The tech world had a pretty amazing week with a lot of new launches, upgradations and tech deals hitting the headlines. Let's give you a quick recap of the top 10 things that happened in the tech world this week.
1) X-Ray Drones – Soon Drones Can Look Through Walls using Wi-Fi
Thanks to a new innovative system discovered by two University of California, Santa Barbara researchers Yasamin Mostofi and Chitra R. Karanam, mankind will now literally get to see through solid walls. The system which can prove to be useful for emergency search-and-rescue, archaeological discovery and structural monitoring, makes use of two drones, a massive Wi-Fi antenna, and a little interpolation to see through solid walls.
The developed system is basically two-fold. While one drone has the responsibility of blasting Wi-Fi through the structure, the other one is responsible for picking up the signal. After this, the two work together and fly around a solid structure until they have successfully mapped the differences present in the wave strength at different points. The researchers on the project were able to make use of this information to create a 3D model of a closed building.
2) India Soon To Have Rules for Cryptocurrency aka Bitcoin
According to a recent report in MoneyControl, a committee comprising of officials from India’s Central Bank RBI, finance ministry, NITI Aayog, ministry of information technology and the State Bank of India are currently in the midst of finalising a report that would decide the future of cryptocurrencies in the Indian subcontinent and whether there’s a need to regulate or legalise them.
The committee has also been given the work of examining the existing international framework on cryptocurrencies and will suggest measures on consumer protection and combat money laundering.
A senior government official involved in the committee has told MoneyControl that the panel have had five meetings till now and have also consulted all ministries, public, stakeholders (exchanges such as Zebpay and Unocoin). The committee is most likely to submit their report by next month-end.
3) Infosys is Working on 50 Pilot Projects based on Blockchain Technology
Infosys, the global leader in technology services and consulting, is currently working on a whopping 50 different blockchain pilots with a majority of them belonging in the non-financial services category.
Infosys’ chief of emerging technology solutions, Prasad Joshi, recently talked to Business Line (BL) and revealed that the company is currently in the midst of making some market marked shift in strategies as it is wishes to invest and test the waters in new technologies across multiple industries and not just finance.
He said, “Our 500 blockchain specialists and 1,000 consultants form a part of the core group that will take these blockchain technologies to existing and new customers.”
4) Chinese Cos Outcast Indian Smartphone Companies, Startups in Innovation
A recent report churned out by India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra), a Mumbai-based agency that provides ratings, research and rigorous analytics of market in India, has spelled a period of worry for Indian mobile phone manufacturers. According to the report, Chinese smartphone manufacturers have been successful in capturing a whopping 51 percent of the mobile phone handset market share in India leaving their Indian counterparts much behind in their very own country.
The Ind-Ra report warns the Indian smartphone makers to tighten their seat belts if they wish to have a long haul in the Indian smartphone market. According to it, since Chinese players like Xiaomi have invested big bucks in brand building and manufacturing facilities in India, it shows that they’re committed to stay. Indian smartphone makers slow innovation rate and limited marketing budgets are acting as major constraints on their future in the Indian smartphone market.
5) Infosys Backed Drone Startup To Build 2 UAVs for NTPC
Infosys-backed Navi Mumbai-based drone startup ideaForge Technology has recently received an order from India’s largest energy conglomerate, NTPC Limited to supply two highly sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along with high-end programmatic sensors, Thermal Imaging Sensor and LiDAR Sensor.
The devices made by the drone startup for NTPC will be deployed for action at the PSU’s research and development facility, NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA). There they will be put to use to support inspection and monitoring operations.
6) A Dedicated Chip Just for IoT, Courtesy Samsung
Samsung, which is considered as one of the biggest and best electronics manufacturers in the world, has decided to go all in, in the world of Internet Of Things (IoT). The week saw the electronics giant announcing the launch of the Exynos i T200, Samsung’s first processor optimised for IoT devices.
The newly launched chip will take security of IoT devices on another tangent altogether, and will also support wireless connections. The South Korean tech giant is hopeful that the processor, which also boosts of a Physically Unclonable function that prevents illegal copying, will give it an upper hand in the ever-growing IoT market.
7) Hyperloop India Pacts With Bengaluru Startup To Build First Pod Prototype
Six months after the first proposal of building a modern transportation system in India gained ground, Hyperloop India has taken its first step.
Hyperloop India, which has got backing from Elon Musk, has partnered with Workbench Projects, a Bengaluru-based start-up, which will build the first pod prototype that hypothetically claims to be immune from weather conditions, collision free, travels twice the speed a airplane’s speed, consumes low power and comes with energy storage for a whole day.
Hyperlooop India along with Workbench Projects is looking to raise the funds through crowdfunding platform Ketto, to build this pod in India. The amount that they are looking to raise is around Rs. 75 lakh, which, according to Sibesh Kar, Team Lead and Founder, Hyperloop India, would be used to build a most frugal pod in the world.
8) Microsoft Confirms Some Windows 10 Source Code Has Leaked
According to a report in The Verge, a portion of Microsoft’s Windows 10 source code was leaked online this week and files belonging to Microsoft’s USB, storage, and Wi-Fi drivers in Windows 10 were posted to Beta Archive, a site that tracks Windows releases, and asks members to donate money or contribute something Windows-related if they access a free private FTP full of archived Windows builds. According to the report, the leaked code is part of Microsoft's Shared Source Kit, and was published to Beta Archive’s FTP.
9) Google Is Launching A New Line Of Cameras For 180-degree VR Video
Tech giant Google is all set to launch new, more limited cinematic VR format that it believes can be as accessible as regular YouTube videos that we watch. Called the VR180, it is a collaboration between Google’s Daydream VR division and YouTube. The VR180 will be reportedly produced with a new line of cameras from Lenovo, LG, and Li, as well as other partners that are able to successfully meet VR180 certification standards.
VR180 videos won't be stretching all the way around a viewer in Virtual Reality. They will be immersive if the viewer is facing forward, but a viewer won't be able to turn and steal a glance behind themselves. Outside VR, the videos will look as normal flat videos, but one will be able to watch them in 3D VR through the YouTube app with a Google Cardboard, Daydream, or PlayStation VR headset.
10) Facebook Introduces Profile Picture Protections To Stop People From Misusing Images
Social Networking giant Facebook has rolled out new protections for profile pictures for Facebook users in India. The effort aims to put a stop to people sharing, copying or misusing their images without their permission. Facebook users can choose to guard their profile through the new system to ensure that no one can send, share, or download their picture. It also makes sure that no stranger can tag themselves in the image.
According to Facebook, blue shield border around the profile image will prevent misusers from taking screenshots of other's profile pictures “where possible.”
1) X-Ray Drones – Soon Drones Can Look Through Walls using Wi-Fi
Thanks to a new innovative system discovered by two University of California, Santa Barbara researchers Yasamin Mostofi and Chitra R. Karanam, mankind will now literally get to see through solid walls. The system which can prove to be useful for emergency search-and-rescue, archaeological discovery and structural monitoring, makes use of two drones, a massive Wi-Fi antenna, and a little interpolation to see through solid walls.
The developed system is basically two-fold. While one drone has the responsibility of blasting Wi-Fi through the structure, the other one is responsible for picking up the signal. After this, the two work together and fly around a solid structure until they have successfully mapped the differences present in the wave strength at different points. The researchers on the project were able to make use of this information to create a 3D model of a closed building.
2) India Soon To Have Rules for Cryptocurrency aka Bitcoin
According to a recent report in MoneyControl, a committee comprising of officials from India’s Central Bank RBI, finance ministry, NITI Aayog, ministry of information technology and the State Bank of India are currently in the midst of finalising a report that would decide the future of cryptocurrencies in the Indian subcontinent and whether there’s a need to regulate or legalise them.
The committee has also been given the work of examining the existing international framework on cryptocurrencies and will suggest measures on consumer protection and combat money laundering.
A senior government official involved in the committee has told MoneyControl that the panel have had five meetings till now and have also consulted all ministries, public, stakeholders (exchanges such as Zebpay and Unocoin). The committee is most likely to submit their report by next month-end.
3) Infosys is Working on 50 Pilot Projects based on Blockchain Technology
Infosys, the global leader in technology services and consulting, is currently working on a whopping 50 different blockchain pilots with a majority of them belonging in the non-financial services category.
Infosys’ chief of emerging technology solutions, Prasad Joshi, recently talked to Business Line (BL) and revealed that the company is currently in the midst of making some market marked shift in strategies as it is wishes to invest and test the waters in new technologies across multiple industries and not just finance.
He said, “Our 500 blockchain specialists and 1,000 consultants form a part of the core group that will take these blockchain technologies to existing and new customers.”
4) Chinese Cos Outcast Indian Smartphone Companies, Startups in Innovation
A recent report churned out by India Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra), a Mumbai-based agency that provides ratings, research and rigorous analytics of market in India, has spelled a period of worry for Indian mobile phone manufacturers. According to the report, Chinese smartphone manufacturers have been successful in capturing a whopping 51 percent of the mobile phone handset market share in India leaving their Indian counterparts much behind in their very own country.
The Ind-Ra report warns the Indian smartphone makers to tighten their seat belts if they wish to have a long haul in the Indian smartphone market. According to it, since Chinese players like Xiaomi have invested big bucks in brand building and manufacturing facilities in India, it shows that they’re committed to stay. Indian smartphone makers slow innovation rate and limited marketing budgets are acting as major constraints on their future in the Indian smartphone market.
5) Infosys Backed Drone Startup To Build 2 UAVs for NTPC
Infosys-backed Navi Mumbai-based drone startup ideaForge Technology has recently received an order from India’s largest energy conglomerate, NTPC Limited to supply two highly sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) along with high-end programmatic sensors, Thermal Imaging Sensor and LiDAR Sensor.
The devices made by the drone startup for NTPC will be deployed for action at the PSU’s research and development facility, NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA). There they will be put to use to support inspection and monitoring operations.
6) A Dedicated Chip Just for IoT, Courtesy Samsung
Samsung, which is considered as one of the biggest and best electronics manufacturers in the world, has decided to go all in, in the world of Internet Of Things (IoT). The week saw the electronics giant announcing the launch of the Exynos i T200, Samsung’s first processor optimised for IoT devices.
The newly launched chip will take security of IoT devices on another tangent altogether, and will also support wireless connections. The South Korean tech giant is hopeful that the processor, which also boosts of a Physically Unclonable function that prevents illegal copying, will give it an upper hand in the ever-growing IoT market.
7) Hyperloop India Pacts With Bengaluru Startup To Build First Pod Prototype
Six months after the first proposal of building a modern transportation system in India gained ground, Hyperloop India has taken its first step.
Hyperloop India, which has got backing from Elon Musk, has partnered with Workbench Projects, a Bengaluru-based start-up, which will build the first pod prototype that hypothetically claims to be immune from weather conditions, collision free, travels twice the speed a airplane’s speed, consumes low power and comes with energy storage for a whole day.
Hyperlooop India along with Workbench Projects is looking to raise the funds through crowdfunding platform Ketto, to build this pod in India. The amount that they are looking to raise is around Rs. 75 lakh, which, according to Sibesh Kar, Team Lead and Founder, Hyperloop India, would be used to build a most frugal pod in the world.
8) Microsoft Confirms Some Windows 10 Source Code Has Leaked
According to a report in The Verge, a portion of Microsoft’s Windows 10 source code was leaked online this week and files belonging to Microsoft’s USB, storage, and Wi-Fi drivers in Windows 10 were posted to Beta Archive, a site that tracks Windows releases, and asks members to donate money or contribute something Windows-related if they access a free private FTP full of archived Windows builds. According to the report, the leaked code is part of Microsoft's Shared Source Kit, and was published to Beta Archive’s FTP.
9) Google Is Launching A New Line Of Cameras For 180-degree VR Video
Tech giant Google is all set to launch new, more limited cinematic VR format that it believes can be as accessible as regular YouTube videos that we watch. Called the VR180, it is a collaboration between Google’s Daydream VR division and YouTube. The VR180 will be reportedly produced with a new line of cameras from Lenovo, LG, and Li, as well as other partners that are able to successfully meet VR180 certification standards.
VR180 videos won't be stretching all the way around a viewer in Virtual Reality. They will be immersive if the viewer is facing forward, but a viewer won't be able to turn and steal a glance behind themselves. Outside VR, the videos will look as normal flat videos, but one will be able to watch them in 3D VR through the YouTube app with a Google Cardboard, Daydream, or PlayStation VR headset.
10) Facebook Introduces Profile Picture Protections To Stop People From Misusing Images
Social Networking giant Facebook has rolled out new protections for profile pictures for Facebook users in India. The effort aims to put a stop to people sharing, copying or misusing their images without their permission. Facebook users can choose to guard their profile through the new system to ensure that no one can send, share, or download their picture. It also makes sure that no stranger can tag themselves in the image.
According to Facebook, blue shield border around the profile image will prevent misusers from taking screenshots of other's profile pictures “where possible.”
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