Is Virtualization Magic? (And Other Questions Your Manager May Ask)
Below is a visualization of some of the data-center expense reduction opportunities from a virtual environment. Expected increased utilization rates from 5-15%. In some cases up to 80%. Deferred datacenter construction costs by $1,000 per square foot ( IDC’s Datacenter Trends Survey, 2007). Attain 50-70% higher VM density per host than is possible with commodity offerings. Achieve 20-30% lower cost-per-application. Top Reasons to Go With Managed WordPress Hosting Why Tech Companies Need Simpler Terms of Servic… 8 Best WordPress Hosting Solutions on the Market Tags:#Server Virtualization#solution-series One of the fun things about being a leader in IT is the opportunity to see new technology and explain it to others for the first time. We love to see people’s eyes get big and excited when some new wizardry is introduced and we’re the first one to explain it.In the simplest terms, a key outcome of virtualization that the virtual engine software layer divides either hardware or software into more pieces than originally existed. Instead of one operating system running, the same hardware can run several concurrently. For example, these can even be of different flavors such as Linux and Windows running on the same Intel hardware. Where it gets interesting is that each additional system running doesn’t divide computing power in half, like you might expect. Instead, an overall gain in system utilization is found in this approach. This “unused” power frees computing resources without the need to procure new hardware.Since it is new, there are inevitable questions an IT leader will receive when explaining this to non-technical members of your team – a.k.a management. A Quick PrimerHere’s a short list of resources that give an overview of the technical underpinnings of virtualization:How to explain virtualization to your friends by RWW’s Tim Hastings.History of Virtualization hosted by VMware.Virtual machine as defined by Wikipedia.The Impact QuestionDoes virtualization it have a performance or operational impact to the systems? Yes, there is some impact to performance when running a virtual layer on software or hardware. However it is much less of an impact than the cost of buying a new system. VMware’s cost analysis summary breaks down the increased system utilization like this: Perhaps one of the most important areas for consideration is how virtualization not only extends the investment in hardware, but also allows an IT department to be ready to ramp up more systems when needed, without waiting to procure more hardware.Virtualization is becoming mainstream, and it is worth the fight to earn the right to deploy and operate a virtual environment. Virtualization is a nice gateway into cloud computing services and it prepares a team for new processes and tools. One benefit we’ve seen is that IT teams can use virtualization to get ready for and configure new projects quickly. Is it free? No. Is it magic? Yes. Especially for the non-technical business executive. You’ll soon receive new questions, such as “How did you get that new system setup so quickly?” It will remain up to you, the IT leader, to decide whether you want to share the secrets up your sleeve.Do you have an interesting story explaining how virtual environments work in your company? Share it with us in the comments.Photo credit: pokpok313 Related Posts A Web Developer’s New Best Friend is the AI Wai… mike kirkwood
The recent boom in the Indian real estate industry has prompted NRIs (Non Resident Indians) to sell their properties in India to take advantage of the hike in land prices. Related Items
The prime selfie spot for residents of this central Indian city isn’t its decaying 16th century royal fort or its world-famous marble market. It’s the terminal at Kishangarh Airport – a small, low-slung building that offers a new gateway to the world.Air travel from the dusty boom town has become cheaper than renting a car, Devi Singh, a 77-year-old retired soldier from Kishangarh, told his friends over tea one recent morning, discussing the $35 no-frills one-way fare to New Delhi that launched last month.“Even the sweepers can afford to fly now,” he said.Kishangarh is one of 34 airports opened in the past 18 months in India, whose aviation sector has exploded in the wake of massive economic growth. In September, the civil aviation minister said $60 billion has been budgeted for 100 more in the next 10 to 15 years.As millions of newly wealthy Indians take to the skies for the first time each year, the country is scrambling to transform colonial-era airstrips into plush airports, and suddenly stretched airlines are investing in new planes and recruiting foreign pilots.“In the 70 years since independence, just 400 planes were serving us,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he unveiled an airport cut into the Himalayan mountains at Pakyong, in Sikkim state, in September – his second such opening that month. “In the past year alone, airline companies have ordered 1,000 new airplanes.”A relative blip at the turn of the millennium, India’s aviation market has become a juggernaut. In October, its airlines marked 48 consecutive months of double-digit growth in traffic, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). By 2024, IATA estimates, India will rank behind only China and the United States in terms of air traffic to, from and within the country.“Twenty years ago, India’s market was so minuscule, it barely even figured in,” said Dinesh Keskar, Boeing’s senior vice president of sales for Asia-Pacific and India for commercial planes. “In the near future, we think one in 20 planes will be sold to India.”The demand for airports is driven, in part, by new affluence in second- and third-tier cities such as Kishangarh.In the 1990s, the small, family-run marble companies here turned into multinational corporations, generating wealth that lifted the whole population. Even as it retains its sleepy, small-town vibe, the city draws billionaires’ wives, cricket champions and television stars looking to decorate homes, temples and malls – and who now arrive for their marble-shopping visits on chartered private planes or helicopters rather than by car or train.Traders anticipate that the new commercial air connection to Delhi will bring even more customers wanting marble tiles for walls and floors. A single 78-passenger flight should bring an additional $400,000 a day in revenue, according to Suresh Tak, president of Kishangarh’s Marble Association.Only two weeks after the first commercial flight began, the novelty of the airport was already wearing off for residents and the possibilities sinking in.“What we really need now is a flight to Mumbai,” said one of Devi Singh’s soldier friends, sipping tea.“No, we want Kishangarh to Jaipur in 15 minutes,” said another.Such surging demand should in theory lead to profits for India’s airlines. In practice, though, the companies are struggling to cash in because of a combination of surging fuel prices, a weak rupee and fierce competition that keeps ticket prices low.“All this talk of India as the third-largest aviation market may not happen, because the infrastructure may not be able to come up,” said aviation journalist Neelam Matthews.In July, share prices of InterGlobe Aviation, the parent company of India’s biggest airline, IndiGo, plunged 10 percent when it announced quarterly results showing a 97 percent dip in net profits since the previous year. SpiceJet, another big-brand budget carrier, announced net losses of $5 million in its June quarter.Despite the cash crunch, big airlines are under government pressure to expand services even on financially risky routes.In 2017, Modi, eager to promote affordable aviation as part of a huge package of social improvements, launched the Regional Connectivity Scheme, which aims to connect small Indian towns to the aviation map through subsidized new routes.The program is one element of the prime minister’s broader infrastructure push – it also includes a $17 billion bullet train and 53,000 miles of new roads – showcasing India’s gleaming modernity in a scramble for global superpower status.But in the aviation sector, at least, those lofty ambitions have been accompanied – and tempered – by disarray.Air Deccan and Air Odisha, which collectively bagged 84 of the 128 contracts offered in the first phase of the new connectivity program, canceled more than half their flights in September, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).Embarrassingly, one of the airports Modi personally inaugurated in September, in the industrial town of Jharsuguda, had flights for only two weeks before abruptly halting operations. An official at the Airports Authority of India, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media, said the flights were stopped because of internal problems at the airline, Air Odisha, and would be resumed soon.Meanwhile, as small towns struggle to set up new routes, major airports are beset with delays and cancellations.Mumbai airport, India’s busiest, reported delays on one in four of its domestic flights in September, according to the DGCA. And like New Delhi’s airport, it is running out of landing slots, making it impossible to add new routes.For the millions of Indians being initiated into their country’s new aviation era each year, the experience can be chaotic and unglamorous. But for Gyana Devi, a 51-year-old schoolteacher flying for the first time on a wobbly Bombardier to her hometown of Kishangarh, it is also magical.“I will show everyone at home,” she said as she filmed a video of her first time above the clouds.(c) 2018, The Washington Post Related Items
Portugal and Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo remained coy about his future with the Spanish football giants, refusing to take questions beyond the Confederations Cup where his national team won 1-0 against hosts Russia.Ronaldo netted the winner of the game with a first-half header to send the European champions to the top of Group A and all but secure a place in next week’s semi-finals.He was adjudged the Man-of-the-Match and thus had to attend the post-match press conference.”I’m very happy,” Ronaldo was quoted as saying by ESPNFC.”We knew it was going to be a difficult game against a very strong team.”It’s the first time Portugal have won in Russia and I think the team played very well. We played against a team playing at home with a home crowd, a team that pressured us but we were better.””We had more opportunities than Russia and we were just winners. We have four points and we have to congratulate the team.”Portugal coach Fernando Santos backed his player when queried over Ronaldo refusing to take questions on his club future.”Do you think he should answer questions from issues outside the game?” Santos said.”He is here to talk about the game, full stop, not about his life and his family.”I understand you are curious, but you have to respect and have an understanding — and I’m saying this with a good feeling.”You will have other opportunities. I think he did very well in not answering other questions,” Santos added.advertisement
Geraint Thomas has moved a step closer to winning his maiden Tour de France title. In fact, he has all but secured the title and is set to become the third British rider to win the prestigious Tour de France.Thomas took full advantage of Team Sky’s strength in depth and acknowledged that his imminent victory was the result of collective work.The 32-year-old Welshman held on to the yellow jersey after Saturday’s decisive time trial, a 31-km effort in the Basque country, to lead Dutchman Tom Dumoulin by 1:51 and team mate and defending champion Chris Froome by 2:34.Barring a crash in Sunday’s procession to the Champs Elysees in Paris, Thomas will become the third Briton to win the Tour after Bradley Wiggins (2012) and Froome (2013, 2015, 2016 and 2017) – both Team Sky riders.”It has been a great race — if we look at all our individual riders they are amazing,” Thomas, who won two mountain stages including one up the iconic Alpe d’Huez climb, told a news conference.Also Read – Tour de France: Defending champion mistaken for fan and tackled by policeTeam Sky began the race not only with Thomas and four-time champion Froome, but also 21-year-old Colombian Egan Bernal, who thwarted most of their rivals’ attacks in the mountains, former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski and former Liege-Bastogne-Liege winner Wout Poels.The team’s dominance in recent years and Froome’s positive test for excessive levels of the asthma drug Salbutamol (before subsequently being cleared of any wrong-doing) fuelled the crowds’ anger.advertisementBut it brought the team together.”There is always going to be haters or whatever, but we work hard. Our biggest strength is not just in the legs but in the head and how we ride together,” said Thomas, who had warmed up for the race by winning the week-long Criterium du Dauphine last month.Thomas’s contract with Sky finishes at the end of the year and the British outfit could find themselves with two grand tour leaders if the new champion-elect extends his contract.LATE SCARE”I just want to enjoy this, man. I don’t know (about my contract),” said Thomas.”We’ll see. I’m not thinking about this at the moment. I just want to enjoy it with the boys.”There was a late scare for Thomas in the time trial, when he appeared to lose control of his bike. He rode cautiously after that to take third place behind Dumoulin and Froome but the title is now virtually in the bag.”(Sports director) Nico(Portal) said take it easy in the corners. Every corner seemed to be at 180 degrees,” he said.”So you just block this out and do what you’ve got to do.”(With inputs from Reuters)
Former India cricketer Nikhil Chopra said on Wednesday that MS Dhoni’s back-to-back half-centuries in the ongoing three-match ODI series between India and Australia will give the wicketkeeper-batsman a lot of confidence for the upcoming limited-overs fixtures in the lead up to World Cup 2019.Nikhil Chopra pointed out that the lack of match practice had made it difficult for MS Dhoni to shrug off rustiness in India’s 34-run defeat in the first ODI in Sydney but said he’s glad the former captain hit form and led India to a win in the second match of the series in Adelaide.Dhoni was criticised for his 96-ball 51 on a sluggish wicket at the SCG in the first ODI but the wicketkeeper-batsman managed to silence his critics, at least for the time being, with a 54-ball 55 that proved crucial in India gunning down a 299-run target at the Adelaide Oval.Dhoni, unlike the SCG knock, kept himself busy from the word go and cut loose after the departure of centurion Virat Kohli. Joining hands with Dinesh Karthik, who slammed a quickfire 25, the 37-year-old made sure India went past the finish line and levelled the three-match series at 1-1.”Tremendous [Dhoni’s effort in Adelaide]. After that first game where he got that half-century, little bit of rustines must have been shrugged off. Scoring a run-a-ball half-century, seeing India through, levelling the series just shows us that Mahendra Singh Dhoni is back and back with a bang, without a doubt,” Nikhil Chopra told India Today.Shedding light on the positives from the Adelaide ODI, Chopra added: “Good thing for India is that players are fulfilling their roles – Dinesh Karthik and our man, Virat Kohli who loves to chase. He set up the chase beautifully. He will be a confident player, make no mistake about it.”advertisementKudos to Dinesh Karthik for quickfire knock in Adelaide: ChopraNonetheless, Chopra insisted that Dhoni should be playing domestic cricket in order to keep himself match-ready. The likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Azharuddin had also insisted the World Cup-winning former captain keep himself busy with domestic commitments whenever he’s not playing international cricket.”I am glad he has got two back-to-back half-centuries because this will give him a great deal of confidence. I completely agree [with voices from back home urging him to play domestic cricket]. Why isn’t he playing domestic cricket? He has been a captain, he knows exactly that he needs to play domestic cricket so that the bat flow is there for him all the time,” Chopra said.”… He’s a great finisher, he has got more than 10,000 runs in ODIs. I can understand but at this moment of time. Nobody is doubting his ability but sometimes you need to keep playing according to the situation in hand. With Dhoni getting a run-a-ball 55, kudos to the unsung hero of the match, Dinesh Karthik. 25 off 14 was simply outstanding. He was outplaying the man who had been batting for a long time at the other end.”Despite facing a lot of criticism for the dip in scoring rate in the recent past, Dhoni has received the backing of the team management, the selectors and captain, Virat Kohli who heaped praise on the veteran for his contribution to the series-levelling win in Adelaide.”Tonight was an MS classic. Only he knows what’s going through his mind. He calculates the game so well. He backs himself to hit those big hits. Hats off to him and Dinesh as well,” Kohli had said.Also Read | Team India still benefitting from MS Dhoni’s finishing abilities: Jason GillespieAlso Read | MS Dhoni did not complete a single and forgot to raise his bat after reaching his fiftyAlso Read | India vs Australia: Why MS Dhoni lost his cool with Khaleel Ahmed in AdelaideAlso Read | MS Dhoni not getting younger, leave the man alone: Sunil GavaskarAlso See:
zoom Despite an increase in its voyage revenues for the period ended June 30, 2017, Greek tanker operator Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) saw a drop in its net income.Namely, for the first six months of 2017, TEN’s net income halved at USD 21.1 million when compared with USD 41.8 million seen in the first half of 2016.Over the period, the company’s voyage revenues surged to USD 270.4 million from USD 241.9 million reported in the first half of 2016. The daily time charter equivalent rate per vessel was USD 20,038 and fleet utilization increased to 96.8% compared to USD 22,477 and 95.8% respectively in the same half of 2016.Operating income for the period was USD 49.1 million, down from USD 57.4 reported a year earlier.TEN also witnessed a drop in its net income for the second quarter of the year, which landed at USD 3.6 million compared to USD 16.4 million reported in the same three-month period in 2016, while its voyage revenues increased to USD 132.2 million from USD 119.9 million year-on-year.Revenues, net of voyage expenses, amounted to $104.1 million, an increase of 9.7% from the second quarter of 2016 due mainly to the eleven newbuilding vessels delivered to TEN and now operating in the fleet.The company’s operating income dropped to USD 19.3 million from USD 24.3 million delivered in the quarter ended June 30, 2016.Despite difficult market conditions, TEN’s fleet operated at 96.4% utilization in the second quarter of 2017, during which TEN operated, on average, a fleet of 62.3 vessels compared to 50.5 vessels in the second quarter of 2016.“TEN’s industrial shipping model is continuously reinforced with over 75% of the fleet on long term employment, including profit sharing provisions. This offers cash flow stability, visibility and substantial upside potential,” George Saroglou, Chief Operating Officer of TEN, said.In the first two quarters of the year, 22 new time charter contracts to international oil concerns have commenced including new strategic relationships with major end users. This brings the company’s time charter coverage of the fleet to more than 75%.“The continuous appetite of global oil concerns to cover their long term needs with solid charters is a positive sign for upcoming developments in the global oil markets. TEN, with one of the youngest fleets in international tanker shipping, will be well positioned to benefit from expected market upturns,” Saroglou concluded.
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Tuesday announced a list of TMC candidates for all the 42 Lok Sabha seats of the state, dropping 10 sitting MPs. She also attacked the BJP and the Modi government, claiming she had information that “VVIPs” were using helicopters and chartered flights to transport money to bribe voters. Releasing the list, the West Bengal leader assailed the Centre over a host of issues including the Rafale deal,farm distress and shrinking employment opportunities. Banerjee, also the TMC supremo, said the outgoing TMC lawmakers whose names do not figure in the list will be drafted for party work. She said 41 per cent of the nominees in the list are women. The TMC, she said, will also contest some seats in Odisha, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar and the Andamans.
Martin Engineering offers a suite of products and services to protect workers from fast-moving rollers and belts, helping bulk material handlers maintain safer and more productive operations. Components and training from the company can be used alone or together to help prevent accidents and injuries, reducing risk while benefiting productivity. Designed to prevent workers from being drawn into a moving return roller, the Martin® Return Roller Guard is an economical way to raise safety awareness and reduce injuries. The solid upper section delivers pinch point protection, and the slotted lower area allows visual inspection while preventing contact with the roller. Installation is straightforward, with brackets included to mount the guard directly to either the side or bottom of the stringer. Quick-release pins allow easy service, with side and bottom panels that swing open for cleaning or maintenance, and removable end plates provide access to roller bearings. The guards are designed to fit all major roll manufacturers’ sizes (CEMA C, D & E). Installation is recommended on all return rollers that are less than 2.13 m from the ground, or in locations where the roller is otherwise within reach of workers.The Martin Return Roller Basket is designed to prevent a return roller from falling in the event of a mechanical failure, recommended for rollers that are more than 2.13 m off the ground and out of reach for any workers. The combination of guards and baskets provides a systematic approach to conveyor guarding that’s easy to use and safety compliant. Like the Return Roller Guard, slotted panels allow easy inspection, while keeping workers protected. Brackets designed to fit all major roll manufacturers’ sizes are included to mount the basket directly to either the bottom or side of the stringer. Quick-release pins allow easy access, and side panels swing open from either top or bottom for cleanout or service. Both the roller basket and guard are available in painted steel and two grades of stainless steel. Martin Conveyor Guards simplify conveyor guarding to improve plant safety and productivity. The heavy mesh guards allow easy inspection, while keeping moving components and pinch points isolated from workers. The rugged modular design is supported by a supplied angle iron structure, and attachment to the conveyor equipment is not required. Installation is straightforward, with wedge clamps that allow panels to be removed and re-installed quickly. The guards conform to OSHA 29 CFR 1910.217 when installed with a minimum of 140 mm between the guard opening and hazard. Available in a range of sizes from 610 mm x 610 mm to 914 mm x 1,270 mm, they feature a universal design that can be used in a variety of combinations to fit almost any application. Systems can be easily expanded or relocated as needed. Martin Engineering has expanded its Foundations™ Training Program on the design and development of more productive belt conveyors to offer three customisable seminars. Training is available to suit individuals with varied levels of experience and responsibility from new hire to senior engineer. Attendees attain a better understanding of conveyor safety and performance, helping to justify upgrade investments and increase profitability.The Foundations Workshop series has been teaching bulk-materials handling personnel how to operate and maintain clean and safe belt conveyors for nearly twenty years. All programs offer the opportunity for customisation/localisation to feature specific images, conditions and problems from the customer’s site. Programs are flexible as far as location and length. The presenters are highly trained and have many years of hands-on experience around conveyor systems. These industry experts keep the programs lively and interesting, while giving attendees a new outlook on conveyor operations.
FYI Resources Ltd provides a summary outline of its optimised high purity alumina (HPA) process flowsheet designed specifically for the kaolin feedstock from FYI’s Cadoux project in Western Australia. This follows the recent achievement of independently verified 99.997% HPA from Cadoux. Highlights:• Extensive metallurgical test work undertaken on Cadoux’s superior kaolin characteristics• FYI’s metallurgical flowsheet specifically designed for Cadoux kaolin feedstock• Proposed HPA flowsheet design should lead to cost effective (Capex and Opex) processing• Exceptional HPA recoveries of 99.997% Al2O3 independently verified• Revised Mineral Resource Estimate, tailored to optimised flowsheet, to be completed by CSA Global.Development and optimising of FYI’s processing flowsheet for refining of HPA from Cadoux kaolin feedstock has been successfully completed for the prefeasibility phase of metallurgical test work. The independently verified recovery grade of 99.997% Al2O3 is a result of significant metallurgical test work and associated development of the flowsheet suited specifically to the Cadoux kaolin feedstock.The metallurgical response to the characteristics of the Cadoux kaolin has been excellent in achieving purity of 99.997% Al2O3. As a result, the processing flowsheet is straightforward and effective. This is expected to positively impact on the capital and operating costs of the HPA project.FYI notes that “no two orebodies are the same in their character and content and different processing flowsheets and technologies are required to recover the targeted product from an orebody in a viable and cost-competitive manner.”FYI’s HPA flowsheet development is specifically engineered towards Cadoux’s unique geology, mineralogy and physical characteristics and substantially different to a ‘standard’ HCl leach and precipitation process. Advantages of the design are:Utilisation of “off-the-shelf” items and equipment that should reduce capital expenditure as well as reducing equipment construction and delivery timesExpected lower operating costs from rate and ease of chemical processBetter than anticipated processing time for the entire multiple stage circuit.The quality of the feedstock is key to production of a high-grade alumina product for low-cost processing. An ideal feedstock, as a minimum requirement, should be high in aluminium, low in deleterious elements, not be complex in its composition, nor variable as a feedstock and it must have certain crystal structures and compound qualities for the chemical stages of the process to react successfully.This is the distinct advantage that kaolin offers in the processing of HPA over the traditional feedstock derived from refined aluminium (which is expensive) or from industrial waste or other byproduct industrial sources which has a low aluminium grade, has a high level of soluble deleterious minerals such as sodium and is metallurgically complex and difficult to refine – making it difficult to refine and achieve a target high grade product of 99.99% Al2O3.The kaolin feedstock at the 100%-owned Cadoux project exhibits excellent grade and qualities that is suited to FYI’s developed HPA process flowsheet and refined over the prefeasibility study period. The outcomes are demonstrated in the efficiency and effectiveness of the flowsheet and the high-grade product that has resulted.The additional benefits of the Cadoux kaolin as a feedstock source is that FYI controls and manages the provenance of the product throughout the process chain, the geology and minerology is uncomplicated and well understood, the ore is amenable to the process and, importantly to the economics of the project, it is a very low-cost input.FYI’s processing flowsheet has been successfully tested on all the mineralised zones of the Cadoux deposit, however, a selected resource area for the initial operations has been targeted by FYI (the focus area of the revised mineral resource estimate currently being finalised by CSA Global) which should provide an excellent source of feedstock for the first several decades of processing.FYI, through its HPA process consultants Independent Metallurgical Operations and GR Engineering Services, will continue refining the metallurgical flow sheet during the various development phases to enhance process efficiencies and further reduce Capex and Opex costs.The optimised process flowsheet shown will form the basis of process design, equipment selection and equipment sizing, and should reduce both capital and operating costs for the project. The flowsheet has relatively straightforward processing design parameters utilising atmospheric pressure, moderate temperature and incorporating numerous “off the shelf” processing items and equipment.FYI’s Managing Director, Roland Hill, said of the metallurgical studies: “Attaining the excellent base grade of 99.997% HPA is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the efficiency and effectiveness of the Cadoux process flowsheet. The company’s focus is on building a quality HPA strategy as well as delivering a superior investment return to shareholders – so operating margins and capital costs are important to our business case. We expect our extensive defining test work program and resulting flow sheet optimisation to bear fruit for us by having a material impact on the project economics”.FYI is positioning itself to be a significant producer of high purity alumina (4N or HPA) in rapidly developing LED, electric vehicle, smartphone and television screen as well as other associated high-tech product markets.
mSpot propose de la musique en ligne et en streaming sous plusieurs OSEtats-Unis – Alors que les grandes entreprises telles qu’Apple et Google travaillent sur des logiciels proposant le stockage de la musique en ligne, une petite entreprise propose un service de streaming. Alors qu’un modèle de stockage de musique en ligne est à l’étude dans les grandes entreprises du web, une start-up a doublé tout le monde en proposant un service en ligne. mSpot propose une application permettant d’obtenir 40 Go d’espace de stockage sur Internet avec la possibilité d’écouter les titres à volonté en streaming. Ce service est payant et est accessible depuis un ordinateur PC ou Mac ou alors d’un mobile fonctionnant sous iOS4 ou Android. Désormais, la concurrence devra s’activer et faire preuve d’ingéniosité pour concurrencer mSpot, dont le service est disponible uniquement aux Etats-Unis pour le moment pour 3,99 dollars par mois. Le 20 décembre 2010 à 15:01 • Emmanuel Perrin
Stay on target Evan Rachel Wood Just As Disturbed by Humanoid Sophia As Everyone ElseMIT’s Thread-Like Robot Slides Through Blood Vessels In the Brain Toyota’s basketball-playing CUE3 humanoid robot has earned a Guinness World Record by sinking 2,020* consecutive free throws.CUE’s road to Guinness glory, however, was not paved in gold.The project dates back to 2018, when Toyota engineers began developing an athletic android inspired by Japanese manga and anime series “Slam Dunk,” in which main character Hanamichi Sakuragi practices shooting 20,000 times.“So, it was never about creating many different sport robots,” project leader Tomohiro Nomi said in a Guinness World Record video (below). “Instead we were creating an AI and for that we needed data. And that’s when Sakuragi Hanamichi gave us our inspiration.”The Guinness World Record attempt began amid great tension (via Toyota)Development of CUE officially became part of the team’s work in May 2018. Six months later, they unveiled CUE2, which victoriously scored a three-point throw during halftime of a professional basketball game.Toyota didn’t stop there, though: In April 2019, the vehicle maker introduced its next success story, CUE3. Despite pre-match rehearsal jitters, the robot landed a super-long throw that took the Internet by storm—and caught the attention of Guinness World Records.On the day of the record attempt, the team sweated over every shot; failure was not an option.The opening five throws—enough to set a record—went smoothly. But the team’s attempt “had only just begun,” according to Toyota’s account of the day.“Thirty throws. Soon it would be 100. CUE3 quietly continued to sink its shots,” the firm said.As 500 turned to 800, no one spoke. The only sound of the ball swishing through the net echoed around the hall.More than three hours later, CUE scored its landmark 1,000th shot. Still the attempt continued.Not dissimilar to a human player preparing their mind and body to make the shot, Toyota’s bot uses vision and radar to compute a 3D image of the basket and its relative distance.An algorithm then transforms that data into instructions for arm, knee, and torso motors, calculating the perfect angle and propulsion for each throw.Depending on its distance from the basket, CUE3 can adapt its shot.CUE3 surpassed the 200 shots it attempted during rehearsal (via Toyota)“Before we created it, we imagined that the better it became, the closer it would be to a human body,” Nomi explained. “But once we started, it actually required different movements to a human.“One of the reasons is that a human has a different number of axis and muscles,” he continued. “So, the biggest lesson for us is that the most subtle change in movement of the human body and a robot creates a substantial difference.”The next goal for the development team is to take part in the B.League All Stars Game in January.* The number was selected to commemorate the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will be held in Toyota’s home country of Japan.More on Geek.com:Watch 1,007 Chinese Robots Dance Their Way to a World RecordToyota Unveils Lunar Rover Concept as Japan Plans Moon MissionToyota’s New Humanoid Robot Mimics Your Movements
Students of Community Christian Academy tour FLOW Headquarters and meet TCI Olympian Related Items:#DelanoWilliams, #magneticmedianews TCI exposed to terror attack survivor from 1972 Olympics Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsApp
Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsApp#United Kingdom, August 11, 2017 – London – TCIs first Olympian, #DelanoWilliams will run in the 4x400m heats on Saturday with Team Great Britain in the early session, and hopefully the team makes it through… and they should, to compete in the finals and to medal. Team GB will run out of lane six in heat 2.The first three teams qualify to advance to the finals which is slated as the finale event of the 2017 World Championships of the IAAF. The heats in the 4x400m begin at 5:50am, our time on Saturday.#MagneticMediaNews Recommended for you
The Moto X4 is a seriously good deal at $130. Josh Miller/CNET This is something of a rerun, because just a few weeks ago the Moto X4 was on sale bundled with a month of Cricket service. Today, it’s just the phone — with a lower price.As I’ve said many times, it’s crazy to spend $750 to $1,000 for a phone when you can pay a fraction of the price for one that’s pretty damn good.Witness the Motorola Moto X4, which now qualifies as an “older” model (because it arrived way back in December 2017, gasp) but still rocks — especially at this price, one of the lowest to date.For a limited time, and while supplies last, Amazon Prime subscribers can get the unlocked Motorola Moto X4 (32GB) for just $129.99. I first spotted this late yesterday, so I’m not sure how much longer this deal will be active. Could be days, could be hours.See it at AmazonBecause the phone is unlocked and capable of working on both CDMA and GSM networks, you can take it to just about any carrier: AT&T, Cricket, Mint Mobile, Verizon or wherever. If you already have a number, you can port it to Sprint and get an entire year of service for free. CNET’s Cheapskate scours the web for great deals on PCs, phones, gadgets and much more. Note that CNET may get a share of revenue from the sale of the products featured on this page. Questions about the Cheapskate blog? Find the answers on our FAQ page. Find more great buys on the CNET Deals page and follow the Cheapskate on Facebook and Twitter! Best Buy Review • Moto X4 review: Standout midrange Android phone is even cheaper Now playing: Watch this: Motorola Moto X4 $256 16 Photos Share your voice Mentioned Above Motorola Moto X4 (Super Black) 2:32 $335 Phones Best laptops for college students: We’ve got an affordable laptop for every student. Best live TV streaming services: Ditch your cable company but keep the live channels and DVR.
Comments Preview • Moto X4 wants to outsmart other phones. Better Bluetooth is just a start 16 Motorola’s Moto X4 packs a boatload of AI goodies CNET may get a commission from retail offers. Motorola’s glossy Moto X4 shines bright See it Amazon AT&T Cricket Motorola Sprint T-Mobile Verizon Tags The Cheapskate See It As for the X4, I’ve used one (sparsely) as a backup phone and I like its design and performance. Here are some key things to know:It has a USB-C port instead of Micro-USB: yay! The latter deserves a special place in hell, the former is the future.It has a headphone jack: yay!It has a dual-lens rear camera that does a solid job creating bokeh effects.It has an expansion slot for adding tons more storage on the cheap.It’s water resistant enough to survive a dunk for up to 30 minutes.What’s not so great about the phone? According to CNET’s Motorola Moto X4 review, the camera can be slow to load and has a few issues with wide-angle images.To that I’ll add that the X4 doesn’t support wireless charging, though I stand by this $13 accessory that adds the capability.Bottom line: If you want a midrange phone but can afford only a budget one, this is the deal to beat.