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All Posts Term: Hardware Innovations
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TikTok owner Bytedance announces plans to Design its Own Chips

TikTok owner Bytedance announces plans to Design its Own Chips

bytedance

Bytedance, one of the largest Chinese tech and internet companies announced that it will start designing its own semiconductors, also called chips, soon. In addition to owning the popular video app Tiktok, Bytedance owns a large number of popular information, entertainment and gaming apps. The company claims that the chips designed will be used by Bytedance for its own applications only and will not be sold to other companies. This announcement is in keeping with the Chinese government policy of encouraging Chinese tech companies to design their own chips so that China becomes self sufficient in this critical technology.

SMIC Lags Behind

At present the largest semiconductor company in China, Semiconductor Manufacturing international corporation (SMIC) is still lagging behind the world leaders in semiconductor technology like Intel (USA), Samsung , SK Hynix (Korea) and TSMC (Taiwan). Since semiconductors are being used extensively for a large number of applications ranging from home appliances, home automation, vehicles to smartphones, desktops, and servers, design and manufacturing of semiconductors has been a critical technology for countries. The Chinese government has invested a large amount in developing the local semiconductor industry since the country is many years behind the world leaders .

China Self Sufficiency Plan

China is encouraging Chinese tech companies to develop their own semiconductors or chips to become self sufficient and also for national security reasons. The Chinese search engine Baidu has designed a Kunlun chip, while the top Chinese eCommerce company Alibaba has developed the Yitian 710 chip for its own use. The Alibaba chip uses the latest chip design technique, the 5 nanometre process and uses the architecture from Arm, a British semiconductor firm. Oppo, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer is also developing its own chip for its smartphones, using a 3 nanometre process.The Kirin processors developed by another large Chinese tech company Huawei helped it become one of the largest smartphone manufacturers in the world.

Bytedance Careers

Bytedance which is headquartered in Beijing has advertised the vacancies related to semiconductor design on its website, confirming that it recruiting engineers specializing in chip design. At present, the company is purchasing chips from other companies and then customizing them for their own requirement. Bytedance claims that it is not able to find suppliers for certain kinds of chips it requires. If Bytedance develops its own chips, they can be directly used for the applications no additional programming will be required. However, at present, Bytedance like other Chinese companies will then have to outsource the manufacturing of the chips to other companies which specialize in semiconductor manufacturing.

The Future of Practical Quantum Computing

The Future of Practical Quantum Computing

sDWave

If Quantum Computing sounds too technical then you are right, but you don't necessarily need to be an expert to know more about the amazing product that D Wave is providing. D Wave has been in the business of providing and delivering products using the fastest path. Think of the most difficult math problem you had trouble solving when you were in high school, remember the time it took you to solve that with the help of your friends and classmates, now multiply the complexity of that problem to a thousand or more, D Wave's quantum computing program solves that in a second. The future is fast approaching and along with it are the complex mathematical and analytic problems that require a fast solution and you don't want a pen and paper to solve that for you.

D Wave Going Public

D Wave is now at its final steps to bring Commercial Quantum Computing to Public Markets. This is expected to expand D-Wave's Quantum Computing Ability beyond what was originally thought possible. And with all these things in mind, the Market Valuation is expected to reach ~$1.6B.

The support it is getting from its current investors is more than enough to validate the future that this company from NEC and Bezos Expeditions as well as Goldman and Sachs.

D Wave Products

The company offers a wide variety of products and solutions ranging from Manufacturing and Logistics to Life Sciences.

In Logistics computing the most optimal time and route of your parcel considering hundreds and thousands of variables from time of day to vehicle volume, foot traffic and the likelihood of the recipient to be available based on the kind of neighborhood they live can definitely make your delivery services a lot more appealing to customers and saves the business a lot of time and resources.

In the Manufacturing industry scheduling your production based on your staff schedule delivery schedule and the machine rest requirements as well as your historical staff reliability can potentially increase efficiency based on how these things align.

Providing an effective finance solution is nothing but a set of computations based on historical data and probability based on previous data behavior. Fraud risks are identified by considering key factors from a certain set of data presented and what better way to analyze that than doing it in a blink of an eye. Nowadays getting the finance approval out is just as important as getting it out quicker than anyone else.

In this day and age, being right and accurate is still one of the most important aspects of problem-solving, however being the fastest while staying accurate and correct is becoming as important if not more.

If you give everyone enough time as most principles have been established everyone will eventually arrive at the same solution. How fast you get there ahead of everyone is what will take your business from being an average to a leader in the industry.

D Wave is definitely right in cusp of being successful and being part of that journey is definitely one that guarantee that you have a place somewhere in that future.

Minecraft with Nvidia RTX ray tracing releases on April 16

Minecraft with Nvidia RTX ray tracing releases on April 16

minecraft-rtx-dxr-ray-tracing

Minecraft is one of the most popular computer games worldwide and new themes, enhancements of Minecraft are always being released. In one of the most significant changes in visual effects for Minecraft in many years, Microsoft will collaborate with graphics card manufacturer, Nvidia to create a special version of Minecraft with Nvidia RTX ray tracing. This enhanced visually attractive version of Minecraft will be released on April 16, 2020 and is eagerly awaited by Minecraft fans worldwide. In this version Nvidia will use drivers, its upgraded RTX graphics card and a specially created version of Minecraft with light ray tracing, to give a realistic look for the game.

Nvidia Geforce RTX20

In most computer games, including Minecraft, the conventional graphics technologies which are used allow the game designer limited control over the illumination and colors displayed on the screen. For more realistic colors using ray tracing, a high capacity graphics processor and software will be required, which are not easily available. To overcome this limitation of Minecraft, Nvidia has released the Nvidia Geforce RTX20 series graphics card with specially designed Graphics Processor Unit (GPU). This card is using the Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS 2.0) technology for ray tracing without affecting the performance of the game, computer.

Artificial Intelligence Tensor Cores

The Nvidia RTX GPUs are using Artificial intelligence (AI) tensor cores and machine learning, to render life like and realistic visuals. The rendering technique uses super resolution using AI, in which a few pixels are rendered in the conventional way. Then AI is used to construct high resolution images which are sharper. The frames are also being generated at a faster rate. All the illumination effects like shadows, atmospheric effects, reflections, refraction,transparency, scattering, are created using this technology. Since AI is being used extensively for rendering the graphics, the load on the GPU and CPU, power consumption is lower compared to other hardware used earlier.

For the convenience of the users, Minecraft and Nvidia are releasing specially developed textures which showcase the enhanced visual effects, collaborating with different creators. The six textures are Temples & Totems from Razzleberries, Imagination Island developed by Blockworks, Crystal Palace by Gemini Tay, Aquatic Adventure by Dr. Bond, Color, light & shadows by Pearlescentmoon, Neon district from Elysium Fire. These adventure, creative and other themes can be downloaded from the Minecraft marketplace by graphic designers developing their own themes or Minecraft players who wish to enhance their gaming experience.

Announcing Minecraft with RTX for Windows 10

Blockchain Cell Phone BOB

Blockchain Cell Phone BOB

BlockchainCellPhone

Over the past few years there has been an increasing concern about how private our data really is. And various scandals and leaks have made a lot of people start thinking of ways to better secure our data. Whenever you post something on social media or put information into a website, you are in most cases giving up control of that data for the platform or website you've given it to to be able to do what they want with it. A lot of the time we know this because we will get a popup requiring us to give permission and accept that our data is being used. But in many cases the tracking of our data is done a lot more discreetly. With the data gathered often sold to marketing and data analytics companies, with none of that profit returned to the user. That is why the Blockchain Cell Phone BOB has been created.

Blockchain Secure Calling

There has also been a shift recently to people doing a large amount of their internet activity on their mobile devices as apposed to personal computers or laptops. So it only makes sense that a blockchain powered cell phone would be developed, ensuring all calls, texts and internet activity are secure.

Function X

This is why FunctionX, part of the PundiX Foundation have developed the Blok On Blok or BOB blockchain smartphone. The phone operates on the FunctionX(FX) blockchain protocol. This allows for calling, texting and browsing without ever having to use a centralized service provider. With such a new operating system some people may be concerned about how they will get their favorite apps and use them to connect with their friends and family who don't have a blockchain phone. But BOB's operating system was built off of the latest Android operating system and allows for a unique dual mode where the user can seamlessly switch between blockchain mode and normal Android mode. This gives the user the comfort of knowing their data is completely secure when they want to use the blockchain mode, but they can also use their favorite apps in the normal Android mode. It should be noted however that even if the person you are talking to in blockchain mode doesn't have a blockchain phone, your data will still be secure as long as you are in blockchain mode.

Senior Citizen Phone Plans

Senior Citizen Phone Plans

Unlimited Magenta 55

If you've ever tried to help your parent or grandparent find cell phone service, you know reasonably priced senior citizen phone plans can be a nightmare to find. We've taken all the guesswork out and broken it down so you can find the best senior citizen phone plans available.

From The Major Carriers

T-Mobile


Unlimited Magenta 55+

Cost: $50/month with $25 due at signup, requires auto pay for this price

Calls: Unlimited within US, Mexico, and Canada

Texts: Unlimited worldwide

Data: Unlimited 4G LTE

Contract: None

This plan takes the Essentials plan and adds unlimited 4G LTE data. Good for someone who likes to use the web or Facebook. Taxes and fees are included with this plan.

Unlimited Magenta Plus

Cost: $65/month with $25 due at signup, requires auto pay for this price

Calls: Unlimited within US, Mexico, and Canada

Texts: Unlimited worldwide

Data: Unlimited 4G LTE

Contract: None

The extra $15/month gets you unlimited video streaming in high definition. Also, if you sign up for 2 lines for $90/month, you get free Netflix. You can add a 2nd line for only $20/month. Also, there are no added taxes or fees with this plan.

DSLR Photography - Tips and High-quality Models

DSLRPhotography

Looking for a tutorial on DSLR photography (Digital Single Lens Reflex)? Want to know about some reviews on DSLR cameras? Want to get some tips? If so, you are in the right place at the right time because we will give you what you need down the road.

DSLR photography is here to stay for a long time because it can give you what you want in terms of image quality. Yes, these gadgets can do that and then some, and you will have a lot of fun with them as time progresses. Therefore, read on if you want to find out more about this exciting field of photography.

Tips

Use the Shutter Priority and Aperture Priority modes of the camera. This is important, and you have to do this at all times now and later. Investing in a quality tripod is what you need to do as soon as possible. This will allow you to keep the item still whenever you need to, and that is truly something great for you in due time. You need to know the autofocus capabilities of your machine because this is truly an important part of the process at all times.You have to know how to use the speed settings so you can get the high-quality images that you have been seeking for a long time too.

Best DSLR Camera

Canon EOS Rebel

The Canon EOS Rebel is here to stay for a long time, and you will love what you will get in terms of features. The Canon EOS Rebel has the versatile set of the important imaging capabilities that you have been seeking for a long time too.

Nikon D3500

Nikon D3500 is the DSLR camera that you need to get today because it has the features you have been seeking these days. The Nikon D3500 is truly easy to use and you will get the hang of it in no time with a little practice and patience.

Our List Of The Best Bitcoin Mining Calculators

BitcoinCalculator

Bitcoin exploded in popularity in 2018, and many websites started to launch and offer tools. This led to the popularity of Bitcoin mining calculators. With that said, we've researched calculators and have created a short list of the best ones.

Calculators For Beginners
When you're mining Bitcoins, but you're a newbie, then things can become overwhelming very fast. There is a lot of info out there and many factors that play a role in the profitability of mining. Some calculators are simpler than others, and this includes:

CryptoCompare- When you search Google for Bitcoin Mining Calculator, the first one that pops up is this one. There's a reason why, and that's because you can customize the hash-power, cost per KWh and power consumption, as well as the mining pool fee. You can estimate what your yearly income will be, as well as monthly, weekly or even daily. It doesn't take into account potential difficulty changes that may occur in the future, so it may provide you with over-estimates of profits.

Anything Crypto- We have a page dedicated to showing you profitability of different ASIC miners. This includes skeptical and optimistic predictions, and we take difficulty changes and price changes into consideration.

Best Places To Get Startup Funding Online

Crowdfunding

You probably have seen the television show Shark Tank and heard of the site Kickstarter, places you can get your product and startup funded. The crowdfunding industry has taken off in the US with entrepreneurs getting tens of thousands of dollars in funding to millions of dollars. There are hundreds of crowdfunding sites online to get your startup funding, but only a few have a track record of success and the community to fund your product or project. If you money is stopping you from starting your company, look to these startup funding sources.

The collaborative economy has been made possible by the Internet and has boomed in recent years. In 2012 the industry funded $2.7 billion in projects and $5.1 billion in 2013. The Jobs Act of 2012 kicked off the industry so growth has continued every year since for the young market. As an investor in a crowdfunded startup you get either a share of ownership in the company, rewards, products, or perks. Businesses and individuals get to step all the overhead involved in bank financing or Venture Capital.

Sites to Choose From:

Kickstarter

Kickstarter allows for donation based funding on creative projects. This site is not for charities or businesses, its for creative projects like art, films, designs or a music album. The site has helped get 143,000 projects off the ground. You have to pay a fee to Kickstarter if you get funded in addition to a processing fee. And you only have a certain period of time to get your funded. Make sure your submission is good as not all projects make it past the approval process.

How Do Scooter Companies Lime and Bird Make Money?

Bird Scooter Columbus Ohio

You have probably seen the scooters spread across your downtown if you live in a major metropolitan city. Our city of Columbus Ohio recently had the scooters added to our streets in addition to the Ohio State University. They look like fun and they seem inexpensive, but with charging and tracking, and breaking there’s no way they can last. So how do these scooter companies like Bird and Lime make money?

BirdScooter

Lime offers bikes too so you have that option. They bicycles seem less popular, more expensive to rent and not as much of a burden to maintain than an electric scooter. And the bikes aren’t all over the sidewalks making it difficult for some to get past.

With the any new technology there might be money backing it, but there isn’t always profit being made.

According to some sources, there are 5 different companies offering scooters. The bikes are $1 per half hour. The Lime and Bird scooters are $1.00 to start and 15 cents a minute to ride. These prices look great for consumers but how can a company survive with these low rental fees?

How the Transaction Happens

Users start a rental by downloading an app onto their phones and entering a credit card prior to scanning the QR code on the vehicle. When they have completed their ride, they click on a button on their phone telling the company you are done, then the bike or scooter locks up until the next rider comes along. There is no need to dock, just leave it where you completed your ride.

Scale

The companies purchase their bikes and scooters in scale and therefore are able to obtain low purchase prices. Bikes that dock can cost up to $5,000, not a cheap price. Dock-less bikes are less. And the new dock-less model also saves the company from having to install and maintain the docks. But the scooters cost only a couple of hundred dollars and can get 20 rides a day in a busy city. They can pay for themselves in a week if the demand is there.

Introducing The HTC Blockchain Phone

HTCBlockChain

The HTC blockchain phone is a work in progress.

Several weeks before its' upcoming flagship statement, HTC recently disclosed another item of hardware. Although the Taiwanese firm has consolidated most of its' mobile products, it said at the 2018 New York Consensus Blockchain event that its' Exodus handset will embrace everyone's favorite technology buzzword.

What is a blockchain phone then? Primarily, these phones are characterized by cryptocurrency support and security. The landing page for HTC Exodus says: "Our aim is to grow the blockchain network by producing the first ever phone centered on security and decentralized applications. Once the HTC Exodus is released, this ambition will be realized".

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