Your Tech Story

Athulya

Being a cinephile with a love for all things outdoorsy, Athulya never misses a chance to chase inspiring stories or poke fun at things, even when the subject is herself. Currently pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering, she is someone innately interested in technical and scientific research. Music reviews and op-eds define her as they allow her to explore different perspectives. Though sometimes she thinks she makes more sense playing the guitar than she does while writing.

SpaceX

SpaceX Prototype Passes Important Cold Pressure Test

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Over the last weekend, SpaceX successfully tested its rocket much to the satisfaction of space enthusiasts around the world. The success of the test comes as a significant relief to all the researchers working on their next-gen project, Starship, which aims to take people to the Moon. SpaceX had publicized their project years ago, and shocked the world when it announced that it would send a one-day expedition to the Moon and Mars. The company had been working on a rocket capable of doing this for some time now. Therefore, this success will come as a piece of positive news for everyone involved in the project. Here’s a look at what the achievement of this prototype test means for the company.

Big Milestone

SpaceX’s prototype for its deep-space rocket named Starship, successfully passed a cold pressure test in Texas, after remaining intact on the stand. The success with regards to this test will enable the company to start low-altitude flying in the weeks to come. In the past, the trial had created trouble for the company, with several prototypes getting destroyed in the past. Passing this cryogenic proof test successfully means that the company can finally take their prototype testing to the next level.

The cryogenic proof test requires filling the vehicle with very cold liquid nitrogen to test whether the prototype can handle those temperatures when in outer space. Since deep space has freezing temperatures and low pressure, rockets must pass this test to ensure they stay safe while in orbit. Previous to this launch, SpaceX had lost three prototypes while testing them for this procedure. All three of the prototypes either burst open or imploded on the stand in Boca Chica, Texas.

Softball Test

As expected, SpaceX CEO and billionaire, Elon Musk was excited that his prototype had finally cleared the test. He referred to the test as a softball pressure test, but still an important milestone for the company, as it meant the prototype was ready for flight tests. Engineers will now begin to attach the prototype to their new Raptor engine this week.

SpaceX Prototype
Image Souce: The Verge

The flight test will involve igniting the Raptor while restraining the prototype to ensure the proper functioning of the engine. The Raptor has been designed specifically for this project, and the final launching will require six such Raptor engines. However, the flight test will only involve one Raptor, with future trials adding more rockets as and when needed. For instance, the next prototype test will make use of three Raptor engines.

Future Tests

Once the Raptor test is completed successfully, SpaceX will fly the prototype to 150 meters, and then land it. This small hop test will test the rocket’s ability to withstand take-off and landing stresses. It will also serve as a test for the engineers involved in touching down and taking off the rocket gently. Such propulsive landing has been used earlier by SpaceX for landing their Falcon 9 rockets. Starship will use this technique to land the rocket on the Earth, and even on the Moon.

A hop test had been conducted in August using an early Starship prototype named Starhopper. However, this design was not similar to the Starship but slightly resembled a water tower. However, sources say that the new prototype is more similar both in size and shape to the actual Starship design while lacking specific necessary hardware. Musk claimed that the rocket would be made ready for the hop test in a few weeks, but approvals from the Federal Aviation Ministry might take longer.

SpaceX is also still working on the Starship design, trying out new design features and trying to implement those changes in future vehicles. The original prototype for the Starship is also under production at the Boca Chica test centre. The fact that the SN4 prototype successfully passed the cryo-test is very welcome news for the company, which will now set their sights on further development and testing.

snapchat

COVID-19 Leads to Huge Surge in Snapchat Usage, as User Behavior Trends Change

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As the novel coronavirus continues to wreak havoc across the world, people are still confined to their homes. With most schools, colleges and offices still being closed, most people are relying on social media platforms to interact with each other. Therefore, a lot of entertainment and social media websites have seen a spike in usage in the last few months. Snapchat recently released data regarding user behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s a look at how the epidemic has affected Snapchat usage and what that means for the company.

New User Rush on Snapchat

The first quarter of 2020 has been especially good for Snapchat, which gained 11 million users, bringing the total count of daily users to 229 million. The addition of 11 million new users, or Daily Active Users, is a 20% increase over what their usage was last year. Similarly, with most people being stuck at home, engagement has also risen tremendously. The first quarter saw the creation of over 4 billion snaps every day! With more and more people migrating to Snapchat to stay connected with their loved ones, the company recently released new data regarding user activity. The new look at how user behavior has changed during the COVID-19 lets us understand how the disease has affected people around the world.

User Behavior Changes

The impact of COVID-19 has helped engagement rates hit all-time highs. Furthermore, more and more people are now turning to social media sites like Snapchat to stay connected to their friends and family. Compared to February, March has seen a spike of 50% when it comes to time spent on voice and video calling facilities. Such a trend may also be associated with social distancing rules which came into place in March, forcing people away from one another.

This has led to most people switching to IG, Snapchat, Zoom, and Skype to talk to their loved ones face-to-face. March also witnessed an all-time high with regards to group chat engagement rates, as friends and colleagues started using video calls to stay in touch. Friends have also started sending each other more snaps than ever before to keep them informed of what they are up to during the quarantine period.

Peak Usage and Activity

March has seen an all-new high emerge concerning the number of snaps sent amongst friends. While this number peaks during Christmas and other holiday seasons like that, this year, the peak came in March when the quarantine came into place around the world. More and more people are also spending their time getting accustomed to Snapchat’s new features and additions. As people do not have the luxury of going out to entertain themselves, they are trying to find new ways to stay occupied during this quarantine. That has led to many of them exploring all the options that the app has to offer, as they figure out ways to stay active and occupied. New features such as AR lenses and games have also peaked since March.

The company’s official statement says that Snapchat has seen a significant rise in engagement levels, time spent, number of users, and also with regards to the usage of in-game features such as chats. When compared to February, usage of Snapchat’s lenses has gone up by another 25% in March. Snapchat Shows has also become a massive hit with the crowd, with engagement rate and time spent on Snapchat Shows hit an all-time high. More and more people are tuning in to stream content related to News, Health, and Gaming.

Other User Activities

Snapchat also released data regarding off-platform user activities based on surveys and off-platform location data gathered as of mid-March. The studies show that there is a 73% drop in college and school attendance as predicted. Due to social distancing norms, there is a 29% decrease in bar visits, 22% fewer people are traveling via air, and there’s been a massive 60% drop in people attending concerts. Similarly, gyms are seeing 41% fewer people, and most users are staying home for the majority of their time.

Furthermore, Snapchat data shows that 62% of their users are now streaming more data, while there’s a 21% increase in online shopping. It seems 38% of their users have taken to gaming while another 23% is engaging in online food delivery to beat their quarantine blues. Content consumption has increased considerably, with a 39% increase in people watching the news, while 39% now depend on their TV. Also, social media has seen a 29% increase in user engagement, while ad revenue seems to be on the decline.  

Though Snapchat has achieved all-time highs with regards to engagement, their revenue from ads is down when compared to earlier months. While February witnessed growth in ad revenue of 58%, it dropped to 25% by March due to the COVID-19. According to Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel, most companies have had to cut their ad budget due to the pandemic, resulting in this slump. However, the growth in early Jan and Feb will give Snapchat confidence that they can improve their revenues once the pandemic draws to a close.

Netflix

The Last Airbender to Hit Netflix on May 15th

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Netflix recently announced that all three seasons of the fan-favorite The Last Airbender will now be available on the video platform from May 15th onwards. The beloved anime loved by millions around the world had opened to rave reviews years ago. The story follows the life and adventures of the Avatar, Aang, as he tries to master the four elements. The original show aired on Nickelodeon between Feb 2005 and July 2008, to much love and adoration from fans. Here’s a look at how fans around the world have greeted this announcement.

Netflix and Avatar

This is not the first time the video-streaming giant has associated itself with the Avatar series. For instance, Netflix is working on creating a live-action adaptation of the show. This will be the second time such an adaptation has been made, with the first one being the movie made M. Night Shyamalan. Netflix’s adaptation, titled The Dragon Prince, will feature the screenwriter of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Aaron Ehasz. Netflix released a statement regarding the Airbender series via Twitter yesterday.

Throughout its 61-episode run, it won various awards and recognitions, including a Peabody Award and a Primetime Emmy. While the M. Night Shyamalan movie did not receive favorable reviews, Netflix plans on creating ripples through their live-action project based on the Airbender series.

Other Netflix Ventures

Netflix has also bagged streaming rights for 21 Studio Ghibli movies, from this year on, for any area outside North America. However, in case you stay within the US and wish to watch these movies, you will need to register with WarnerMedia’s HBO Max, which will hit the market on May 27th. Yesterday, Netflix announced that it would also be the one to release the new Pokémon animated episodes. All of this comes as a result of Netflix’s plan to invest more heavily in animated shows, manga, and anime. Such a decision will significantly help in competing with other children’s platforms such as YouTube and Disney+.

Airbender Series

The series premiered in 2005, on the Nickelodeon network and ran for three years, until 2008. The show featured the adventures of a powerful Avatar who could control the elements, fire, water, earth, and air. By using martial-art moves, the power of his will, and help from other gifted children like himself, the Avatar fought against negative forces that wished to take over the world. The titular Avatar, who took form once in every generation was the only being capable of handling all four elements at the same time. The Avatar takes shape as a 12-year-old boy named Aang to stop the tyranny of the Fire Nation.

The series, which ran for over three years, faced great critical acclaim and was loved by fans all around the world. In 2012, a sequel came out, titled The Legend of Korra, following M Night Shyamalan’s live-action movie in 2010. Netflix too is working on a live-action project, with the series creators Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko serving as executive producers. The series The Legend of Korra, which came out on Nickelodeon ran for four seasons till 2014.

The show aired briefly on Netflix in 2019, being removed later, which led fans to wait anxiously for its return. A large section of Twitter was set ablaze by Netflix’s announcement, with fans flocking to express their excitement and happiness. However, fans in Canada were surprised regarding why they did not receive the right to watch shows like their American counterparts.

The live-action remake will feature a soundtrack by original composer Jeremy Zuckerman, meaning that most of the same team will reunite for this project. While no release date has been specified, fans are expecting the movie to drop sometime in 2021. Jan Chol Lee will serve as the concept designer, having worked previously on large projects such as on Big Hero 7, Beowulf, and the animated feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. With the original series celebrating its 15th anniversary this February, it is safe to say that fans couldn’t be happier regarding their favorite show returning to Netflix!

ARFICUS

COVID-19 testing kit from Indian company that needs only 53 seconds!

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COVID-19 has become a gripping reality for many countries around the world.  Every nation, state, and district is trying its best to keep it at bay. Declared a pandemic by the WHO, the novel coronavirus has been spreading aggressively for the past two months now. As a result, most of the world’s major countries have gone into stringent lockdowns to prevent its spread. Most medical experts have claimed that the only way to stop this spread is to test and identify patients as soon as possible. Therefore, medical teams are now raising against the clock to find diagnosis equipment and vaccines for the disease. It is at this juncture that an Indian company ARFICUS has come out with a claim that will bring much joy to medical practitioners if found to be true. Read on to know more about this company’s AI-based testing equipment which could help us greatly in the fight against this invisible enemy.

Miracle Diagnosis Test

Most states in India are having trouble getting their hands on enough testing kits, as the supply is limited. Few testing kits lead to few tests, which, in turn, lead to fewer confirmed patients. However, the Indian company, ARFICUS claims that they might have a solution to this problem. They claim that they could quickly become the country’s biggest ally in the fight against the novel coronavirus as their diagnosis kit could help determine patients at a staggering rate.

The company is presently in talks with the National Institute of Health Research-UK, and the World Health Organisation regarding their testing kit. They are working with them, and believe that soon enough, these tests will be deployed in the UK and the USA shortly. They also think that with the right support from the Indian government, they could help make testing much faster in India as well.

Aim to Help

ARFICUS wants to help as many people as they possibly can, and help countries in their fight to save humanity. The company, being of Indian origin, also wants to deploy the kit in the Indian sub-continent to help the government improve its existing testing capabilities. With the COVID-19 having taken hold of over 184 countries around the world, this help could be much needed for many! As the infection reaches a manageable extent in China, outside it, the virus is accelerating its spread. Being able to diagnose the disease earlier would help in preventing community spread of the COVID-19. This could, therefore, go a long way in helping stop the accelerated spread of the disease. The most significant advantage that early diagnosis gives doctors is the chance to isolate them at the earliest. With more and more patients testing positive while being asymptomatic, this could prove to be vital in stopping the disease.

Why this Helps

The current tests take, on average, around 2 hours to give a proper result. Since many quarantine centers do not have advanced examinations, this could take even longer. ARFICUS claims that their testing kit, which makes use of CT scan machines, can diagnose the disease in less than a minute! Furthermore, since these machines are available in most centers and hospitals, this could make testing much more accessible and convenient.

However, such a method requires multiple rechecks and reviews as the lungs have a lot of lesions on them. That is why ARFICUS makes use of Artificial Intelligence to check the CT results, which leads to 98% specificity and 99% accuracy. AI technologies, including computer vision and medical image analysis, help in evaluating the CT results to clinical doctors. This helps in overcoming the shortage of doctors qualified enough to gauge the scan results. Therefore, the system ARFICUS developed may be able to diagnose millions in a day, as the test takes less than a minute to decide.

ARFICUS Website

Image Source: arficus.com

Best of Luck COVTREAT

The system name COVTREAT was trained on over 1678 COVID-19 patients with 99.56% accuracy. The company is now in talks with regulatory bodies in the US, UK, France, and India to mass-produce this kit and system, as per Sandeep Sinha, who is the Founder and CEO of ARFICUS. The test aims to gauge the disease by checking the CT for bilateral multilobar ground-glass opacification in the lower and right middle lobe. Other indications include Septal thickening, bronchiectasis, pleural thickening, and subpleural involvement in some instances.

ARFICUS Website
Image Source: arficus.com

AI-assisted medical image analysis helps in assisting the diagnosis, relieving pressure on doctors. They make use of the Dice Similarity Coefficient and Absolute Volume Difference to study the lesion area segmentation. The results found are claimed to be highly consistent with the other testing regime, meaning that this, if true, could help doctors significantly.

macbook

Use your iPad Pro as a Laptop Using the New Magic Keyboard

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Apple recently released news regarding their new Magic Keyboard for the Apple iPad Pro. Fans around the world have come out in support of the original design, calling it well-made and classy. The new keyboard case comes with a trackpad, and this allows users to use the iPad as a laptop. Such a move will make the iPod so much more convenient than before, much to the fans’ delight. So, what are the features of the new keyboard, and why is it so great? Here’s a look at Apple’s new keyboard, and why it is a much-needed reprieve for fans.

Convenience Upgrade

The keyboard is extremely comfortable to type on, making the iPad more convenient, as it allows it to function as a laptop. However, it is quite expensive, coming out at $299 (11-inch) and $349 (12.9-inch), whereas, in comparison, the iPad comes in at $329. But, the keyboard does allow you to use the iPad as you would a traditional laptop. The Magic keyboard comprises of well-backlit keys and a trackpad that supports various gestures that the iPadOS configures.

Keyboard Features

The Magic keyboard itself is a great keyboard that is comfortable to use. The new keyboard makes use of the same scissor-switch technology that runs the other counterparts in the Magic series of consoles. These keyboards had come out earlier for the iMac and MacBook Pro. Therefore, the model is easier to use than the prior butterfly-switch keyboard that the older MacBook Pros use to have. It is also better than the fabric-lined Smart Keyboard that the older iPad Pro boasted. Unlike other keyboard designs wherein Apple focused on the board’s thinness, this time around, they have focused on comfort. It is thick enough to give users an excellent feel when typing, making the experience of typing much more comfortable. However, unlike the Magic Keyboard sported by the MacBook Pro, the keys on this one are a little wobblier. But, there’s nothing to worry about, as the keys are sturdy enough to last you long enough.

As fans expected, the keys on this keyboard are backlit and adjust as per the ambient lighting. Therefore, for most of the time, the keys are perfectly lit, improving your typing experience by maintaining the right brightness. But, the problem here is that they aren’t easy to switch off completely. Imagine you are watching a horror movie at night on your iPad Pro, and want to create the right ambiance by turning all the lights off. You can’t switch off the backlighting directly. Instead, users will have to head to the Settings, go to General, and then over to Keyboard Hardware. From there, users have the option of adjusting the keyboard’s backlighting via a slider.

Furthermore, the keyboard does not have an Escape button, but you can toggle a keyboard to enable that function from this same setting bar. Another major issue that the keyboard’s Type C port only supports charging and not data transfer. Therefore, in case you want to extract data from a third-party source, you will need adapters and wires.

Lack of a Function Bar

These two issues could have been quickly resolved if the keyboard had a function bar on top. Most popular consoles have a function row above the number row on the keyboard. Most of the buttons on standard function bars have all the necessary function shortcuts that users would need, including adjusting brightness and sound levels. Having dedicated buttons related to volume, backlighting, screen brightness and Escape would have made it easier for users to control the device. The lack of such a function bar prompts the user to approach the Control Center to manage their functions.

Trackpad Functions

However, the new trackpad, although small when compared to other Apple keyboards, works excellent and is a great addition to the board. If users are familiar with the trackpads on the MacBook Pro, they will find this one quite small to use. When using the 12.9-inch board, the trackpad has dimensions similar to the trackpad on the Surface Pro. The trackpad itself, works brilliantly, being smooth, accurate and extremely lag-free. Also, GUI for the cursor is excellent too. While the tracker resembles a dot most of the time, it quickly changes to a text cursor whenever the situation demands it.

Furthermore, the cursor grows and falls in size, mimicking the size of the icons or text on the screen. You can also use the trackpad to navigate within the system, and users can use up to three fingers simultaneously on the keyboard. The biggest issue regarding the trackpad comes into play while using third-party apps. Applications that do not utilize Apple’s APIs when making their texts and icons affect the trackpad negatively. These icons make it difficult for your fingers to swipe across the trackpad, difficult to type or select texts, and the image stops shifting its shape.

The Magic Keyboard, which is built like a tank, is a blessing for users around the world. It sits stably on your lap or tabletop and is exceptionally well-balanced. The floating position of the iPad angles the screen onto a more comfortable position. The keyboard can also tilt up to 130 degrees, allowing users to adjust it as per their needs. While the keyboard is on the heavier side, weighing around three pounds, it is quite satisfying to use. It is quite safe to say that the new Magic Keyboard transforms the iPad Pro into an efficient laptop, much to the joy of users around the world!

Google to Reduce Nest Came Quality to Lessen Load on Internet Networks

Google to Reduce Nest Came Quality to Lessen Load on Internet Networks

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As the COVID-19 continues its rampage across North America and Europe, most people are still confined to their homes. Most of the schools, colleges and offices in America remain shut as people get used to working from their homes. However, with everyone staying at home and relying on video services for communication, bandwidth is getting more challenging to get your hands on. Similarly, thousands of school children now rely on the internet for their education. Therefore, it is safe to say that the COVID-19 has made things difficult for internet service providers, as they scramble to allow all this data transmission. Google has recently come out with their strategies to help such providers by lowering the load on their workstreams. Here’s a look at why Google is downgrading the Nest Cam’s video quality and how it can help.

Helping Ease the Strain

Google will start adjusting the video quality of its Nest security camera stream in a bid to help ease the strain that broadband networks are feeling. Since more people than ever before now rely on the internet for their communication and education, this step will be a welcome one. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic leaving everyone stuck at home, internet usage has skyrocketed as people try to learn, work and keep themselves entertained at home.

Google’s statement said that the company has decided to hear the global call to put learning and working first when it comes to bandwidth. As a result, Google will be making the required changes over the next few days to make it easier to access other forms of content on the web. Furthermore, Google also sent out a mail regarding the same to Nest Cam users around the country.

Nest Cam Video Quality

Therefore, in case you live in the US, and your Nest Cam suddenly starts transmitting mediocre quality video, don’t be frightened. Google has said that it will set camera quality to the default of all the people in the country who had opted for high quality and high bandwidth options. In case your settings are below default, they will continue to run on the same choice.

The company has also made it clear that it will not change any setting other than the video quality and bandwidth one. However, in case a user feels that they need high-quality images, they can reset their settings too high. Google said that this might be required in case the user relies on Nest Cam to survey their home and surroundings. Since a lower video quality will make it difficult to understand precisely what is happening, users have the option to reset it, if they feel the need to do so. Also, in case you leave the settings at default, Google promises to amp them back to high once the traffic recedes.

Other Changes

Google might also make changes to their Ambient Mode slideshows on Nest displays, Chromecast, and other Cast devices. The company is planning to reduce the resolution and rotation interval of the photos in the slideshows. Also, this hasn’t been the only step Google has taken to ease the strain on network bandwidth. The company had on March 24th, reduced YouTube’s video quality to 480p.

Similarly, Netflix, Amazon and Apple have reduced their video quality in Europe to lessen the load on broadband networks. Sony did the same for its PlayStation Network in the US and Europe. So, in case your Nest Ca delivers only mediocre imagery, understand that the step was taken to help in the fight against COVID-19. Once the world regains some normalcy, your feed too will go back to its high-definition quality, but for now, users will have to make do with their default settings.