According to a report that emerged from the media, Google Inc is planning on designing its own processors. The report said that the company was planning to build its own chips in partnership with veteran processor manufacturer ARM. The move was not expected but it makes sense given the state of Google business and services.

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) could use its own chips for data centers, or it could design proprietary chips for smart phones and tablets. The company has reasons to head in either direction, and any move could cause massive shifts in the way the technology world works.

Mobile CPU

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) doesn’t really need to build its own chips for mobile devices. The company sells relatively few mobile devices, and it doesn’t’ make a profit off of those it does sell. Google may have ulterior motives by getting into the processor industry, however.

Aside from advertising most Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) projects are attempts to change a market rather than an attempt to dominate it. The company has already done fairly hefty work on the tablet market and its’ working on lowering costs across the smart phone market. It’s movements in the processor market may be an indirect move to change the way processors work.

The Mountain View company is probably not going to try to change the pricing of processors. The CPU is not one of the most expensive parts of a modern smart phone. If Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) was trying to lower component costs there would be better places to start, the LCD screen for example.

If Google is designing its own servers for mobile, the company is undoubtedly going to try to force the market in one direction or another. What that direction is difficult to guess right now.

CPU for servers

Servers are the most likely home for any in-house Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) chip. Along with other technology giants Google operates some of the largest data centers in the world. It fills these data centers with servers running off of Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC) processors. Google could save a large amount of money by going its own way. More importantly, custom processors may deliver the kind of performance that Google wants.

Google Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) may want to reduce the power consumption of its data centers, or it may want access to certain features that Intel is unable to offer. Like the company’s speculative mobile chips, server chips will likely form part of a more meaningful strategy than just customized data centers.

Google may want to lower the costs of servers across the board, and it may want to lower the electricity take of data centers. Both of these changes would speed up the spread of online services and ensure that more people spend more time on the internet. That means more advertising revenue for the company that runs it all.

For example jonesarena.blogspot.com is hosted by google server

Confirmation about a Google ARM deal has not emerged, but it’s clear that Google has ambitions in the processor market. If the company acts on those desires it may mean a monumental shift in the way the processor market works on the server side, and or the mobile side.

Out of all the updates that Microsoft made to Windows Phone 8.1, Cortana has to be the one that makes most of an impact. For some time now the phone platform has been struggling to keep up with its rivals but with the addition of a personal assistant, hopefully it can start to keep a better pace. Much like Siri and Google Voice, Cortana is personable (well, as person-like as a phone can be anyway!) and even brings a couple of unique small features that its counterparts don’t have. It’s important to remember that Cortana is still in Beta and therefore still needs further development but so far it’s looking good. Let’s see how the features stack up against Siri and Google Voice.

HEAD TO HEAD

Cortana pulls its information from personal usage patterns and a database of users. Over time, as more people use it, its ability to understand natural language and accents will improve. To access it you just press and hold the search button from the home screen. It can follow commands to launch calls, emails and texts and can even understand more complex instructions like “Call dad on speakerphone”. Siri too can carry out these more involved directions but Google Voice cannot.

Where Cortana does fall down is understanding punctuation. So if you are dictating a text message to a  personal assistant, it may go like this: “Hi [comma] how are you [question mark]” – this will result in a text that reads “Hi, how are you?”. Unfortunately Cortana takes the punctuation literally and will type the words comma or question mark into the text. This definitely needs to be sorted if Cortana is to be in the same league as the more experienced personal assistants.

The Notebook is a handy feature of Cortana; it not only keeps track of your personal preferences but when it is opened it will also give you information like the weather forecast and traffic reports. Even in an idle state, you can check the latest news reports. From here you can also set “quiet hours”, a period of time where you receive no notifications for messages etc., if you want some peace and quiet.

Alarms and Reminders Settings

As far as setting alarms goes, it is easy. You can either ask it to “set alarm for 6.30am” or even “wake me up in 30 minutes”. Cortana and Siri will both cancel alarms for you too but Google Voice will not. All three will schedule calendar events for you but only Siri will cancel them – Cortana and Google Voice require you to remove them manually.

If you want to set a reminder using Cortana, it will expect you to give it a specific time. However, a unique feature allows you link reminders to your contacts. So for instance you can request “The next time I speak to John, remind me to ask him the train times”. When one of your next calls or texts, a reminder will pop up, allowing you to either complete the reminder or postpone it.

Staying on the subject of relationships, Siri and Google Voice both allow you to link names with relationships, so you can tell them “Stephanie is my sister”. With Cortana you have to manually set relationships via the Inner Circle area within Cortana’s Notebook menu. It could be that Microsoft will eventually change this.

Scores

Overall Cortana is looking good. It certainly has plenty of features that enable it to compete with the likes of Siri and Google Voice. If only Microsoft could make some changes to the way it recognizes punctuation and make it easier to set relationships within your contacts, it could be that Cortana becomes the superior personal assistant.

GOOGLE BLOCKS DEMONOID FOR MALICIOUS SOFTWARE

In one of the harshest moves a search engine can take against a site, during the past few hours Google flagged torrent site Demonoid as likely to harm users' computers. After arriving at the conclusion that malicious third-party ads had caused the problem, Demonoid responded by disabling every single advert on its site until further notice.

In recent months, entertainment industry bodies have been working hard to ensure that companies become more aware of where their ads are being placed, with the aim of strangling site finances and eliminating any idea that brands are in partnership with pirates.

Just recently the tactic branched out into describing most leading pirate sites as malware havens, a claim that some described as exaggerated. However, during the past few hours a pretty big and related drama hit semi-private torrent site Demonoid.

After being off-air for 20 months after hosting trouble in Ukraine, the site relaunched this March. Former members of the site were pleased to find that their old logins worked and ever since the site has been trying to get back to its former glory. Yesterday, however, problems with third party adds provoked a harsh response from Google, one that continues today.

Those searching for Demonoid are currently warned in search listings that “This site may harm your computer” and even those who choose to ignore the warnings aren’t allowed to access the site via Google. Instead they are diverted to the following page:

                                    WARNING

Google’s advisory reports that after checking 59 pages on the site during the past 90 days, 7 pages resulted in “malicious software being downloaded and installed without user consent”, something likely to worry most users.

Google goes on to report that the malicious software in question was hosted on another domain – adv-inv-net.com – and further investigation reveals that the site is the source of a huge number of problems.

According to malware analysis the Romanian-hosted domain carries 177 exploits and 2 trojans, which together have led to the infection of not only Demonoid, but more than 2,000 other sites.

Aware that Demonoid along with thousands of other sites had been blacklisted by most search engines and web browsers, Demonoid’s operators announced that all advertisements would be removed from the site until the problem could be identified.

“We run content from a lot of ad networks in our ad banners, and a lot of banners from each,” the management team said in an announcement.

“One of those banners started serving malware, so we disabled all ads until we are 100% sure of the culprit and get it removed. We are also taking the proper steps to get us out of all the blacklists.”

This latest advertising controversy comes just a week after the publication of a report which claimed that 90% of the Internet’s top 30 “pirate” sites contain malware, “potentially unwanted programs”, or items designed to deceive.

While seemingly not Demonoid’s fault in this instance, one has to question if these kinds of malware events will become more prevalent in the months to come. With entertainment industry companies scaring away advertisers, options for torrent and streaming site operators to do business with ‘up-front’ ad networks are likely to narrow, forcing them further into the arms of those who carry the kind of junk experienced in the past 24 hours.

It’s an unfortunate fact that a lot of us around the world suffer from various allergies. And, since Spring is in the air (at least where I live) it means the allergies are also getting in full swing. So, when the pollen (or whatever your poison is) increases in the air, so do the itching eyes, the running noses, and the sneezes that won’t seem to quit no matter what medicine you take.

While there are countless allergy medications a person can take, they can only do so much at the end of the day. But, if you have a little extra money somewhere in the house, there’s a new air purifier from Honeywell that might just help you get through the day a little easier with less itching and fewer sneezes. I’d go so far as to call it a “smart” air purifier, because it works based on how severe your allergies are/will be on a certain day. The Honeywell HPA250B has a bluetooth connection (of course it does) that pairs with your smartphone to read the allergy reports for the day. And, depending on the level of your allergens on a certain day, it will do more or less purifying. Sounds good to me!

The only thing it doesn’t do is come cheap – it’ll run you around $270. As long as you have an iOS or Android-powered device, you can download the Honeywell app and use it in conjunction with the air purifier.

And Also A Helpful App For Asthma Patients

The app and peak flow meter from AsthmaMD is a leap forward in the monitoring of asthma attacks and the collection of data.  Founder of AsthmaMD, Dr. Sam Pejham and Salim Madjd, who is the start-ups’ app designer, have said that AsthmaMD 3.0 is the firm’s latest product and it is “essentially a brand new app coded from scratch and it’s our most significant release yet.” AsthmaMD 3.0 makes it simpler for physicians to create easy to follow action plans or even a written plan, which is designed for each individual patient to guide day-to-day care, as well as management of symptoms that are becoming increasingly worse.

The platform is now inclusive of the patent-pending asthma action plan, (or a treatment plan) for patients, that is developed with the assistance of their doctors. The app also has an integrated medication reminder system and the ability to track and log asthma symptoms from numerous devices, with data saved to AsthmaMD’s very own secure cloud. The AsthmaMD’s peak flow meter, which is a key part of its monetization strategy, is now available in some Walgreens and CVS stores.

“We had to find a way to continue providing the app for free while running a business. We pivoted and analyzed various options that would still allowed us to stay true to our mission of modernizing asthma care,” wrote Madjd and Pejham.

AsthmaMD 3.0 not only makes it simpler for doctors to create individual asthma plans, but the platform is then broken down into simple interactive steps for the patient to follow.  “Eighty percent of asthmatics do not have proper education and understanding of the differences between control and rescue medications. With AsthmaMD 3.0 we made education an implicit part of the experience. With every opportunity we are delineating the differences in these medications…Over 55% of asthmatics are unaware their asthma is not well controlled, which has shown to have direct correlation of increase risk of hospitalization, urgent medical needs, and reduced quality of life.” they added.  Patients can send the data to their doctors, who can then monitor how effectively each action plan is working.

What do you think?

Microsoft To Hold Surface Event On May 20

Last month, we heard talks about Microsoft working hard at releasing a Surface Mini this year, but as is usual with these things, we didn’t have anything solid to work on. Yesterday, however, the big names in tech media published reports about receiving invites to a “small” Surface event on the 20th of May.
“Breaking news” about the “small” Surface event was all over the place yesterday, with leading to speculation as to what we can expect about the event.

One thing’s pretty obvious: Microsoft is going the Apple route of teasing the media – and the general public – with announcements to events. The word small in quotation marks, we believe, is definitely word play on the size of the Surface that’s going to be the highlight of the event.

And this brings us back to all that talk about the Surface Mini.

Microsoft’s Surface line has not been able to reach the levels of success that its competitors have, but the general consensus is that it is best for productivity purposes, with business people being the main users. Microsoft is not ruling out the possibility of adding a fun factor to the Surface, though as seen in a recent video ad featuring a bakery owner from New York.

With the likely pending launch of a 7 to 8-inch Surface Mini, the company just might have a fighting chance in the tablet wars. It might not win – probably won’t, actually – but a smaller tablet will definitely attract more users.

This is not to say that the May 20 event will definitely be about the Surface Mini, but I think I’m willing to bet on that – just for the sake of betting, no money involved!

So what do you think the May 20 event will be about?

The 3Doodler 3D printing pen is a fantastic gadget.  You can have loads of fun, literally creating things in thin air and that will always be a great selling point for the pen.  However it is not a fine precision instrument, is it?  The pen itself is big and the mid-air drawing can get very messy.

Enter a new kid on the block. Lix believes that professionals require something that is more accurate.  The company has therefore decided to crowdfund a 3D pen of a superior quality and precision. The 3D printer pen is approximately as slim and comfortable as a technical drawing pen.  The dimensions give it the sort of accuracy that you require for air-drawn artwork.  The 3D pen can even accomplish prototyping for architecture and fashion items.  The device is also easier to carry as requires it’s power from a USB port, rather than a wall outlet like other devices.

It look like Lix made the right move by approaching the market through Kickstarter as they have already met their funding target in one day.  This means that an £82 ($135) pledge will get you the production 3D pen and some starter plastic filament, when the device ships in December 2014.

The Lix 3D printing pen is more expensive than the $99 3Doodler, but the company thinks that the sleek design merits the premium of the product.

You can check out the Kickstarter campaign here.

Please leave a sensible comment below.

Samsung to pay $119.6 million in fines to Apple

The jury in the lengthy Apple vs Samsung patent trial have found Samsung guilty of infringing on patents 5,946,647, 5,946,647 and 8,046,721 held by Apple. The first two patents are pertaining to the autocorrect function and slide to unlock seen on many Samsung devices, while the third patent deals with links which allows users to open apps within the device. For infringing three of these patents, Samsung has been ordered to pay $119.6 million.

It’s not all bad news for Samsung though as Apple was found to be infringing one of Samsung’s patents 6,226,449 which is related to the camera and photo organization technology. But the fines levied is a paltry $158,400 which is spare change for a billion dollar company like Apple.

This new ruling could directly affect the pricing of future Samsung products as the company tries to gain back some of the fine amount. Apple’s original claim of $2 billion wasn’t accepted by the court, but the company is still reportedly content with the $119.6 million fine imposed on Samsung and believes that justice has prevailed. The court however didn’t agree to every accusation made by Apple as a couple of its allegations were rejected.

The Spying Lamps

Lamps That Spy On People & Tweet Their Conversations

Be careful what you say in public. No, really – be careful what you say in public because you just never know who or what may be listening to your words. It could be the person sitting at the table beside you. It could be the waitress who overhears part of your conversation as she’s coming to take your order. It could be the person standing behind you as you’re waiting in line. Or, it could be one of the lamps residing on top of your table. Especially if you’re in New York City. I wish I was kidding, but I’m totally serious.

It has recently come to light that 2 people who wanted to try their hand at hidden surveillance did just that in the Big Apple. They went to Washington Square Park and put hidden wi-fi enabled listening devices inside of lamps at a bank, a library, McDonalds, and of all places, someone’s bedroom. But that’s not the end of the story. After the conversations are recorded by the lamps, they’re sent to Mechanical Turk, where they are transcribed and then tweeted out on Twitter. This has been going on for about 7 months under the Twitter handle @Conversnitch. Kyle McDonald and Brian House, who are behind the spying, state that they want people to be extra cautious about being watched.

That Lamp Does More Than Just Light Up The Room

While this may seem (and probably is) slightly unethical, the pair seem to want to teach us all a lesson, that if they’re able to do this, just imagine what the government is able to do without our knowledge. It’s scary when you actually stop and think about it.

So, that old adage “be careful what you say” is never more true than it today’s world, because you never know who – or, what – is listening to your conversations.

Best Translation Apps For SmartPhones & Tablet

When I’m on holiday, one of my pet hates is when someone doesn’t make any effort to speak or converse in the native language. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen and heard people talking slowly and loudly to some poor waiter who still has no idea what they are saying. So seeing as the holiday season is fast approaching, why not get yourself a translation app. I’ve picked out three apps, which will help all of us get to grips with the basics of any language and make ourselves understood. And of course make the lives of all waiters far easier!

Google Translate

Google Translate can decipher 80 languages and allows you to speak, write or type your query. The Favourites section means you can save common phrases that you may need regularly, a really handy feature if you are planning on spending any length of time in a foreign country. This app is renowned for being one of the best apps for handwritten languages like Chinese or Japanese.

iTranslate Voice

Using iTranslate Voice, you can speak a word or phrase and the app will reply in up to 42 target languages. If you have been misunderstood then just tap the pencil icon to correct it. What I thought was a great function with this app is that you can pair up over Wi-Fi with someone else who also has the iTranslate Voice app. You can both converse in your own native languages and the app will translate for you - fantastic for helping break down language barriers.

iTranslate

iTranslate has been created by the same developer that gave us iTranslate Voice. This app supports over 80 languages and allows you to translate via text input, however you can add voice recognition as well as other features and remove ads, with an in-app purchase. It also supports character input for Chinese and Japanese. This is an excellent app if you want quick and easy translations from symbol characters to written words. There is also a text prediction, meaning it will try and guess what word or phrase you want translating - a handy tool if you want to get your point across quickly.

Snapchat update adds Iive video chats and more

Popular photo messaging app Snapchat has just received a new update adding live video chat and more. The Android version of the app has arrived in the Google Play Store and we have details of the changes coming right up. Meanwhile the update for the iOS version is expected to arrive before too much longer.

This has been a much-awaited update as many people were hoping to see instant messaging supported added to Snapchat and at last that’s what we get. Users with the updated version of the app can now swipe on a friends name in the inbox to begin chatting and can also share photos and videos. Messages can be saved by tapping them, but if not then they are cleared once the chat screen is left.

Live video chat is another great addition, and users now just need to press and hold for live video sharing. As long as users keep a finger on the display the video chat continues. If you want to alternate between the rear and front cameras this can also be done simply by sliding a finger to the top or bottom of the screen.

We’ve had a YouTube video from Snapchat, this story that gives a glimpse of what’s on offer with the new update to give you a better idea. If you want to download Snapchat for Android with this latest update you can do so at Google Play here. We’d love to know what you think of the changes to Snapchat, so why not drop us a comment using the box below.