Archive for August 25, 2020

Waze Announces Rollout Of Google Assistant Integration

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 25, 2020 by itnerd

Waze today announced the rollout of its Google Assistant integration to new markets. English-speaking Waze users will now be able to enjoy their favourite Waze features powered by Google Assistant, hands free, while driving, and using only their voices. This follows the successful launch of Google Assistant’s integration in Waze for Android users in the U.S. last year.

Waze for Android and iOS users in English-speaking countries can now use “Hey Google” to report traffic, incidents or hazards; navigate; search; or ask Assistant informative questions – without ever having to leave the Waze screen. Android users can additionally use this integration to set a Calendar appointment; play music; or make a phone call.

This update is available for Waze for Android users in English-speaking markets today, and support for navigation-related commands is starting to roll out to iOS users. For more information visit Waze.com.

Leave a comment »

Dell Announces Dell Precision 3240 Compact USFF PC

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 25, 2020 by itnerd

With some planning to return to the office over the coming months, many businesses and institutions are looking to reshape office layouts, striking a delicate balance that promotes both worker safety and productivity. With this in mind, Dell introduced a new ultra-small form factor (USFF) workstation – the Precision 3240 Compact.

Small yet powerful, this system may only have the footprint of that hardback novel you were planning to read over the summer, but still delivers the power and performance to drive enterprise applications and up to seven 4k (60Hz) displays. It also provides the ability to run VR and AI simulations.

The minimum footprint and affordable price of the Precision 3240 Compact is perfect for a wide range of users who seek to maximize space while maintaining power and performance in any setting – whether in a commercial studio, a university lab or even a home office.

 

VR-Ready Workhorse with Space-Saving Design

Despite weighing less than 5lbs, the Dell Precision 3240 Compact is a powerful ISV-certified workstation and will be ready for VR, AR and AI, with an NVIDIA Quadro RTX™ 3000 professional graphics option available from October. 

Intensive computer tasks are easily handled thanks to 10th Gen Intel® Core™ or Xeon® processors and accelerated memory speeds of up to 2933MHz with capacities to expand up to 64GB (ECC memory is optional). And don’t worry about running out of storage for your projects as the Precision 3240 offers up to 4TB HDD/SDD (RAID optional). As with all Dell workstations, it also features Dell Optimizer for Precision, the only AI-based optimization software in the industry that automatically tunes your workstation performance using machine learning.

The accessible price makes this a great, timely solution for students and teachers in graphic intensive fields engaging in self-directed and distant learning. Customers will also appreciate the versatility, performance and reliability of the Dell Precision 3240 Compact.

Example customer use cases and workloads include:

  • Engineers, designers and architects who require scalable machines for demanding workloads for creating intricate simulations and 2D/3D modeling on lightly threaded applications
  • Creators rendering high-resolution graphics, editing high-resolution video or developing 3D animation for games, TV programs and AR/VR simulations
  • Scientists and researchers working with large-scale simulations and complicated analysis
  • Financial analysts and traders iterating complex financial models and running multi-screen trading floors with computational analysis
  • Doctors and healthcare providers who are running VR training, surgery planning or simulation content creation utilizing AR/VR headsets
  • Retail store and restaurant workers where digital signage is key in communicating graphics to multiple screens; security personnel may also use the device to power closed circuit TV (CCTV) operations
  • Artists and technicians in museums, galleries and educational spaces exhibiting VR/AR content or art to multiple platforms

All this performance is packed into an ultra-small form factor with flexible mounting options, such as behind the monitor or the underside of the desktop, making it ideal for tight workspaces. Optional WiFi capabilities and a range of accessible ports, including front access USB 3.2, keep you connected to everything you need, while protective dust and cable covers make it great for space-constrained and challenging operating conditions often found in edge computing environments.

The Dell Precision 3240 Compact is available now, globally, starting at $599 U.S. For more information, please visit https://www.delltechnologies.com/precision.

Leave a comment »

iRobot Unveils Personalized Cleaning Experiences

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 25, 2020 by itnerd

iRobot is unveiling new ways to clean with the launch of iRobot Genius™ Home Intelligence – a powerful new robot platform that unlocks an expansive range of digital features and experiences for the company’s line of Wi-Fi connected products, including the Roomba® robot vacuum and Braava jet® robot mop. iRobot Genius™ gives users an unmatched level of personalization and control over their cleaning robots, accounting for their unique homes, schedules, cleaning preferences and smart home integrations.

The interface for iRobot Genius™ is a newly redesigned iRobot Home App that takes users far beyond standard app control to give them a personalized and easy to use home cleaning command and control center. The app, which works with all Wi-Fi connected iRobot products, supports cleaning based on the user’s habits and personal preferences, enabling a smarter and more efficient customer experience. It also provides greater insight into the robot’s cleaning performance. 

Cleaning where you need it
Send your robot to clean a mess right where it happens with precision Clean Zones. Using state-of-the-art robot AI, Roomba i7/i7+ and s9/s9+ robot vacuums and Braava jet m6 robot mops use machine learning to automatically detect and proactively suggest Clean Zones around specific objects, like couches, tables and kitchen counters. Users are also able to customize their Smart Map by designating their own precision Clean Zones. This allows for targeted cleaning in specific areas or around objects that attract the most common messes. Simply use the app or speak to a voice assistant device, “Roomba, clean around the couch,” and Roomba knows right where to go.

Cleaning when you need it
With iRobot Genius™, Roomba robot vacuums and Braava jet robot mops get to know your preferred cleaning routines to offer new features, like:

  • Event-based automations that let the robot know when the ideal time is to start or stop cleaning based on prompts that are defined by the user. Whether you’re heading off to work or going for a hike, the iRobot Home App can use location-based services like Life360, or take prompts from smart home devices, like the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, to know when you’re away and begin cleaning. Likewise, the robot can stop cleaning when you return. These automations can be set up directly within the iRobot Home App, an exclusive capability for iRobot customers that is powered by iRobot Genius™ and IFTTT Connect. This means users can easily integrate iRobot Wi-Fi connected products with their other household connected devices and services, like smart thermostats and locks, without having to leave the iRobot Home App. 
  • Recommended cleaning schedules are based on users’ more common cleaning patterns like cleaning on Monday mornings. Roomba i7/i7+ and s9/s9+ robot vacuums and Braava jet m6 robot mops can also provide room-specific recommendations like vacuuming the living room on Friday evenings, or in the dining room and kitchen after meals.
  • Favorites enable users to quickly create and access their own pre-set cleaning routines. Create favorites like, “After Dinner” that instructs the robot to clean the dining room and in front of the kitchen counter. Or “Bedtime” to clean the playroom and living room floors. Or “Everywhere” to clean the whole home.

Cleaning how you want it
Wi-Fi connected Roomba robot vacuums and Braava jet robot mops get smarter over time, getting to know your cleaning preferences so they understand how you want your home cleaned. New intelligence also means that iRobot products can go beyond basic scheduling to unlock powerful new location-based and smart home device integrations.  

  • New Recommended Keep Out Zones go beyond manual Keep Out Zone creation. Roomba i7/i7+ and s9/s9+ robot vacuums and Braava jet m6 robot mops can automatically learn to avoid trouble areas and recommend specific Keep Out Zones to users.
  • Seasonal recommendations offer personalized suggestions to automatically schedule cleanings or suggest times when your home may need more frequent cleaning, like pet-shedding or allergy seasons. 

Personalized cleaning experiences powered by iRobot Genius™ Home Intelligence and the new iRobot Home App will be available to customers worldwide via a software update beginning August 25. 

Leave a comment »

Trend Micro & Snyk Expand Partnership With Technology Collaboration To Solve Open Source Development Risks

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 25, 2020 by itnerd

Trend Micro today announced plans for a new, co-developed solution with Snyk, the leader in developer-first open source security. The joint solution will help security teams manage the risk of open source vulnerabilities from the moment open source code is introduced without interrupting the software delivery process. This marks the expansion of a strategic partnership that has already helped countless organizations enhance DevOps security without impacting product roadmaps.

The latest capabilities, delivered by combining the strengths of both companies, enables teams to find vulnerabilities in open source code automatically and immediately. It offers significant benefits for security and development teams, including helping to support compliance with ISO 27001, SOC 2 and other key frameworks and standards.

The joint solution will help create fundamental mind shifts in collaboration, driving closer alignment between security and developer teams. It will be available as part of the Trend Micro Cloud One platform, for additional details visit: www.trendmicro.com/cloudonehave. For an overview of the partnership visit: www.trendmicro.com/snyk.

Leave a comment »

Judge Blocks Apple From Terminating Epic Games Access To Development Tools For The Unreal Engine…. But Allows Apple To Terminate Access To Their Developer Account

Posted in Commentary with tags on August 25, 2020 by itnerd

In a ruling handed down late Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers granted in part and denied in part Epic Games request for a restraining order. The good news for Epic is that it won’t lose access to the tools required to maintain the Unreal Engine. That’s good because companies that use the Unreal Engine won’t be collateral damage in this fight. It also lets Apple off the hook for making a bit of an unforced error on this front. The bad news for Epic is that the judge will not prevent Apple from terminating the Epic Games developer account, which will prevent Fortnite from being updated until Epic complies with the ‌App Store‌ rules.

Of interest, the judge in this case said that the company did not demonstrate irreparable harm, adding that the situation appears to be of its own making. Which appears to be the case seeing as Epic appears to have engineered this whole situation to try and bully Apple.  

Now this isn’t over. There’s a hearing on a motion for preliminary injunction against Apple scheduled for late September. So this will continue in the next few weeks.

2 Comments »