Friday, September 30, 2016
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Are we expelling too many children from Australian schools?
School expulsions in Victoria have increased significantly – by more than 25% in the past year – resulting in an ombudsman investigation.
These latest findings show vulnerable children are significantly over-represented, and families are struggling to appeal expulsions and find alternative education placements for their child when they are expelled.
So how effective are expulsions? Are we expelling too many children? And is this an appropriate and effective action to take?
Lack of data around school expulsions
While there is little research in the Australian context that explores the rise in school expulsions, schools seem to be taking a less permissive approach to disruptive behaviour.
Although the statistics are not readily available, news reports quote the following Victorian Department of Education suspension and expulsion rates for 2015. In primary schools, 2,160 students suspended and 26 expelled; and in secondary schools, 11,282 students suspended and 172 expelled. In Queensland in 2015, 1,525 students were excluded. And in NSW in 2014, 262 students were excluded from school.
Such approaches reflect the views by some that young people are not developing or displaying appropriate levels of civic responsibility so a zero-tolerance approach to behaviour is necessary.
But research shows mass punishment or individual punishment as a deterrent rarely works – and if it does, it is not the only way to establish positive outcomes.
Why do children get expelled from schools?
Each Australian state has explicit education policy relating to suspension (the temporary exclusion from class and/or school for a specified period) and exclusion (cancellation of enrolment).
While each varies slightly, all claim that expulsion should be only considered as a last resort.
Students may be expelled from one or more schools for a defined period and in some circumstances, all schools permanently.
Throughout the process the school and the principal must keep the family fully informed. The student and family have the right to appeal any decisions made.
While ultimately the reasons given for suspension or exclusion relate specifically to student behaviour, a number of studies have found that it is not necessarily the behaviour, but rather the individual student – including their attitude and academic commitment – that influences the school’s response.
The attitude of the school, its socioeconomic status and level of diversity also impact on the level of suspension and/or subsequent exclusion.
While antisocial, unsafe (drugs and alcohol) or violent behaviour are the most common reasons for suspension and exclusion, a recent trend has emerged that includes the inappropriate use of online and social media to demean, intimidate or threaten peers and school communities.
The use of punitive measures, such as exclusion, often reflects a breakdown in communication between schools, families and students and preferences an educational focus on meeting the priorities of the majority over the individual.
Excluding children from school for any period, puts their personality and social development at risk.
Exclusion during primary years
The long-term effects of being excluded from school are significant at any age, but when such measures are implemented at the primary school level (approximately 5-7% of all exclusions), the consequences are magnified.
During the primary years many of the key skills of social development, behaviour and self discipline are learnt and practised.
By excluding young children from these opportunities, the ability to cope and thrive in pressured environments will be challenged.
On the other hand, there are significant management challenges for teachers and schools when individuals repeatedly disrupt classes with threatening behaviour.
School pressure, peer pressure, distractions and student-teacher interactions are nominated by the students as the main cause of problem behaviour. They also note that relationships are built slowly but can be broken down easily.
Other research has shown that suspension from school leads to increased antisocial behaviour and actually increases the likelihood of future suspensions and ultimately exclusion.
Pressure on principals
In an increasingly commercialised education systems, school principals are under pressure to protect their school’s “brand” as the public reach of a schools image is no longer confined to the visible uniformed student during the morning commute.
The behaviour of students (and teachers) is now far more widely scrutinised via social networks and other media.
As such, the impact of any activity that threatens the schools image must be dampened.
Firm action against individual students provides a clear and visible message that a school is asserting and strong moral focus.
Effective techniques
Inclusive approaches and positive behaviour techniques such as “positive classroom behaviour support” that respond to individual needs within the group context are equally, and in most cases, more effective than punishment-based systems. Such approaches work with the students and their families to identify the underlying needs of the individual and utilise peer and specialist support where possible to improve connectedness within the school community. Such approaches take time but are effective in the long term.
The primary effect of punishments and exclusion reinforces to the student that their needs are not able to be met.
In primary school, the child may not have the skill to behave, and exclusion from the learning environment, where such skills can be developed, will not assist in achieving good behaviour.
Research shows that improving teacher skill in preventative behaviour management can lead to less referrals to the office for action.
Samsung's 12-inch Galaxy TabPro S gets price cut in US
The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S, which was unveiled back in January at this year’s CES and went on sale in May, has received a price cut in the US. Amazon currently has the tablet listed for $747.99, down 17% from its usual price of $899.99.
That discount is for the white colored model. For those interested in the black version, the new price is $797.99, down $102 from its usual price. If you are interested in availing the deal, you might have to act fast as only a few units are left as of writing.
It’s worth mentioning that the retailer is also offering discount on the Samsung Chromebook 3 – the laptop is currently listed for $179, down $51 from its usual price of $229.99.
Child sex abuse doesn't create paedophiles
A popular misconception is that most child sex offenders were once victims themselves. The theory is based on the erroneous assumption that they’ve become paedophiles – those preferentially sexually attracted to prepubescent children – because of their victimisation.
This is a tidy explanation for a minority of offenders. But for most victims of child sex abuse, this is not only untrue, it’s harmful. It can increase stigma and prevent people from speaking up about their abuse. Some victims may fear they will one day become an offender, or at least develop the desire to offend.
The estimated prevalence of sexual abuse against children varies depending on the study. Prevalence estimates of abuse against males range from 1.4% to 8.0% of the population for penetrative abuse and 5.7% to 16.0% for non-penetrative abuse.
For females, prevalence rates are estimated at 4.0% to 12.0% of the population for penetrative abuse and 13.9% to 36.0% for non-penetrative abuse.
Many empirical studies have investigated a link between sexual victimisation as a child and later sex offending or other delinquent behaviours. As I wrote in my last Conversation article, some studies suggest “anywhere between 33% and 75% of child sex offenders report being sexually abused as children”.
Others debunk the theory. A 2001 study, for example, combined self-reports of childhood abuse histories with polygraph tests for child sex offenders.
Before the polygraph test, 61% of adult offenders claimed to have been sexually abused as children, compared to 30% after the polygraph. This indicates that more sex offenders claim to have been sexually abused as children than actually have a history of abuse.
A more recent study from 2016, of more than 38,000 males, found that very few who were sexually abused went on to become offenders themselves: only 4% of the sexual offenders studied had a confirmed history of child sex abuse themselves.
The researchers said the findings may provide:
reassurance that sexually abusing others may be a rare outcome of sexual victimisation.
So, the answer to the question “does child sexual abuse create paedophiles” is, largely, “no”. A small percentage of victims will go on to become offenders, but the vast majority won’t.
A word of caution with the data
Our current understanding of the victim-offender cycle in child sexual abuse comes from studies based on interviews with incarcerated sex offenders or those in treatment programs, or self-report measures. These are inherently unreliable methods, which fail to get to the bottom of a sex offender’s victimisation history.
Another problem with these studies lies not with the offenders themselves, but with the researchers’ “expectancy biases”. Those interviewing sex offenders, for instance, may ask about childhood sexual abuse and note its presumed significance to the offender’s criminal history. They may end up putting more emphasis on this link than other (perhaps more causative) factors.
Third, experts estimate only one in 20 cases of child sexual abuse are ever reported. We are therefore missing huge swathes of the information.
Fourth, lost from this analysis are two core groups whose voices are essential to this dialogue if we are to ever truly understand the cycle of violence within child sexual abuse: the offenders who are never caught; and paedophiles who never offend against children. We know virtually nothing about either of these two groups.
Another group that is heavily under-researched are the victims of child sexual abuse who don’t go on to offend. One study entitled I Couldn’t Do It to a Kid Knowing What It Did to Me looked at 47 men who were victims of child sexual abuse. Four themes arose as to why these men would not go on to become offenders themselevs: empathy, morals, a lack of sexual desire, or a combination of the three.
Researchers recognise these limitations, but because child sexual abuse and the attraction to children are such taboo and hidden subjects, it makes it almost impossible to use more reliable methods of data collection.
Very few paedophiles, for instance, would ever admit to having sexual desires towards children, as they fear being ostracised by their community, workplaces and families, even if they have never (and would never) harm a child.
If we want to protect children from sexual abuse, we need to better understand why most victims of child sexual abuse don’t offend as much as we need to understand why some do.
It is in the public interest to base treatment plans and support networks on accurate research and a full understanding of this issue; otherwise they are destined to fail.
Samsung Gear S3 sales target raised by 60%, report claims
Samsung unveiled the Gear S3 smartwatch at IFA at the end of last month, but the company’s latest wearable still isn’t on sale anywhere. That’s all going to change within a month, a new report seemingly originating from South Korea now claims.
The Gear S3 is due to become available by the end of October, “in most markets”. Samsung is reportedly very confident in its new watch, despite key competitor Apple having announced a new version of its wearable recently too.
Apparently Samsung has raised the sales target for the Gear S3 by 60% compared to the combined number of smartwatches and fitness bands it sold in the previous year. In actual numbers, this means the company expects to sell five million Gear S3 units, though it’s unclear in which exact time frame – perhaps throughout its life. For reference, Samsung sold 3.1 million wearables in total in the previous year.
The Gear S3 will come in “classic” and “frontier” flavors, the latter with built-in 4G LTE connectivity. Pricing is expected to be around the €400 mark, at least in Europe.
The US has banned antibacterial handwashes – here's why Australia should too
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week ruled to disallow the use of the more than a dozen antibacterial compounds in so-called “antibacterial” handwashes. Australia’s regulator is now assessing whether it will follow suit.*
Triclosan is one of the most common antibacterial ingredients in domestic and medical handwash products, toothpastes and cosmetics. It is also used as a pesticide in many plastic consumer goods such as toys, and textiles such as carpets.
The FDA ruling applies only to consumer antibacterial handwashes and soaps designed and marketed for use in general domestic settings in the US. It doesn’t apply to those formulated specifically for hospital and other medical settings.
Manufacturers have a year to comply with the ruling.
Companies promoting these products have until now been able to make exaggerated claims about their relative germ-killing ability. As a result, they have enjoyed almost four decades of unfettered sales in a US handwash market, which is estimated to be worth about US$1 billion.
In theory, in order to be allowed to market products with a claim of antibacterial activity, there must be evidence to prove the claim as well as data showing it’s safe to use, including in the long term. Without data proving effectiveness and safety, products are not supposed to be approved.
It turns out that for triclosan and consumer handwashes, there was neither.
Effectiveness
Many studies have shown that the use of consumer antibacterial wash products is no better at removing germs than plain soap and water.
Any idea that these products were better than plain soap and water at cleaning hands was simply a carefully crafted, widely propagated illusion.
The absence of data showing that antibacterial handwash products are superior to plain soap and water is a glaring omission in the regulatory documentation. It also raises the question of how we were sold a lie for so long.
Safety and other issues
The burden of proving the safety of compounds such as triclosan rests with the companies that want to make and market the products. Government regulators are the gatekeepers who weigh up the evidence and make a ruling.
In the case of the FDA, after being afforded the opportunity to present data to comprehensively answer safety questions, the companies have elected not to do so. In fact, it’s the absence of data showing the safety of frequent, low-dose, chronic exposure to triclosan, that has contributed to its regulatory demise.
When triclosan was first introduced, few would have predicted how widely it would be used. More than 1,500 metric tonnes of triclosan are produced, used and released into the environment annually.
Issues such the ability of chemicals to disrupt human hormone systems were not routinely considered when triclosan was first developed. Triclosan may be able to mimic the action of the human hormone oestrogen and in doing so, could disrupt hormone systems in humans and many other animals.
The potential for this compound to negatively impact natural ecosystems was also underestimated.
It remains unclear whether triclosan is able to interfere with human hormones or to have detrimental effects on ecosystems. But if they do have these effects, the consequences are serious, raising the stakes if triclosan use is allowed to continue.
Triclosan has also been implicated in the rise of resistance to antibiotics – those life-saving, bacterial infection-fighting medicines we are running out of.
While the question of whether the widespread domestic use of products such as triclosan contributes to the rise of antibiotic resistance remains contentious, regulators have finally erred on the side of caution, albeit for other reasons.
The FDA’s ruling may mark the beginning of the end for triclosan and antiseptics like it in domestic settings, although their use in medical settings will still be permitted. Other triclosan products such as hand rubs, wipes, toothpastes and cosmetics are not affected by this ruling.
Jittery consumers, however, may balk at continuing to put triclosan in their mouths two or three times a day when brushing their teeth. Ultimately, if consumers stop buying their personal care products, companies will re-consider their use of triclosan.
The bottom line
Triclosan-laden and many other antibacterial handwashes will begin to disappear from supermarket and drug store shelves over the next 12 months, at least in the US. Meanwhile, be reassured that washing your hands with plain soap and water combined with an effective technique is the best and safest way to clean your hands.
*A statement from Australia’s regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said:
The Australian Government Department of Health is aware of the FDA recommendations related to antibacterial soaps and any substances involved, and will review the information to see whether any action is required in the Australian context.
A New Place To Talk Anonymously About Controversial Topics
What is Candid?
Candid is a way for you to voice your opinion about specific topics, without having your ideas linked to your personal information. Social media is a great way to share and view content from your friends. It’s not always to best place to brag about your new orca-skin coat. When you share stuff like this, you may find friends start to judge you or even get really mad at you. Sometimes you get into it with total strangers who decide to screenshot your posts and send it to your employer! That’s why it’s sometimes better to express certain views anonymously. It’s your ideas that matter, not always the person behind them.
The solution is an app called Candid. This app lets you anonymously share your opinion on all kinds of different topics. You’ll find groups of people talking about politics, movies, social issues and even groups based on the town that you live in. Want to let people know that the local pumpkin eating contest is rigged? This is the place to do it. Do people even eat pumpkins? Like can you just take a bite like it’s a apple? Hmmm… I’ll ask about it on Candid.
Candid users always remain anonymous. Feel free to get into arguments, post controversial opinions or express your love for a fictional anime character. While browsing the app, I found several interesting and hilarious conversations. Here are some of the best topics but often times the comments are way more interesting.
Giveaway
While you’re trying out this amazing app, you have the opportunity to win a new Google Pixel phone. All countries can participate. All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is:
- Download Candid
- Search for the XDA group
- Join the XDA-Developers.com group
- Make a post in the group with your twitter handle
The Official XDA Group on Candid
And that’s it! We will randomly choose a winner from the users that posted. Good luck!
Download Candid
Candid is available for iOS and Android devices. Setup takes only seconds and then you’re on your way to browsing all sorts of topics from other users.
Thanks to Candid for sponsoring this content and giveaway.
The Samsung Gear VR app is affecting S6 and S7 owners, phones running warm and slow
I have to say, my personal device is a Samsung Galaxy S7 edge. Last night, I set my phone to charge on the Samsung Fast-Wireless charger. Then this morning, my phone was on the charger, it was really hot, and it didn’t make it past 69% battery. If you don’t wish to read background info, skip ahead two paragraphs.
I figured it was something wrong with the charger, so I brushed it off and cooled it down under the bathroom sink. The phone continued to grow warm again. I didn’t think it was anything a simple reboot couldn’t fix. Then came the problem that prompted me to go into Best Buy to get my phone re-flashed by the Samsung folks: Any notification I received, wouldn’t go away after I opened it, not until I manually swiped it away. The UI was acting very strange, even for TouchWiz.
The guy at the Samsung desk told me they didn’t have the T-Mobile binaries (due to some clashing between the involved parties) to perform a factory reset. Thankfully, I used to work behind the same counter, so I was able to get past the rule.
I didn’t realize why my phone was acting up so strangely, it turns out I was not the only one who was having this issue.
Looks like there’s a new update to the Oculus VR app which is causing an issue. The app will run the CPU intensively in the background without requiring the app to be open. Galaxy S6, S6 edge, S7, and S7 edge owners have all talked about the issue on Oculus forums and on Reddit.
It looks like since the problem, Oculus has already pushed out an update to fix the issue. Gizmodo reports on the statement from Oculus:
“We recently pushed an update to the Oculus app that inadvertently caused some people to experience phone battery drain. The team has issued a fix that prompts people to update the Oculus software when they open the Oculus app. If they do not see the prompt, then the phone has been automatically updated and no further action is needed.”
LeEco Sends Out Press Invites for an Event in the US
LeEco, formerly known as LeTV, is a massive Chinese conglomerate that has their hand in all sorts of industries. The company deals with music, sports, smart TVs, cloud computing, driverless cars, and has made a big splash in China and India with their smartphone business. Much like Xiaomi, LeEco’s smartphones are priced very competitively and with impressive build quality for the price you pay.
The LeEco Le Max 2 was already a popular phone for the company in India, and they just gave it a temporary price cut, down to Rs. 17,999 (~$270USD). It is hard for OEMs to compete with LeEco when it comes to price, and lately we’ve seen the company start to plan an expansion into the United States. They opened up their first United States headquarters in San Jose earlier this year, then bought over 48 acres of land from Yahoo a month later, and finally confirmed something big for the US this fall season.
At the time they announced their fall surprise for the United States, LeEco had already hired 400 employees. The company says they they are on track to grow this number to 1,000 before the end of the year so it seems obvious they are planning for something big in the states. Now, LeEco has started to send out press invites to various technology publications for an upcoming event that will take place in San Francisco on October 19th.
They have yet to confirm exactly what this event will be about, but many are speculating it will be the first time their products will officially be sold in the country, and some reports claim they might be bringing their services too. But again, LeEco is involved in a number of industries so it’s hard to pinpoint exactly what they’re planning. We would like to think they will announce plans to sell their smartphones in the US (and we believe it makes the most sense, given other similarly competitive companies are doing the same lately), but this could be about smart TVs, smart bikes, etcetera. We’ll just have to wait a few weeks and see how things turn out.
HTC 10's price now $150-off
HTC has announced that it is officially dropping the price of the high-end HTC 10 by $150. This brings the total of the phone to $549. This may not necessarily be a price drop to some, as some felt the HTC 10 was just a tad overpriced when it launched for $699.
Then again, HTC had already been selling the HTC 10 at a $100 discount for 599 for the month of September. HTC is launching these new discounts starting tomorrow, the first day of October and will last for a “limited time”.
We had such a great time with the HTC 10, we’d love to see it in the hands of more customers. T-Mobile unfortunately decided to stop selling it after only a couple of months! The phone launched on T-Mobile on May 18 and went out of stock on July 20.
$150 off the HTC 10 goes live tomorrow and sign up now for a chance to win prizes next week: https://t.co/3K7LlWn9w1 pic.twitter.com/BljjFcaNxU
— HTC USA (@HTCUSA) September 30, 2016
As a refresher, the HTC 10 was released earlier this year and offers HTC’s Boom sound stereo speakers, excellent audio quality via amplified headphone jack, USB-C, 3,000m mAh battery, 4GB of RAM, powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 CPU and held together by a 5.2 inch QHD IPS LCD screen. The HTC 10 comes with 32GB of internal storage which is also expandable via microSD card.
If you are on T-Mobile and have been waiting for your chance to buy the HTC 10 unlocked, this could be your moment. Granted, you still have to pay upfront for it, but if you’ve had your eye on it for a long time, now’s your chance.
Source | Via
MechDome is a Developer Tool that Automatically Converts Android Apps into iOS and OSX Apps
Cross-platform development has presented a major challenge for most independent developers for many years. Quite often, it’s simply too much of an time and resource investment to learn a new programming language in order to port your app over to another platform.
For years, this fact of resource allocation is what has pushed many developers to primarily focus their efforts on iOS, due to the more lucrative market. Thanks to projects such as Xamarin, however, developers who are familiar with C# have been able to push their projects across iOS, Android, and Windows Mobile. But Android developers are most familiar with writing in Java, so using Xamarin would require a developer to familiarize themselves with a new language and build platform. We’ve covered one project aimed at bridging the gap between mobile operating systems by providing a cross-development platform for Java developers – Intel’s Multi-OS Engine – but there’s no telling where that project is headed. That’s where MechDome comes in.
MechDome is a start-up company based in California and incorporated in January that has developed a conversion tool to automatically create native iOS and OS X apps from your Android app. No need to learn how to use a new IDE or API. All you need to do is send an APK file to MechDome (no need to send them your source code), and the fully automated tool will compile a standalone binary in seconds for iOS and OS X that the developer can then distribute on Apple’s App Store. We sat down in an interview with MechDome’s founder and CEO, Mario Kosmiskas, to see a demonstration of the tool in action – and it works. Although there are some limitations due to fundamental differences between how iOS and Android operate (which we’ll discuss below), the tool has already produced a few live apps on the Apple App Store such as the open-source Reddit client RedReader and an open-source Sudoku client to prove it works.
Android Apps on iOS with MechDome
The stated goal of MechDome is to allow developers to convert an unmodified Android app into a native iOS or OS X app. Compared to technologies such as Intel’s Multi-OS Engine or Xamarin, an Android developer does not need to know how to bind an Objective-C library because the tool will handle that for you. Nor is there any need to use a UI builder to modify your Android app, as MechDome handles converting all Android UI elements. Yes, even Android tablet apps translate nicely into a format suitable for iPads.
- RedReader on iOS
- RedReader on Android
MechDome’s biggest promise is that the converted Android app will function in a manner that users of the target OS will be familiar with. For instance, the Android share menu will be replaced with the native share sheet in iOS, and will include the ability to use AirDrop if applicable. Apps that post notifications in Android will instead display a notification in iOS’s Notification Center. Certain intents such as opening a camera on Android will indeed open the camera on the iOS device, and URL intents on Android will call Safari on iOS. Content providers on Android that access contacts or the calendar will instead access the relevant iOS or OS X databases for this information.
In general though, all hardware functionality required for the use of an Android app will be mapped directly to use the relevant hardware in iOS. Software functions, though, can be split into 3 distinct categories: 1) functionality that doesn’t exist on iOS (such as the toast message) will be implemented directly, 2) functionality that exists on both iOS and Android are replaced with the relevant iOS method, and 3) functionality that exists on iOS but not on Android (such as Apple’s 3D Touch library) cannot be converted but can be implemented through the use of a library. Most activities, views, services, toasts, and basic content providers should be convertible from Android to iOS, according to MechDome’s founder.
But as mentioned previously, there are indeed some limitations to this tool that are imposed by the nature of how iOS works. One of the biggest challenges facing an Android developer looking to convert his or her app to iOS is how to handle a background service. iOS is much more stringent with when and what kinds of background services that third-party applications can run, for better or worse. Furthermore, the rich intent system present in Android that allows for inter-app communication is largely absent on iOS. Finally, the Google Play Services API is currently not supported, so any app relying on Google services will not function. Thus, developers will be mostly limited to functionality that is accessed directly by manual user input, which should not pose a significant problem for most games or apps.
MechDome In Use
In a private demo, the tool does indeed seem to function as advertised. Mr. Kosmiskas demonstrated compiling several fully functional Android apps into working iOS and OSX apps. Toast notifications, notifications in the Notification Center, webview, location access, text input, and general functionality of UI elements all worked in demo. The AOSP calculator running on iOS looked and functioned exactly as it does on any Android device.
Updating an application and re-compiling it for iOS was also shown, and the process fairly simple. The developer, in this case Mr. Kosmiskas, demonstrated changing a text box to display “XDA-Developers” in Android Studio. He then exported the app, generated a signed APK, and compiled the iOS and OS X binaries in seconds from the MechDome server. When the iOS app was started using an emulator, the changes made in Android Studio were present.
Currently, MechDome is undergoing a free public beta program. Developers can register their app on the MechDome website to receive an invite to test converting their Android app. No pricing information has yet been unveiled for the service, unfortunately. Still, it’s an interesting project to stay on the lookout for if you’re an Android developer looking to eventually make waves in Apple’s ecosystem without having to expend much effort of your own.
iPhone 7 launches in more countries in October
The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus which Apple announced earlier this month have already gone through not one, but two release waves across the world. This means that at the moment they are available to buy in a pretty large number of countries. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t still places where you can’t purchase one officially.
Apple’s latest smartphones will in fact spread to more territories in October. First off, on October 7 they will arrive in India. Then, on October 14 they will be out in South Africa, Macao, Macedonia, Malaysia, Montenegro, and Turkey. A week later, on October 21, the iPhone 7 duo should also make it to Samsung’s home turf, South Korea. This last date is the only one that hasn’t been confirmed yet, so it might still change of course.
If you live in one of these places and are anxiously waiting for the iPhone 7 to make its debut in your neck of the woods, why not help the time pass faster by reading our review of the device?
India's DGCA lifts the restrictions on Note7 in airlines
Indian governmental regulatory body Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has lifted the restrictions on the Samsung Galaxy Note7 in airlines.
The restrictions came into effect on September 9, when the DGCA issued a notice informing passengers not to turn on or charge the Note7 onboard the aircraft, and not to stow the phone in any checked-in baggage. As of today, that notice is not longer valid.
It has to be noted that the change is only for phones that are purchased after September 15 and sport the new green battery bar, indicating that the device has been replaced or of a new batch.
Another thing to note is that Samsung never actually sold the Note7 in India until this point, as the phone was merely on pre-order when the incident happened and Samsung had to delay the launch further. The first Note7 devices that will be sold in India will be using the new battery.
Samsung should shortly begin the sales of the Note7 in India. As for those who had pre-booked, they will get the new Gear VR for free, along with a $50 Oculus content voucher.
Samsung did not make any official announcements at the time of publishing this article.
Google Reportedly Wants OEMs to Integrate Google Home in Products
October 4th is going to be a big day for the Mountain View internet giant. It’s all but confirmed to be the day Google officially announces the upcoming Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones. We’ve seen mock-ups created, the the front display assembly leaked, photos showing the front and back of the devices, and software details about how they will have 2 of each partition and how that could allow community developers to do a number of unique things with custom software.
It’s fair to say the Pixel and Pixel XL have not been shy over the last couple of months. We’re looking forward to seeing these two devices officially announced next week, but rumor has it that smartphones won’t be the only thing Google unveils on October 4th. If true, we could see Google announcing hardware products like the Chromecast dongle that can support Ultra HD video, the Daydream View VR headset, and Google Home.
You can think of Google Home as their way to compete with the Amazon Echo. A standalone device that allows you to access your entertainment (like playing songs and playlists), manage your everyday tasks (like setting reminders, making reservations, controlling your lights and thermostat), and having access to Google search all with just your voice. It was originally thought that Google would be the sole manufacturer of this device, but a new report says otherwise.
Variety is reporting that Google is wanting other OEMs to integrate Google Home into their own products. At first it seemed like this meant something similar to how they did their OnHub router where multiple manufacturers could make their own, but it could go beyond that. At a closed door meeting with Google, it’s said that Google wants other OEMs to utilize Google Home like they have been with Google Cast. The report also says that Google might be displaying “aggressive muscle-flexing” in its negotiation by telling manufacturers that they’d have to incorporate the service if they want their products to be able to use Chromecast at all.
Either way, we could see a number of products like smart TVs, soundbars, Bluetooth speakers, and more have Google Home baked right into the product and as early as next summer.
Samsung Pay starts service in Russia
Samsung Pay mobile payment service is expanding to Russia today. The service is now supported by Alfa-Bank Banking Group, VTB24, MTS Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, and Russian Standard Bank.
The service now operates in 9 countries – South Korea, US, China, Spain, Singapore, Australia, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Russia.
By the end of the year, Samsung is expected to launch Samsung Pay in the UK, Malaysia, Canada, Hong Kong and Thailand. In 2017, people in Turkey will be able to use the service, too.
Qualcomm is Reportedly in Talks to Acquire NXP Semiconductor
Qualcomm’s financial standing seemed to have started going slightly down hill when Samsung opted for their own Exynos chipset over the traditional Snapdragon variant in select markets last year. The company had to revise their sales targets for the entire year because of this and while they did beat analyst expectations in Q3 of 2015, revenues were still down $7.1 billion during the same quarter the year before.
The company saw profits increase during Q1 of this year, but overall revenue was still down 19% YoY due to a fall in shipments. Qualcomm losing some of its modem business to Intel puts pressure on them too. So we can see Qualcomm hasn’t had the best track record lately (more specifically, last year), but a new report suggests they can even this out with a possible acquisition. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Qualcomm is looking to acquire NXP Semiconductor for upwards of $30 billion.
Less than a year ago, NXP had acquired Freescale Semiconductor for a cool $12 billion that made the company the “the world’s top maker of automotive electronics.” See, while NXP does offer some ARM SoCs, they are focused more on the low-power components for integrated devices. The company sells a number of automobile products like temperature sensors and power management controllers.
During the first two quarters of this year, NPX saw over a 50% increase in revenue growth compared to the same quarter a year before. So while we could see some overlap here with NXP’s SoC business, this acquisition could be more about expanding away from smartphones and diving into other markets. This type of diversity would allow Qualcomm to still thrive if they happen to have another slip up like they did with the Snapdragon 810, and at the very least it allows Qualcomm to expand without as much risk by acquiring a repertoire of established designs.
Who are Trump Voters? Social Sciencing the S**t out of Yard Signs
Last week I blogged about how there are no Trump campaign signs to be found anywhere inside the Beltway, and naturally I saw one the next day. But the absence of any others in a town full of Grand Old Party operatives, defense contractors and the like has been a real puzzle for me, especially since driving out well beyond Washington yields an unbroken sea of Trump signs in parts of Maryland and Pennsylvania, two states Clinton is in no danger of losing.
The question has become vexing enough for me that I needed to put some real work into figuring this out. It was time to turn to my training as a social scientist, as Emile Durkheim and Robert Putnam had done previously, to rule out spurious correlations and identify the variable that best explains the phenomenon. In _The Martian, _Matt Damon’s biologist declared that he was going to survive being stranded on the red planet by using ‘science’ as a verb (‘I’m going to science the shit out of Mars!’) I decided to explain red voters (the colour typically used for the GOP on electoral maps) by social sciencing the shit out of Maryland. So here goes: _
The one and only DC area Trump sign I’ve seen in six weeks back here was a small red ‘Maryland for Trump’ (as opposed to the standard blue Trump logo) in front of a house on River Road in Bethesda, just a few blocks away from the Capital Beltway onramp. Obviously a highly aspirational local party activist lived there: Although a previously unheralded Republican businessman does currently serve as governor of Maryland, the Free State is one of the most Democratic in the country. The presidential and open senate race are no contests this year, and the US House delegation is easily expected to remain 7-1 Democratic.
But drive an hour or so east of Washington into that one Republican district and Trump signs cover cars, farms, houses and billboards. The same is true if you continue north across the old Mason Dixon line (the boundary of slavery before the Civil War) into Pennsylvania. Signs for Trump and local Republican candidates abound (although there were strangely almost none for incumbent senator Pat Toomey, who is in danger of losing and costing his party control of the Senate) with no Clinton signs visible whatsoever.
So what gives? Who is proudly announcing that they are voting for Trump and who is not?
There have been many predictions and explanations about likely Trump voters this year, but most of them don’t appear to fit my observations. Some pundits have speculated that Trump would attract legions of economically and culturally disaffected blue collar white voters, essentially recreating the Nixon and Reagan coalitions. Others have noted that Trump’s supporters appear to have an above-average household income of $72,000, so he’s actually appealing to well-off white Republican-leaning voters who expect tax breaks and want to cut the social services that they believe disproportionately benefit poor minorities. (In fact, whites receive the biggest share of welfare benefits). Here’s what the demographics show:
Eastern shore Maryland and southern Pennsylvania (outside of the Philadelphia area) are Republican strongholds in presidential and congressional elections. It’s no surprise to find Trump support there. And despite their rustic reputations as havens for Chesapeake Bay crabbers and Amish farmers, the median income in these counties runs over $65,000, above the national average but in average Trump supporter territory.
But if money is the answer then why is only one humble Trump sign visible in Montgomery County, Maryland, with a median income of $95,000? Trump signs abound among well-off Marylanders and Pennsylvanians on both signs of the Susquehanna River, but not among far richer Marylanders and Virginians along the Potomac River just outside of Washington DC. Potomac, Maryland and McLean, Virginia can regularly claim to be two of the top three wealthiest suburbs in America. Although partisan redistricting gave the former a Democratic representative in Congress last decade, Dick Cheney lives in a long-time Republican district in the latter. And yet there are Clinton and even still Sanders signs in abundance but none for the GOP presidential nominee.
It is doubly strange because these wealthy enclaves tend to skew older (not too many first time home buyers). Since Franklin D. Roosevelt created Social Security in the 1930’s, retirees have been the most well-off demographic in America. And because Trump is doing best amongst the richest and the oldest voters, he ought to be over-performing in older, richer communities with baked-in clusters of Republican Party leaders and donors.
If partisan affiliation, age, and income levels are not sufficient to explain the absence of Trump support, what is? This social scientist is left with another variable as the best explanation: Education levels. Trump is performing strongest amongst those without higher education and is historically weak for a Republican presidential nominee amongst those who have been to university. Washington DC ranked this year as the #1 or #2 most educated American city (depending on the index). The pro-Trump counties outside the beltway I have described (Queen Anne’s, Kent, and Chester in Maryland, Chester and Lancaster in Pennsylvania) have higher than average household income levels, but lower than average rates of bachelor degree completion).
Now I realize I’ve just provided plenty of fodder for the comments section. To take a line from another film, Ghostbusters, ‘Back off man, I’m a [social] scientist!’
I know that this will not stop the trolls on both sides, but I am not making the argument that Trump supporters are ignorant. I am just noting that the best correlation I can find between displays of Trump support in the parts of three states and the District of Columbia I’ve driven through in August and September 2016 seems to be levels of higher education rather than party or income.
As Sherlock Holmes said, ‘Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.’ I’m not claiming ‘truth’ here – to quote yet a third film, as Indiana Jones told his students in this third outing, ‘Archaeology [substitute Political Science] is the search for facts, not truth.’
In the absence of any better data, I’m declaring case closed. Now go watch the debate.
Apple App Store will display ads starting October 5
Apple announced plans to infuse the Apple Store with advertisements starting October 5. The Search Ads program entails that users searching for a particular app might see ads for related ones.
The company says that by buying an ad spot, many developers will have the chance to get noticed. App suggestions which are ads will have a distinctive blue badge. The company ensures that the App Store won’t be an advertisement minefield, as users will see ads only when it’s relevant for them to appear.
Check out the source link for an introductory video by Apple, in which the company explains the nitty-gritty behind the process of setting up an ad for you app.
Microsoft Brings Google Drive and Facebook Support to Outlook on Web
Microsoft Brings Google Drive and Facebook Support to Outlook on The Web
Today Microsoft is building three changes to Outlook.com, with Google Drive support the big addition. The Android and iOS version of Outlook already permitted users to receive and edit the files from Google Drive from inside the app. Though, users will now be able to edit their Google Drive documents from the Web version of the Outlook email client as well. The new changes mean Outlook users can attach documents from Google Drive and receive and edit files within Outlook. We will even be able to fully edit a Google Drive file side-by-side with an email on Outlook.com.
The company has also added the support for Facebook and made it easier to search for attachment in long conversations with its update to Outlook.
We will not just be able to attach files in Outlook —we will also be able to edit files from Google Drive straight from Outlook, which is a nice addition for those that often get sent files hosted by Google Drive. To add a Google Drive file, all we need to do is click on the attachment icon, then select Google Drive as the service we want to use. Once we attach it, it will include a link to the source file. When someone receives that file, they will be able to edit it straight from Outlook.
Now, you can also open the Google Doc, Slide or Sheet files within Outlook instead of open another window. “Just like photos and Office file types, the Google files open in Outlook next to your message window so your workflow is not disrupted. And, as with Google Drive links, if you have edit permissions, you’ll be able to edit using the full functionality available on Google Drive,” Microsoft said in its official blog.
Likewise, after connecting our Facebook account with Outlook, we can browse and attach our Facebook photos from within Outlook.
There isn’t much else to Facebook, though – this is all we can do with Facebook. This feature can be very useful for those who have friends and family outside of Facebook – something not as uncommon as we might think.
The third and final addition are an enhancement to attachments in long conversations. Microsoft is improving how attachments are listed in big group conversations, permitting us to search through a central list of attached documents rather than having to jump into each thread in a conversation. All of these new features will need the new Outlook web version that’s currently rolling out, so if Microsoft still hasn’t updated our account then the features should arrive by the end of the summer.
Sony Xperia XZ goes on sale, first in Taiwan
Taiwan has become the first market where the Sony Xperia XZ goes on sale. Earlier, during the pre-order, available units sold out in just 45 minutes.
The dual-SIM XZ goes for NTD 22,900 ($730) and is available in Forest Blue, Platinum and Mineral Black.
The Xperia XZ flagship will go on sale in the US on October 2, in India on October 10, in the UK on October 18 (pushed back from 17th and other markets. While you wait, read our review so you can make an informed decision.
FreedomOS Revisited
A while back Miles did an in-depth review of the FreedomOS ROM on the OnePlus 3. If you didn’t see that video, you can check it out here. In this video, we will follow up with this ROM and see how it has progressed so far.
One of the biggest differences if that everything is starting to look much more like HydrogenOS. Things like the power menu and the notification center have all been modified for a more Hydrogren type look.
A new feature that has been added to this ROM is the ability to choose between the Layers and the Substratum theme engines. Substratum is fairly new, but it’s really special so check it out!
The advanced settings menu has been ported in from HydrogenOS. This menu lets you schedule power on/off, toggle user enjoy plan, and customize how you clear your apps.
Another change is the ability to access the system theme settings through the display menu. Choose between light, dark or default themes.
That’s about it for changes in the FreedomOS ROM. If you want to get this ROM for yourself, check out this thread here.
Xiaomi Redmi 3S Plus lands in India as company's first offline-only smartphone
Xiaomi is all set to launch its first offline-only phone in India. The Redmi 3S Plus, which was made official last month, will be sold in the country only through offline channels.
Carrying an MRP of INR 9,499 (around $143), and a best buy tag of INR 8,799 (around $132), the device will hit the shelves on October 1.
Specs-wise, the phone is powered by Snapdragon 430 SoC and sports a 5-inch HD display. It comes with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage, and packs in a large 4,100mAh battery.
In terms of camera, the Xiaomi Redmi 3S Plus features a 13MP rear unit and a 5MP front shooter. Measuring 139.30 x 69.60 x 8.50 and weighing in at 144g, the handset runs Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and features a fingerprint sensor as well.
New rumor says Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will arrive in November
Shortly after reputed Chinese analyst Pan Jiutang said that the Xiaomi Mi Note 2 will be made official towards the end of next month, a new rumor has cropped up, suggesting a November unveiling for the device.
The rumor – which came in the form of a Weibo post – also revealed some of the handset’s key specifications, including 5.7-inch display of 2K resolution (should be QHD though) and dual-curved screen.
In case you missed, previous rumors have suggested that the phone will be available in 6GB/64GB and 8GB/256GB memory configurations. Other rumored specs include Snapdragon 821 SoC, 13MP dual-rear camera, and 8MP front shooter.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Four Qualites Of Tech Your Business Needs To Rely On
We all that improving our technology is how we can reliably improve the results we get from our business.
But it’s far from random. You can’t just pick up any new tool or piece of equipment and expect it to be what you need. Rather, you need to expect specifics. Here’s what you should be looking for in your next tech improvements.
Durability
For one, you want to make sure that the tech you invest in is going to last you for a long time. In services like construction and manufacturing, this means sourcing high quality equipment. As well as performing regular checks and maintenance. Just about any business can benefit from using tech that’s likely to stay operational for longer. For example, in using membrane switchs instead of their analogue cousins. It can be easy to see the benefit in spending less for your new equipment or tools. However, if you’re just going to have to spend to replace it in the near future, it’s not really a saving at all.
Reliability
It’s not just about how reliable the tech is, itself, either. It’s about the kind of reliability it can add to the business. For one example, one of the most common concerns in digital business these days is technical interruption. Being unable to find, cut off from or even losing important data and files. Nowadays, most businesses have that data they can’t operate very well without at all. That’s why so many small businesses are turning to Cloud solutions. It gives them a more reliable way to store data. Thus giving them a way to be more reliable with the information and documents they need.
Efficiency
If there’s anything a tool should be able to do for you, it’s a job. Specifically, it should help you do a job much quicker and easier than you had been doing it beforehand. So, regardless of what industry you work in, it’s clear that answer in a lot of cases is automation. The more you can automate, the less man-hours you can spend on jobs that are time-consuming. Leaving you more time to focus on the tasks that actually make you money. Like looking for clients or developing new business opportunities. Whether it’s on the workshop floor or on your computer, take another look at the tasks you do every day and ask yourself which can be automated.
Precision
The right tech can do more than just get the job done for you, of course. It can get the job done and tell you all about how it did it. Tech isn’t just about fulfilling tasks, but informing you. That’s why the big data approach can even be tremendously helpful in small businesses. You can get a real scientific look at what’s going on with your company. What’s going wrong and how the data can tell you how to fix it with certainty.
Before you spend any money on your latest innovation, make sure it includes real qualities that can help you, like those mentioned above. Without ascertaining value, you can never be sure whether you’re spending your money wisely or not.
New update to Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides makes it easy to retrieve trashed files
Google has pushed out a new update to the Android clients of its Docs, Sheets, and Slide apps, making it easy for users to view and retrieve deleted files.
Basically, you now don’t have to exit these apps to access trashed files as the update adds a new Trash option in the apps’ navigation menu itself.
For those who aren’t aware, up until now, users had to open the Drive app to retrieve deleted files. The updated apps are now available for download from the Play Store.
Deal: Rogers offering free Moto InstaShare projector with pre-order of Moto Z
The Moto InstaShare projector isn’t exactly the cheapest Moto Mod accessory. In the US it runs for $299, while in Canada it retails for 399 CAD. Regardless of where you get it, it’s still expensive considering it only works with the one smartphone.
If you already find yourself in the market for a Moto Z from Rogers, you’ll be happy to know that if you pre-order a Moto Z from Rogers, you will be eligible to receive a free Moto InstaShare Projector.
The projector Moto Mod snaps onto the back and adds 11mm to the total thickness of your Moto Z, Z Force (US Only) or Z Play, and it can display anything the phone displays by throwing up to a 70” screen onto any wall or ceiling. It’s got automatic keystone and brightness adjustment, and it focuses with a little wheel next to the LED bulb. It has an 1,100 mAh battery which offers up to one hour of projection time until the Moto Z’s internal battery kicks in.
While there is some word that the Moto Z Play will also be coming to Rogers, It doesn’t look like you can get the InstaShare Projector for free with it. The terms of the offer say “Available with online reservation and purchase of a Moto Z smartphone with activation of a 2-yr Share Everything plan.” There’s a small chance that “Moto Z smartphone” also includes the Moto Z Play, but don’t take our word for it.
What Features Do You Want on Google Apps on Android?
Google Apps on Android are a love-hate affair. Average consumers find the pre-loaded set of Google Apps to fit within their requirements enough to not worry about alternatives. But on the other hand, the apps themselves are not the best examples of how to create guidelines, or how to make apps either.
The previous statement becomes clearer when you expand your scope to look at Google Apps on other ecosystems, like iOS or on desktop platforms like Chrome OS. Apps made by Google themselves on these platforms feature a different design, and often offer functionality that the Android app gets days, weeks and months later (looking at you, Hangouts). Some Android apps, like Youtube, are missing useful features present on desktop. So we ask you,
What Features do Google Apps on Android sorely lack, when compared to the same set of Google Apps on other platforms? Which was the most frustrating discrepancy you noticed when you switched from using Google Apps on Android to other platforms?
Let us know in the comments below!
Moto ‘batwing' isn't going away, new boot animaition for all Moto devices
“Hello Moto” was Motorola’s slogan for a long time, since around or before the time of the RAZR flip phone. This iconic slogan was also a default ringtone for many who owned Motorola Handsets. Although some might not know it, Motorola’s ‘batwing’ is one of the most iconic logos when it comes to cellphones and communications.
Since Lenovo’s acquisition of Motorola from Google, some consider Motorola to be gone, but Lenovo wants everyone to know the Moto brand will carry the legacy and iconography that the brand carried for many years. Hearing the “Hello Moto” slogan in the new boot animation below strikes a nostalgia cord for me, and surely many others.
new. fresh. and full of all the things you love. say hello to the all-new moto. #hellomoto #differentisbetter pic.twitter.com/ccg0rErzaz
— Moto US (@Moto_USA) September 29, 2016
Moto’s USA Twitter account posted a video of the new bootup animation with the final note ending on a “Lenovo banner”. The boot animation (to me) feels like a mishmash between retro design language and popular symbols and icons. Not to mention a new voice that says “Hello Moto”. From the looks of the way Lenovo is presenting and advertising the Moto brand, it appears to have every intention of maintaining the iconic presence that Motorola had over the years.
This new startup animation will be updated on current Moto smartphones. When they first launched, the Moto Z and Z Force were missing the batwing in the animation, (granted the logo was on the back of the phone) but it looks like the logo was too iconic to leave out, they had to bring it back.
Thanks for the tip, Felipe!
New 360-degree renders of Google Pixel and Pixel XL leave nothing to the imagination
This year’s Google phones still won’t be officially announced until Tuesday. Until then, we can only get excited about leaks, rumors, and reports about the phones before Google’s unveiling of the Pixel phones on October 4.
This time, @onleaks has gotten its hands on renders or each of the Google Pixel and Pixel XL phones. Given the specific placements and complexity of where the antenna lines are, it’s more-than-likely that these are renders that were used by case-makers to design cases and accessories for the phones.
Google Pixel render:
Pixel XL render:
There are even exact dimensions of the smartphone that come with the renders. The Google Pixel measures: 143.8 mm x 65.9 mm x 7.3 mm at the thinnest point (bottom) and 8.5 mm at the thickest point (top). Meanwhile, the Google Pixel XL will measure: 154.7 mm x 75.7 mm x 7.3 mm (top) and 8.5 mm (bottom).
Both phones will feature a Snapdragon 821 CPU, 4GB of RAM, at least 32GB of internal storage (we hope it starts at 64GB), 12MP rear/8MP front, and will be running Android 7.1 Nougat out of the box. There is also a fingerprint scanner and rumored IP53 immersion certification. The Pixel will have a 1080p 5 inch screen and 2,770 mAH battery, meanwhile the Pixel XL will have a larger QHD screen at 5.5 inches, and a larger 3,450 mAh battery.
New Android Wear 2.0 Preview with Smart Replies, Watch App Store — Main Release Delayed until 2017
There are both good and bad news for Android Wear owners today — well, the good news are mostly reserved for a few lucky watch owners. But in short, a new Android Wear 2.0 Preview is available for download and flashing.
The new Developer Preview 3 brings some rather big additions, including the additions of a Google Play Store on Android Wear. This allows you to easily find and install apps directly on the watch, which synergies perfectly with the watch-only app capabilities of Android Wear 2.0 You can browse recommended apps in the home view, search for apps, and then install them on your watch, as well as update applications. This makes app management easier, and you can install the watch-app portion of a service so you don’t need both the phone app and watch app, as the former are no longer necessary. Developers can now build and publish watch-only applications!
An on-watch store might sound clunky, but Google surveyed developers and ran studies that concluded users repeatedly looked for a way to discover new applications right from the watch. Developers can publish their apps on the Play Store for Android Wear by following these steps, making sure the Wear 2.0 apps set minSdkVersion to 24 or higher, use the runtime permissions model, and are uploaded via multi-APK using the Play Developer Console.
There are also a few new, useful features and optimizations, with a prominent one being improvements to complications for developers, a new UI component for developers to optimize vertical lists for round displays, and Smart Reply. That’s right, Android Wear now generates Smart Reply responses for MessagingStyle notifications. These are generated by an on-watch machine learning model based on the context of the notification (no data is uploaded to the cloud to generate responses). Sadly, said notification style with images posted by standalone apps don’t show images in the notification (bug), and there is no support for notification groups.
You’ll need to flash the system image onto your watch and download the beta version of the Android Wear app on your device. Developers can also use the emulator to test their applications if they don’t have a watch to test on. Hopefully you’ll enjoy this preview, because the real deal is not coming for a while: Google now says that they’ve decided to continue the preview program into early 2017, and that the first watches will receive Android Wear 2.0 around that date. This means that the Android Wear 2.0 update won’t come until next year for most of us, at the earliest. This also likely means we won’t see Pixel watches this year.
Google has not mentioned any official reason for this delay in the release timeline, except the receipt of feedback from the developer community. And the delay of Android Wear 2.0 likely isn’t good news for smartwatch OEMs either, as they would now have to settle with either the existing stable release, or question the future of the platform entirely. There are no new successors to existing smartwatches coming in from the big names, and even Huawei is in talks to jump ship to Tizen. Existing stakeholders who have invested in new smartwatches this year, like ASUS with its ZenWatch 3, are also not likely to be happy with how the timeline has taken a turn for the worse. All in all, considering the current position of Android Wear in the market in light of its competition, the delay in release must have been a very strong decision to take, just before the upcoming holiday season.
What are your thoughts on the delay in Android Wear 2.0 release? Also, how was your experience with the Dev Previews of Android Wear 2.0 so far? Let us know in the comments below!