EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
Our Sci-Fi Future: Silly vs. Terrifying
The future is now, or at least it is coming soon. Today’s technological developments are looking very much like what once was the domain of science fiction. Maybe we don’t have domed cities and flying cars, but we do have buildings that reach to the heavens, and drones that soon could deliver our packages. Who needs a flying car when the self-driving car is just down the road?
AI Confusion Widespread Among Consumers
Most people think they know what the term “artificial intelligence” means, based on the results of a survey Pegasystems released Tuesday. However, their responses suggested that they probably don’t fully understand how it’s being used today, including in the customer service realm. Researchers polled 6,000 adult consumers in the United States, the UK, the Netherlands, France and Germany.
TECH-BLOG
Galaxy S8 vs. iPhone 8: Winning Has Little to Do With Phones
The new Samsung Galaxy S8 has launched, and its target of choice is the as yet unlaunched Apple iPhone 8 Anniversary Edition. These phones are critical for both companies. Apple survives largely off the iPhone today, and Samsung is trying to recover both from its burning phone problem and from its top executive being arrested on bribery charges. Neither firm can afford a big loss to the other.
Take Command of Your Linux System’s Processes
Who’s afraid of the Linux terminal? Not you, if you’ve learned the basics of navigating your system. But how will these newly acquired skills help improve your computing life? To give you a sense of the terminal’s everyday usefulness, here are some examples of tasks the terminal is well-disposed to handle. To start with, system administration is much more straightforward on the terminal.
GAMING
Steamed Over Steam
Where would the PC gaming market be without Steam, the digital distribution platform that was developed by Valve Corporation more than a decade ago? It likely would be in worse shape than it is now, but that’s not to say it would be bad. First, despite the repeated cries that “PC gaming is dead,” the state of PC gaming is actually pretty good and PC gaming is very much alive because of Steam.
Duty Calls Popular Shooter Back to World War II
Call of Duty will return to its World War II roots when the latest title arrives this November, publisher Activision Blizzard has announced. The franchise has been a steady hit maker since its 2003 debut. Various titles in the series have become regular staples in e-sports tournaments and Major League Gaming. Call of Duty is one of the most popular series in video game history.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Google’s Pixel Wins a Place in the Sun
Google’s Pixel smartphone, which made its debut last month, has gathered some high praise from reviewers. “The Google Pixel is now the best Android smartphone you can buy,” wrote Joanna Stern. “The other leading contender was disqualified due to spontaneous combustion,” she added, referring to Samsung’s doomed Galaxy Note7, which was recalled for safety reasons.
Apple Puts Its User-Friendly Stamp on Fancy iPhone 7 Cameras
Apple raised the ante for cameras in flagship phones with the announcement of its iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Others already have taken the dual-camera approach to smartphone photography — notably HTC, LG and Huawei. “While it’s not the first dual camera mounted in a smartphone, it’s on par with the others in terms of basic functionality,” said Brian Blau, a research director for Gartner.
Technohub 