Categories
Samsung

Reasons Why the Samsung Galaxy S8 May Be The Smartphone You’ll Want This Year

With the upcoming release of the Samsung Galaxy S8 and the advanced features of the phone, there is only one thing on people’s minds: is it worth it? There is a lot of discussions about which smartphone will steal the crown this year, and the Samsung Galaxy is one of the top contenders.

Before we delve into that, though, let us review the roster of phones that is going to be released this year like the Apple iPhone 8, Google Pixel 2, HTC 11, Nokia 8, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, and the Samsung Galaxy S8 & Galaxy Note 8. These phones promise an improved performance, much faster than their predecessors and longer battery life. And this time, people know what to look for because other than those improvements, they are also expecting better graphics and a more intuitive and sleek design.

Which brings us back to the Samsung Galaxy S8. The flagship smartphone is highly anticipated and it is coming out before the iPhone 8 at tech stores like Harvey Norman –  and everywhere else. So here we list down the features of the Samsung Galaxy S8 which you might want to consider when looking at your options this year.

Intelligent digital assistant

If the Apple iPhone has Siri, the Samsung Galaxy S8 will have Bixby. It is also an AI, a voice-powered digital assistant that is reportedly more powerful than Siri. It has three main parts: Bixby Voice, Bixby Vision, and Bixby Home. You can trigger Bixby by pressing on button or calling with the Bixby Voice. The Bixby Vision will allow Bixby to “see” what you can see through the built-in camera and can do tasks like identifying objects or scanning QR codes. Wih Bixby Home, you can get access to various information by swiping right from the home screen like fitness activity or the weather.

Wireless charging

Yes, no more dangling and tangling wires. This is probably one of the biggest innovations in any smartphone flagship. The slap on battery pack offered by Samsung would mean that charging our phones will not be as frustrating, what with all the ruckus about using the right wire and whatnot. At the same time, this is a feature that the Apple iPhone has not yet adapted. There are rumours though, that initially, wireless charging will be featured on the iPhone 8 but is now being scrapped. We will never know for sure until the unboxing event of Apple, but right now, it is looking like the Samsung flagship phone has improved on it.

Headphone jack

Apple may think that they are being revolutionary with their earpods, and it is true, it is innovative; however, it is posing to be more of a problem for users than a feature they want to be excited about. No one wants to lose their headphones, whether they are expensive or cheap, it is such a hassle. So not only is Samsung providing cool new headphones with its purchase of Harman last year, it is also a 3.5mm jack. You can keep your Beats or Bose, because the 3.5mm connector is here to stay, at least for the S8.

Snapdragon 835

The Snapdragon exclusivity of Samsung may bode well for the S8. This time, the Samsung will be released with a Snapdragon 835 and the Exynos 8895 variant. However, a lot of people are excited about the Snapdragon variants. It promises a faster mobile performance, alternate reality exploration, machine learning capabilities, battery efficiency, and more.

Are you pumped for the new Samsung Galaxy S8? Well, we are, too! And to think, these are just a couple of its features that are keeping everyone at the edge of their seats.

Categories
Auto

Tesla Model S: Is It Really The World's Quickest Car Ever?

Tesla was, is, and probably will continue to be a hot subject in the automotive universe. While it’s not the first electric car manufacturer out there, it’s certainly the most iconic one, largely due to its daring approach and numerous innovations it brought to the field. Tesla has revolutionized the world of electric vehicles already, and it has no intention of stopping anytime soon. However, while some of its achievements cannot be contested in any way,there are times when misleading facts and figures get thrown around by the media. Here’s the perfect example.

The plot

The Tesla Model S P100D was recently titled “the world’s quickest car ever” by several online new outlets and magazines.

The context

Claims about the Model S P100D being the fastest car ever starter appearing online after Motor Trend performed some tests using a Model S P100D following a software update the car received. While the update was supposed to cut down its acceleration time to roughly 2.5 seconds for 0 to 60 miles per hour, Motor Trend’s tests concluded a time of 2.28 seconds, which boosted the Tesla in the first position of the top, outclassing supercars such as Ferrari LaFerrari, Lamborghini Aventador and even the renowned Bugatti Veyron.

So, is the Tesla Model S P100D really the world’s quickest car ever? Let’s have a closer look.

“Quickest Car Ever” Explained

The terms “quickest car ever” are fairly vague, and consist of some variables. In the automotive industry, the quickness of a car is based on two main elements: acceleration and top speed.

Acceleration is usually measured by the time it takes the car to get to 60 miles per hour (100 km per hour) from a standstill. Some tests also include additional parameters, such as 0 to 120 miles per hour (200 km per hour), and 0 to top speed. The time is measured in seconds, and the lower it is, the faster the car is, and thus the higher spot it takes in comparison charts.

Top speed is another defining element of a car’s performance, and as it names suggests, it refers to the top speed the car is capable of reaching. Once again, the higher the figure, the better the car ranks.

Tesla’s Figures

Taking advantage of one key advantage electric motors have over conventional combustion engines – instant delivery of power, Tesla focused its advertising on the acceleration element. Tesla vehicles were never marketed as sports cars, despite their impressive performance, so their top speed was not a key selling point, but their acceleration was. The carefully calibrated motors that are driving the front and rear wheels of the car allow for the instant delivery of power to the wheels, so the car can accelerate really fast. Depending on the version, 0 to 60 mph acceleration can be achieved anywhere between an unimpressive 5.9 seconds, for the first versions, all the way up to 2.28 seconds for the latest version. An average acceleration within the 3 second ballpark is to be expected from most Model S Teslas.

The case in question, of the fastest Tesla, was achieved using the top-of-the-line Tesla P100D, a model that comes with 4 wheel drive and a 100 kWh battery, using the Ludicrous + mode. In case you’re not up to date with Tesla tech, the Ludicrous mode is a software option that improves acceleration times at the cost of reduced mileage. The Ludicrous + mode was an extreme version of the mode, available as a purchasable software upgrade.

Although the official numbers for the Ludicrous + are 0 to 60 in 2.5 seconds, putting Tesla a little behind supercars such as Ferraris and Lamborghinis, tests carried out by Motor Trend have shown a slightly different result – the Tesla Model S P100D set in Ludicrous + mode can hit 60 in less than 2.3 seconds. It only needs 2.28 seconds, to be precise, officially making Tesla the fastest accelerating production vehicle.

Verdict

So, if the Tesla Model S really the world’s quickest car ever? It all depends on where you’re looking from. In terms of pure acceleration, it is outclassed only by the Porsche 918 Spyder, which pumps out an impressive 2.2 seconds for 0 to 60 mph. In terms of top speed, the Model S is not even in the top 15.

However, the Tesla Model S does hold some impressive records. If we’re talking about production vehicles, it is the quickest car in the world, as the previously mentioned Porsche 918 Spyder was produced in a limited series.

So, to be factually correct, no, the Tesla Model S is not the world’s quickest car ever. It is the quickest accelerating production car in the world, which is just as impressive.

Categories
Gadgets

Innovative Technology – Are Lasers Really A Mosquito-Zapping Gizmo?

Laser technology has come a very long way. Many industries use it for various different purposes. From using lasers in medicine and printing all the way to killing mosquitoes, there’s no doubt that the technology has advanced tremendously. For many centuries we’ve dealt with the burden of catching mosquitoes using different devices. In underdeveloped countries, the issue still persists because mosquitoes are the cause to one of the world’s most t dangerous diseases: malaria.

Mosquito laser technology, or the “bug zapper”

A recent report issued in The Wall Street Journal, talks about a new project that involves using laser to kill mosquitoes of all sorts and kinds. Dubbed the “Weapon of Mosquito Destruction” (WMD), the project aims at making the technology go mainstream. This way, lasers can be used to eradicate mosquitoes and stop the spread of malaria. A venture company called Intellectual Ventures, sponsors the “photonic fence” project, and it strongly believe that it will succeed. Former CTO at Microsoft, and owner of Intellectual Ventures, Nathan Myhrvold, calls the laser system the “bug zapper”. Basically, the technology is based on locating mosquitoes, and then lasers are fired in their direction and “toasts” them.

The project’s research team is currently working on perfecting the technology. It still need proper target algorithm optimization so as to detect mosquitoes in time, before they can get contact with the human body. According to the developers, the goal is to use the laser system to set a perimeter defense, thus protecting everyone within that perimeter, and completely banishing mosquitoes from going in.

Why a mosquito-zapping gizmo might be better than malaria vaccination

The makers of the “bug zapper” emphasize that above everything else, they are hardcore inventors. They do it for fun, for profit, and for a need to make a different and help tackle a very specific issue. In this case, malaria, which is a very serious disease. With the “bug zapper”, they believe the number of deaths in underdeveloped African countries can be severely reduced. The bug zapper was made in a femtosecond laser lab. Basically, it creates very short light pulses (femtosecond pulses).

One of the core purposes of the bug zapper is to protect the clinics. Since many are packed with people already suffering from malaria, the laser technology can protect it by killing mosquitoes before they go in. The system can also be used for other purposes. Farmers can use it to protect their farms, and ordinary people can have it installed in their homes to protect their crops, backyards and loved ones.

Since the bug zapper is still a prototype, the makers argue that the technology used constantly changes. They want to perfect it and use nonlethal lasers to listen to a mosquito’s wing beat frequency. Then it measures the size of the bug and shots to kill.

Hunting mosquitoes with lasers – a brilliant piece of technology that might change the world

The beauty of IVL’s mosquito-zapping technology is the manufacturing costs involved. The makers claim that it’s very cheap, and yet so powerful. The fence-like laser system only makes use on non-lethal lasers that are completely harmless in humans. It is smart enough to monitor the type of bug entering the perimeter, and if the insect spot is not in the system, it is left alone.

Using the technology to control the mosquito population can mean a lot to the health industry. The spread of malaria is stopped, and if they manage to achieve their target, the laser system can be perfect for a wealth of other purposes. At this point, humanity faces many severe challenges – hunger, poverty, health, energy, and more. Laser technology can help tackle some of these concerns.

From laser engraving and etching to keep track of medical equipment to laser devices that perform more precise surgeries without putting the health of the patient in danger, there’s no doubt that the industry has advanced. Increasingly more companies are seeking a laser engraving service to ease production and craft better products. The future is bright for this sector, and if the bug zapper goes mainstream, other companies will probably expand on the idea, and use it to kill other harmful insects, not just malaria-causing mosquitoes.