Gadget Gestures

Lets Gesture about Gadgets

Thursday, January 21, 2021
Log in
  • News
  • Tablets
  • SmartPhones
  • Laptops
  • Cameras
  • Games
  • Apps/Softwares
  • iPad/iPhone
  • Latest News
    • Lenovo A10000, A30000 and A60000
    • TV Has Never Been this Smart – the New Motto of Samsung Smart TVs
    • Nokia Lumia 1020 on Sale at AT&T
    • How Can a Sniffer Help in Detecting Lost or Stolen Mobile Phones?
    • Amazon expected to launch FireTube TV box before Christmas
    • Nokia Lumia 521 Release Date,Features, Specs, Price- Will be Available through T- Mobile
    • New Mercedes-Maybach S600, Priced At 200,000 dollars
    • Intel unveils Jarvis, Edison and dual-OS processors
    • Blackberry Z10 Problems of over heating, Rebooting: Even New BB 10 OS is not Helping
    • Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – Compare Possible Price, Design, Display, Features
    • Evernote Integration of New Google Drive Button
    • White Nexus 4 Release Date Subdue Possibilities of Verizon Nexus 4 LTE

The Generative Query Network Constructs 3D Images by Using Few Information (Study)

June 15, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Colorful 3D forms of different geometrical shapes

The Generative Query Network can pick up basic info to create 3D spaces

Processing images and imagining scenes without given information is one of the most important characteristics of the human brain. However, this has always been incredibly hard for computers to reproduce, but researchers from Google’s project DeepMind have just changed that. By using a Generative Query Network, they managed to achieve better image processing for AI.

Computers had a hard time building 3D images from scratch

Humans are remarkable creatures because they can pick up information about the world just by taking one single look at it. For instance, if someone tells you to think of an object, you’ll start imagining all the other items associated with it. A computer usually has a hard time imagining a space if it doesn’t receive external information on it.

Therefore, Google researchers decided to teach an AI image processing and how to imagine 3D spaces. More precisely, the machine will receive a special training that helps it make inferences. The Generative Query Network was able to construct a 3D space after looking at two 2D images, just like the human brain. In other words, both the brain and the machine assume what information should come in missing spots.

The Generative Query Network can learn on its own from basic information

Here’s how the Generative Query Network functions. The first component transcribes the images into a code version and feeds them to the AI. Based on its previous training, the network generates all the missing information. Therefore, researchers proved it was possible to teach a machine about perspective, lighting, and other principles typical of 3D spaces.

The research is still in its prime, so there’s a long way until the Generative Query Network can work quickly. However, this is one of the biggest achievements in terms of machine learning. The research has many implications. From now on, researchers will be able to feed AIs brief data and watch them learn on their own.

The study on this remarkable mechanism was published in the journal Science.

Image source: Public Domain Pictures

Filed Under: Google

Bethesda Announces the Unexpected Release of Skyrim on Alexa

June 11, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Opening scene in Skyrim showing the main character holding an axe

The release of Skyrim on Amazon Alexa is no joke

Have you ever thought about playing videogames on completely different platforms? If yes, then Bethesda and Amazon will soon turn this into reality. Through a sketch that looked like a joke, the gaming studio announced the release of the beloved Skyrim on nothing else than Alexa. This is extremely real and sounds like a lot of fun.

Is Bethesda playing jokes on us?

This year’s E3 conference presented by Bethesda was a real delight, which explains why people didn’t take an innocent video seriously. Among dozens of great announcements, the studio also presented a funny sketch that looked nothing more than a joke. Starring the comedian Keegan-Michael Key, the video showed how you could play Skyrim on Alexa by only using your voice.

The whole video looked like a parody, as it made fun both of Alexa and of Bethesda. It ended by announcing people that Skyrim would soon be available on their smart refrigerators so, naturally, people regarded it as a joke. However, the joke was on us, as we will really be able to play Skyrim on Alexa.

You will really get to play Skyrim on Alexa soon enough

This exclusive version is called Skyrim: Very Special Edition, and it’s coming to the most unexpected platform. The whole video and release show what a great sense of humor Bethesda has. Most probably, the entire business is a response of the studio to all the critiques on the Elder Scrolls series. As a result, Bethesda decided to surprise everyone and to bring Skyrim on Alexa.

Of course, there isn’t a big difference between Skyrim on Alexa and the game on any other console. You will be able to use weapons, but also magic spells to explore, help people, and fight dragons. Throughout the game, you can experiment with the exquisite voice control while opening doors to the unknown and fighting evil. Last but not least, you will experience one of the best RPGs on a unique console.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Games

The Latest Windows 10 Update Caused More Problems than It Fixed

May 29, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Blue screen displayed when Windows 10 runs into a problem

The latest Windows 10 update, as well as many other OS updates, are well-known for the bugs they bring

Some people are getting annoyed only by the thought of a system update on their computers. On the other hand, there are people who are excited about the new features and interface that might come with the update. However, the first category is more in the right to hate it, as the latest Windows 10 update brought dozens of problems with it.

The April Windows 10 update came with a huge number of problems

This year, the number of people excited about system updates has definitely decreased. April’s Windows 10 update came after us, and we didn’t even expect it. Everyone thought the update should fix some of the issues of the operating system but, instead, it brought even more.

Usually, updating to the latest version of a system is a good choice, but not all of them are stable enough for it. For the April Windows 10 update, the whole process was a risky one. However, the situation became even worse as Windows basically forced users to run this update.

If you were a Pro user, you could choose to delay the Windows 10 update for a period of 35 days. However, the situation isn’t as happy for the Home edition. If you want to use the latest Windows OS, you have no choice than bring about this faulty update.

All operating systems have bugs in their updates

However, we shouldn’t put all the blame on Windows. Basically, any kind of operating system brings bugs with every software update it runs. This is quite common for Apple, both for iOS and for MacOS. In terms of other mobile operating systems, Android is another good example. In the case of Linux, the situation is a bit better, but actually no OS is safe from bugs.

In this case, here is what you should do. Do not rush to run an update as soon as it’s out. The first versions might be really unstable and contain a huge number of bugs. Delay the updating process and give other people the chance to discover the bugs. This way, the company in question might release a second version of the update where they deal with the issues and fix them.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Rick and Morty Creator Reenacts Show Joke by Selling His Limited Edition Nintendo 3DS Consoles

May 25, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Rick and Morty sitting on a sofa

The Rick and Morty creator is reenacting the Nintendo 3DS scene in the show

All Rick and Morty fans will definitely remember the joke when Rick bought limited edition Nintendo 3DS and planned a scheme to get some extra money. The creator of the cartoons, Justin Roiland, is committed to the joke, and has now decided to start selling his own stock of 3DS consoles.

The Rick and Morty creator is committed to his jokes

When a show reaches that level of popularity, its jokes become a landmark. Therefore, it’s no wonder their creators are decided to turn these jokes into reality. Just like Rick, Justin Roiland really has a stack of Nintendo 3DS consoles that he is planning to sell.

The first item he’ll make available will be exclusive, as it also features Roiland’s signature and a drawing of Rick and Morty. The limited edition Nintendo 3DS is colored in gold, and it features a special theme – Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. It’s an XL model, and Roiland says he has purchased it from Walmart.

If this sounds appealing, you can find it on the Witschy website. However, you should get ready to spend $1,000 on it, as Roiland isn’t planning to decrease the price. The description of the limited edition Nintendo 3DS claims Roiland will also provide a certificate of authenticity. However, we’re not sure what to expect. The rest of the description sounds like this:

“(…) but who knows that dude is busy and certificate might just be drawn on a dominos napkin.”

Roiland bought the limited edition Nintendo 3DS consoles right before launching the show

However, there are other sources proving the console really belongs to the Rick and Morty creator. In a special interview, he explains how the entire scene in the show is based on his life. Roiland claims he bought all the limited edition Nintendo 3DS console with the intention of selling them.

Reportedly, there are 10 gaming systems that Roiland owns. He went and purchased them in 2013, soon after the console rolled out on the market. This happened shortly before the premiere of Rick and Morty, and about a year before the console joke made by Rick. Roiland didn’t reveal when the next console should be released, but we expect people to get excited about it.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Accessories

Disney Research Experiments with Stickman, a Really Flexible Acrobatic Robot

May 23, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Disney logo with the castle in the background

Stickman has only one limb, but it can perform some impressive acrobatic movements

Usually, when you think of innovative experiments and machines, you associate them with reputable universities and research centers. Interestingly enough, Disney Research is among them, even if you think of something else when you hear the name of the film studio. The latest device they have developed is Stickman, a robot made of a long individual limb that can perform various flexible movements.

Stickman is an incredibly flexible one-limb robot

Although it sounds a bit odd, Disney Research is actually well-known for a series of interesting experiments that do not cease to amaze. However, they aren’t only strange, as most of the time they are actually useful. This time, the scientific organization decided to surprise us with the flexible robot Stickman.

Researchers called Stickman a robot, but it’s far from being a humanoid-like figure. The whole formation is actually just one limb that is long and flexible. This shape allows it a certain freedom in movements, as it can be pretty acrobatic. Here’s how Stickman works.

The simple robot has two degrees of freedom and, on top of that, it uses a pendulum mechanism to move. To get propelled into movement, it first needs to swing on a rope. Afterwards, it can easily launch into the air and perform some acrobatics.

The robot also has some mechanisms that calculate its exact position

However, these movements are not just random aerial twirls. The entire Stickman mechanism is equipped with a special laser finder, as well some other complex axes of measurement. They can calculate the exact position of the robot while in air, and then adjust it accordingly.

Even if Stickman doesn’t have a human shape, it still imitates human movements. Researchers programmed its acrobatics based on the moves executed by human performers. However, at some point, the robot might get even better. Researchers are going to experiment with its flexibility and explore the possibility of more complex stunts.

They even wrote a paper on Stickman, called “Towards a Human Scale Acrobatic Robotic”, and is available on Disney Research’s website.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Robots

Google Abandons the Label that Signaled Secure HTTPS Websites

May 18, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

HTTPS domain typed in an address bar

The green label signaling HTTPS domains will soon be gone

For quite a long time, Google, together with other browsers, have been trying to promote HTTPS. They did it by displaying a special label in the address bar that regarded the website as secure. While this made about 82 percent of websites to use the more secure version, the platform has finally decided to ditch this label and replace it with something else.

Google abandoned the green secure label on HTTPS websites

Google has always been a fan of websites with HTTPS domains, as they perform a secure encrypting of the user data. To feel safe, the platform also displayed a secure label in the address bar, so it would be easier for you to identify the websites in question. This was also a way to discourage developers from using HTTP, and to convince people they aren’t such a good choice.

This strategy seems to have worked, as most websites have now adopted the HTTPS domain. As a result, Google has decided to no longer push that secure label and go for something subtler. This will happen with the update 69 for Google Chrome. Don’t worry, as HTTPS websites will remain secure, you’ll just no longer see the label on display.

Non-secure websites will feature a red warning label

This secure label was also accompanied by a lock logo. For the moment, the lock will stay there, as Google still wanted to signal HTTPS sites in a way. However, there are still domains that still use the old school HTTP. In this case, Google abandoned all subtlety.

These domains will be accompanied by a red label that reads “not secure”. In front of the words, you’ll also see an exclamation point, so that everyone should know your data might be leaked any time. This is an important step in the fight between HTTP and HTTPS, and the balance inclines to the latter. However, there are still unsecure websites around, so the battle isn’t won yet.

Image source: Wikipedia

Filed Under: Google

Your Smart Assistant Can Take Silent Commands Inaudible to Your Ear

May 11, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

The mute button of an Amazon Echo dot device

Smart assistants might be able to take silent commands we cannot hear

A recent research has revealed a serious breach in the security of smart assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, or Amazon Alexa. It turns out these devices can take silent commands their owners might not even know of. This raises a series of concerns on the security of the sensitive data these assistants have access to.

Smart speakers can hear silent commands that we can’t hear

Researchers decided to test the security features of different smart assistants. This way, they found out the devices can perceive a series of silent commands that we are incapable of detecting. Of course, these results are extremely worrying for our privacy.

One first research was performed by some student scientists from UC Berkeley and Georgetown University. They could cover these silent commands with white noise and thus communicate with the smart assistants. These commands had them enter websites and switch to airplane mode.

How can white noise cover a spoken command?

White noise is a combination of all sounds our ears can perceive. Therefore, it can prevent us from hearing any other noise incorporated in it. By playing this to the speakers, they can hear the silent commands while we can’t. However, the next step of the research was even more worrying.

The same young researchers performed a new study that showed they could camouflage the silent commands into other audio files. This raises even bigger security concerns. It means that, while you’re listening to a song or a podcast, your smart assistant might be told to make purchases or change security settings.

So far, there’s no evidence that smart assistants have received silent commands outside of a laboratory. However, it’s still possible to do it. There’s only one step left until someone takes over your smart speaker and makes it perform malicious activities. These studies should highlight the need for an improved security system on these devices.

Image source: Pixabay

Filed Under: Accessories

Soon After the Facebook Scandal, Cambridge Analytica Is Going Bankrupt

May 3, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Cambridge Analytica logo on a computer screen

After losing many clients, Cambridge Analytica will go bankrupt in the US

The recent privacy scandal involving Facebook and a political research company has been everywhere around the internet. While it had a big impact on the image of Facebook, Cambridge Analytica suffered even more. The company has just announced it’s going bankrupt in the US and will be closing all its operations in the country.

Cambridge Analytica played a huge role in the Facebook scandal

Cambridge Analytica is a company from London, United Kingdom that does research for political purposes. It became well-known around the world in 2016, when President Trump and his campaign hired the company to collect data on voters. At the beginning of March, it got involved in a heated scandal together with Facebook.

It turns out Cambridge Analytica had been collecting private data on a huge number of Facebook users. Afterwards, they used this data to target ads and other marketing techniques, as well as for other political reasons. What is most worrying here is the fact that users were not aware the company could access their data.

The company will file for bankruptcy in the US

Soon after the scandal, the company said the treatment it had received was highly unfounded. It claimed all the activities it performed were legal, as they are a big part of advertising of any kind. However, Cambridge Analytica still had to deal with the resulting legal issues. If this wasn’t enough, they also lost a huge number of clients soon after the incident.

The company decided to run its own investigations to see what had actually happened. Even if the results didn’t fully blame the officials, it still decided to suspend its CEO. This happened after Alexander Nix claimed to have influenced the outcome of several elections in the world. The practices used were not ethical at all, so Cambridge Analytica did not want to be associated with such people.

The company had to go through a lot in a short period of time, and this greatly affected its activity. As a result, it announced it would file for bankruptcy in the US shortly after stopping all the other operations and activities in the country.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: News

Facebook Is Testing a Downvote Button in Australia and New Zealand

April 29, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Person showing a thumbs down sign next to the Facebook logo

The downvote button wants to help people find the best comments

Facebook has decided to follow the example of Reddit and has introduced a new button. This button might echo users’ request for a dislike button, but Facebook claims it’s actually meant to be something else. The novelty is a downvote button, whose purpose is to signal unpleasant comments and bring up those that people find useful. This new feature is currently undergoing testing in some regions of New Zealand and Australia.

The downvote button should flag unpleasant comments

For quite a long time, Facebook users have been asking for a dislike button to show their disapproval of certain situations. The platform refused to introduce such a button because of possible controversies it might cause. Now, it decided to test a new button that resembles what users have been wanting.

The new feature will keep the Like and Reply buttons that accompany comments. However, it has introduced two more options that will help people flag content they don’t like. To the left of the already existent buttons, you have two arrows. These arrows are an upvote and a downvote button.

Facebook claims the downvote button is not meant to be a dislike one. Instead of offending people, it should highlight those comments that are degrading or not useful. Until now, you could make a comment rank higher by liking and replying to it. Now, it can get upvotes as well, while the bad ones will get downvotes.

This is an attempt to improve the image of the platform

At the moment, Facebook is testing the new features only in Australia and New Zealand. The platform might roll them out in other countries as well, but this will happen gradually. Therefore, we cannot tell when the downvote button will be available for us.

Facebook took inspiration from Reddit when introducing the new features. However, unlike Reddit, Facebook has a different thing in mind with the downvote button. The social media giant has been through some tough moments that seriously affected its image, and now is doing everything to improve it.

Image source: Flickr

Filed Under: Apps/Softwares

Weird Gmail Spam Took Over Inboxes by Showing People Messages Apparently Sent by Themselves

April 23, 2018 By David Crozier Leave a Comment

Spam attention signs of different sizes

The Gmail spam made it look like the receivers had sent the messages themselves

Many Gmail users have noticed a high amount of spam in their Inbox lately. While this sounds a bit odd, what is even stranger is the fact that this spam actually came from the users themselves. This happened even to those secure accounts that were hard to breach, so this weird Gmail spam took everyone by surprise.

Weird Gmail spam coming to double-encrypted accounts

Usually, Gmail users do not receive spam too often. This happens mostly because Google has a great mechanism of filtering spam from important messages. Therefore, it came as extremely odd for them to receive this weird Gmail spam. After they took a second look at the messages, they noticed they were even weirder than that.

The Gmail spam somehow managed to get through all of Google’s security measures, and looked as if the person who sent it was also the user himself. This became quite a common situation among Gmail users, who started complaining on forums about the odd spam.

Most of these messages have weight loss or supplements as topics. They appear directly in the Inbox and, in the sender field, there is the user’s profile photo and the word ‘Me’. Some people were curious enough to open this Gmail spam, and discovered the sender was actually someone else. However, their own email address was still written there.

The spam didn’t actually come from a security breach

Even if these users changed their password, the Gmail spam returned. This also revealed the accounts didn’t actually have a security issue. The login reports looked fine, so there was no one who interfered with their accounts. This means the spam must have come from a third-party source that somehow breached Google’s spam filters.

Google commented on the issue and said only a small number of users were vulnerable to this Gmail spam. After reviewing the problem, the company discovered no further security complications with the accounts. Even so, they took the necessary measures to stop the spam, and hoped users will no longer experience such trouble.

Image source: Max Pixel

Filed Under: Google

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 78
  • Next Page »

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 5 other subscribers

Recent Articles

GitHub stickers displaying a cat-octopus with a human face

Microsoft Acquires GitHub for $7.5 Billion’s Worth of Shares

By Leave a Comment

Teenage girl browsing her smartphone while sitting at the table

Facebook Is No Longer the Top Social Media Platform Among Teenagers

By Leave a Comment

Fake news headline on a laptop screen

Facebook Is Taking Its Fight Against Misinformation to a Whole New Level

By Leave a Comment

Unsolved Rubik cube on a black background

An Australian Professional Speedcuber Broke His Own Record at Solving a Rubik Cube

By Leave a Comment

Cambridge Analytica logo on a computer screen

Soon After the Facebook Scandal, Cambridge Analytica Is Going Bankrupt

By Leave a Comment

Windows restore disk placed in a paper envelope for CDs

Renowned E-Waste Recycler Goes to Jail for Distributing Free Windows Restore Disks

By Leave a Comment

nasa globe and emblem outside a building

NASA Announces its Investments in Future Tech Concepts Such as Biobots and Shapeshifters

By Leave a Comment

YouTube app opened in browser with the logo on top of it

YouTube Increases the Number of Ads to Trick Users into Subscribing to Its Paid Streaming Platform

By Leave a Comment

Facebook dislike button

Facebook Stock Falling for Second Straight Day amid Data Scandal

By Leave a Comment

Permanently Delete Facebook

WhatsApp Founder to Facebook Users: ‘Delete Facebook’

By Leave a Comment

Uber driverless car

Uber Driverless Car Kills Woman in Arizona

By Leave a Comment

Windows 10 Update reaches 35%

Microsoft: Windows 10 Updates To Take No Longer than 30 Min

By Leave a Comment

The Apple Watch

Apple Watch User Awakened by 3 Cops In His Bedroom after Accidental Call

By Leave a Comment

Pokemon Go Character

Pokemon Go Player Attacks Other Player IRL for Losing Gym

By Leave a Comment

Pages

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Team

Recent Posts

  • Samsung Tablet 10.1 Review: Perfect for Your Entertainment Needs
  • Take Better Pictures Today With These 9 Helpful IPhone Camera Settings
  • The 6 Best Gaming Desks to Give You a Great View
  • How Much RAM Do I Need for Gaming? Here’s the Sweet Spot for Optimal Performance
  • Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 11s Review: A Teaser
  • Basic Computer Skills – 6 Tips You Need to Know!
  • Why is my Laptop Fan so Loud? Six Possible Reasons for the Noisy Nuisance

Copyright © 2021 GadgetGestures.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.