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UK moves up ban on Huawei 5G equipment from 2027 to September 2021

Jason England
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The UK government has moved up the time table on phasing Huawei equipment out of its 5G network. Originally, network providers had until 2027 to install any equipment that was bought from Huawei before the end of the year. However, that deadline has been pushed way up to September of 2021.

The push is in response to the government fearing network providers would stock up before the previous deadline to install at a later date. While providers will no longer be able to install new Huawei equipment after September 2021, maintaining previously installed equipment is still allowed.

Speaking on the matter, the Digital Secretary said he wants the “complete removal of high-risk vendors” from the UK’s 5G networks. He continued by saying, the law gives “new and unprecedented powers” which would allow the UK government to “identify and ban telecoms equipment which poses a threat to our national security.”

The Telecommunications Security Bill will mean big fines for network providers that do not remove Huawei equipment which could add up to over £100,000 per day.

Huawei refused to comment on the matter to the BBC, but in the past, spokesperson Edward Brewster was quoted saying it’s “bad news for anyone in the UK with a mobile phone” and “it threatens to move Britain into the digital slow lane.”

However, Mr. Dowden believes this will create more competition in the market saying, “our plans will spark a wave of innovation in the design of our future mobile networks.” Additionally, he believes the new strategy will “make sure we are never again dependent on a handful of telecoms vendors for the smooth and secure running of our networks.”

Microsoft is working on a way to run Android apps on Windows computers

Jason England
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Ever since Microsoft threw in the towel with Windows Phone, it has been busy trying to gain a foothold with Android. Over the years, we’ve seen the tech giant release apps for the platform, as well as purchasing some of the most popular Android apps such as Swiftkey.

More recently, we’ve seen Microsoft work on ways to integrate Android into Windows with its Your Phone app. By using the app on your computer and Android phone, it allows you to mirror what’s on the screen, make and receive calls, run apps, and transfer files.

Now, it seems Microsoft is ready to take it a step further by adding support for Android apps on your Windows PC with Project Latte. That doesn’t mean you’ll be able to fire up the Play Store on your Windows machine and install apps or grab APK files and run them on your computer.

Developers will have to do some work to make the apps compatible, but Microsoft is trying to make it as easy as possible by using an Android layer running over the top of the Windows Subsystem for Linux. In theory, this should make it easier for developers to add Windows support to their Android apps. Afterward, the app will need to be submitted to the Microsoft Store where you’ll be able to download and install it on your Windows PC.

Considering the apps will be running on hardware that hasn’t been certified by Google, there won’t be any support for apps that rely on Google Play Services. So don’t expect to run any Google apps, and developers will have to spend time removing any Google Play Service dependencies.

I’d caution you over getting too excited though. If you’ve ever used Android apps on a Chromebook before, then you know the experience is lacking. I’ve run into issues with apps refusing to work, crashes, and features that are downright broken. If Google can’t get Android apps to run properly on its own OS, then support on Windows could be even worse.

At this time, Project Latte is expected to launch in the fall of 2021. Of course, that’s just a projected date, and software development is rather infamous for its delays. However, that’s generally for the best, because it gives developers time to ensure the software works properly, or at the very least, squash some bugs before release.

iOS application development for businesses: A step towards the future

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Since the advent of the Internet, there have emerged explicit advancements in the technological arena. People all over the globe are developing a sort of dependency on various innovations in their daily lives. The mobile phone is one such creation. In conjunction with Internet resources, smartphones have become somewhat of an everyday necessity. In the current day and age, we use apps to shop, study, protect our homes and assets, and travel. This has brought about the necessity for businesses to embrace the mobile app trend to stay afloat in the industry.

Millions of people globally currently use iOS supported devices such as iPhones, iPads, and iPods. Users for its customer-oriented apps prefer the operating system model from Apple Inc. To take advantage of this market opportunity and consumer trend, you can consider developing an iOS app to reach the target audience within the iOS pool. However, before we delve into the fundamentals of iOS app development to boost your enterprise, let’s first understand what this operating system is and how you can utilize it to benefit your company.

So, What is iOS?

iOS is an operating system that was designed and developed by Apple Inc. It is the second most widely installed mobile operating system globally, falling slightly short of the Android OS. Application development based on iOS technology is utilized worldwide as a viable strategy to expand businesses and grow brands. More and more people are outsourcing solutions from custom app developers in Los Angeles to create apps made available to the public through the Apple App Store. But why is this? Read on to find out why.

iOS App Development

In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the prevalent use of iOS supported smartphones. Therefore, the value of mobile phone apps can no longer be overlooked.

The development of mobile apps on iOS is enabled by the iOS SDK (Software Development Kit), which comes in multiple types. Each offers different and unique capabilities, functionalities, and tools to make each one compatible with a specific hardware platform and operating system.

There exist two main categories in the iOS app development landscape. Differences arise in the basic concept of development and development tools.

Native iOS app development

Native iOS applications are written and run using development tools and programming languages like Xcode. Mac OS X is the only operating system that is supported to develop a native iOS app. Some development tools can be obtained free of charge; you may have to pay for others. They each come with step-by-step guidelines for developers that advise on the development process from coding to creating the storyboard and installing view and navigation controls to develop a native iOS application.

Hybrid iOS app development

Apps created under the umbrella of the hybrid iOS technology blend elements of native apps and various web applications like JavaScript and HTML. Hybrid application developers create apps by writing code in one programming language for use in multiple mobile platforms.

Hybrid vs. Native Apps: Which Is Better For Businesses?

Native apps provide exceptional performance, data protection and are easy to understand. A significant downside is that developers use a distributed codebase to write, which require frequent maintenance. In the long run, this consumes more time and funds.

On the other hand, hybrid apps are written on a single code. They are easier to maintain in the long run. The short development times enables one to create multiple apps within the same timeframe. Additionally, they guarantee consistency with the same user interface (UI) across platforms. However, hybrid apps have bounded efficiency and require a steady internet connection at all times.

Tip For Thought

Whether you opt for a native or hybrid app, ensure you choose the technology that best suits your business’s development goals. Always have your audience in mind. After all, they are the main reason behind the app’s development. A viable plan that lays out the whole iOS mobile app development process will help you create, validate, and launch your company’s app with success.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 may feature a voice unlock option using Bixby

Jason England
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If past Samsung launches are anything to go by, then we should be seeing the Galaxy S21 debut within the next few months. As the release date approaches, we are continuing to learn more and more about Samsung’s upcoming flagship. For example, last week we learned that the S21 Ultra will get support for the S Pen and the Note series may be discontinued.

Now, a new tidbit leaked out about Samsung adding a feature to unlock the phone using a Bixby biometric voice option. The news comes from SamMobile and it’s rather sparse on the details, except that it is expected to be included in Samsung’s latest version of One UI. For the uninitiated, One UI is the name of Samsung’s software skin over Android, and the Galaxy S21 is expected to launch with version 3.1.

That would make the Galaxy S21 the first phone to run One UI 3.1, and it also means that the voice unlock feature could later come to other Samsung phones after they receive the software update.

Samsung has toyed with utilizing this feature in the past with Bixby having options to wake up your device and take commands. There was even a way to set a voice password, however, both of these are no longer available in Bixby. Perhaps the feature was pulled over security concerns, if so, I hope Samsung has made some improvements.

There is a lot of questions surrounding the new Bixby biometric voice option. We still don’t know when it will launch, if other phones will get it, how secure it will be, if it will work with a face mask, and so on. However, we do know that it will be on the Galaxy S21 for starters and it’s possible it could trickle down to more devices with the One UI 3.1 update.

Android TV, Freeview Play and a happy you

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What TV program couldn’t you live without? Which show do you miss like an old friend when a series ends? Where is this visual delight broadcast? How do you view it?

According to the official body, the British Audience Research Board, and Thinkbox, during the week commencing 19th October 2020 the top 50 watched programs across every channel broadcasting on British TV were shown on the five main channels. This incorporated viewing on normal, smart TV’s like Android TV, smartphones, tablets and computers. The top 3 viewing figures were achieved by Strictly Come Dancing on BBC1, The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4 and Coronation Street on ITV.

So if you are currently paying a small fortune for a cable or satellite service, is it really necessary? You may find that subscription free set top boxes or an Android TV with Freeview Play built in offers a more economic solution. Most of us are watching the pennies so take a moment to review your TV and viewing needs.

Subscription free services like Freeview, Freesat and Youview mean no bills, no contracts, no fuss and no budgeting chores.

Freeview Play, for example, promises consumers that:

  • Freeview’s service delivers access to the channels on UK TV.
  • 95% of the country’s loved and most watched programs are on Freeview Play.
  • Enjoy radio stations and on demand services.
  • Subscription free, you can add top ups and streaming services easily if you wish.
  • You need an aerial and internet.
  • You make a one off payment for the set top box or your TV may have Freeview installed already.

Similarly, Youview has 70 plus channels available and you need an aerial rather than a satellite dish. Freesat’s set top box requires a satellite dish and offers subscription free access to over 200 digital TV and radio channels including 13 HD TV channels.

If you prefer a remote control rather than the newer innovation of voice control, then you can have one. Most models of smart TV’s that are compatible with Freeview and similar products are operated by either command route.

Scrolling down the BARB list through news programs, dramas, quiz shows and sports, it’s clear that although the audience has many choices, more than at any other time in history across a multitude of platforms, the people of the UK are still turning to old favorites. Think familiar, positive, comfy slippers viewing, an antidote to the chaos outside the front door.

A Freeview set top box is a fantastic way to customize and optimize your entertainment but there is a spectacular opportunity from November 2020 via Humax Direct which may make you think twice about your next step.

Meet the only Freeview Play Recorder currently on the market:

The Humax AURA UHD Freeview Play 4K Recorder boasts a legion of benefits, here are 15 of them:

  1. The Aura is easy to install and set up.
  2. It’s powered by Android TV from Google.
  3. Google is a respected, popular and enduring brand.
  4. Voice control through Google Assistant.
  5. Google Assistant, Google Play Store and Chromecast are built in.
  6. There is an Aura app.
  7. You have the capability to pause, record and rewind live TV.
  8. There are over 85 channels and 15 are HD quality.
  9. The ability to record 4 shows at the same time whilst watching a 5th.
  10. Storage capacity for 1000 hours of recorded content with the 2 Terabyte model. 500 hours memory with the 1TB version.
  11. Use the helpful 7 Day TV guide.
  12. Set up recordings and reminders.
  13. Find excellent streaming and gaming content quickly with simple navigation tools.
  14. Discover favourite apps in one convenient place.
  15. Feel reassured by the 2 year warranty.

Smart TV’s, including Android TV’s, were originally called Connected TV’s because they operate through your ethernet or wi-fi connection in the home. A standard old style TV cannot be compared favorably to any smart TV. The hardware, software and operating systems available with smart options are beyond the reach of what was available ten years ago. Smart TV is intelligent, it learns your viewing habits and preferences, it makes recommendations and customizes your entertainment experience.

Britbox, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime, Disney +, Youtube, HBO Max and Netflix are among the range of streaming services supported by smart Android TV.  You’ll never run out of options because Google Play Store features over 5000 apps.

If you already own a smartphone, an android tablet or other smart technology around your home then Android TV with Freeview Play is perfect for you. Embrace affordable smarter TV today.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

5 popular apps like Instagram for Android users

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Social media needs to introduction to anyone who actively uses the internet. More than 4.5 billion people in the world use the internet. Nearly 4 billion of those users are active on a social media platform. There are many social media platforms that are available today. One of the most popular out of those is Instagram.

Instagram was founded in 2010 and over a billion social media users are active on it. One of the biggest reasons behind its popularity is it being a visual content-based platform. Users share their lives through photos and videos and follow their favourite people too. Instagram is surely a great app but not the only one. Here are 5 more apps like Instagram that you should be using.

Facebook

While Instagram has a good number of users it is still considerably low in comparison to Facebook. With over 2.5 billion users, Facebook is the biggest social media network today. In fact, Instagram is now owned by Facebook. As a result, they share some common aspects like the stories. The major difference between the two is that Facebook allows text-only posts. Despite that, you can choose to follow pages and accounts that share visual content which makes it a great alternative to IG. Facebook has recently incorporated the ” Going Live ” feature on the platform and we might see more Insta-like features in the future. Facebook’s Groups and Messenger are two key elements that you do not find on Instagram on top of that. Facebook has two apps for itself and the messenger along with two Lite versions of both.

Reddit

Reddit was founded in 2005 and today it has over 430 million users. Dubbed as the front page of the internet, Reddit is one of the most unique social media networks. Reddit can be described as a social aggregator. Everything meaningful that happens online or offline can be found on it. Reddit has countless small communities where its users are divided. They are called subreddits that are created for specific genres, niches, and topics. It ranges from memes to politics to conspiracy theories and whatnot. The content can be in form of texts, videos, gifs, anything. If you want to learn new things or just want to pass some time, Reddit can do them both.

Pinterest

Pinterest was launched in 2009 and has over 400 million active users today. It is a perfect alternative to Instagram and similar to that in many aspects. Being famous on these social media platforms is a dream of everyone and the rivalry between Pinterest vs Instagram for being the best app for being famous is still a hot topic. Pinterest exceeds in this as, first of all, it is completely based on visual content like photos, videos, and gifs. You can also follow people to see what they post or like on Pinterest. The posts on here are called Pins. A collection of pins is called a “board” that you can choose to follow. The posts from the user and boards you follow will appear on your Pinterest homepage. It is used by not only users for finding recipes, designs & other ideas, but by brands for marketing as well.

Tumblr

Tumblr is enjoying 13 years of a good fan following, having been founded in 2007. Today it has over 475 million users and the number is only getting bigger. Tumblr is like a fusion between social media and blogging. Like Facebook and Instagram posts, you get to publish blogs here on Tumblr. It is a visual-heavy platform that allows photos, videos, and gifs but you can also make text posts on it. It is the prime favorite of bloggers as well as the young demographic of under 25 years. Tumblr is known for its mature & progressive style and content. It is often considered to be a calm and positive environment unlike most of the other platforms.

TikTok

Despite being centred around by many controversies, TikTok is the fastest rising social media platform today. It was originally released in 2016 and within 4 years it had managed to create monthly traffic of over 500 million users. If you like the idea of being insta-famous, TikTok is the best and probably an easier way of getting viral online. Many users worldwide have successfully done so. It has been a Cinderella-esque story for many who have gone from being nothing to having a fan-following of millions. The content of TikTok is pretty similar to that of Instagram as well. You can not post images but videos of under a minute of length. If you use IG for entertainment, then too TikTok is the perfect alternative app.

The world has not yet settled around the debate of the pros and cons of social media. While it has certainly made networking easier, the cases of its misuse have been increasing as well. Whichever platform you use, what’s important is to use it for good. Everything you do and say on the internet can be traced back to you. With that being said, these were the 5 apps that you would love if you like Instagram.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

Lanmodo Vast Pro Night Vision Dashcam review

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What if a dashcam could not only record what is happening in front of or behind (with an optional rear view camera) your vehicle in real-time but also help you spot trouble down the road further than your eyes could see? That’s the claim the Lanmodo Vast Pro Night Vision Dashcam makes.

According to its crowdfunding/sales page, the Vast Pro camera allows drivers to see over 3x further than the vehicle’s high beam headlights alone. Add to that 24-hour vehicle monitoring similar to Tesla’s Sentry Mode and it appears to be a no-brainer deal for the current asking price of $229 (front view camera package). Let’s dig in to see if this camera lives up to its own hype.

Build

The Lanmodo Vast Pro features an 8” IPS wide 1920×1080 display screen which dominates the front of the device. Because it is not a touchscreen display, physical buttons are placed along the top of the Vast Pro. From left to right those buttons are: power (tap to for display, hold 3 seconds to power unit off), Signal switch (front or rear camera), scroll up, scroll down, and “OK.”

A micro-SD slot sits along the left bottom edge of the device. Also along the bottom edge is a pigtail wire for connecting to a 12V power source and rearview camera.

The rear houses a Sony CMOS type 5MP sensor behind a positionable 7-layer glass lens.

Tapping the “scroll up” button along the top brings up the on-screen menu.

Menu Settings are: (Defaults are bold)

  • Video Recording (On, Off)
  • Audio Recording (On, Off)
  • Recording Time (1, 3, 5 min)
  • Brightness (Low, Med, High)
  • G-Sensor Sensitivity (Low, Med, High)
  • Installation (On Dashboard, On Windshield)
  • System Time (Select to change date and time)
  • Video Playback (Select to play back or protect recorded video)
  • Language Settings (English default)
  • Format Memory Card (Select to format)

Because the Vast Pro is not a touchscreen device, I really wished that button function would be displayed on-screen under its respective location when the menu is called up. Otherwise it is a guessing game to feel out the button location and hope that you are selecting the intended one. For a device that is supposed to aid in night time vision, I would say this is an oversight.

Installation

The Vast Pro comes with two different mount types. One for attaching to your windshield and the other is a stationary mount with “Nano Glue” to mount directly to your dash.

I chose the dash mount primarily due to my OCD realizing that the windshield mount would position the “Lanmodo” branding along the bottom edge of the device upside-down.

Installing the base was simple using the supplied screwdriver to remove a screw from the Vast Pro, attach base, and then putting the mounting screw back in place.

Once the chosen base is secured, the next decision is whether to connect to power using either the included cigarette lighter plug or OBD adapter cable. I chose the ODB cable for 24 hour recording as well as keeping my cigarette plug free for phone charging. It would have been nice if the cigarette lighter plug offered at least one USB charging port.

Upon removing the protective plastic from the bottom of the base, the Nano Glue holds the device securely in place. The camera lens allows for minimal adjustments to the recording angle. It takes a little bit of force to move and once in positioned, it doesn’t seem as it will go out of adjustment easily.

There was more than enough cable length to route from the middle of my dashboard to the OBD port. My only gripes with the installation are 1) the base does not allow for any adjustment of the display unit. Unless your dashboard is completely level, there will be a slight lean to your unit. Remember my OCD? 2) Cable guides weren’t included to hold the cable in place across my dashboard for a cleaner look. 3) The microSD port is positioned in a location that pretty much requires removing the Vast Pro from your dash in order to install or remove.

Performance

Upon starting my car, the Vast Pro powered on and displayed a warning that the card was not compatible and needed to be formatted. Since I was using a brand new Sandisk card provided with my test unit, I was surprised that it wasn’t properly formatted out-of-the-box. That said, I simply confirmed formatting and the card worked as expected within the unit itself.

My first test drive was about one hour after sunset. It was basically pitch black because the moon had not yet risen above the horizon. My first observation of the Vast Pro is that the display is quite large and depending on your vehicle, how it is positioned in your field of view or even your height may affect how much of your view of the road it consumes.

My next observation is that the display is extremely bright. Even at its lowest setting, it was quite distracting for night time driving. Perhaps this is something I could get used to? Another observation while driving is that approaching headlights tends to wash out the display.

If you’re planning on using this for dashcam functionality, you may not capture the video evidence you are looking for as it will be blown out by the light amplification. Finally, the specifications indicate a frame rate of 25FPS but I think the actual frame rate varies depending on the amount of light available. As the road ahead gets darker, the frame rate drops to allow for more light amplification.

Once I arrived at my unlit alley connecting the high school and middle school parking lots, I put the car in park and tested with normal headlights, high beam headlights and no headlights.

As you can see in the photos, the Vast Pro does exactly as it claims and it honestly does it quite well. I tried navigating the alley without headlights and using the Vast Pro as my guide. Admittedly, I haven’t spent much time with it so I wasn’t very successful; I drove only about 100 yards and found myself fully in the left lane of a 2-way street upon turning my headlights back on.

While the playback of video seems to work fine on the Vast Pro itself, it is very cumbersome to sort through 28 hours of footage broken into 3 minute segments based on timestamps alone.

Unfortunately, files need to be copied from the included SD card to my computer in order to play because the data transfer rate is not sufficient to play directly from the card itself. Copying 128GB of data took over an hour. On top of that, my Windows 10 PC determines that the disk needs repaired every time I plugged the card in.

The repair appears to splice footage from one day to the next day. You’ll notice in the sample videos that about 23 seconds is appended to the three minute video segment.

Conclusion

The Lanmodo Vast Pro delivers on its promise to enhance nighttime visibility. While parked, I can definitely see much clearer detail and colors than  without using the Vast Pro. Lanmodo claims 300m or 984ft versus the 80m you’d get with high beam headlights. I didn’t measure the exact distance but based on my limited experience, I’d buy it plus or minus 50m.

The real question is whether or not it’s worth the current Indiegogo backing price of $229 US. The rearview camera is available separately for $49 or as part of a package for $258 saving you $20. You’ll want to add a 128GB microSD card (max capacity supported) if you don’t have one readily available. You can purchase that as an add-on along with a USB card reader for $19.

Sample Videos (Hosted on Google Drive)

If you travel frequently on poorly or unlit roads, I can see where the Vast Pro could aid in spotting obstacles in the road sooner than relying on your headlights and vision alone. Fall season in Ohio typically means deer are actively rutting and as a result drivers need to be on alert for deer crossing over roadways.  Having a few hundred extra feet of visibility may save an insurance claim as well as an animal’s life. That alone may be worth the asking price.

It would be nice to see Lanmodo improve upon this system with some artificial intelligence for object recognition and provide audible or visual notifications when it spots objects on the roadway. This would allow the driver to focus on the road in front of them but know to slow down and view the Vast Pro when there may be something to steer around further up the road.

Availability

You can learn more about the Lanmodo Vast Pro at the manufacturer’s website as well as the Indiegogo crowdfunding page.

Things to do near me – Paranoia Quest

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If you want the amazing entertainment, then it’s worth considering the services from Paranoia Quest. Are you looking for Things to do near me? If yes, it’s worth considering the services from Paranoia Quest. For ensuring the guest’s safety, they are taking the right measures. Besides, you can get effective ways for privately booking. Numerous plans are available for Christmas as well. You can get the new holiday Quest with success rates and starting at nominal rates per person.

Having the best experience:

If you are in Atlanta looking for the right to vacation party while also entertaining the friends of the family, it is worth considering the services from the escape room Atlanta. You can get the guaranteed great time with the memorable escape room experience. The escape rooms work as a combination of puzzle rooms that come with time escape. Usually, players do it in the group that makes it a challenging but fun time. If you are in love with solving puzzles while finding the different paths, then it’s worth considering these services. You can split into small groups while taking the mission and choose whatever you want. The mystery room games are very adventurous where you can choose the path. Discover the secret while also making out the themed areas in the large escape rooms.

Things you can do in escape rooms:

Indeed, the escape room is well designed for escaping from your daily routine. You won’t be feeling bored because there is a chance for playing the role of a character whatever you choose. Even if you become the small superhero, you can fight with the bad guys and Save the World. So, the dreamy atmosphere will give you plenty of thrills.

There are lots of games that will work as a good puzzle and will show you who your real partner is. It will become the right place for testing natural abilities while also utilizing your brain to find your way. You can show the excellent sharp observations and clever abilities that you hold. The best thing about the escape rooms is that there is no such problem of one size fits all. You can get different themes of objectives and goals. While you are playing the games, you’ll also get the availability of the party packages for different age groups that will be an inviting ambience. So, you can build exercise for corporate events as well. The escape rooms become the fit one for you to prepare a team and then start finding out your ways independently. Besides, certain puzzles will have the objective of finding out your sequence. So, you can get the medium difficulty and challenges based escape rooms as well. You can get the range of experience when you are playing in this escape rooms. You will be also getting the small rooms with the favorable zones that are designed to be challenging. Solving these puzzles becomes easier.

Adventure escape room

This is the Indiana Jones-style escape room that is very adventurous with the archaeological dig and covering of the Ancient secret.

Occult mystery escapes room

This is the mysterious occult-themed escape room that plays the role of a witch hunter. You can discover closed in the world where nothing seems to be that easy.

Detective

If you are in love of solving mysteries, then this is the one that will be giving you the instinct of figuring out the puzzle before the time runs out.

Secret science

It will give you the feeling of the strange experiment going wrong. You have to find out scientist and government who are trying to hide in the realities and so the harrowing escape room in Atlanta proves to be fantastic.

Military themed

This is the point where you can explore the bunker with the military theme. The unique escape room has the special agent that uncovers the truth regarding the Rogue operation when the base is abandoned.

Room for kids

You can get special rooms for the ones who are young at heart. The escape rooms designed for kids are good enough for the summer break or holidays. You can also celebrate birthday parties while enjoying the day having a blast.

Enjoy the ride:

So, give up further thoughts and be ready to enjoy the escape room experience. When you take it from paranoia Quest, the high-end escape rooms come with the variety of Breakout rooms that are good for both large and small levels of difficulty. No matter whether you are looking for scary adventurous mysterious or just fun type entertainment, you can get these escape rooms fit for you.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

CAT S42 smartphone review

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When I think of CAT or Caterpillar products an Android smartphone is definitely not the first, or even tenth, thing I think of. Bulldozers, earth movers, back hoes, and even work boots — never a phone. Alas, it does offer multiple phones, all of which are rugged and look right at home on a job site.

Its latest, the S42, is branded and sold exclusively by CAT, but the phone is actually manufactured by Bullitt Group. The same company that brought you the Land Rover phone, which you probably never heard of either.

The CAT name itself implies TOUGH; perhaps even indestructible. After all, their heavy equipment painted in school bus yellow can be found in or near every construction zone I’ve ever encountered. Does their entry-level S42 live up to the company’s reputation? I spent a few days with the S42 as my everyday phone and I have a few thoughts.

Build

Retailing at $299, the CAT S42 unlocked phone is a bargain compared to flagship phones. Even mid-level phones start in the $400-$500 range anymore. I fully expect corners to be cut in order to come in at this price point; let’s see if the right ones were made.

The S42 advertises MIL-SPEC 810H as well as IP68 rating. I wasn’t familiar with the MIL-SPEC 810H rating so I had to do some research. According to Wikipedia, the MIL-SPEC 810H is a military rating system that rates equipment on its function across environmental factors. There are standardized tests for this when it comes to construction equipment but not when it comes to consumer electronics. CAT details how they tested the phone on their website including drop tests and waterproofing.

The body of the phone is entirely plastic other than the 5.5” (1440×720) HD Gorilla Glass 5 screen. Overall, the phone measures 6.35 x 3.04 x 0.5in and weighs 7.76 ounces. Pretty thick by today’s phone standards. Keep in mind though that this phone is literally built inside a ruggedized case so you don’t have to bother with wrapping this in any additional protection. That can be good or bad depending on whether or not you like the looks out-of-the-box. I’m guessing the target market is the same men and women who drive CAT heavy equipment and wear CAT steel-toed footwear.

The phone features volume up/down and power buttons along the right side. A customizable button (can be assigned as a Push-to-Talk button) sits just below a rubberized flap covering the dual-sim and micro-SD card tray along the left side.

The bottom of the phone features a single speaker and covered micro-USB charging port. The top of the phone is where you’ll find a relic from the distant past; a 3.5mm headphone jack. That too is covered with a rubberized flap.

Upon loading a SIM card, you’ll receive a pop-up reminder to replace the port covers. I’m guessing that IP68 waterproof rating only applies when all port covers are in place. Not necessarily bad, but just more things to worry about if the S42 ever does find itself in water. The Gorilla Glass 5 screen comes with a pre-installed glass screen protector.

The rest of the specs are as follows:

  • Mediatek Helio A20 MT Quad core
  • 32GB internal storage
  • 3GB RAM
  • All of the typical smartphone sensors/antennas (GPS, NFC, BT 5.0, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 & 5GHz) WiFi)
  • 13MP rear camera with flash
  • 5MP front camera
  • 4200 mAh Lithium Ion battery

Software

The CAT S42 ships with Android 10 in its pure form without any skins or overlays. It does come pre-loaded with CAT Toolbox software as well as the typical Google Android portfolio of apps (YT Music, YouTube, Gmail, Chrome, etc.). I’m guessing if you are buying an Android phone, you expect that Google is going to load it up with their suite of mobile applications.

The phone also comes pre-loaded with Zello which allows for Push-to-Talk (PTT) functionality (sign-up and subscription required). I didn’t get a chance to test this out because honestly, I don’t know anyone who would prefer a walkie talkie like communication experience.

I haven’t used that feature since I owned a Nextel phone in the early 2000’s. I’m guessing industries served by PTT capabilities already have some sort of enterprise account for their end users. I assume that the PTT button can be programed to take advantage of any number of personal or enterprise PTT applications/services.

There are a handful of other pre-installed apps that the user may appreciate or at least appreciate that they are easily uninstalled.

Performance

Admittedly, I am an iPhone user. My current everyday phone is the iPhone 11. Unfortunately, the performance of the CAT S42 will be judged with a level of unconscious bias.

Let’s start first with battery life. The CAT S42 kicks my iPhone’s butt in this department. I’m reaching for my charger typically after 13-14 hours of usage. I don’t consider myself a heavy user but I do use my iPhone for work calls, social media apps, limited gaming (Words with Friends) and camera. The CAT S42 lasted ALL day! Not just all day, but about eight hours into the next day, even despite the fact that I used GPS for at least two hours, music, web browsing, social media and camera functions. I was seriously impressed.

The CAT website boasts two days of battery life and I think that a typical user, not trying to put a phone through its paces, would probably get near that. The phone also supports quick charging so I can’t imagine having dead battery anxiety with this one the way I occasionally do with my iPhone.

I have no experience with mobile CPUs other than Apple. All of my previous Android phones featured Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. I wasn’t sure how the Mediatek Helio A20 MT Quad core processor would perform compared to high-end chipsets.

Again, I was pleasantly surprised. The CAT S42 was responsive and I didn’t notice any lag in opening apps, web browsing, etc. The only issue I had was with the actual phone app when attempting to navigate an automated call system menu. The number pad locked up and I wasn’t able to select “1” to proceed in English. I rebooted the phone and no issues moving forward.

LTE connectivity was fast as expected. WiFi was speedy. Screen response was adequate. I don’t play games or watch movies which would require higher frame rates so I can’t say that it would be ideal for those purposes but I’m guessing the target market for this phone wouldn’t care either.

The only feature I find lacking on the CAT S42 phone is its camera. I didn’t attempt any videos but it is rated at 1080p at 30fps. Your next independent film isn’t going to be made on this phone. Outdoor photos are fine. You’ll be able to make out what you are shooting but the colors are flat and even with HDR, photos lack any discernible dynamic range. Indoor photos rely heavily on the LED flash and any motion whatsoever will produce blurry results.

Conclusion

I only spent a few days with the CAT S42 as my primary device and I’ll admit that I was not only pleasantly surprised if not impressed with it. The phone does many things well. Especially when you consider the retail price is only $299. Battery life is its strongest attribute along with its physical durability. I didn’t purposely drop the phone but the CAT website boasts it will survive a six-foot drop on steel. I didn’t test its waterproof rating either. The IP68 rating indicates it will survive prolonged submersion in water beyond one meter.

The only drawbacks or weaknesses in my opinion are its physical size and its camera capabilities. I can see myself occasionally grabbing the CAT S42 when I plan an activity that might damage a more expensive phone. It also might be a good device for a new parent who occasionally allows their toddler to watch videos or play games on their phone. One of my earliest smartphones was destroyed when it found its way into the mouth of my teething daughter.

AI Technology and Relationship: Is It Possible to Connect Them?

Scott Webster
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Picture this scenario; you’re out with friends at a diner, and everyone is glued to their smartphones. You should be angry, but the truth is, you’re just as glued to your phone screen as they are.

The world is advancing in technology every day. And every aspect of our lives is advancing with it. This includes our relationship life.

How will AI technology affect our relationships? And is it being possible to connect both sides?

One part we must discuss is virtual reality. Virtual dates are taking over the internet dating platform. They are even more effective than normal online dating. With virtual reality, you can go on dates, sightseeing, and chat with your partner wherever you want!

So, the answer is yes! We can connect both sides. With AI technology, you can be in an online relationship with someone on a different continent! In fact, with people spending more time online today than ever in the past, your online relationship will probably be richer than the average relationship.

Online Dating Is the Best Way to Find New Acquaintances

The internet is full of millions of people constantly surfing the web. Unlike in the day to day life where the chances of randomly bumping into someone we might date is next to none. The internet opens up a realm of possibilities for us to meet new people easily through a variety of methods.

Online dating is a safe way of meeting new people. You can be selective about what you want your partners to know. And before you agree to meet in person, you have ample time to get to know them and who they are.

Most people meet life-long acquaintances online – either through forums, dating sites, online chatrooms, or much more. With in-person relationships, it’s easy to be overcome by problems like long-distance or stress. But online relationships lack most of those problems.

For starters, it’s already a long-distance relationship form the start, but you spend so much time on your phone that you won’t even notice. Statistically speaking, most people spend up to half of their day on their computer or phone screen – either for work or personal reasons.

This makes the relationship easier to maintain.

Quick New Acquaintances Online Are Becoming More Popular Everywhere

Online dating has become one of the most popular ways for new couples to interact with each other. Studies show that social media and dating apps have become the central place for people to meet and get to know each other.

Everyone has switched to online dating. It’s very convenient and popular today. Many users of wildspank could prove it.

Social media, in particular, is particularly popular because it removes the tense, often drawn out courting period of in-person relationships. Online relationships are more informal and relaxed. Thus, more people prefer it.

Nowadays, you are more likely to meet someone online than through friends and family or on the streets. People also prefer online dating because it makes it easier to find people you connect with.

Especially now as we live in a post-covid world, online dating is the safe and more reasonable option.

Matching Algorithms of Online Dating Are Getting Better Every Day

Matching algorithms – especially for dating sites, and virtual reality sites are getting better every day. Most dating sites require users to take a small survey before completing their registration. This survey helps to be more accurate when placing matches.

Matches are placed based on sexual preference, age, location, body stature, and so on. Sometimes more uncommon filters exist like hair colour, eye colour, movie preference, or hobbies – to ensure that you find the perfect match for you. Some sites even go as far as pairing you up with various matches so that you can make your pick.

With chatbots, users can engage in simulated conversations with AI technology, which will, in turn, help them by providing their most suitable match based on the data collected. And this technology continues to grow better each day!

Chose A More Reliable and Familiar Person Online, and Not from the Street

We can’t stress this enough. The best place to meet new people and forge strong relationships is online.

When you’re in an online relationship, you have time to get to know each other. You can spend months talking, slowly revealing details of your life. Unlike in in-person meetings where you might feel pressured to start something serious after a few weeks when you’re online, you can take your time.

When you do decide to meet, it’s done on both your terms. At this point, you’re already familiar with this person.

This is much different than if you bump into someone on the street or meet them in a coffee shop. You know less about them, and the pressure to conform to normal relationship rules once again weighs down on you.

EDITOR NOTE: This is a promoted post and should not be viewed as an editorial endorsement.

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