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The inaugural SAScon event was held way back in April last year, and so it’s pretty exciting to know that this not-for-profit event is going to be coming around again for this year too. Better still, it’s going to be bigger and better than last year, with more time for networking and more time taking in the line-up of line-ups!
Key Facts for SAScon 2011Date: 19th & 20th May 2011
Venue: The Hive
SAScon tickets are available here!
Supported by SEMPO and Manchester Digital
It’s a not-for-profit event, by the industry for the industry!
And, if you want to get a sense of how 2010 ran, get the round-up here.
SAscon venue: The HiveI have to say, of all the venues I’ve been to for corporate events, The Hive must be amongst the coolest, uncorporatey I’ve been to. It oozes creativity, fun and is geared-up for tech-savvy geek-ups, and most importantly has plenty of caffeine on tap for those conference hangovers! Perfect!!!
Where is SAScon? You might be new to Manchester, or new to The Hive, but it’s really easy to get to. It’s in the heart of the Northern Quarter, so really close to tons of bars and Manchester Piccadilly – ultra handy for people flying or training in to Manchester.
The SpeakersThe speakers last year were truly fantastic. I’ve already said how uber excellent I thought they are regarding their professional and presentational credentials, and this year we’re expecting to mine into their brilliance some more with an extended agenda over two days.
I was hoping to have a number of speakers to announce as part of this post, but there certainly will be a number announced over the next few days! So keep your eyes peeled for some major announcements! 😉
SAScon WorkshopsAs part of our promise to deliver true excellence, and profile some of the finest thinkers in the industry, we have created a day for people and companies to profile this thinking in the form of workshops. There’s much more to announce on this so keep your eyes peeled for more information!
SponsorshipThe headline sponsorship has gone already to Manual Link-builders, with Salford University taking a sponsorship package too. But knowing that this year is going to be bigger and better again, contact nicky [at] chúng tôi to learn more. Remember, all support you provide is supporting an industry event, and better yet, if last year’s attendee figures are anything to go by, you’ll be getting promotional visibility across 200 of the UK’s receptive search and social professionals. Food for thought anyway…
The economicsBeing in a recession and all, we are well aware that pennies may be short, and budgets even shorter, so you’ll be over the moon to know that 2 day tickets for SAScon come in at a credit and cornflake crunching £375 for early bird rates!
AND, there’s also a 10% discount available to all readers! Just quote this discount code when booking: SASBM01
Any more questions?You're reading Sascon 2011 Is Quickly Approaching – Start Getting Excited!
Is Chatgpt Getting “Dumber”? Usage Drops As Users Complain
ChatGPT, the viral conversational AI chatbot created by OpenAI, appears to be losing some of its initial luster and appeal.
After rocketing to immense popularity following its launch late last year, recent data indicates usage and interest in ChatGPT may be declining.
Some longtime users have complained on social media and developer forums that the AI seems to be producing lower-quality responses than just a few weeks ago.
They describe the bot as “lazier,” “dumber,” and prone to more mistakes or nonsensical answers. However, OpenAI denies intentionally downgrading ChatGPT, tweeting that “we make each new version smarter.”
The company speculates users encountering more flaws reflects increased usage uncovering limitations.
From Accurate and Expensive to Fast and ErroneousOpenAI’s GPT-4 AI model gained fame earlier in the year for its remarkable abilities, though it was slower and more expensive than other models.
It could comprehend images and text, making it the most capable AI system at the time.
There is speculation that instead of developing one massive GPT-4 model, OpenAI is creating multiple smaller GPT-4 models focusing on a specific topic.
This approach, called a Mixture of Experts (MOE), would reduce the system’s computational costs while providing capabilities similar to a single gigantic model.
By splitting GPT-4 into specialized smaller models focusing on narrow tasks, OpenAI could benefit from a large language model without as much expense.
OpenAI’s ResponseAfter people complained about GPT-4, Peter Welinder, who is in charge of products at OpenAI, defended the model on Twitter.
He said that users might think GPT-4 is worse than before because they’re using it more and seeing problems they hadn’t noticed previously.
He insists that each new release of the GPT-4 model is more intelligent than the previous version.
Despite widespread speculation about GPT-4’s architecture, OpenAI hasn’t announced any significant changes.
Declining User BaseData from the internet analytics company Similarweb shows that global website visits dropped nearly 10% in June compared to May.
The decline in usage hints that the initial enthusiasm for AI chatbots might wane as their limitations become more apparent.
Other factors like the conclusion of the academic year and concerns about regulation could play a role in the lowered usage.
People are concerned that chatbots like ChatGPT might create false or incorrect information, while companies are worried that confidential business information could be leaked if entered into the chatbot.
In SummaryChatGPT’s declining user base and perceived worsening performance suggest the viral chatbot may struggle to sustain its initial momentum.
Still, ChatGPT represents a significant leap in natural language processing – even if its abilities fell short of some peoples’ imagined potential.
In the future, developers must balance managing expectations while striving for the next evolution in AI chatbots.
Featured Image: Vitor Miranda/Shutterstock
3 Reasons To Get Excited About This Year’s Iphone
It’s October 4th, 2011, and Apple is hosting its highly anticipated iPhone event. SVP of Marketing Phil Schiller is on stage, and after about 5 minutes of discussing changes to the iPod line, he utters the words that everyone has been waiting to hear: “Next, iPhone.”
A sense of disappointment spread throughout the tech world as Schiller went on to unveil a familiar-looking iPhone 4S. Where was this teardrop-shaped iPhone 5 that we had been hearing so much about? With the bigger screen, and LTE? What about all of those leaked cases?
Of course, the 4S would go on to be a huge hit for Apple. But the whole experience has left a lot of consumers with low expectations for this year’s iPhone release. Well it’s time to raise them. There are actually a few reasons why you should be excited about Apple’s next handset…
PatternSo why does Apple do this? It could be related to carrier contracts. The average cell phone customer can get a subsidized handset every two years, so it could be that Apple has made this its timeline for major iPhone updates. Ie: it’s easier to buy a handset on a two-year contract if you’re not worried about it being completely obsolete in 12 months. Also, the decision could have something to do with Moore’s law, which says that the number of transistors on integrated circuits doubles every two years. How can Apple dramatically update the iPhone every year, if the technology inside is only updated every two?
Regardless of the reasoning behind it, the pattern is evident. And if Apple continues that pattern with this year’s release, the next iPhone should be a major update.
EvidenceOther than a number of third-party cases, we really didn’t see a whole lot of physical evidence last year supporting the ‘iPhone 5’ theory. There were no radically different-looking leaked components, or display panels. Nothing. In fact, most of the parts we did see looked a lot like iPhone 4 parts. Go figure.
This year, however, that’s just not the case. We’ve actually seen a ton of evidence suggesting that the next iPhone will look different than the current model, from 4-inch display panels to engineering samples and schematics. And let’s not forget those two-tone back panels that keep popping up.
All of these components come from different sources, but all of them point to a similar design — an iPhone with a part-glass, part-aluminum back panel and a larger 4-inch display. Keep in mind, these are all likely prototype parts. But it’s still evidence that Apple is working on a new design for its next smartphone. Which, once again, suggests that this year’s iPhone will be a significant update.
PressureTo say that Apple is under a lot of pressure to deliver a hit smartphone this year is a massive understatement. This will be the company’s first handset since Steve Jobs passed. And even though it’s believed that he played a large part in its development, his absence will be on everyone’s minds. Can Apple deliver a hit product without its beloved visionary?
Also keep in mind that Apple sold 37 million handsets during the quarter following the iPhone 4S release last year. So to top that, which it’s expected to do, Apple has to sell in upwards of 40 million phones during the 2012 holiday season. That means that it has to essentially convince 40 million people that its new iPhone is better than the competitions’ handsets, which, by the way, are looking better than ever.
Samsung unveiled its latest flagship handset, the Galaxy S III, back in May of this year. And it’s already believed to have sold over 10 million of them. Factor in the new Android 4.1 JellyBean update, which has been getting rave reviews, and the expected onslaught of new Windows Phone 8 hardware this fall, and you can see that Apple needs to come up big with its next iPhone to maintain marketshare.
ConclusionAll of these things combine for a pretty good argument on why we should expect a major update to Apple’s smartphone line this year. The pattern is there. The evidence is there. And the pressure?
The iPhone is Apple’s baby. It’s the company’s best-selling product, with the highest profit margins. And even though it’s sold extremely well in the past, as Nokia and RIM have proven, that can change in an instant. With the competition hotter this year than ever before, Apple doesn’t just want its next iPhone to be a hit, it needs it to be. What Tim Cook’s team unveils this October will set the tone for the rest of the CEO’s tenure, and the company’s immediate future.
Oh yeah, I’d say the pressure’s definitely there.
Getting Ready For The Mars Migration
The Mars Desert Research Station, located in the Utah desert near the town of Hanksville, is a simulated Mars habitat that serves as a testbed for field operations studies in preparation for future human missions to Mars.
Volunteer crews live at the station, testing habitat design features and technologies. From December 27 to January 2, six college students served as the MDRS crew, as participants in NASA’s Spaceward Bound program.
Spaceward Bound is an educational program whose goal is to train the next generation of space explorers by having students and teachers participate in the exploration of scientifically interesting but remote and extreme environments on Earth as analogs for human exploration of the Moon and Mars.
Laurie J. Schmidt visited the crew and got a taste of life inside the Hab: see the photos!
The Mars Desert Research Station
The Mars Desert Research Station, located in the Utah desert near the town of Hanksville, is a simulated Mars habitat that serves as a testbed for field operations studies in preparation for future human missions to Mars. During each field season, which typically runs from December to April, volunteer crews spend one to two weeks at the station testing things like habitat design features, technologies, and crew selection protocols.
Mars Analog
The desert region of southeast Utah is what is known in space exploration terms as a Mars “analog” — locations on Earth where environmental conditions and geologic features are thought to resemble those that may be encountered on Mars. In this image, the bentonite hills of the Morrison Formation display their colorful bands.
Tight Quarters
Each crew member has the “luxury” of having their own private sleeping area. If it looks claustrophobic — it is. But the first astronauts to Mars will need to live and work in very tight quarters. Each bunkroom includes a hard-surface sleeping area and a couple of shelves for personal belongings.
In the Hab
The habitat structure — or “Hab” — houses a lower level, which includes a work area and the air lock leading to the exit, and an upper level where crew members sleep, eat, socialize, and do computer-related tasks. Here, crew member Michael Borden, an optical sciences graduate student at the University of Arizona, ascends to level 2 from the ground floor.
The View Outside
Looking out the portal-style window on Level 2 of the Hab, it’s not hard to imagine that outside lies the desolate and lonely landscape and surface of the real Mars.
Extravehicular Activity
Getting Dressed
Crew members get suited up for the day’s EVA outing. Front to back: Raechel Harnoto, California Polytechnic State University; Clara McCrossin, Shepherd University; and Mary Beth Wilhelm, Cornell University.
Collecting Martian Soil
Crew members Raechel Harnoto, Clara McCrossin, and Mary Beth Wilhelm set out on an EVA on December 29. The day’s assignment? To collect soil samples in several sites adjacent to the Hab. While out on EVAs, the crew members are in constant communication with “HabCom” — monitored by fellow crew members inside the Hab.
Checking Coordinates
Crew members (left to right) Mary Beth Wilhelm, Clara McCrossin, and Raechel Harnoto check their GPS coordinates to be sure they’ve covered all the sites scheduled for geologic sample collection and radio to “HabCom” that they’re ready to return to Hab.
Lab Work
Crew member Josh Nelson, an aerospace engineering student at the University of Arizona, prepares a sterilized tray for a biology experiment inside the Hab.
Dinner Duty
On dinner duty, crew members Raechel Harnoto (left) and Clara McCrossin prepare a dinner of pasta and garlic bread for the other crew members. One of the finer amenities of Hab is its bread-making machine, which supplies the crew with homemade bread during their stay.
Musk Observatory
As daylight gives way to dusk in the Utah desert, the crew can look forward to some astronomy and star-gazing at Musk Observatory, seen here to the left of the main Hab structure.
Getting Current Time From Ntp Servers
Getting current time from NTP Servers
In IoT devices, the timestamp becomes an important attribute of the packet exchanged between the device and the server. Therefore, it is necessary to have the correct time on your device at all times. One way is to use an RTC (Real Time Clock) interfaced with your ESP32. You can even use ESP32’s internal RTC. Once given a reference time, it can correctly output future timestamps. But how will you get the reference time? One way is to hardcode the current time while programming the ESP32. But that is not a neat method. Secondly, the RTC is prone to drift and it is a good idea to keep providing it with reference timestamps regularly. In this chapter, we will see how to get the current time from NTP Servers, feed it to ESP32’s internal RTC once, and print future timestamps.
A brief about NTPNTP stands for Network Time Protocol. It is a protocol for clock synchronization between computer systems. In layperson terms, there is a server sitting somewhere which maintains time accurately. Whenever a client requests the current time from the NTP server, it sends back time accurate up to 100s of milliseconds. You can read more about NTP here. For ESP32, there is an in−built time library that handles all the communication with the NTP servers. Let’s explore the use of that library in the code walkthrough below.
Code WalkthroughWe begin with the inclusion of the WiFi and the time libraries.
#include "time.h"The daylightOffset_sec is relevant for countries that have daylight savings. It can simply be set to 0 in other countries.
const char* ssid = "YOUR_SSID"; const char* password = "YOUR_PASS"; const char* ntpServer = "pool.ntp.org"; const long gmtOffset_sec = 3600; const int daylightOffset_sec = 3600;Next, you can see a function printLocalTime(). It simply fetches the local time from the internal RTC and prints it to serial.
void printLocalTime() { struct tm timeinfo; if(!getLocalTime(&timeinfo)){ Serial.println("Failed to obtain time"); return; } Serial.println(&timeinfo, "%A, %B %d %Y %H:%M:%S"); }You might be having three questions here −
Where is the struct tm defined?
Where is the getLocalTime() function defined?
What are the %A, %B, etc. formatters?
The struct tm is defined in the time.h file that we have included at the top. In fact, the time library is not an ESP32 specific library. It is an AVR library that is compatible to ESP32. You can find the source code at here. If you look at the time.h file, you will see the struct tm.
struct tm { int8_t tm_sec; /**< seconds after the minute - [ 0 to 59 ] */ int8_t tm_min; /**< minutes after the hour - [ 0 to 59 ] */ int8_t tm_hour; /**< hours since midnight - [ 0 to 23 ] */ int8_t tm_mday; /**< day of the month - [ 1 to 31 ] */ int8_t tm_wday; /**< days since Sunday - [ 0 to 6 ] */ int8_t tm_mon; /**< months since January - [ 0 to 11 ] */ int16_t tm_year; /**< years since 1900 */ int16_t tm_yday; /**< days since January 1 - [ 0 to 365 ] */ int16_t tm_isdst; /**< Daylight Saving Time flag */ };Now, the getLocalTime function is ESP32 specific. It is defined in the esp32−hal−time.c file. It is a part of the Arduino core for ESP32 and doesn’t need a separate include in Arduino. You can see the source code here.
Now, the meaning of the formatters is given below −
/* %a Abbreviated weekday name %A Full weekday name %b Abbreviated month name %B Full month name %c Date and time representation for your locale %d Day of month as a decimal number (01−31) %H Hour in 24-hour format (00−23) %I Hour in 12-hour format (01−12) %j Day of year as decimal number (001−366) %m Month as decimal number (01−12) %M Minute as decimal number (00−59) %p Current locale's A.M./P.M. indicator for 12−hour clock %S Second as decimal number (00−59) %U Week of year as decimal number, Sunday as first day of week (00−51) %w Weekday as decimal number (0−6; Sunday is 0) %W Week of year as decimal number, Monday as first day of week (00−51) %x Date representation for current locale %X Time representation for current locale %y Year without century, as decimal number (00−99) %Y Year with century, as decimal number %z %Z Time-zone name or abbreviation, (no characters if time zone is unknown) %% Percent sign You can include text literals (such as spaces and colons) to make a neater display or for padding between adjoining columns. You can suppress the display of leading zeroes by using the "#" character (%#d, %#H, %#I, %#j, %#m, %#M, %#S, %#U, %#w, %#W, %#y, %#Y) */Thus, with our formatting scheme of %A, %B %d %Y %H:%M:%S, we can expect the output to be similar to the following: Sunday, November 15 2023 14:51:30.
Now, coming to the setup and the loop. In the setup, we initialize Serial, connect to the internet using our WiFi, and configure the internal RTC of ESP32 using the configTime() function. As you can see, that function takes in three arguments, the gmtOffset, the daylightOffset and the ntpServer. It will fetch the time from ntpServer in UTC, apply the gmtOffset and the daylightOffset locally, and return the output time. This function, like getLocalTime, is defined in the esp32-hal-time.c file. As you can see from the file, TCP/IP protocol is used for fetching time from the NTP server.
Once we’ve obtained the time from the NTP server and fed it to the internal RTC of the ESP32, we no longer need WiFi. Thus, We disconnect the WiFi and keep printing time in the loop every second. You can see on the serial monitor that the time gets incremented by one second in every print. This is because the internal RTC of ESP32 maintains the time once it got the reference.
void setup() { Serial.begin(115200); Serial.printf("Connecting to %s ", ssid); WiFi.begin(ssid, password); while (WiFi.status() != WL_CONNECTED) { delay(500); Serial.print("."); } Serial.println(" CONNECTED"); configTime(gmtOffset_sec, daylightOffset_sec, ntpServer); printLocalTime(); WiFi.disconnect(true); WiFi.mode(WIFI_OFF); } void loop() { delay(1000); printLocalTime(); }The Serial Monitor output will look like −
That’s it. You’ve learned how to get the correct time from the NTP servers and configure your ESP32’s internal RTC. Now, in whatever packets you send to the server, you can add the timestamp.
References
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Samsung 9 Series Notebook Announced At Ces 2011
2011 International CES
Samsung unveiled a brand new, super-thin notebook at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show. Calling the 9 Series, the new device is being marketed as a durable, “ultra premium” and lightweight device. It’s a remarkably thin device, that Samsung says is actually thinner than Apple’s MacBook Air. Featuring a 13.3-inch display, the 9 Series is certainly one of the most attractive notebooks out there.
Samsung claims that the new 9 Series weighs less than 3 pounds, and it measures in at only 0.64-inches. It’s also constructed from Duralumin. The 13.3-inch display is LED-backlit, with a contrast ratio of 100,000:1 and a resolution of 1366 x 768. Inside, you’ll find an Intel Core i5 processor, second-generation, clocked at 1.40GHz. Microsoft’s Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit is installed.
There’s 4GB of DDR3 memory, and integrated 802.11b/g/n WiFi. For the graphics, Intel’s HD GT2 Integrated Graphics will be used. It will launch in February, 2011, and cost around $1,599
Press Release
LAS VEGAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Samsung Electronics America Inc., a subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Corporation, today announced the 9 Series, a durable, ultra premium, lightweight laptop computer at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The 13.3-inch 9 Series offers mobile professionals and power users a sophisticated laptop equally suited for work and entertainment. Thanks to a stunning design, Samsung’s hallmark SuperBright Plus display and Intel performance processing power, the notebook ushers in a new era in mobile computing. The 9 Series will be available on display at Central Hall booth #12006, January 6-9, 2011.
“Weighing less than 3 lbs., Samsung has designed the 9 Series to stand out, completely reimagining the notion of the traditional laptop”
“Weighing less than 3 lbs., Samsung has designed the 9 Series to stand out, completely reimagining the notion of the traditional laptop,” said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC marketing at Samsung Enterprise Business Division. “When designing a premium laptop like the 9 Series, Samsung wanted to offer an unforgettable experience without limitations. The 9 Series laptop successfully combines elegant styling, performance and ease of use in an ultra thin and lightweight package.”
Unparalleled Styling
The 9 Series’ naturally flowing design takes cues from the sleek styling and sophisticated beauty of a premium sports car. The silhouette evokes thoughts of speed and performance with an ultra-thin 0.64 inch profile. Additionally, the naturally flowing arch maximizes the laptop’s ergonomic appeal, making it easier to use and a natural fit for the human grip.
Ultra Vivid Display
The 13.3-inch 9 Series features a LED-backlit screen, offering users the highest quality visual experience expected from Samsung, thanks to SuperBright Plus display with 400- nit brightness. Digital images and multimedia are brought to life on the 9 Series, assisted by a 100,000:1 contrast ratio and true-to-life color reproduction (16 million colors), enriching the computing experience for end users.
Additionally, the wide 160-degree viewing angle allows users to appreciate breathtaking screen images from a variety of vantages points, making the 9 Series easy to use whether in a user’s lap, on a desk or shared in a communal space. The laptop’s ambient light sensor adjusts the display brightness based on surrounding lighting conditions and reduces user eye strain. This innovative feature is complemented by an automatically adjusting backlit keyboard that adapts to darker light conditions with greater illumination.
Innovation Inside
The 9 Series integrates the second generation Intel® CoreTM i5 processor, affording users the latest in performance computer technology. Intel HD graphics, combined with the new processor, deliver crystal-clear visuals, vibrant colors and smooth high-definition (HD) video and audio playback.
Ensuring users are ready anytime anywhere, the 9 Series makes use of Samsung’s new power-efficient lithium polymer batteries, and achieves up to 6.5 hours of battery life on average. Lithium polymer batteries extend the life of the product with double the lifespan for up to three years or 1,000 charging cycles. Additionally, various charging settings, like a “Battery Life Extender Mode” and “Express Charging Mode” empower users with options to get the most from their experience.
Signature Samsung Technology
Samsung’s Support Center ensures all content stays safe and can help troubleshoot any particular problem. Accessible with a keyboard shortcut, the Support Center helps users manage their system settings or arrange for a tech-support web chat. Samsung’s Back-up & Recovery Solution also allows users to create and restore back-ups of system data on the device, or on a network or removable storage device.
Lastly, focusing on convenience and connectivity, the new 9 Series boasts USB 3.0, Bluetooth 3.0, built-in WiMax1 and utilizes the latest in Wi-Fi and USB Sleep & Charge technologies.
Key Specs:
CPU: Second Generation Intel® CoreTM i5 Processor 2537M (1.40 GHz, 3MB; turbo up to 2.3 GHz)
Operating System: Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64 bit) / Windows® 7 Professional (64 bit)
Memory: 4GB DDR3
Storage (max): 128GB Solid State Drive (SSD)
Screen: 13.3-inch HD LED-backlit SuperBright Plus display (400 nit)
Resolution: 1366×768
Graphics: Intel HD GT2 Integrated Graphics
Speakers: 3 watt (1.5W x 2) stereo speakers and 1.5 watt sub-woofer
Battery: Lithium Polymer; up to 6.5 hours
Wireless: 802.11b/g/n; WiMaxi
Weight: 2.89 lbs.
About Samsung Electronics America Enterprise Business Division
Based in Ridgefield Park, N.J., Samsung’s Enterprise Business Division (EBD) is a division of Samsung Electronics America (SEA), a U.S. subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Company, Ltd. (SEC), the world’s largest technology company based on revenue. As one of the fastest growing IT companies in the world, Samsung EBD is committed to serving the needs of consumers ranging from the home user to the Fortune 500 elite and supporting the valued channel partners who serve our customers. Samsung EBD offers a complete line of award-winning color and mono-laser printing solutions, desktop monitors, laptop computers, digital signage solutions and projectors. For more information, please visit chúng tôi or call 1-800-SAMSUNG.
About Samsung Electronics America, Inc.
Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ, Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (SEA), a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., markets a broad range of award-winning, digital consumer electronics and home appliance products, including HDTVs, home theater systems, MP3 players, digital imaging products, refrigerators and washing machines. A recognized innovation leader in consumer electronics design and technology, Samsung is the HDTV market leader in the U.S. Please visit chúng tôi for more information.
About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
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