Paul | Author at Gadget Gestures

Facebook Stock Falling for Second Straight Day amid Data Scandal

March 21, 2018 By Paul Leave a Comment

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In the midst of the data scandal, Facebook’s stock has fallen for second straight day, losing 5% in value on Tuesday. The loss marked the worst performance for the tech giant in the last four years.

The company lost $50 billion in market value this week alone, and its troubles are not over yet. Shareholders pushed back against Facebook over the media reports that the company handed over private data on tens of millions of U.S. Facebook users to Cambridge Analytica.

The firm, which had ties with the Trump campaign at the time, reportedly used the sensitive info on 50 million users to influence their voting decisions. Facebook’s stock market troubles negatively impacted the broader tech sector.

According to S&P 500, the tech sector shed 2% in value overnight. The worst hit was Twitter with a 9% loss, and Snapchat coming in second with a 4% loss.

Facebook’s Stock Could Slump Even Further

Facebook’s market value currently stands at $500 billion, which makes it one of America’s strongest companies. The loss caused by the data scandal is larger than some other major companies’ valuations, like eBay or Ford.

The U.S. Congress and British lawmakers are urging the company’s co-founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to testify about the data breach. Lawmakers want to learn more about the policies that protect users’ data and whether those policies have been broken.

Zuckerberg’s stake in the company is 400 million shares, which means that he lost $7 billion in less than a week. He still has $70 billion in company assets and has the majority when it comes to investor vote. So, he won’t be losing his job anytime soon.

Shareholders, however, are concerned about the negative press and the prospect of tighter regulations. So, many of them sold off their shares before things got even worse. Facebook’s main source of revenue is ads, so if users decide to quit the platform in droves, its business model could collapse.
Image Source: Maxpixel

WhatsApp Founder to Facebook Users: ‘Delete Facebook’

March 21, 2018 By Paul Leave a Comment

After a major data scandal, more and more Facebook users decide to leave the social media platform. Even WhatsApp founder Brian Acton thinks that leaving the social network and never looking back is a good idea.

On Wednesday morning, Acton tweeted “It is time #deletefacebook” in response to the many tweets abut Facebook’s mishandling of its user data. Acton didn’t elaborate, but we do know that he is a staunch advocate for encryption and privacy.

It is time. #deletefacebook

— Brian Acton (@brianacton) March 20, 2018

He led the team of engineers that created WhatsApp after all. In 2014, Facebook bought the messaging service for $19 billion. At the time, Acton kept his job and got $3 billion from the transaction.

After parting ways with WhatsApp, he became a member of the nonprofit Signal Foundation which is in charge of the app Signal’s encryption.

Deleting the Facebook App Could Be a Start

Acton is not the only former executive to slam Facebook, but he is one of the most important ones, which could make Facebook’s situation even worse. The company now faces the prospect of a congressional hearing, stock market plunge, and multiple investigations both in the U.S. and U.K. However, the last time we checked, Acton’s Facebook profile was still there.

Yet, many users are joining the #deletefacebook movement. While some of them cannot simply delete their account, they are deleting the Facebook app from their phones.

This way, they are less tempted to check the website compulsively to see if there is something new. Most of those who deleted just the app say that they are still checking the site on a daily basis to see their News Feed. However, the Facebook addiction is no longer that strong.

Most users check the platform several times a day which makes them hooked to it and their smartphones. Yet, many admit that, in very rare occasions, they see something that they are genuinely interested in in the News Feed. So, why not #deletefacebook?
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Uber Driverless Car Kills Woman in Arizona

March 20, 2018 By Paul Leave a Comment

On Monday morning, an Uber driverless car killed a female pedestrian in Tempe, Arizona. The accident occurred at Mill Avenue.

The police said the vehicle was driving at 40 mph when it struck Elaine Herzberg, 49, who was walking a bicycle at the time. The woman was trying to get across the street, and authorities don’t believe she was in the crosswalk.

She was immediately taken to a hospital, but she died from her wounds. Tempe police noted that the self-driving vehicle did not slow down before hitting the pedestrian. The car was in autonomous driving mode but it had a backup human driver.

It isn’t clear if driver Rafael Vasquez, 44, intervened to prevent the accident. Neither the driver or the victim were impaired at the time of the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board announced an investigation into the matter. Uber refused to comment on the crash but added that it would cooperate with local authorities.

Our hearts go out to the victim’s family,

a spokesperson for the taxi app firm said.

Driverless Car Kills Pedestrian in Nation’s First

It is the first time a driverless car strikes and kills a pedestrian, a scenario long dreaded by the driverless car industry. Uber is testing driverless cars in several U.S. cities including Pittsburgh and San Francisco. The company announced that it would put on hold all driverless operations during the investigation.

Phoenix and nearby municipalities have attracted many driverless car companies including Google’s Waymo and Uber.

Uber first started to test the vehicles in Arizona in February last year. In March 2017, one of its driverless cars crashed, but an investigation revealed that the car was not at fault.

It is the first time the autonomous technology leads to a fatality. Until now, the technology’s proponents argued that driverless cars could significantly reduce automobile deaths. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 37,000 Americans were killed in a car crash in 2016.
Image Source: Wikimedia

This Concept Phone from Vivo Is Inching Closer to the All-Screen Dream

February 26, 2018 By Paul Leave a Comment

On Monday, China-based smartphone maker Vivo unveiled a concept phone that boasts the highest screen-to-body ratio. The new handset dubbed Apex FullView sports three new technologies with the bezels being nearly non-existent.

First, Apex FullView’s bottom half of the display acts as a fingerprint scanner. It is worth noting that Vivo was the first tech company to design a phone with a fingerprint scanner under the screen. The new tech is called “Half-Screen In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology.”

Second, the handset’s screen acts as a speaker, a technology that is not new. Google-owned Redux unveiled a similar technology at last year’s edition of the Mobile World Congress (MWC). And the third piece of technology is a retractable selfie camera.

The three new features, all located on the front face of the smartphone, make the presence of a notch or other bezels unnecessary.

Vivo’s New Concept Phone a Preview to the All-Screen Dream Phone

The new phone, however, is not bezel-free. The bezels are still there but more subtly located. The top and sides bezels are just 1.8 mm, while the bottom one is 4.3mm. Vivo wants to shrink it to 1.8mm in future models. When that happens, 98% of the phone will be made of the screen. For now, FullView has the highest screen-to-body ratio on the market.

Vivo unveiled the smartphone at the Mobile World Congress 2018 (MWC). Since it is a concept phone, it won’t hit the stores in the near future. But it is a promise that an all-screen phone is in the making.

Vivo was the first smartphone maker to design a phone with an in-display fingerprint scanner – the Vivo X20 Plus UD. That phone was unveiled last month at CES 2018. A spokesperson for the company said that the new features in the Apex are just “a fraction” of the company’s innovation pipeline.
Image Source: Printscreen

Microsoft Reportedly Working on Speedier Windows 10 Updates

February 23, 2018 By Paul Leave a Comment

Since Microsoft has taken the Windows as a service (WaaS) approach when it comes to Windows 10, updates are more frequent. The company promised to come up with speedier Windows 10 updates because those updates take a lot of time and they impact Windows 10 users’ productivity.

The head of Windows Insider Dona Sarkar confirmed on Twitter that a team of developers are working on trimming upgrade timeframes. Sarkar reminded Windows users that the company managed to make updates more palatable in the past by reducing their download sizes by 35%.

Also, Microsoft is reportedly working on a new feature that will enable users to resume an update if their Internet connection was interrupted for some reason. Sarkar, though, couldn’t offer more details on the effort to boost update speeds. Any improvement in the area will likely be very appreciated by Windows 10 users.

Fall Creators Update on 85% of Windows 10 Machines

The hyped update for Windows 10 – the Fall Creators Update– has reportedly reached 85% of Windows 10 devices. The new version (1709) tries to fix the issues brought by past versions.

Microsoft is now rolling out these updates only to systems whose hardware is compatible with them. The update’s version 1703 reached just 75% of Windows machines. Version 1709 is now on 85% of machines, and we’re waiting for 1803, which will be released by mid-April.

According to a report, 0.5 percent of Windows 10 users are still using the original version (1507), while 1 percent are sticking with the operating system’s first update (1511). Windows warns that both these versions are not supported anymore, and that they have some vulnerabilities that need to be patched.

The report also shows that the popularity of Surface models is growing. Surface Pro for 2017 is gaining traction, with 13% of the Surface models. The Surface laptop, on the other hand, is lagging behind, with just 1.9% of Surface models.
Image Source: Windows Report

HMD Unveils the Second-Gen Nokia 6 in China

January 7, 2018 By Paul Leave a Comment

This week, HMD announced its plan to roll out the second generation of its tremendously popular Nokia 6 in China ahead of the Chinese New Year. The good news is that the updated model will be no longer a new-entry handset model.

Beside visual changes like added color on the chamfer, the new version of the Nokia 6 sports a Snapdragon 630 chipset just like the ASUS ZenFone 4 and the HTC U11 Life. The new chipset is much faster than the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 in the previous smartphone model. Pair that with enhanced computing power from the LPDDR4 RAM, 64 GB of storage, and Android 7.1.1 Nougat.

The company promised to update the handset to Android 8.0 Oreo soon. What’s more, the new phone swapped the micro-USB socket with the faster USB-C.

The new handset will also have a second microphone included for high definition audio recordings purposes. But that comes at a price: the phone had to say goodbye to its second speaker, which will likely make video streaming less enticing.

The new Nokia 6 hasn’t ditched the 3.5mm headphone jack yet, but offered an alternative – the Bluetooth 5.0 radio.

Other Specs

The other specs remain unchanged. The rear camera has 16-megapixel with dual LED and an in-built 1 um sensor. The selfie camera sports 8-megapixel and can capture panoramic images at an 84-degree-wide angle.

Nokia 8’s Dual-Sight mode will be available on the new Nokia 6 as well. The battery is 3,000 mAh battery, while the phone supports dual SIM technology, and the storage can be expanded via MicroSD. However, if you plan a storage expansion you’ll have to sacrifice the second SIM slot.

The new smartphone will retail for $260 or 1,699 yuan, just like the older version. There is even a cheaper model that only sports 32 GB of storage for $230 or 1,499 yuan.
Image Source: Flickr

Moto Z2 Play, Thinner but with Less Battery Life

May 7, 2017 By Paul Leave a Comment

Moto Z2 Play, Thinner but with Less Battery Life

The Moto Z lineup is anything but thick. Actually, Motorola’s first ever generation of modular smartphones are maybe the slimmest available on the market right now. Still, it seems like the company is still not happy and will reduce the thickness of the new Moto Z2 Play device. However, there is a price Motorola will pay and that is battery life. Its predecessor had a very praised 3510mAh battery. It seems like this one will only have about a 3000mAh battery. This will also reduce the running time of the device from 50 hours to only 30. The new Moto Z2 Play is powered by the Android 7.1.1 system.

Slimmer, but with a cost

The original Z Play model, which was actually the most affordable one out of the three available, was the thickest one of them. It was a little under 7 millimeters thick and weighted 165 grams. Reduced in weight and size, the new Z2 Play is getting closer to the original Moto Z device. That one was 5.19 millimeters thick.

It is worth noting that all the components of the new Moto Z2 Play are going to receive updates. From the chipset which will be a Snapdragon 626 this time, to the memory and storage departments. The new Moto Z2 Play will have a 4GB of RAM and 64GB storage capacity. The Super AMOLED display is one of the only things which will remain the same. It will stay at 5.5-inch diagonal with a 1080 x 1920 resolution. Maybe Motorola wants to make sure that all of their MotoMods will be compatible with all the devices form the Z series.

Motorola is back in business

As for the camera, the selfie one will remain the same at 5-megapixels. However, the company wants to reduce the main camera’s resolution while making its imaging quality better. So, the Z2 Play will have a 12-megapixel, f/1.7 component with dual autofocus pixels, instead of the previous 16-megapixel camera. It will come in two colors, Lunar Gray and Fine Gold. The Moto Z2 Play is the first of a series of smartphones from Motorola which will be released during this year. It remains to be seen how will the fans receive them.

Image source: gsmarena

New Emails Surface in Hillary Clinton Server Case

October 28, 2016 By Paul Leave a Comment

hillary clinton server case - new emails surface

FBI reopens investigation in Hillary Clinton server case after new “pertinent” material surfaces.

In an unexpected twist to the U.S. presidential campaign the FBI uncovered potentially significant material in the Hillary Clinton server case.

New emails sent through Hillary Clinton’s private server surfaced after the Federal Bureau of Investigation seized devices belonging to Huma Abedin and her husband, Anthony Weiner, in an unrelated case. The shocking revelation was announced through a letter sent to Congress members.

“In connection with an unrelated case, the FBI has learned of the existence of emails that appear to be pertinent to the investigation.”

The initial investigation into Hillary Clinton’s unauthorized use of a private email server concluded in July with a recommendation of no criminal charges against the Democratic presidential candidate. However, in light of recent events, the FBI has decided to take investigative steps to determine if the newly discovered emails contain any classified information.

“Although the FBI cannot yet assess whether or not this material may be significant and I cannot predict how long it will take to complete this additional work, I believe it is important to update your Committees about our efforts in light of my previous testimony” declared James Comey, FBI’s director, who previously criticized Hillary Clinton as being careless.

With less than 11 days before the US presidential election, the FBI’s decision to reopen the investigation shows how serios the discovery is. Several lawmakers questioned the timing of the letter, seeing as there is currently no evidence that Mrs Clinton or the State Department withheld information.

“Why would FBI reopen Hillary investigation unless there is evidence of more than extreme carelessness in handling classified information?” tweeted John Cornyn, second-ranking Republican in the Senate

A senior law enforcement official declared that Comey’s letter was sent out of extra caution. Although FBI’s director provided no details about the nature of the mails, the politically explosive development raises serious questions about the Democratic presidential candidate. The shocking revelation seems to have caught the Clinton campaign by surprise. Tim Kaine, Clinton’s VP running mate, said he has to “read a little more” about the situation before giving an official statement.

GOP nominee Donald J. Trump, realizing that the new development in the Hillary Clinton server case may represent a turning point in the race, was quick to add fuel to the fire. Despite the fact that he has repeatedly called the FBI corrupt and inept, during a campaign event in New Hampshire, he went on to praise the law enforcement agency.

“I have great respect for the fact that the FBI and the DOJ are now willing to right the horrible mistake that they made. This is a grave miscarriage of justice that the American people fully understand.” Donald J. Trump declared.

Comey, who is also a Republican, endured severe criticism in July after he decided not to charge Clinton. The language used by the FBI in the letter made it clear that agents will be going through the newly discovered emails to determine any intent to violate the law. Only time will tell how the Hillary Clinton server case will unfold.

Google Chrome Beta For Android Lets You Play YouTube In The Background

September 20, 2016 By Paul Leave a Comment

Google has numerous updates in this version of Google Chrome Beta, but the most useful and desired updates are the new tab page design and the background YouTube video playback.

The newest feature of the Google Chrome is that you can play You Tube videos in the background while using other applications. This new update was released a few days ago for Windows, Linux, and Mac. For Android users, this is the version 54 of the Google Chrome Beta.

Google has numerous updates in this version of Chrome Beta, but the most useful and desired updates are the new tab page design and the background YouTube video playback.

This means that soon Android users will be able to listen to YouTube while searching on the internet and switching applications. This was impossible until now because if you wanted to switch apps while listening to music on You Tube, the music stopped and so did the video.

This feature used to be a paid service called You Tube Red, and it allowed the user to play the music in the background and use other apps at the same time.

After this version of the Google Chrome is released the users won’t need to pay for the service, they will just get it for free once they update their Google application as well.

With this update once the users switch the application while playing a video in the background, they will get a notification with the pause and play controls for the audio. This is how the users will control the basic feature although they are using a totally different application at the same time.

Another interesting update made by Google is the redesigned tab page that now has several changes. This redesigned tab page unfolds a different menu for the Bookmarks and Recent Tabs. It also has a recommendation section. The interesting fact is that the recommendation section has different articles than Google Now recommends which means that they also draw data from a different source.

This improved Google Chrome Beta also has Tabs that can communicate with each other with JavaScript, but for security matter, they can only work with tabs that are from the same site.

The APK Download is another update made by Google. The APK updates the existing app and guarantees that the file is safe and can be installed without any problems and bugs.

What is your opinion about these new Google Chrome Beta updates?

Image Source: Wikipedia

Microsoft continues to attack Apple. What are they going to do?

August 30, 2016 By Paul Leave a Comment

Microsoft continues to attack Apple. What are they going to do?

There is no surprise that it has always been a competition between Apple and Microsoft. However, it seems that Microsoft continues to attack Apple. They said that the new MacBook Air is like a hat for your cat. Microsoft wanted to show, in their latest ad, that their Surface Pro 4 is better than Apple’s laptop and it has more features.
Even though they try to turn the whole ad in something funny, Microsoft is fighting against Mac computers. They presented features such as touchscreen, pen support and Windows Hello. Moreover, Microsoft said that MacBbook Air is slower and heavier. This is not the first time when they are using this tactic. Two years ago, they did the same thing for iPad and Siri.
It seems that they continue to attack Apple even though many people are expecting the new Surface Pro 5 in October. The Surface Pro 4 was launched in October last year,so it makes sense that new model will be released one year after. The school is coming and there will be a lot of students who want to buy new devices. Apple and Microsoft will do their best to get more customers and it seems that the fight has begun. The new Surface Pro should have better hardware and keyboard and also a new pen.
There are people who will always use Microsoft computers, while others love Apple. It will always be your choice which one you like more. Compared to a Windows computer, Mac is less vulnerable to viruses. This happens because they are a lot of people who use older versions of Windows. On the other hand, Apple’s laptops are more expensive and this does not mean that they are better.
If you want the best operating system, Mac seems to have a cleaner and faster system than Microsoft. However, you can choose from more software if you use a Windows computer.If you are gamers, you must have a Microsoft device. Most games are released on Windows and you will be able to play them on Apple’s computers. Every brand has its advantages and disadvantages.
What do you think? Will Microsoft manage to get more users than Apple? Are their computers better? We are waiting to see what Apple is going to do and if there will be any comment regarding this matter.

Image source: Wikipedia