Adobe’s Lightroom app for Android saw a complete redesign while the iOS app saw new features.

Adobe just released some important changes to its Lightroom app as this saw a redesign in its Android variant and is getting new features on the iOS one.

iPhone and iPad users will soon be seeing an added support for the Android selective brush as well as updated interface for iPad, among others. But the biggest changes were brought to the Android Lightroom app.

Although an efficient version, this was touted as being a mobile version of the desktop experience. Now, thanks to the redesign, users may start using a version that actually feels native for mobile, and snappy enough for it, according to some.

Lightroom App Redesigns Should Make Them Easier to Use

Adobe released a statement which declared that: “We wanted to provide the best Android experience possible so we redesigned Lightroom for Android from the ground up to be faster, more efficient, and, well, more Android-y.”

This continued by pointing out that every screen of the app has been redesigned so that they will ensure a native, natural experience on Android. These should also help provide the highest quality in editing and a “professional-grade mobile photo editing app”.

Still, according to reports, it will still take some time before Android users will be able to use features such as the Selective Brush or the Details tab. This latter gives the editor a global control over noise reduction and sharpening. The Selective Brush will come to complement the readily available radial and linear gradients.

Both these features arrived first on iOS and will probably make their debut on Android a while later.

The Android variant is not the only one to get a new face, as the iPad version interface was also redesigned. This could be a way of taking advancing of a larger screen without losing its performance.

Image Source: Flickr

Over 40,000 cheating players got their Steam accounts blocked after the Summer Sale.

The most recent Valve Summer Sale came with more than just new games. For some cheating users, it also came with a ban as now, more than 40,000 Steam accounts have been banned and can no longer use their purchases.

Valve is known for having an automatic anti-cheat detection system (VAC), and a very strict one at that. Reports show that the VAC system usually bans or suspends some 3,500 accounts every day, on average. The last major suspensions session, which set a record at its time, occurred in October 2016. At the time, Valve shut down the accounts of 15,227 players.

The 40,000 Banned Steam Accounts Set an Unenviable Record

According to a third party tool, the Steam Database, July 05 marked the shutting down of some estimated 40,411 Steam accounts. The VAC ban prohibits the suspended accounts from connecting to the Valve servers. Basically, this renders the in-game purchases such as items and skins, useless.

The decision to ban an account on the Valve digital distribution platform and service is said to be permanent and non-negotiable. Nonetheless, the Valve Support page does note that, in case an account has been incorrectly flagged, the decision can be reversed.

Besides the July 05 Steam accounts bans, a further almost 5,000 accounts were suspended on July 06. This new session came as the result of in-game reports from other players. These accounts got suspended due to their reportedly abusive in-game behavior.

Following these two days of massive suspensions and shutdowns, things reportedly settled down to their usual, median numbers.

Valve launched the first banning immediately after the end of its annual Summer Sale. Presumably, it decided on this so that the banned players cannot take advantage of the reduced prices and simply restore their lost possessions at a smaller cost.

Image Source: YouTube

Google recently released the Blocks app, which lets users create VR content.

Earlier this week, on July 06, Google released its new Blocks app, which will allow any interested user to create objects and art for the virtual reality (VR) medium. Blocks will be available for free for the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. There has been no news, presently, about a Daydream release as well.

Blocks App, a Companion for the Tilt Brush

Tilt Brush, Google’s painting app, is held as being one of the best applications for creating high quality, very detailed and fine VR art. However, this is also making it quite ‘intimidating’ to more casual users.

So Google has now released a new tool, which will be more readily available to all those looking to create VR content. Through its Blocks app, the giant company is simplifying the content creation process in VR. The new application also uses tool specially designed for this very purpose.

Users will be able to build colorful 3D models by using blocks that resemble ones used in children’s games. The app is supposed to be intuitive enough as to be readily utilized by all users, from newcomers to more specialized users.

It should also be full-featured and attractive enough as to be capable of returning artistically compelling models. Google already collected such examples, which set the base for an online gallery.

Users are also not limited to just the Blocks app. They can export and share their objects by making them viewable online. The creations can also be placed in 3D scenes both inside and outside of VR, for example, in AR. On the Google Blocks site, they can also be spun around, which will create animated and downloadable GIFs.

At least for the moment, the Blocks app seems to be aiming for a lower level of realism than most similar such applications. While this may not advantage professional artists, it could benefit beginners and developers.

Available for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, the Blocks app can be downloaded from Steam and the Oculus Store.

Image Source: Pixabay

Google will stop scanning Gmail in its mission of selling ads.

In its newest update to its privacy policy, Google will stop reading your Gmail for selling ads. Simply disenabling them will stop targeted ads for a respective Google account. Instead of scanning Gmail for selling ads, Google will garner data from YouTube search queries, for instance.

GMail, No Longer Used for Selling Ads

In a statement Google released on its official blog, the company points out that the G Suite’s Gmail service is not used for ad personalization input and that it has chosen to follow the suite for the Gmail service later than in the case of other services.

In order to opt out of the ad personalization, users can check their Gmail application settings. In comparison to the previous year, Google now has over 3 million users that have a paid-for account. However, although Google won’t scan Gmail for selling ads anymore, the change will be put into effect later this year, said Diane Greene, VP of Google Cloud.

The policy change is in accordance with Google’s stand with respect to the safety of its users, including security, spam, hacking, and phishing. Google looks out for these attack on both its paid and nonpaid users’ accounts.

However, some business customers assumed that, even though Google was scanning Gmail for selling ads only in the cases of unpaid accounts, the tech giant was scanning their accounts as well. The VP of Google Cloud stated that this was false and that this was only an error.

The fact that Google will not scan Gmail for selling ads to its users comes only to strengthen its policy of respecting its Gmail users’ privacy, while also averting criticism on the privacy issue. Basically, all users have to do is to go to the Ad tab. There, they will find a setting for enabling or disabling ads.

Image Source: Wikimedia

The Google jobs search engine became available and ready for use starting on June 20.

Last month, as part of the I/O conference, Google announced its intention of launching a jobs search engine. Called “Google for Jobs” its purpose was to help facilitate looking for a workplace. It would also do so by collaborating with, not working against, established online job boards.

Google Jobs Search Engine Online Starting June 20

“Google for Jobs” should be an easy to use tool as it will not require the installation of any additional software. This feature will work directly from the existing Google search engine, as the user will simply have to type “jobs nearby” or “tech workplace”, for example.

Based on this query, the search will result in a widget presenting available positions. From this result page, users will also be able to refine their search. As such, they can introduce a desired specific location or the type of job they are interested in, for example, “part-time” or “full-time”.

Search results will be filterable based on the user’s query. They can choose a particular industry, areas, employer, or even posting date. “Google for Jobs” will also come with a notification option. By activating it, users can receive an alert when new jobs, corresponding to their personalized query, get posted.

As the user clicks on the posting of a specific job, they will also receive additional information about the position, as well as Indeed and Glassdoor company rating.

The Google jobs search engine will be collaborating with major online job boards. LinkedIn, WayUp, CareerBuilder, and several others are already on board the project. “Google for Jobs” will also include job listings that have been posted only on the company’s homepage.

Google states that it is hoping to facilitate, through this new tool, the process of finding a job. It is looking to do so by offering a cleaner, simpler path to accessing listings. One that will also be removing duplicates, namely positions that have been posted on more than one board.

“We’ll continue to add additional filters and information in the future. Looking for jobs is a personal and complex journey, and one that we’re trying to support in this new search experience,” states Google.

Image Source: Wikimedia

Swedish investigators are analyzing the usefulness of having drones deliver AEDs.

A team of Swedish researchers has been examining the possibilities and efficiency of using drones for responding to medical emergencies. Namely, they have been studying their utility in trying to help people suffering from cardiac arrest.

Specialists in other areas are already testing the possibility of using drones in delivering packages or tracking wildlife. Now, this new analysis is looking determine if such high-flying machines could also help save lives.

Drones Could Help by Quickly Delivering AEDs

The Swedish team analyzed the efficiency of having such devices deliver defibrillators in cases of cardiac arrest. As the researchers point out, survival chances decrease with every minute that passes after the patient suffered a sudden cardiac arrest but did not receive treatment.

“In rural areas, a drone carrying an AED could arrive far ahead — meaning 16 minutes [faster] — of emergency medical services,” stated Andreas Claesson.

He is a paramedic with the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm’s Center for Resuscitation Science and the study’s lead investigator.

Claesson considers that a drone sweeping in with an AED could potentially help lives. It could do so as bystanders on site could start the defibrillation process before the arrival of emergency medical teams. They could do so by using the automated external defibrillator (AED).

For their study, the team specially equipped a Stockholm-area fire house with drones from the Swedish Transportation Agency. These were equipped with an AED and also autopilot software, GPS, and a high-definition camera.

In 2016, such machines carried out 18 simulated AED-drone deliveries. These were sent to locations within a 6-miles radius of the fire station. According to reports, the drone delivered the AED in some 5 minutes. In contrast, the median standard EMS delivery time took 22 minutes.

Still, the study has its limitations. Claesson pointed out that the tests did not involve actual emergencies. So the AED was received by a second drone pilot acting as a bystander on site.

Also, other researchers point out that the delivery numbers and also the area targeted are quite small.

Nonetheless, the consensus is that this is a “great idea with a lot of potential”. But some of the hurdles it will have to face include airway regulations and flight distances.

Also, people would have to receive at least a minimum training for operating an AED, so that they would actually know how to utilize it in emergency cases.

Analysis results are available in a paper in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Image Source: Flickr

Thanks to the Family group, family members should find it easier to share data between them.

Google already allows family members to share digital content among them easily, but now, the titan tech company announced a new feature which should make sharing even simpler.

Initially, Google made it quick for a group of up to 5 family members to share movies, ebooks, TV shows, and Android apps from the Play Store. Now, this easy connection will expand and include Google Photos, Keep, and Calendar as well through the “Family group”.

The Family Group will Offer Ease of Access to Any Member Using Photos, Keep, and Calendar

Google announced this latest sharing expansion on May 23. In its release, it also offered details as to how the Family group will work with its various programs. For example, in Google Photos, it will appear as the user tries sharing a photo or even an album.

Instead of having to send this media to each individual member, users will now simply have to the tap on their Family group. The option works for video files as well.

Shared calendars are nothing new in a family, but now, these will go digital and will become easy to manage thanks to the Family group. Once users set up the option and add their relatives, Google Calendar will automatically set up a “Family” calendar.

This should make it easier to plan family events or to set reminders for anniversaries or, say, picnics and other such events. The feature will not allow non-family group members to join, and they can’t be invited to join the digital memo either.

Google Keep will be similar in function and sharing methods. The Family group can be added as a collaborator to any desired note. Every member will then be able to edit or change the selected to-do’s or shopping lists, for example. A house with a heart at its center will be used as the family group icon, and it will appear next to any note shared with its members.

For the moment, Google is rolling out this new, easy sharing feature in a selected number of countries. These include the US, UK, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Germany, Ireland, France, Brazil, Russia, and Japan.

Image Source: Pixabay

Google announced earlier this week its latest service, a new jobs search engine feature.

Google announced during its I/O conference that it is all set on launching a jobs search engine. This will initially only target the United States and should become available sometime in “the coming weeks”. The newest service will be called the “Google for Jobs”.

Google’s Jobs Search Engine Will Be Based on AI

The giant company announced its latest product during its Google I/O event. This took place earlier this week, in between May 17^th to May 19^th. Sundar Pichai, the company CEO gave a brief preview presentation of the “Google for Jobs” and its abilities.

He stated that, “While job seekers may be looking for openings right next door – there’s a big disconnect here…We want to better connect employers and job seekers through a new initiative, Google for Jobs.”

Pichai pointed out that 46% percent of U.S. employers claims that they are having issues filling their open positions or finding new talents. So Google set out to offer the latest technology alternative to this matter.

The company’s job search engine will target and include all types of jobs. It should offer both entry-level, high-end professional positions, and anything in between or beside them. “Google for Jobs”’ base technology should also contribute to a win-win situation. The system will be based on Artificial Intelligence and machine learning.

As the system is fed more information, it should then develop and offer better suggestions. It could do so by understanding job classifications and how different workplaces can relate among them, and many others as well. Then, as more such associations start forming, it jobs search results should also improve.

Google claims that its “new” jobs search engine will become available in a few weeks. But this will not be a different entity. Instead, as U.S. users will start typing job search queries into Search, the system should start highlighting workplaces that match this query. Google will also partner with traditional job service providers for this service.

This jobs search engine will come with various tools set to help find a particular job. Options will include title, type, category, and location filters, for example. Google will also come with average commute times, to simplify the decision process.

Image Source: Flickr

Google Chrome on Android should now find it even easier to download and read offline content.

Earlier this week, on May 8th, Google announced that its Chrome for Android application would be updated and upgraded. Through these latest changes, users should find it even easier to view and read offline content.

In the blog post announcing this development, Google pointed out that this reading web pages offline is not necessarily new. The internet giant company first introduced this feature in December 2016. Since then, users could start saving whole pages for reading when completely offline when on the Chrome for Android app.

According to Google, over 45 million web page are saved each week for this very same purpose. Now, this process should be even easier. Users can just long press on a link and then click the “Download link” option. This new feature will also work with article suggestions that appear when opening a new tab page.

Following this latest update, Chrome’s offline dinosaur logo will also come with a friend. If the graphic Dino does appear, it will bring along a “Download Page Later” button. As such, users can rest assured that they lost neither their work or article of interest.

Google stated that “If you tap it [the Download Page Later button], Chrome will automatically download the page for you when you get back online.”

Offline Content Will Now Be Just a Badge and a Click Away

The Chrome developer also simplified the user’s access to saved offline content. From now on, this will appear as you open a new tab. All the downloaded pages will be on display and will be marked by a ‘new offline badge’.

The access to offline content is not the only one to get simplified. Users should now find it easier to reach their recent downloads as these will be displayed as a list on new tab pages.

Google presented this latest set of features as an easy “ready-to-go list of pages or articles” that can be accessed even as the device is out of data or enters a dead network zone. Still, it does point out that users will first have to update to this latest Chrome version before being able to start using this easy download.

Image Source: Flickr

A prototype of an inflatable greenhouse may offer the solution to the space food supply problem.

 

As NASA and other scientific groups begin to examine the prospect of sending humans to Mars or other space bodies, one of the primary concerns is their food source. And this is not just during the trip, but while they possibly live for years on another planet. Now, with some new design specs and a few creative ideas, the Prototype Lunar/Mars Greenhouse project may have developed a solution.

Inflatable Greenhouse to Offer Green Food on the Red Planet?

“We’re working with a team of scientists, engineers and small businesses at the University of Arizona to develop a closed-loop system,” he said. “The approach uses plants to scrub carbon dioxide while providing food and oxygen.”