" - a game in which to play without using the mouse is almost impossible. Yes, "Solitaire", you can move the map keyboard buttons, but it's very inconvenient, and even the most stubborn opponents of the mouse eventually get used to it. As a result, Microsoft is using this simple game (which appeared in the XVIII century) could retrain generation of users who are accustomed to the command line.

Microsoft first introduced into circulation a mouse as an input device in 1983, when released the text editor Word.

This application was initially enchanted by the use of this type of manipulator. This choice has been linked including the complexity of the functions of Word for conventional control via the keyboard: users would have to learn too many new keyboard shortcuts, or move the cursor with the arrow keys, which also takes time.

However, Word for a long time was not a popular text editor, since there a simpler WordPerfect, which has already been installed on a large number of devices and users do not want to be retrained. Largely for this reason, and mouse by 1990 has not been one of the key accessories to a computer.

To click the mouse

In addition to monitoring Microsoft Mouse it was necessary to teach the user to click it. And because in Windows 3.1, released in 1992, Microsoft introduced the next game simulator - "Minesweeper." With the release of this game developers have pursued two goals. The first - is to accustom users to the fact that besides the main, the left mouse button, there is also a right for which secured additional functions.

The second - to increase the speed and accuracy of using this input device. In the "Minesweeper" is necessary to hit the small squares, and time is limited.

Obviously, the one who will be a long time to aim in the box, will have time to less than one who causes the pointer to the desired point, almost without aiming.

As a result, "Minesweeper" quickly became a hit, and people have even begun to compete in the speed of its passage. And it once again showed users how important it is to quickly use the mouse.

To play with friends

Next educational game - a "Worms", which Microsoft has introduced into its system in the next version - Windows for Workgroups 3.1. She, too, was released in 1992, but had the support of local networks. Since the "Worms" - is a multiplayer game, it was designed to teach people to communicate over the network, even in the form of a game.

Yet in 1992, the use of nets was a novelty. Thus, the first picture was uploaded to the Internet only in 1992, when a new standard protocol that supports image files.

In 2012, favorite games from Windows people disappeared. However, this disappearance was of educational function. After all, they can be downloaded only from the app store, and users would have to train to use the tool to obtain the necessary programs.

However, a storm of criticism in the direction of Windows 8 was so high that, together with the return of the menu «Start» Microsoft back in Windows 10 and "Solitaire." However, there has not been without training: solitaire is now an opportunity to purchase additional items or disable advertising, and users will have to learn to interact with the function of buying directly from the application.

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Why desktops will gain popularity again.

Cloud technology, ease of use and performance make notebook PCs profitable.

Rapidly becoming cheaper laptops, tablets and PHABLET recently reduced the market share of desktop PCs. However, the development of cloud computing and the fall in the value of monitors with the big diagonals and super fine resolution can return the PC to its former popularity.

The development of wireless broadband and cloud services clearly separate tasks of daily communication, such as email, social networking, document viewing, searching for information and reading the news directly from the workflow.

In the second case, the modern man is often forced to spend a lot of time for any specific tasks, and the inherent mobility of smartphones and tablets for it is not a fundamental factor. That is why technological expert WSJ Jeffrey Fowler believes that soon the desktop massively return to our homes and offices.

A major factor in this case is the screen size. For a long and hard work it is very important workplace ergonomics, and a large monitor with high resolution, in this case provides a level of comfort.
If earlier the $ 2,000 would pay only a single widescreen display, now for that amount can be purchased, for example, 27-inch iMac with a 5K Retina, which even can not distinguish individual pixels. Modern laptops are definitely not boast the same quality image.

Desktop PCs at times more efficient in terms of performance. Thus, the new the Dell XPS 8900 will be equipped with much more powerful than a laptop, the processor Intel Core i7 6700K, which in the future will be replaced by newer versions.
For ergonomics are also important the correct location of the screen at an angle of 90 degrees to the line of sight and a comfortable keyboard and mouse to ensure correct positioning of the hands on the table.

You must have peripheral devices such as card readers, and a large number of USB-ports easily accessible. All these parameters are present only at the desktop.

Even if the presence of a laptop is important for the user, Fowler advises thinking about dock with full-screen, keyboard and mouse, as it significantly improves comfort and productivity.

As another argument journalist recalls that desktops have become more beautiful and more compact, and some of them can even be adapted to the style of interior design and furniture.

Another area of application for desktop PCs is becoming a niche family multimedia centers. HP Pavilion Mini or Apple Mac Mini have sufficient capacity to perform all tasks of modern and can be easily connected to a TV with a big diagonal, while occupying less space than a set-top box.

These computers can be shared by all members of the family and be a good entry-level computer for children. With the development of voice assistant type Cortana such PCs can take its place, for example, in the kitchen, where the hands are often busy and economic affairs to use tablet or smartphone uncomfortable.

In practice, however, the assumption of the journalist is not yet confirmed.

"In recent years, analysts predict a constant recovery in demand for stationary PCs and laptops, and these predictions which year did not come true - said" Gazeta.ru "head of the department of IT and cloud services J'son & Partners s.onsulting Alexander Gerasimov. - I think this is time to accept the fact. A similar trend is observed the world, where it has strengthened and landslide devaluation."

With regard to notebooks, we are talking not so much about whether they will lose their place PHABLET, tablets or desktops, and about what kind of mobile devices will be in the future, he said.
"From a technological point of view, in fact, formed a single market is conceptually identical to smart consumer devices, which differ from each other mainly in screen sizes, not more than that - said Gerasimov. - The functionality of these devices is determined by the services and applications with which they interact. And if we understand the tablet laptop with a large screen diagonal, then yes - such devices will survive, owning a touch screen and a detachable keyboard. "

A similar situation exists in the field of office PCs.

"Office computers would survive the market virtualization technology jobs and applications for which the system unit with a hard disk 0.5-1.0 TB is absolutely not necessary. Actually, he does not need right now - said Gerasimov. - So long as such the scope of stationary PCs and laptops, as the layout and design, but with the development of technologies to virtualize even such "heavy" applications, this trend will gradually disappear."

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What Google has created Alphabet?.

Will holding structure to cope with the main problems of the corporation

Google announced the creation of a new holding company Alphabet, which as an independent company will enter the search engine itself. The event provoked a heated discussion among representatives of the industry and has spawned many versions about the true cause of restructuring.
Experts, journalists and competitors are primarily expressed their utter surprise at the creation of Alphabet. The spectrum of tweets and posts on social networks included as the congratulations and expressions of approval, and the suspicion of trying to circumvent antitrust laws and the prosecution of tax evasion. The network even appeared parody site abc.xyz manifesto Alphabet as addresses abc.wtf, registered in New Zealand and are located on owned Microsoft IP-address.

Home version, confirm the published CEO of Google , Larry Page of information in the company's official blog, it is that the Alphabet will make Google more understandable for investors and improve the management of major assets such as itself a search engine, YouTube, maps, Android and Play Store, Browser Chrome, and advertising systems. And such individual factors as failure to start glasses Glass, will not spoil the overall performance of the advertising revenue Google's regular report to investors.

"Our company is working well, but we think we can make it more comprehensible and transparent," - wrote in circulation Larry Page, a foothold in the Alphabet letter «G» of Google.

To achieve this, the head of Google becoming Product Director Sundar Pichai, who has established himself as a talented managers and has shown recent impressive results in its area of responsibility. The team Alphabet Page and Brin will be reinforced by the CFO Ruth Porat, who came to Google from Morgan Stanley, which has a great influence on Wall Street.

The market has already reacted to this decision more positive - Google shares immediately rose by 5%.

They, Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the Alphabet will be engaged in the development of venture capital activities, such as Internet connection through stratospheric balloons Calico, delivery drones Wing, augmented reality glasses Glass and other development laboratory Google X. In their zone of responsibility also remains acquired last year for a $ 3 billion company Nest, developing devices for the Internet of things.

"Presumably, the purpose of Google - an attempt to convey to investors that the company hears their requests for greater transparency and is ready to provide it, - said Brian Weiser, an analyst at Pivotal Research. - But that does not mean that they cease to invest in areas derived from the core business. "
Alphabet will be largely similar to the company Berkshire Hathaway famous American billionaire investor Warren Buffett, that the long-term prospect of investing in different areas of business.

Style and principles of life Sergey Brin, who oversees Google X, Larry Page and better fit into this concept, as they are strongly associated with the invention and of innovative activities.

However, there is another version of this separation in a single structure. Business Google is not eternal, and although the company has a monopoly on the Internet search market, the market of mobile technology is not all that obvious. In particular, social networks and instant messaging applications on smartphones could potentially take away a significant part of the revenues from Google's advertising market.
Under the new structure of each asset is an independent company, which is independent from other assets Alphabet and in the future can be independently traded on the stock exchange. Thus, the growth of one or more new destinations will not deter others.

"The change of corporate structure should appeal to investors: the pilot projects it is now a separate business with its own performance, prospects and opportunities to attract investors' funds".

"The management of these companies, and the very Larry Page will have greater freedom of action. Each area will be evaluated separately, then set how Google is the most profitable, but also the standard of the new assets of the holding. Investors have repeatedly faulted the enormous cost Google in the research of new products without any clearly visible the prospects for payback, now cross-financing of the holding companies to be more transparent.

Finally, Google is explicitly makes it clear that the Internet - is only part of their business, and perhaps in the future, is not the most important, he said.

Not meaningless and the version that the holding structure Alphabet help in solving problems with antitrust lawsuits in Europe and in the near future, possibly in the United States, and will optimize the taxation of the company.

Claims the priority of the EU authorities of Google services in search results is certainly not withdraw, but to present such claims to future products Alphabet will be more difficult, since they will all operate under separate independent companies.

Legal persons, who are now investing in Google, as will invest Alphabet, and may be registered in the countries with the best conditions for taxes, and the management will be carried out from the United States, and to make a complaint to the tax evasion would be much more difficult.

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