Computing as we know it is changing, quicker than you think! Plus maintenance tips for your computer
Forget VR & AR, How About Mixed Reality? Introducing the Microsoft Hololens
Microsoft HoloLens is the first self-contained, holographic computer, enabling you to engage with your digital content and interact with holograms in the world around you. The official retail HoloLens has not been released, but Microsoft has released the Development and Commercial editions to the public (Click Here for the website). Mixed reality encompasses a wide range of experiences that previously were considered to be only augmented reality or only virtual reality. In mixed reality, people, places, and objects from your physical and virtual worlds merge together in a blended environment that becomes your canvas. Feeling present in your environment is a key aspect of mixed reality, enabling you to move naturally, interact, and explore in three dimensions.
Holograms are responsive to you and the world around you. Microsoft HoloLens enables you to interact with content and information in the most natural ways possible.
Built-in sensors let you use your gaze to move the cursor so you can select holograms. Turn your head and the cursor will follow. Use simple gestures to open apps, select and size items, and drag and drop holograms in your world. Use voice commands to navigate, select, open, command, and control your apps.
Transform the ways you communicate, create, collaborate, and explore. Your ideas are closer to becoming real when you can create and work with holograms in relation to the world around you.
Check out the preview video here:
HP's "The Machine" Redesigning the Concept Behind Computing
HP has been undertaking the single most determined and ambitious architectural redesign of a computer server’s architecture in recent history called The Machine. Unlike a traditional server, The Machine is a memory-driven computer in which a universal pool of non-volatile memory is accessed by large numbers of specialized cores. It uses advanced photonics (the transmission of information via light) to help processors more quickly access data from memory chips. The main benefit is hoped to be a quantum leap in computer performance and energy efficiency, providing the ability to extend computation into new workloads as well as speed analytics and high performance computing. For more info watch the video here:
3 Tips to Keeping a Happy Healthy Computer
Use an antivirus: Unfortunately, the internet is still a bit like the Wild West, and the dangers of viruses have grown over the years. Whether you're on a Windows or an Apple machine, these days it's a good idea to have an antivirus. It used to be that viruses generally infected Windows machines, but now-a-days, viruses have crossed over and are also infecting Apple computers, although not as much as Windows machines. We recommend using several antiviruses at the moment for Windows machines. Our favorite since 2014 has been Bit Defender Antivirus Plus when it took over as the #1 antivirus on the market. For Apple machines, we currently recommend only one program and it's free, Avast for Mac. If you think you have a virus already, try running a program like Malwarebytes (Windows Version / Apple Version). It can often clean the issue right up.
Run your updates regularly: While upgrades can cripple your machine, such as the release of the upgrade of Windows 10 on many PC computers, updates are definitely something you want to run on a regular basis. We recommend keeping automatic updates on with your Windows or Apple computer. Updates protect your system from malicious software and hackers. They also resolve general operating systems issues and bugs, and improve your computers functionality. It's generally a good idea to defer upgrades until they have been tested out by the general public and the operating system provider has had time to fix any issues that come up after the release.
Clean out your machine: We recommend using canned air or an anti-static electronics vacuum (sold at most computer stores) to get the dirt and dust out of the inside of your machine every 6-12 months. Make sure to also clean the exterior peripherals, (like the keyboard and monitor). You can gently use a microfiber cloth to clean your monitor. If its really mucked up, try some of this stuff: Woosh!
The Android that's ready to Replace your iPhone
Google has developed the Pixel, a phone with features that surpass the latest iPhone from Apple. The Pixel gets it's name from it's camera, it's 12.3 mega pixel camera is the most powerful camera that's ever been released in any smartphone. And every phone comes with unlimited storage for all your photos and videos with use of Google Photos. The case is similar to the iPhone, a seamless glass-aluminum body with a bio-metric fingerprint scanner similar to the iPhone. The Pixel's battery can be charged with it's fast charge technology, which can provide up to 7 hours of use in only 15 minutes of charging. And the battery life holds twice as long as the iPhone. For those of you looking for something out of the ordinary in a phone, try the Daydream VR system for the Pixel. Be immersed in a world of your choosing with the Daydream headset for your phone that comes with a wireless remote controller that allows you to interact with games and applications. Currently most providers don't carry the Pixel, Google has partnered with Verizon and also offers service through Google's own cellular service called Project Fi with plans starting st $20 per month.
