Windows 9- Goodbye, Charms bar, hello virtual desktops.

Reports about the next major Windows release keep getting better and better. It looks like Microsoft has finally come to its senses and will dump the Charms bar in Windows 9 (also known as Threshold) slated for release next spring. Even better, Microsoft is planning a surprise for multi-taskers with the addition of multiple virtual desktops.

Microsoft hasn't released any official details, but multiple news sites report these changes are for real. That's good news for desktop users.On Wednesday, WinBeta reported that the Charms bar was on its way out in Windows 9, at least for desktop users.The Charms bar is the pop-out side bar on the right-hand side of Windows 8 and 8.1 that contains options such as search, share, and settings.The Charms bar was always problematic since there were no visual cues within the UI to hint at its existence. For desktop users, it was a huge pain to use because it required an awkward mouse gesture.

multiple desktops in Ubuntu

Mac OS X and Ubuntu Linux users have had virtual desktops for years, and the feature is finally coming to Windows.The reports also said that virtual desktops were on the docket for Windows 9.Virtual desktops are just multiple versions of the same desktop you work with every day. The only difference is you can switch between them quickly, allowing you to have different set-ups on each. You could, for example, have one desktop dedicated to Web browsing, one for writing in a distraction-free environment, or basic work and play set-ups.

sources:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2462641/windows-9-goodbye-charms-bar-hello-virtual-desktops.html#tk.nl_pcwbest

Baidu challenges Google over deep learning technique

Deep learning has been a hot topic in recent times, particularly after Google brought it to the forefront of the tech industry with Google Brain that started in 2011.In May this year, the company snapped up the well-known artificial intelligence researcher, Andrew Ng, who started the Google Brain project.With the arrival of Ng at Baidu’s Silicon Valley operations, the company’s deep learning efforts have gathered pace.

Kai Yu, the head of Baidu’s Institute of Deep Learning, told,only Baidu and Google are “capable of developing large-scale deep learning systems for all kinds of applications” due to how advanced the technology is and how much investment the company has sunk into it.

However, with deep learning, Baidu is becoming so much more than just a search engine

With the explosive growth of mobile, particularly in China where mobile has become the number one way to go online, surpassing PC access for the very first time, deep learning comes in particularly useful for images.

And image recognition is an area which Baidu is proud of its progress. Yu revealed that internal evaluations show Baidu recognizes images more accurately than Google for 68 percent of cases it tested out, 14 percent of the case it does worse than Google, while in 18 percent they perform about the same.

Without big data though, there wouldn’t be deep learning. And big data is something that search engines have plenty of, given that so many people conduct search queries every day.

How does big data work to come up with useful results? Zhang, the head of Baidu’s Beijing big data lab said that other than data, building a model is the key.

Google has been in the limelight recently for its efforts at creating self-driving cars and a new generation of robots, which are possible because of machine learning of big data

Baidu has also followed in Google’s footsteps to work on partial self-drive cars, which will have a steering wheel but can technically be operated without a driver.

We can only wait and see what Baidu has up its sleeves, but with its focus on big data and deep learning, it looks like the world may have to start taking Baidu seriously as it hones its techniques and can easily apply them elsewhere. After all, Baidu has plenty of potential ,it largely caters only to a Chinese audience now, and just recently launched a localized search engine in Brazil.

sources:

http://thenextweb.com/asia/2014/08/04/how-chinas-google-baidu-uses-deep-learning-to-make-your-phone-smarter/

Google's mysterious barges has been shipped out

One of Google's mysterious party/showroom barges has reportedly been sold and will be shipping out of its location in Portland. The barge was transferred to a new terminal Wednesday, and the terminal's owner states that it's preparing to ship out to a new owner shortly.

When the four Google barges first appear on both the East and West coasts, reports indicated that Google intended them to be a show floor for projects in work, such as Google Glass and the company's self-driving car technology. 

Little work had been done on the two barges parked in Portland and San Francisco Bay, and the two others in San Francisco's Treasure Island and New London, CT didn't even have superstructures to support future development. Portland collected property taxes on the barge parked there to the tune of $400,000. In February, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission told Google it needed to move its barge out

The reports say that the Portland barge was sold to an “international barging company" and is being prepared to leave the area, according to the owner of the Turners Island cargo terminal in South Portland where the Google barge was towed on Wednesday.Further the barge is still carrying the nondescript four-story-high structure that was originally built there. Google has remained tight-lipped about the barges since their discovery, but now they stand to slip away with much of the surrounding mystery unsolved.

sources:

http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/08/one-of-googles-mystery-barges-has-been-sold-and-is-shipping-out/

Apple acquires Beats completely-Exclusive News

Here is a expeditious news for Apple lovers.Apple has confirmed  that it has received US regulatory approval for its acquisition of Beats. The news comes as the company posted a page on its website to “officially welcome Beats Music and Beats Electronics to the Apple family.” The $3 billion deal was first announced in May.

The page says “Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr. Dre have created beautiful products that have helped millions of people deepen their connection to music. We’re delighted to be working with the team to elevate that experience even further.”

With redundancies taking place at Beats where there are job overlaps between the two companies, not all of the team is invited, of course.
sources:
http://thenextweb.com/apple/2014/08/01/apple-beats-official/