The Release of Windows 8

Microsoft's Windows 8 was released this past Friday, October 26. There have been many upgrades and new features added since Windows 7. The desktop will be similar in ways such as file structure, control panel, task manager, etc.; it will just be faster, easier to maneuver, and all around better than it was before. 


You may now personalize your desktop with animated tiles that produce live updates rather than the usual icons. This allows you to receive new information without a single click of the mouse. Also new to Windows 8, is the upgraded lock/log in screen. You can personalize it with a picture and using this picture, create a password by tracing/tapping certain patterns on the picture. Of course, you will still be able to utilize the standard password function as well. Another plus to the new lock/log in screen is the notifications feature. This allows you to receive important updates before you even log in. Other great improvements will increase your ability to multitask. Not only can you easily snap windows into side by side view still such as in Windows 7, but a new feature to Windows 8 is the spreadsheet view, allowing you to view even more windows at a time. Apps have also been greatly improved. You have your basics such as mail, people, photos, music, messaging, etc., and they are all interconnected. They now work together sharing information; for example, the photos app allows you to view all photos from your computer, the web, and even other apps all in one place.

Built to enhance your experience with the new Windows 8 are even better PC's, laptops, and tablets. Microsoft has created tablets that can easily be converted into laptop use, and vice versa. More laptops and all in one PC's are going to be implemented with touch screens. And we're going to see a great improvement in performance and battery life.


-KZ

SAP HANA

This past week I was introduced to a new database management system (DBMS) called SAP Hana. For many years, database architecture has been stagnant. There has always been a computer with a hard drive disk inside that talks to a user’s computer (memory and CPU) to produce information. SAP has decided that this somewhat simple and straightforward architecture and make it even simpler and even faster. SAP decided to design a database using only physical ram - a computer’s memory. This allows for the database to respond much quicker. This approach completely cuts out using a disk and leaves the entire database, including its data, all in the computer’s memory.

 
One of the primary uses of Hana is for business analytics and reporting. With the traditional database approach, business reporting systems were often times relying on data extracted from production systems. Since these databases relied on data stored or sent to hard discs, the data that was being analyzed was often weeks or months old - primarily due to the amount of resources needed in order to support the extraction process. With Hana, the data is stored on ram which makes it quicker and there isn’t a lengthy process to get the data from a production system to the database. This is allowing businesses to report in real or near real time.

 
Many business that have already implemented Hana have reported report generation times being more than 10,000X quicker than before. This translates into a huge factor for businesses. They now have the ability to see data based on more up-to-date information or to see the same report being generated on a more regular basis. This system also allows the previously used resources to be utilized in a new ways allowing for even more analysis.

 
SAP Hana has already proved that the next generation database is here and is proving to dramatically change the speed and performance of current DBMS.

-SMF

Augmented Reality in Contact Lenses

See the world like Terminator or have your navigation right in front of your eyes. That are dreams that can be true. Partly they are true. Babak A. Parviz a professor on the university of Washington already develops such contact lenses with a tiny LED in it. What we could do with this contact lenses is unbelievable. Not only that you can see information on your eyes but also it could be possible that a configured contact lens monitor your cholesterol, sodium and potassium levels and send it to your doctor through a wireless data transmitter. That is one possibility Parviz describes in his blog when he is talking about potential targets of this contact lenses.

But there are also problems in developing this lenses. Imagine you have to work on 1.5 square centimeter flexible contact lens and don't forget it must be save for the eye. So there are many challenges for the future but I guess it all can be solved. If you are interested in the whole blog post of Babak A. Parviz - here is the Link Augmented Reality in a Contact Lens

Not only the University of Washington is thinking of augmented reality in contact lenses also the famous company Apple is thinking of that. They have a project running called iLens. They are saying that this contact lenses should be for photographic memory, night vision, binoculars and a heads up display with augmented reality. Unfortunately I couldn't find a page with more information how the project is going or when it will be developed but I found a nice video which I wanna share with you all.

-MS

Wireless Charging Technology Coming Soon...

There has recently been some discussion about a new type of technology coming to certain products sometime next year. Intel and IDT have been working on a form of wireless charging technology to be implemented in PC’s, so when you set your device next to the PC, it begins charging automatically. It will be used in Ultrabooks and all-in-one PCs and will have the ability to charge certain products such as: keyboards, mice, storage devices, cameras, and smartphones.


WiTricity and MediaTek have also been working together on some wireless charging products. Their plans include using the technology with mobile handsets, tablets, game controllers, as well as many other devices. The developments that WiTricity and MediaTek have come up with are allowing for wireless charging to work while products are a few feet apart while Intel and IDT’s products will only be able to charge a few inches apart. Since WiTricity and MediaTek’s wireless charging has a larger range they are also working on using the technology for charging electric vehicles.

-KZ

Facebook Reaches Major Milestone

Facebook announced this week that they have hit a major milestone: 1 billion active users on Facebook. The companies CEO, Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement Thursday Morning. The growth that the company has seen since it was created is astonishing. In a little over 2 years, Facebook has doubled their user base, from 500 million to 1 billion. In recent years there has been new competitors that have come along, it is amazing that Facebook has still been able to add users as fast as they have. 

It is also interesting to look into the trends in user adoption. The level of new user adoption in the United States and Europe has all by dried up. Counties such as China, Japan, Brazil and Russia are the places where the company has received their tremendous growth. They are also predicting that new user adoption in these countries will continue to be strong for the foreseeable future.  

Even though Facebook sees most of their growth potential outside of the United States, they are still very focused on the current user base in the United States. When looking at the companies financials, the income is 6-7 times larger per user in the United States then it is anyone where. With the current downward pressure on the company’s stock and the tremendous pressure they are under to increase revenues and profits, it will be essential to keep a lot of focus in the United States.  

The company is also looking for growth opportunities in the mobile arena. Cisco has estimated that by the end of this year, there will be more mobile devices in the world than people. Facebook currently has mobile applications for its users but they receive very little income from the apps. In order to continue their growth and increase profits, it will be important to grow this part of the business. 

This week marked a big milestone for Facebook. It gave the company an opportunity to see how far the company has come in such a short time while reminding the company all of the challenges that still remain in front of them.

-SMF