Tech-News
Why Are We Asked to Put Our Phones on Airplane Mode During Flights?
Ever wondered why you're asked to put your phone on airplane mode during flights? It's a common request once the plane doors close and the flight attendants start their safety instructions. While it might be tough to disconnect, especially on longer flights, airplane mode is necessary. But what exactly is it, and why do airlines insist on it? Let's dive into the science behind this familiar practice and why it's still essential for your phone use during air travel.
What is Airplane Mode?
Airplane mode is a setting available on smartphones that disables all wireless communication features. When activated, it turns off the phone's ability to connect to cellular networks, Wi-Fi signals, and Bluetooth devices. This means that calls, text messages, and notifications will not be received or sent while airplane mode is active. The purpose of airplane mode is to prevent potential interference with aircraft communication systems during flight, making it a requirement for many airlines during the journey.
Why Must Passengers Put Their Phones on Airplane Mode During Flights?
Airplane mode is crucial during flights to prevent any potential interference with sensitive airplane systems. These systems, including communication and navigation systems, rely on radio frequencies emitted from the ground. However, cell phones and tablets also use these frequencies for various functions like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and data transmission. The problem arises when crosstalk or adjacent-channel interference occurs, where one radio receiver picks up transmissions from nearby frequencies, disrupting the intended signals. This interference can be compared to tuning into a radio station and hearing another station's transmission on a nearby frequency.
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Particularly during crucial moments like landing or emergencies, clear communication between the aircraft and ground control is vital. Airplane mode ensures that these communication lines remain open and interference-free. Additionally, with the advent of 5G technology, the risk of interference has increased, as signals from ground antennas and 5G devices might interfere with the airplane's radio altimeters, which gauge the distance from the ground during descent and landing. Therefore, using airplane mode helps ensure safe and uninterrupted communication during flights.
OpenAI, Intel CEOs cite artificial intelligence’s voracious appetite for processing powe
Two tech CEOs scrambling to produce more of the sophisticated chips needed for artificial intelligence met for a brainstorming session Wednesday while the booming market’s early leader reported another quarter of eye-popping growth.
The on-stage conversation between Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman unfolded in a San Jose, California, convention center a few hours after Nvidia disclosed its revenue for the November-January period nearly quadrupled from the previous year.
Intel, a Silicon Valley pioneer that has been struggling in recent years, laid out its plans for catching up to Nvidia during a daylong conference. Gelsinger kicked things off with a opening speech outlining how he envisions the feverish demand for AI-equipped chips revitalizing his company in a surge he dubbed the “Siliconomy.”
“It’s just magic the way these tiny chips are enabling the modern economic cycle we are in today,” Gelsinger said.
OpenAI, a San Francisco startup backed by Microsoft, has become one of technology’s brightest stars since unleashing its most popular AI innovation, ChatGPT, in late 2022. Altman is now eager to push the envelope even further while competing against Google and other companies such as Anthropic and Inflection AI. But the next leaps he wants to make will take far more processing power than what’s currently available.
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The imbalance between supply and the voracious appetite for AI chips explains why Altman is keenly interested in securing more money to help expand the industry’s manufacturing capacity. During his talk with Gelsinger, he dodged a question about whether he is trying to raise as much as $7 trillion — more the combined market value of Microsoft and Apple — as was recently reported by The Wall Street Journal.
“The kernel of truth is we think the world is going to need a lot more (chips for) AI compute,” Altman said. “That is going to require a global investment in a lot of stuff beyond what we are thinking of. We are not in a place where we have numbers yet.”
Altman emphasized the importance of accelerating the AI momentum of the past year to advance a technology that he maintains will lead to a better future for humanity, although he acknowledged there will be downsides along the way.
“We are heading to a world where more content is going to be generated by AI than content generated by humans,” Altman said. “This is not going to be only a good story, but it’s going to be a net good story.”
Perhaps no company is benefiting more from the AI gold rush now than Nvidia. The 31-year-old chipmaker has catapulted to the technological forefront because of its head start in making the graphics processing units, or GPUs, required to fuel popular AI products such as ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini chatbot.
Over the past year, Nvidia has been a stunning streak of growth that has created more than $1.3 trillion in shareholder wealth in less than 14 months. That has turned it into the fifth most valuable U.S. publicly traded company behind only Microsoft, Apple, Amazon and Google’s corporate parent, Alphabet Inc.
Intel, in contrast, has been trying to convince investors that Gelsinger has the Santa Clara, California, company on a comeback trail three years after he was hired as CEO.
Since his arrival, Gelsinger already has pushed the company into the business of making chips for other firms and has committed $20 billion to building new factories in Ohio as part of its expansion into running so-called “foundries” for third parties.
Kolpolok starts providing Odoo ERP software solution in Bangladesh
During Wednesday’s conference, Gelsinger predicted that by 2030 Intel would be overseeing the world’s second largest foundry business, presumably behind the current leader, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., or TMSC, largely by meeting the demand for AI chips.
“There’s sort of a space race going on,” Gelsinger told reporters Wednesday after delivering the conference’s keynote speech. “The overall demand (for AI chips) appears to be insatiable for several years into the future.”
Gelsinger’s turnaround efforts haven’t impressed investors so far. Intel’s stock price has fallen by 30% under his reign while Nvidia’s shares have increased by roughly fivefold during the same span.
Intel also is angling for a chunk of the $52 billion that the U.S. Commerce Department plans to spread around in an effort to increase the country’s manufacturing capacity in the $527 billion market for processors, based on last year’s worldwide sales.
Less than $2 billion of the funds available under the 2022 CHIPs and Science Act has been awarded so far, but Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, in a video appearance at Wednesday’s conference, promised “a steady drumbeat” of announcements about more money being distributed.
Raimondo also told Gelsinger that she emerged from recent discussions with Altman and other executives leading the AI movement having a difficult time processing how big the market could become.
“The volume of chips they say they need is mind-boggling,” she said.
Kolpolok starts providing Odoo ERP software solution in Bangladesh
Kolpolok Technologies has become a partner of Odoo ERP that empowers 12 million users globally in enterprise resource planning.
Odoo is a Belgian suite of business management software tools, including customer relationship management, e-commerce, accounting, and inventory management.
Kolpolok chief executive officer SM Nazmul Hasan made this announcement at a function at its head office in the capital’s Shyamoli.
Some 70 members of BASIS were present on the occasion. Odoo ERP has an app store with thousands of business solutions. The software has no vendor lock-in and is open source. Customers can easily buy software from one vendor and get software services from another.
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The software can be easily customised as per your convenience, which is time-consuming for most of the ERP software in the market. Odoo ERP has gained popularity due to its open-source mode, modularity, easy integration, scalability, user-friendly interface, mobile accessibility, low cost, and active community.
Regarding the new solutions, Kolpolok CEO SM Nazmul Hasan hoped that Odoo ERP software will play an essential role in building a smart Bangladesh. “As Odoo has a global reputation, it will be possible to earn a lot of foreign currency in the near future with the functional and development support of ERP work,” he said.
Kolpolok Software has announced the partnership with Odoo ERP that is already connected to over 5000 partners across the world. To ensure maximum service in the Bangladesh market, the Kolpolok developers will provide module-based skills and are ready to provide customer relationship management, inventory management, and human resource management on Odoo platforms. Kolpolok is serving clients in both enterprise and community versions.
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Hundreds of applications in both versions are capable of automating any business organization. The company has already uploaded customised modules of both hotel management and hospital management software on the Odoo app store, which are currently available for free.
Kolpolok has its own experienced Odoo developers and consultants who provide application customization and consultation services as per customer requirements. They also provide necessary assistance in database migration.
Grameenphone launches ‘AppCity,’ Bangladesh's first cross-platform marketplace
Telecom operator Grameenphone has introduced the country’s first cross-platform app marketplace “AppCity”, aiming to transform the digital landscape.
This platform connects app developers and publishers with both B2C and B2B customers, promoting innovation, smart solutions, and accessibility in Bangladesh's pursuit of a "Smart Bangladesh," according to a press release.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, State Minister of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, graced the event as the Chief Guest, held at a hotel in Dhaka on Tuesday.
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Also, present during the event were Petter-Børre Furberg, Chairman of Grameenphone Ltd. and Head of Telenor Asia, Yasir Azman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Grameenphone and other key management members of the organization, it said.
App marketplace “AppCity”, a pivotal part of Grameenphone's telco-tech journey, is a unified platform offering a diverse range of applications and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. Functioning as both an App Store and API hub, this marketplace connects content providers and application developers with individual and corporate customers.
One of the distinctive features of “AppCity” is its built-in Android, iOS, and telco API capabilities offered seamlessly to B2C and B2B platforms, making it the first cross-platform app marketplace in Bangladesh. This development opens new avenues for non-coders to engage in app development, aligning with the platform's guided UI for easy app creation—comparable to some existing renowned platforms, said the release.
“AppCity” also claimed the title of being the first comprehensive B2B app marketplace in Bangladesh. Distinguishing itself from conventional app marketplaces, “AppCity” introduces curated expert ratings alongside conventional user ratings. Furthermore, to enhance accessibility, it integrates with Mobile Financial Services (MFS) in addition to telco billing and conventional payment methods. The platform also offers a broader range of payment channels compared to other market players, the release also said.
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“AppCity is a significant leap towards a smart future for the smart nation, reflecting our national aspirations. Integrating the innovations, the platform creates diverse opportunities for young entrepreneurs to actively contribute and thrive in shaping the ‘Smart Bangladesh,” said Palak.
“AppCity is for the people of Bangladesh and will be built by the people of Bangladesh. I invite and encourage everyone, to participate in the hackathon that will be arranged to contribute to build AppCity, for a smarter nation," he added.
“We are pleased to see Grameenphone stepping up and building AppCity, which not only empowers developers but ultimately enhances the digital experience for customers and businesses. In line with our commitment to a Smart Bangladesh, this industry-first initiative reflects our ongoing efforts to contribute to the country's technological advancement and digital transformation,” said Petter-Børre Furberg
"With AppCity, we are laying the foundation for a more connected and accessible smart future. This platform encapsulates our vision of creating a smarter, inclusive, safer, and sustainable ecosystem. Fostering connectivity that empowers society and propelling the ‘Smart Bangladesh’, our dedication goes beyond conventional telecom services. Grameenphone is reshaping its portfolio to include state-of-the-art ICT and IoT solutions, ensuring we stay ahead in meeting the dynamic needs of an interconnected world,” said Yasir Azman.
Samsung Electronics Chairman acquitted of financial crimes
A South Korean court on Monday acquitted Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong of financial crimes involving a contentious merger between Samsung affiliates in 2015 that tightened his grip over South Korea’s biggest company.
The ruling by the Seoul Central District Court could ease the legal troubles surrounding the Samsung heir less than two years after he was pardoned of a separate conviction of bribery in a corruption scandal that toppled a previous South Korean government.
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The court said the prosecution failed to sufficiently prove the merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries was unlawfully conducted with an aim to strengthen Lee’s control over Samsung Electronics.
Prosecutors had sought a five-year jail term for Lee, who was accused of stock price manipulation and accounting fraud. It wasn’t immediately clear whether they would appeal. Lee had denied wrongdoing in the current case, describing the 2015 merger as “normal business activity.”
Lee, 56, did not answer questions from reporters as left the court. You Jin Kim, Lee's lawyer, praised the court for confirming that the merger was legal.
Lee, a third-generation corporate heir who was officially appointed as the chairman of Samsung Electronics in October 2022, has led the Samsung group of companies since 2014, when his late father, former chairman Lee Kun-hee, suffered a heart attack.
Lee Jae-yong served 18 months in prison after being convicted in 2017 over separate bribery charges related to the 2015 deal. He was originally sentenced for five years in prison for offering 8.6 billion won ($6.4 million) worth of bribes to then-President Park Geun-hye and her close confidante to win government support for the 2015 merger, which was key to strengthening his control over the Samsung business empire and solidifying the father-to-son leadership succession.
Lee was released on parole in 2021 and pardoned by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in August 2022, in moves that extended a history of leniency toward major white-collar crime in South Korea and preferential treatment for convicted tycoons.
Some shareholders had opposed the 2015 merger, saying that it unfairly benefited the Lee family while hurting minority shareholders. There was also public anger over how the national pension fund’s stake in Samsung C&T, the merged entity, fell by an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars, after Park had pressured the National Pension Service to support the deal.
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Park and her confidante were also convicted in the scandal and enraged South Koreans staged massive protests for months demanding an end to the shady ties between business and politics. The demonstrations eventually led to Park’s ouster from office.
Lee has been navigating one of his toughest stretches as the leader of one of the world’s largest makers of computer chips and smartphones, with Russia’s war on Ukraine and other geopolitical turmoil hurting the world economy and deflating technology spending.
The company last week reported an annual 34% decline in operating profit for October-December quarter as sluggish demands for its TVs and other consumer electronics products offset hard-won gains from a slowly revering memory chip market.
Why iPhone users should turn on the new Stolen Device Protection
You’re in a crowded bar when a thief watches you unlock your iPhone with your passcode, then swipes it. That sinking feeling hits when you realize it’s gone, along with priceless photos, important files, passwords on banking apps and other vital parts of your digital life.
Apple rolled out an update to its iOS operating system this week with a feature called Stolen Device Protection that makes it a lot harder for phone thieves to access key functions and settings. Users are being urged to turn it on immediately.
Here’s how to activate the new security option and why it’s so important:
The software update for iPhones and iPads includes the essential new feature designed to foil thieves from wiping phones for resale or accessing Apple ID or other important accounts. Stolen Device Protection is a new setting that’s included with the latest iOS release, version 17.3.
Apple says the feature, buried in your iPhone’s settings, adds an extra layer of security for users. It addresses a vulnerability that thieves have discovered and exploited: allowing them to lock victims out of their Apple accounts, delete their photos and other files from their iCloud accounts and empty their bank accounts by accessing passwords kept in the Keychain password manager.
Apple is introducing the feature as anecdotal evidence suggests phone thefts are surging. Stories of stolen phones abound on Reddit groups and in news articles in places from Los Angeles to London, where police say pickpocketing, “table surfing” and moped snatching are common tactics.
The Wall Street Journal reported last year how criminals watched people use their passcodes to gain access to their personal information after stealing their phones.
HOW DOES STOLEN DEVICE PROTECTION WORK?
Stolen Device Protection keeps track of a user’s “familiar locations,” such as their home or workplace, and adds extra biometric security hoops to jump through if someone tries to use the device to do certain things when it’s away from those places.
It also reduces the importance of passcodes, which thieves can steal by peering over someone’s shoulder or threatening and forcing victims to hand them over, in favor of “biometric” features such as faces or fingerprints that are a lot harder to duplicate.
Let’s say the bar thief that snatched your iPhone tries to erase its contents and settings to sell it. With Stolen Device Protection turned on, the phone will now require a Face ID or Touch ID scan to verify that person is the rightful owner.
And that’s the only way — the new feature doesn’t let someone use the passcode or any other backup method.
Other actions that will trigger this feature if it’s not at a familiar place include using passwords saved in Keychain or payment methods saved in Safari, turning off Lost Mode, applying for a new Apple Card or using the iPhone to set up a new device.
There’s also a second layer designed to slow down thieves trying to access critical security settings. If someone tries to, say, sign out of an Apple ID account, change the passcode or reset the phone while it’s in an unfamiliar location, they’ll have to authenticate using Face ID or Touch ID, wait an hour, then do a second facial or fingerprint scan.
Changing an Apple ID password, updating Apple ID security settings, adding or removing Face or Touch ID, and turning off the Find My device feature or Stolen Device Protection also will trigger this feature.
“The security delay is designed to prevent a thief from performing critical operations so that you can mark your device as lost and make sure your Apple account is secure,” the company said. “When your iPhone is in a familiar location, these additional steps will not be required and you can use your device passcode like normal.”
Can AI Replace Artists?
Think of a world where art co-exists with generative art. The music that we listen to, the art that we gaze and the sculptures that we admire could one day be a creation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) rather than solely being a human product. The thought sparks ideas of opportunity as well as concerns for the future. Will generative AI replace what makes art human? Let’s try to find some answers.
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The history of humans creating art predates civilization itself. In fact, the oldest recorded art dates back 45,500 years! Compared to that, AI integration, or more commonly generative art is barely a year or two old.
The use of tech in art has, however, been prevalent for a few decades now. For all of this time, tech and human creativity co-existed to bring art to different verticals. But with AI, there’s a new dimension, a new advancement that simplifies the process. The democratization of art, as many call it, is also a means of exploitation that undermines what separates human art, the use of creativity in its true sense.
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Let’s look at how AI impacts different art verticals to get a better understanding.
Bangladesh seeks to boost software exports to US: Zunaid Palak after meeting with Peter Haas
State Minister for Post, Telecom, and ICT, Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Tuesday said that new opportunities of cooperation will open up with the USA over the next five years of the government.
He said this following a meeting with US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas on Tuesday.
Mentioned that there is a heightened interest in Bangladesh from other nations he said, “Based on discussions with Ambassador Haas, I think trade relations between the countries will increase in the coming years.”
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In reference to the meeting's agenda, Palak talked about their focus on strategising how the United States can collaborate with Bangladesh based on the vision of creating a smart Bangladesh by 2041, as envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Palak said there were three primary objectives of their discussion.
The first objective was about strategies to further enhance software exports and expand Bangladesh’s presence in the US.
“The United States stands out as the primary outsourcing hub for our software and freelancers. Among the 60 countries receiving our exported software, America takes the lead with the highest volume. We engaged in discussions on strategies to further enhance this collaboration and expand our presence,” he said.
Additionally, they discussed about establishing resource innovation centres in 10 universities, he said.
“We discussed how to explore ways in which U.S. could contribute to and support this initiatives,” he said.
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Another crucial aspect of the conversation centered on fostering government-to-government (G2G) cooperation between the United States and the Bangladesh Post Office, Palak said.
“The objective is to attract investments, particularly from major American companies like Amazon, Starling, SpaceX, Google, and Facebook, encouraging their increased involvement in specific sectors,” he said.
"In essence, our talks centered around determining the nature of cooperation the United States can offer in building a smart Bangladesh collaboratively. This involves enhancing exports, attracting investments, and fostering job creation,” he added.
Revolutionizing Health: Top 8 Medical Breakthroughs of 2023
The year 2023 has been monumental in the realm of health and medical science. As we continually strive to overcome health challenges, the relentless pursuit of medical advancements has yielded significant breakthroughs. These innovations not only promise enhanced healthcare but also showcase the power of science in improving lives globally. In this article, we delve into the top eight medical breakthroughs of 2023, each a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of the scientific community.
The Biggest Medical Breakthroughs of 2023
A Leap Forward in Alzheimer’s Disease Management
In a ground-breaking development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Leqembi, a monoclonal antibody, in July 2023. This medical breakthrough targets the core cause of Alzheimer's disease – the build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain. These plaques, formed by abnormally proliferating proteins, disrupt neural synapses and cause memory loss. Leqembi intervenes by inhibiting plaque formation, thus preserving cognitive function.
A pivotal study revealed that administering Leqembi early could delay severe Alzheimer’s progression by up to 30 years, marking a significant stride in medical science.
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Advancing Brain Science with Comprehensive Mapping
In a collaborative effort, an international team of over 20 scientists achieved a significant medical breakthrough by mapping the brain of a fruit fly, a process that spanned five years.
This achievement surpasses previous efforts which were limited to simpler organisms with fewer synapses. The complexity of the fruit fly’s brain, comprising around 3000 neurons and half a million synapses, parallels aspects of machine learning mapping, hinting at broader applications in understanding complex brains and advancing AI technologies.
Microsoft adds AI button to keyboards to summon chatbots
Pressing a button will be one way to summon an artificial intelligence agent as Microsoft wields its computer industry influence to reshape the next generation of keyboards.
Starting this month, some new personal computers that run Microsoft’s Windows operating system will have a special “Copilot key” that launches the software giant’s AI chatbot.
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Getting third-party computer manufacturers to add an AI button to laptops is the latest move by Microsoft to capitalize on its close partnership with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI and make itself a gateway for applications of generative AI technology.
Although most people now connect to the internet — and AI applications — by phone rather than computer, it’s a symbolic kickoff to what’s expected to be an intensively competitive year as tech companies race to outdo each other in AI applications even as they haven’t yet resolved all the ethical and legal ramifications. The New York Times last month sued both OpenAI and Microsoft alleging that tools like ChatGPT and Copilot — formerly known as Bing Chat — were built by infringing on copyrighted news articles.
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The keyboard redesign will be Microsoft’s biggest change to PC keyboards since it introduced a special Windows key in the 1990s. Microsoft’s four-squared logo design has evolved, but the key has been a fixture on Windows-oriented keyboards for nearly three decades.
The newest AI button will be marked by the ribbon-like Copilot logo and be located near the space bar. On some computers it will replace the right “CTRL” key, while on others it will replace a menu key.
Microsoft is not the only company with customized keys. Apple pioneered the concept in the 1980s with its “Command” key marked by a looped square design (it also sported an Apple logo for a time). Google has a search button on its Chromebooks and was first to experiment with an AI-specific key to launch its voice assistant on its now-discontinued Pixelbook.
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But Microsoft has a much stronger hold on the PC market through its licensing agreements with third-party manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell and HP. About 82% of all desktop computers, laptops and workstations run Windows, compared to 9% for Apple’s in-house operating system and just over 6% for Google’s, according to market research firm IDC.
Microsoft hasn’t yet said which computer-makers are installing the Copilot button beyond Microsoft’s own in-house line of premium Surface devices. It said some of the companies are expected to unveil their new models at next week’s CES gadget show in Las Vegas.