Monthly Archives: May 2020

Computers, News

AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 Mobile Series Comes Out to Work

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AMD announced their 4000 series mobile CPUs last month. The updated 4000 series mobile CPUs are supposed to be a huge upgrade over the older 3000 series mobile CPUs. They are supposed to be faster and more powerful with more cores as well.

The new 4000 series of mobile CPUs are also supposed to be much better for gaming. In reported benchmarks, it showed a huge improvement over the older 3000 series that it replaced. It also showed overall advantage over older Intel 9th generation processors. We do not have the numbers against the newer 10th Generation Core mobile processors for now, we can assume that they are somewhat on par.

There is a small niche of users who require a bit more than just processing power though. They require reliability, and efficiency in their work. They jump from one workspace to another very quickly too. In that case, they need something more secure. Security in terms of PC is mostly seen as a software implementation rather than hardware. Not anymore with the AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 series.

Source: AMD

The AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 series is offered in three flavours. It comes in a budget friendly form: an AMD Ryzen 3 PRO 4450U. It comes with the value pack: an AMD Ryzen 5 PRO 4650U. It also comes with the top-of-the-line no compromise package: the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U.

This is not to be mistaken for the regular AMD Ryzen 4000 series CPUs, however. This is a class of its own. There is a difference between the AMD Ryzen 7 4700U and the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 4750U. But, the U moniker at the back still stands. They are both made for ultra-thin notebook PCs.

There are several key differences between a regular premium ultrabook and a made for business ultrabook. Business grade notebooks usually are more robust for example. They also place more emphasis on data security more than everything else. Those are the key differences between the regular Ryzen 4000 series and the Ryzen PRO 4000 series. 

Source: AMD

The clock speeds are not actually that different from the regular AMD Ryzen 4000 series mobile CPUs. Which also means that they are supposed to have all the same power ratings, there or there abouts. Being an ultrabook type CPU, they should be similarly power efficient too.

What is different though is the PRO suite that comes with the AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 mobile CPU series. The suite built within the CPU itself is meant for make your work more secure and easily manageable by your IT team. They promised around 20+ hours of battery life with more premium platforms too. They did not mention the exact battery size used for this claim though, so take it with a pinch of salt.

Source: AMD

Still, the business grade processors are designed to fit any sort of businesses. There are businesses that refuses to upgrade their software until it is too late. There are some businesses that are always eager to update their software. AMD Ryzen PRO is designed to be stable and prepared for any eventuality in that regards. Of course, the AMD Ryzen PRO is also designed to last forever. Then again, that would also depend on manufacturer otpimisation in cooling solutions, or maintenance efforts.

We should see some work class notebook PCs to feature the AMD Ryzen PRO 4000 CPUs. We have seen some consumer grade AMD Ryzen 4000 series launched in the new ASUS notebook PCs. It is only a matter of time before we start seeing more notebook PCs come packing a Ryzen processor.

PR Newswire

XAG Deploys Drones to Seed Burned Land for Australian Fire Recovery

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  • XAG joined hands with DELWP and HDLN on the first-ever post-fire drone seeding operation on Cobrico Peat Swamps, Victoria in Australia.
  • Drones with intelligent spreading system were used to distribute seeds directly into the fire-ravaged, difficult-to-access areas.
  • The trial project in Lake Cobrico demonstrates the best practice of drones to regenerate peat swamps after a wildfire in a safe, cost-effective manner.

COBRICO, Australia, May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — In a collective effort to restore Australia from wildfire devastation, XAG has joined the first-ever post-fire drone seeding operation on Lake Cobrico, Victoria. This project was funded by Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and managed by Heytesbury District Landcare Network (HDLN). It is the first time that agricultural drones are used to re-establish native vegetation within a fire-ravaged peat swamp in Australia.

XAG Drone Seeding to Help Vegetation Regeneration in Australia
XAG Drone Seeding to Help Vegetation Regeneration in Australia

Due to the increasingly frequent, large-scale bushfire, Australia has been facing an unprecedented decline in biodiversity as well as substantial increase in greenhouse gas emission. Particularly, as one of the world’s largest terrestrial carbon reserve, peatlands have been experiencing drainage and fires, which contributes to 5% of global carbon emission. Immediate actions should be taken based on partnership to restore the country’s damaged ecosystem.

This April, XAG sent 3 sets of its P Series drones, equipped with JetSeed granule spreading system, to distribute native seeds directly on Lake Cobrico. Within only two days, approximately 40 hectares of burned land was replenished with new plants, using a blend of 12 different seeds. In the next six months, XAG and HDLN will closely monitor the result of drone seeding, which will be compared with that of the other area where plants are going to be natural regrowth. It is expected that the project would be replicated across the region and state, especially within the areas where traditional techniques are inapplicable.

Lake Cobrico is a swamp wildlife reserve located near Warrnambool in Southwest Victoria. Part of the peatland was severely damaged during the 2018 St Patrick’s Day Fire, with the vegetation and deeper soil layers left in ruins. In areas of high burn severity, the ecosystem itself might be unable to regenerate naturally and requires human intervention, such as direct seeding, for fire recovery. Re-establishment of native vegetation can slow down erosion and sedimentation, and suppress invasive weeds after a wildfire.

XAG drones allow seeding to be done on Lake Cobrico, where landowners and managers used to find it difficult to restore the wet, inaccessible fire-impacted areas. During the operation, the drones accurately followed the pre-set flight route, while harnessing high-speed airflows to project seeds from 2-3 metres above the ground. Also, seeding rates could be precisely controlled and adjusted in real time to ensure that the proper amount of seed was distributed evenly into the targeted bare land. This has not only limited the exposure of staffs and ground vehicle to rugged terrain, but also avoided using either too much or too little seeds.

HDLN co-ordinator Geoff Rollinson said in an interview with Cobden Timboon Coast Times that, drone technology provides access to all areas despite the complex landforms. “This project wouldn’t be able to go ahead in the normal manner because some areas of Lake Cobrico are unstable,” he said. XAG is the first business in Australia to obtain swarm flight approval from Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), therefore operation of up to five drones by one pilot is made possible to increase efficiency.

By innovatively using drones for direct seeding, XAG has transformed the way ecosystem restoration works are conducted. Seeding by hand or ground equipment is inapplicable to Lake Cobrico where part of the peat swamp is difficult to access; this approach might also disturb the vulnerable post-fire vegetation and soil. Aerial seeding by plane or helicopter can cover a larger area, but besides costly, it might result in seed drift and uneven distribution that might adversely affect a successful outcome.

The trial project in Lake Cobrico demonstrates the best practice of drones to regenerate fire-impacted peat swamps in a safe, cost-effective manner, without human or mechanical trampling on vegetation cover. XAG’s drone seeding solution is now recommended by DELWP and HDLN as a ‘well-designed and sustainable option for environmental restoration works.’

Bushfires are a natural part of Australia’s ecosystem, in which many plant species develop to become fire-resistant. However, the 2019-20 Australian bushfires, as one of the most severe, has brought devastating, long-lasting impact on the world’s biodiversity. Over 17 million hectares of land was burned across the nation, with an estimated one billion animals killed in the raging fires.

Facing great environmental challenges caused by the fire disaster, Australia has been going through a bumpy pathway to long-term recovery. New technologies can empower government and land managers to restore the fire affected regions under safer operating conditions. XAG’s smart agriculture solutions, including drone surveying, remote sensing, and precision chemical application, have been gradually adopted in Australia. If drone seeding techniques can be scaled up for ecosystem restoration across the states, it would help to accelerate the footstep of Australia’s fire recovery.

About XAG

Founded in 2007, XAG is a world-leading agriculture technology company with 12 years of technical experience in unmanned aerial system (UAS) and 6 years of practical experience in innovative field applications. Up to 1 January, 2020, XAG has over 50,000 agricultural drones in operation, having empowered 7 million farmers with precision crop protection services on 25 million hectares of farmland. With a global mission to advancing agriculture, XAG is devoted to building digital farming infrastructure, developing precision farming equipment, such as robots, drones, AI and IoT, and creating smart agriculture ecosystem.

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PR Newswire

Striker Class Now Available in Black Desert Mobile

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SEOUL, South Korea, May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Pearl Abyss today announced that the highly-anticipated Striker class has arrived in Black Desert Mobile. Adventurers can now experience one of the most popular classes in other versions of Black Desert while participating in various celebrations.

Striker Class Now Available in Black Desert Mobile
Striker Class Now Available in Black Desert Mobile

A master of hand-to-hand combat, the Striker combines martial arts and street combat to defeat his enemies. His style is suited both to one-on-one combat and battlefields, where his speed and agility make him a truly terrifying opponent. Adventurers can celebrate the Striker’s arrival by participating in a level-up event. Those who level up the Striker before June 9 can receive exclusive rewards such as a Tier 2 Pet Chest, Shiny Accessory Chest, and Elgriffin’s Defense Gear Chest.

In addition, the popular Field of Valor mode has returned in celebration of Striker’s arrival. Field of Valor is a battlefield mode that Adventurers can experience as a party of five. Party members can take part in 30-minute battles against various monsters that will reward them precious items upon their defeat. 

Last but not least, Adventurers can enjoy an unprecedented hot-time event that gives 300% extra EXP. Adventurers can use this opportunity to level up their characters, including the new Striker class, more rapidly. This boost will be delivered through in-game mail until May 17. 

Visit Black Desert Mobile‘s official website for more information.

About Pearl Abyss

Best known for the MMORPG franchise Black Desert, Pearl Abyss is a leading developer in the game industry. Established in 2010, Pearl Abyss has since developed Black Desert for PC, mobile, and console, and is developing Shadow Arena for PC and console. All of Pearl Abyss’ games are built on the company’s own proprietary engine and are renowned for their cutting-edge graphics. The company is also developing Crimson Desert, DokeV, and PLAN 8 and is poised to continue its growth through 2020 and maintain its position as one of Asia’s leaders in game development. More information about Pearl Abyss is available at: www.pearlabyss.com

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200512/2801305-1?lang=0

PR Newswire

TECNO Mobile launches the groundbreaking five camera-equipped Spark 5

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HONG KONG, May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — TECNO Mobile, a global premier mobile phone brand, has announced the launch of the groundbreaking Spark 5 smartphone. Equipped with five cameras and a powerful 5,000 mAh battery, the Spark 5 will bring photos and videos to life on its 6.6 inch dot-in-display. The Spark 5 will feature TECNO’s HI OS 6.0 straight out of the box, which is built on Android Q, and will be available at leading retailers in the global market.

The SPARK 5 brings unmatched quality in image and video creation powered by its 13 megapixel AI Quad camera on the back and an 8 megapixel front camera. Each of the four rear AI cameras are equipped with specific capabilities – depth, primary camera, macro lens, and AI lens – delivering an extraordinary visual experience to users and showcasing TECNO Mobile’s innovative use of artificial intelligence technologies.

Stephen Ha, General Manager of Tecno Mobile, commented on the launch: “We continue to see demand for our innovative smartphones in the Middle East and we are excited to be launching the Spark 5 in the region. As a brand founded on the principle of innovation and the value of AI technologies, the new Spark 5’s five cameras will appeal to users looking for a power-packed smartphone at an accessible price. Users can enjoy a better-connected life by sparking their creativity with the state-of-the-art camera technology at your fingertips, and share content easily with their friends and families through social media channels.” 

Photography enthusiasts can take professional-grade photographs in all modes and with various effects, including the bokeh effect, AI HDR, macro mode and AI portrait mode, making full use of the Spark 5’s powerful cameras. The cutting-edge “immersive screen” will provide users with a one-of-a-kind true full screen viewing experience.

With its upgraded AI Camera 3.0 algorithm and AI Scene Detection, users will transform their photography experience: elevating the quality of photos they take, and making full use of the phone’s six flashes — including four which are situated around the rear camera with dual front camera flash. With the macro mode, users will be able to take extreme close-ups up to four cm away from the subject, allowing them to focus on the details that matter. 

The SPARK 5 also features AI HDR technology which increases dynamic range beyond what is captured by the camera’s sensors, allowing users to take photos with less noise and sharper details. SPARK 5’s elegant design comes in four colour options of Ice Jadeite, Spark Orange, Vacation Blue and Misty Grey.

A feature-packed powerful smartphone for everyone

  • Camera: 8-megapixel front camera and 13-megapixel rear AI quad camera with 4 back flash and dual front flash.
  • Software, Connectivity and Network: WIFI/BT 5.0 with a 4G LTE enabled network and a 2 Nano Sim slots.
  • Android Q with MT6761 processor and a 32 GB + 2GB memory. The device operates on HiOS which is a customized version of Android mobile operating system. It allows for a wide range of user customization without requiring rooting the mobile device. The operating system is also equipped with utility applications that allow users to free up memory, freeze applications, limit data accessibility to applications, and other useful features.
  • Display: SPARK 5’s 6.6 inch dot in display screen is a massive beauty. It gives you a screen with a 90.2% perfect screen ratio allowing for a much broader and a more wonderful viewing experience with a screen resolution of 720*1600 HD that provides extremely sharp display.
  • Battery: 5,000 mAh that will last you all day on a single charge. Even with power consuming applications running on your tabs, the phone will get you through the entire day.

For more information, please visit TECNO Mobile at www.tecno-mobile.com

About TECNO Mobile

TECNO Mobile is a premium smartphone brand from TRANSSION Holdings. Upholding the brand essence of “Expect More”, TECNO is committed to giving the masses access to latest technology at accessible prices, allowing the consumers to reach beyond their current limitations and uncover a world of possibilities. TECNO understands the needs of consumers from different markets and provides them with localized innovations across a product portfolio featuring smartphones, tablets, and feature phones. TECNO is a major global player with presence in around 60 emerging markets across the world. It is also the global Official Tablet and Handset Partner of Manchester City Football Club. For more information, please visit: www.tecno-mobile.com

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PR Newswire

“ARMOUR” — Apigate’s New Solution to Safeguard Users from Digital Payment Fraud

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  • A much-needed fraud protection solution for mobile network operators (MNOs), Digital merchants & OTTs
  • During trials, MNOs experienced a significant reduction in customer complaints of up to 90%
  • Merchants reported an increase in conversion rates through Armour’s frictionless payment experience

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 13, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Apigate, a Global Digital Content Monetization & Messaging ecosystem, today announced the launch of Armour, a new data-based e-solution to tackle the “big five” issues of Direct Carrier Billing: in-app malware, bots, iFraming, suspicious traffic, and backdoor charging.

Armour, a new fraud protection solution from Apigate
Armour, a new fraud protection solution from Apigate

Analyst reports stated that 90% of South and Southeast Asia’s population access the internet through mobile phones, which means the region is by far home to the world’s most engaged mobile users. Additionally, the region is expected to grow to US$300 billion by 2025, or threefold from US$100 billion in 2019, bringing a higher risk of online fraud as the ”mobile economy” continues to expand.

This is where Armour steps in, once Armour’s fraud detection is deployed, each transaction is checked against hundreds of data points to validate its trustworthiness. This allows for suspicious activities in the digital payment process to be detected and prevented in real-time through a highly tuned Machine Learning algorithm. Furthermore, Armour can continually and automatically refine its ability to detect an ever-increasing range of threats to the digital payment system.

The added benefit of a reduction in digital payment fraud is an increase in customer satisfaction. Since its roll-out with major partners in South and Southeast Asia, results show a significant decrease in customer complaints while at the same time showing a month on month increase in clean transaction rate, bringing a higher & more sustainable conversion rate for Digital merchants.

Raja Mansukhani, Senior Vice President of APAC, said “Armour as a product is a natural progression to cater to the demands of an ever-growing Digital economy which has led to more significant exposure to fraud. Our objective of developing Armour was to limit this threat while removing a frictionful experience for the end customer, leading to a reduction in complaints for Telcos.”

For more on Armour or any of Apigate’s other exciting services, please send enquires to info@apigate.com.

About Apigate:

Apigate is a global digital content monetization & messaging ecosystem that enables faster reach for Digital Merchants to get connected to end consumers via Telcos, e-Wallets and other channels with one seamless integration.

Apigate has a reach of approximately 1 billion end consumers with more than 150 connected merchants. Visit our website at www.apigate.com for more details.

Photo – https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200512/2801518-1?lang=0

PR Newswire

Frost & Sullivan Names 11 Industry Leaders in the Global Big Data Market

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Frost Radar identifies companies excelling at innovation, poised for partnerships, and ripe for investment

SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan’s Global Big Data Analytics (BDA) Industry Radar found that organizations’ requirement to enhance customer engagement and provide effective customer service is strongly pushing the demand for BDA solutions to better predict and serve customers’ needs. This is driving investments in both market segments of BDA—data discovery and visualization (DDV) and advanced analytics—and has attracted millions of dollars in funding committed to product enrichment, expansion into new industry verticals, and development of distribution partnerships to meet the growing demand for analytics solutions.

Frost & Sullivan's Global Big Data Analytics Industry Radar
Frost & Sullivan’s Global Big Data Analytics Industry Radar

To learn more about the Global Big Data Analytics Market, 2020 Frost Radar, please visit: http://frost.ly/43k

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has provided research and analysis on the Big Data Analytics industry to help investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, and new business models.

This recently released Radar provides a benchmark of over 30 companies in the global Big Data Analytics industry to determine the top 11 industry leaders excelling at innovation, poised for partnerships, and ripe for investment. The businesses are recognized in the Frost Radar with insight into their innovative offerings, projected increase rates, strengths and on how companies can be more effective in the future.

The following organizations were profiled: SAS, IBM, Qlik, Splunk, Tableau, TIBCO, FICO, SAP, Alteryx, MicroStrategy, and Palantir.

Key takeaways

  • Better understand the growth environment from the perspective of industry experts
  • Gain insight into organizations recognized for leveraging best practices to shape the future of the industry
  • Benefit from a comprehensive analysis of the companies plotted on the Radar
  • Receive best practices on how the intelligence in the Radar can be leveraged by the Board of Directors, the CEO’s growth team, customers, and more

About Frost & Sullivan
For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:
Francesca Valente
Global Corporate Communications
E: francesca.valente@frost.com

http://ww2.frost.com

Photo – https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/frost-sullivan-names-11-industry-leaders-in-the-global-big-data-market.jpg

PR Newswire

Brightcove Recognized by Frost & Sullivan for Dominating the Online Video Platforms Market with Innovative Growth Strategies

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SANTA CLARA, California, May 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Based on its recent analysis of the global online video platforms (OVP) market, Frost & Sullivan recognizes Brightcove Inc. with the 2020 Global Market Leadership Award. Leveraging broad expertise in media workflows and marketing, Brightcove delivers the industry-leading OVP supplemented by an extensive ecosystem of third-party integrations. Through a mix of astute acquisitions and customer-focused product innovations, it captured significant market share and an impressive clientele. No other market participant provides the same level of usability and reliability as Brightcove.

Brightcove
Brightcove

“Accounting for approximately 2% of the total downstream Internet traffic, Brightcove demonstrates its ability to deliver a range of services at scale. During 2019, for example, Brightcove provided more than 800 million videos to over 550 million viewers globally per week, underscoring the reliability of its globally-distributed architecture and ongoing management of 40 petabytes of customer content,” said Anisha Vinny, Program Manager at Frost & Sullivan. “Its OVP presents organizations that do not have massive IT departments with a leading platform as well as a rich ecosystem of third-party integrations. The partner ecosystem includes complementary technologies from leading content management systems, upload acceleration, analytics, marketing automation platforms, and customer relationship management.”

In 2019, Brightcove acquired Ooyala’s OVP business to augment its current capabilities and expand on its market leadership. Combining Ooyala’s customer, reseller, and partner relationships with its offerings has helped it add scale and gain a wider geographic footprint. The acquisition also accelerated Brightcove’s product roadmap and enhanced its customers’ ability to bring workflows online faster, securely. It protects customers’ content through digital rights management, encryption, geo-filtering, time-to-live token authentication, domain restrictions, and IP restrictions.

Furthermore, in 2019, it launched or improved three standout applications that enable customers to reach more viewers faster and with more insights. Brightcove Live was upgraded to give broadcasters, publishers, and enterprises more and simpler ways to upload and monetize live video. At the same time, Brightcove Beacon helped them to deliver premium OTT video experiences across devices with native applications. One of the company’s newest offerings, Brightcove Campaign, supports demand generation marketers in leveraging video in marketing campaigns. In April 2020, Brightcove launched the Brightcove Engage application for employee engagement through video. Using this mobile- and video-first application, corporate communications and HR professionals can make playlists, enable push notifications, and broadcast content across the organization.

“Brightcove’s core cloud video platform remains the benchmark for scalability, reliability, flexibility, and ease of deployment. In 2019, the Brightcove playback service maintained 99.999% uptime, registering only five minutes of total unscheduled downtime,” noted Vinny. “The company continues to push the envelope in innovation, it currently holds multiple patents, with an additional four granted in 2019, and has published more than 300 papers authored by Brightcove engineers in the area of video technologies. Its thought leadership, robust product development efforts, and strategic merger and acquisition strategy will keep it at the top of the leaderboard in the long term.”

Each year, Frost & Sullivan bestows this Award upon the company that demonstrates excellence in growth and customer value. Attaining loyal customers who became brand advocates allows the company to grow and achieve a market leadership position. By committing to the customer at each stage of the buying cycle and continuing to nurture the relationship, this Award recognizes a company’s increased market share over time.

Frost & Sullivan Best Practices awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for demonstrating outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service, and strategic product development. Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis, and extensive secondary research to identify best practices in the industry.

About Frost & Sullivan

For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders, and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models, and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion.

Contact:

Lindsey Whitaker
P: +1 (210) 477-8457
E: lindsey.whitaker@frost.com

About Brightcove Inc. (NASDAQ: BCOV)
We are the people behind the world’s leading video technology platform. With our award-winning technology and services, we help organizations in more than 70 countries meet business challenges and create strategic opportunities by inspiring, entertaining, and engaging their audiences through video.

Since Brightcove was established in 2004, we have consistently pushed boundaries to create a platform for people who are serious about video: one that is robust, scalable, and intuitive. Benefiting from a global infrastructure, unrivalled customer support, an extensive partner ecosystem, and relentless investment in R&D, Brightcove video sets the standard for professional grade video management, distribution, and monetization. To learn more, visit www.brightcove.com.

Press Contact
Meredith Duhaime
Senior Public Relations Manager 
Brightcove | 603-785-8518
mduhaime@brightcove.com  

PR Newswire

World’s First Graduate-level AI University Appoints Renowned Experts to Leadership Team

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ABU DHABI, UAE, May 12, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the world’s first graduate-level, research-based artificial intelligence (AI) university, has appointed two leading experts in AI, education and technology, to its leadership team.

Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf
Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf

Dr. Ling Shao has been appointed as Executive Vice President and Provost of MBZUAI. He will lead MBZUAI’s academic affairs and research, ensuring the University delivers world-class higher education and research in the field of AI. In addition to his role at the University, Dr. Shao serves as CEO and Chief Scientist of the Inception Institute of Artificial Intelligence (IIAI), an Abu Dhabi-based international research organization that is partnered with MBZUAI to supervise PhD students, curriculum development, and research collaboration.

MBZUAI has also appointed Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf as Executive Vice President for Outreach and Engagement. Dr. Al Yousuf, a highly accomplished Emirati expert, will oversee the University’s external partnership mission, including outreach with the broader community, government agencies, and industrial partners. She will support the development and implementation of AI research initiatives, as well as develop, oversee, and provide AI advisory and consultancy services to public and private sector organizations, including government agencies, large businesses, small and medium enterprises, and AI startups. 

Speaking on the leadership appointments, Professor Sir Michael Brady, Interim President of MBZUAI, said: “Our vision from the very beginning was to develop a world-class higher education institution that will set new standards in the field of AI. With Dr. Shao and Dr. Al Yousuf on board we have further strengthened our leadership team, which will steer our University towards becoming a global leader in our field, delivering the best possible AI education to students, and serving as a prominent partner for research.”

Dr. Shao said: “As the first establishment of its kind to focus solely on AI education and research, MBZUAI will play an important role in the future of our societies. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to guide the next generation of AI leaders.”

Dr. Al Yousuf said: “It is an honor to have the opportunity to further contribute to the UAE’s scientific and technology sector through the Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. I look forward to leveraging the capabilities of the University while working with public and private sector entities within the UAE and across the world to find new solutions that will propel global society into an AI-empowered era.”

With the first academic year scheduled to start in January 2021, the University is in the process of vetting thousands of applications from more than 80 countries. The University Admissions Office will begin to send acceptance letters soon. 

MBZUAI will offer Master of Science (MSc) and PhD level programs to graduate students from across the world, while also engaging policymakers and businesses globally so that AI is harnessed as a force for positive transformation.

The University will provide all admitted students with a full scholarship, plus benefits such as a monthly allowance, health insurance, and accommodation. MBZUAI will work with leading local and global companies to secure internships and will also assist students in finding employment.

About Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI)

MBZUAI is the world’s first graduate-level, research-based artificial intelligence (AI) university. Launched in October 2019 and located in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, the University aims to empower students, businesses and governments to advance artificial intelligence as a global force for positive progress. For more information, please visit www.mbzuai.ac.ae.

Photo – https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/worlds-first-graduate-level-ai-university-appoints-renowned-experts-to-leadership-team-1.jpg  
Photo – https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/worlds-first-graduate-level-ai-university-appoints-renowned-experts-to-leadership-team.jpg

Dr. Ling Shao Executive Vice President and Provost at MBZUAI
Dr. Ling Shao Executive Vice President and Provost at MBZUAI
Android, Mobile, News

OPPO Reno3 Series Brings 108-Megapixel Imaging to the Game at MYR 1,699

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OPPO has been really stepping up in the smartphone game. Their OPPO Find X2, as we have reviewed was one of the best flagship smartphones that you can buy in today’s money, in our opinions. The OPPO Find X2 Pro is also an impressive media powerhouse capable of wonderful things.

The OPPO A92 that was launched last week brings things a bit more down to earth. But still, the OPPO A92 was launched to impress too. It packs a great camera package in an offering that will set you back less than MYR 1,500. Today, they set out to impress the mid-range market with a high-end camera package in a smartphone. It is the OPPO Reno3 series.

Welcome to the OPPO Reno3 series. Like any other modern smartphone, there are two variants of the OPPO Reno3. There is the regular Reno3 and the Reno3 Pro. With the Pro, they brought the big gun out.

Source: OPPO

Yes, we start with the OPPO Reno3 Pro and its cameras. Technically because they start the presentation with that. There is a 64-Megapixel main camera flanked by a 13-Megapixel telephoto lens, a 2-Megapixel monochrome (black and white) sensor, and an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide lens. Get this though, the camera array can capture images at up to 108-Megapixel in resolution.

Wait a minute, the main sensor is only 64-Megapixel. Yes, we heard you. They do it via something called super sampling. What that means is that the camera itself takes multiple photos of the subject in quick successions or an instant. Those photos are then mashed together to fill pixel information that is missing from the original 64-Mgeapixel camera to create a highly detailed 108-Megpaixel resolution photo. It is a trick that plenty of professional photographers use to create an image that looks like it was taken via a medium format camera, but only using a full-frame or even an APS-C camera.

You must keep in mind that that kind of process is quite a lot of work and taxing to the hardware. That also means that you need to let your smartphone do its job before taking another photo. Take it with a pinch of salt and be patient. Still, we seldom see this kind of technology on a smartphone these days, so it is a welcome.

Source: OPPO

Going to the front is a punch hole that shoehorns two cameras for great selfies. The main shooter is A 44-Megapixel camera that is supported by a 2-Megapixel depth sensor. Again, not new implementation for a smartphone. We saw this on something like the Samsung Galaxy A8 before too. There are more modern smartphones with this kind of arrangement of course. What is more impressive though is OPPO’s ultra-dark mode for both the front and back camera. It somehow eliminates noised and at the same time, brightens images even when you can barely see anything while taking the photo.

The front cameras are embedded in a beautiful 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display pushing Full HD+ resolution to your eyes. Super AMOLED is widely known for its great colour contrast and vividness. There is no curved elements on the display though, unlike the Find X2. Like the Find X2 as well, the Reno3 series has given up on the pop-up mechanism. Turns out notches are not a bad thing.

The regular OPPO Reno3 still packs four cameras and can still shoot 108-Megapixel resolution photos. It might take the regular Reno3 to process the photos though with 48-Megapixel in tow. The other supporting cameras are the same as the Reno3 Pro. The regular Reno3 also comes with a single front facing camera at 44-Megapixel that is lodged in the familiar dew-drop notch on top of the same sized 6.4-inch AMOLED display.

Source: OPPO

Both ColorOS 7 (based on Android 10) devices in the series are powered by MediaTek processors. The OPPO Reno3 Pro packs a MediaTek Helio P95 flagship class Octa-core System on a Chip (SoC) while the regular OPPO Reno3 packs an equally impressive MediaTek Helio P90 SoC. Juice comes from a 4,025mAh battery on both devices. Of course, that battery comes with OPPO’s 30W Flash Charge 4.0 for a quick getaway.

You get 8GB RAM on both devices and up to 256GB of storage on the OPPO Reno3 Pro. On the regular OPPO Reno3, you are stuck with 128GB. Still, you can upgrade them via a MicroSD slot that is not shared with a SIM tray. Yes, it is a three-card tray with two dedicated SIM slots and single MicroSD slot. Whichever device you get sill offers the in-display fingerprint sensor.

  • Source: OPPO
  • Source: OPPO

The OPPO Reno3 series is available today onward on your favourite online shopping platforms: Lazada and Shopee. Of course, you can get them on OPPO’s own online store too. The OPPO Reno3 Pro is available for MYR 2,399. The OPPO Reno3 is available for MYR 1,699. Both are available in Midnight Black and Aurora Blue colour options. For more information about the OPPO Reno3 series, you can check out their website, or webstore.

Contributed, News

Malaysians Have Been Searching for Everything from Condoms to Yoga Mats during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Since early March, the high rate of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia has resulted in the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide. Soon after the official announcement, panicked purchasing increased drastically resulting in most daily necessities being sold out in most places.

With most Malaysians aware of the prolonged duration of the MCO, consumers are turning to online market places to obtain necessities and equipment to enable them to work-from-home (WFH). Thus, we investigated the search trends of more than 900,000 iPrice Malaysia visitors. The data has shed light on a number of interesting and unexpected findings.  

The research was conducted by analyzing the online search behavior of close to 1 million visitors on iPrice Malaysia between 18 March 2020, when the MCO was first enforced, and 17 April 2020. All percentage increases displayed in this research were obtained by comparing the search impressions data with consumers’ online search behavior prior to the implementation of the MCO.

1. Satisfaction is important, but safety always comes first

In the medical supply category, it was unsurprising to see a 648% increase in search interest for face masks such as surgical masks & N95 masks. However, it seems like Malaysians are getting adventurous as there was also a rise in interest for sex related products such as sensual toys, vibrators, fertility test kits & condoms.

From their search behaviours, we saw the following percentage increase in interest:

  • 347% increase in searches for sensual toys & vibrators
  • 79% increase in searches for fertility test kits
  • 61% increase in searches for condoms

While it seems like Malaysian could be indulging in self love and even more adventurous exploits, this also shows that Malaysians are being more cognizant of family planning especially with the increase in searches for fertility test kits.

2. Malaysians are running out of patience with their overgrown hair

The MCO began in the mid of March & has been ongoing for more than 6 weeks. This also means that most Malaysians probably have overgrown hair and are looking for ways to take care of it.  

iPrice data reveals major increase in searches for trimming clippers. In fact, the increase was an averaged 17,652%! This trend can also be seen throughout various social media platforms, where people has been sharing the results of their DIY haircut attempts.  

3. The MCO is potentially breading more MasterChefs

Malaysians are probably tired with packaged and delivered foods. As a result, they are turning to more home cooked food. Data reveals high interest in appliances such as bread makers, mixers, air fryers and ovens suggesting that people are showing interest in experimenting with various recipes.

This is supported by the increase in searches related to appliances including bread makers (7,587%), stand mixers (3,048%), ovens (1,058%) and air fryers (2,029%).

4. Malaysians Prefer the Nintendo Switch during the pandemic

The inability to go outdoors may have led to excessive boredom. As such, people are looking for ways to stay entertained at home. This could be driving the an increased interest in gaming. Data shows high search interest for gaming items such as the Nintendo switch, Animal Crossing game & board games such as Monopoly.

Nintendo’s latest game, Animal Crossing , saw a 17,427% increase in interest, while the Nintendo Switch saw an average increase of 1,064%. Board games, on the other hand, saw a 4,336% surge in interest among Malaysians.

5. Tablets preferred over laptops?

When it comes to preparing for WFH, Malaysians are probably looking to purchase tech that would allow them to be more productive; one would think that this would mean that they would be looking for laptops or PCs. However, the data indicates otherwise. In fact, it shows that Malaysian are turning more to tablets. On average, searches for tablets saw an increase of 1,125%, while laptops recorded a 299% increase.

This would suggest Malaysians are probably getting tablets for work or entertainment activities.

6. Staying fit indoors

Like many others on the internet, it seems that Malaysians are also worrying about gaining weight from being cooped up at home for too long. It’s all over social media! More people are showing an interest in working out at home. This is reflected in the data, there was a surge in searches for exercise equipment such as skipping ropes (4,528%) and yoga mats (2,016%).

Research methodology

Data featured in this study were obtained by aggregating thousands of product pages of more than 150 online merchants through https://iprice.my/. Data on the increase in searches were analyzed by comparing the impressions data recorded from March 18 – April 17, 2020 as compared to February 16, 2019 – March 17, 2020.