Google Now Lets Lollipop Users Toggle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth via Voice Command

Google Now on Android 5.0 Lollipop devices now features the ability to toggle on or off various features by simple voice commands, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and flashlight.

Till date, Google had not tipped the feature. According to Android Police, which spotted this feature on Friday, it seems that Google has silently pushed out this feature in last few Google Search app updates, but it is unknown what version it was originally shipped with.

Users with devices running Android 5.0 Lollipop are able to use this feature through Google Search voice commands or via 'Ok Google' hotword detection. To turn on/ off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and flashlight, users can simply say "Turn on" or "Turn off" followed by "Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or Flashlight", and the virtual assistant triggers a Google Now notification card and voice alert informing the user the feature has been turned on, or off.

At present, the feature doesn't seem to be working with Android 4.4 KitKat or lower devices. Meanwhile, Google Now reportedly has a new "Gas station on your route" card appearing for some users, although it is not yet on Google's official list of Now cards.The card is said have to popped-up automatically while users were driving, as Android Police reports, not when navigating - though it is expected to make its way here as well.

For More Details:-
RMP Infotech
www.rmpinfotech.in

'Digital India to Prepare Nation for Tech-Based Transformation'

President Pranab Mukherjee Monday said Digital India programme would prepare the country for technology-based transformation."My government has envisioned an ambitious umbrella programme, Digital India, to prepare the country for technology-based transformation and citizen centric transparent governance with service orientation," he said, addressing a joint session of both the houses of parliament on the first day of budget session.

"Aadhar-based attendance system and Jeevan Praman, Aadhar-based Digital Life Certificate Portal, have shown that innovative use of technology can make enormous difference," he said.Mukherjee said measures, which are being taken to accomplish digital inclusion in rural areas, small towns, north-east and other remote areas have opened up "immense job opportunities" in those areas.

The president also mentioned that promoting "manufacturing of electronic goods has been an area of thrust".

For More Details:-
RMP Infotech
www.rmpinfotech.in

Malware Can Track Your Smartphone via Power Usage: Study

Without using location data, malicious software can track your smartphone simply by measuring the way it uses the power, computer scientists have reported.

Location data is closely guarded by many smartphone users.

That's why the Android and iOS operating system prevent third party apps from accessing location data without the specific permission of the user.But it turns out that malware can track you anyway, without this data, MIT Technology Review reported.

"Our approach enables known route identification, real-time tracking, and identification of a new route by only analysing the phone's power consumption," said Yan Michalevsky from the Stanford University in California.The idea is that a smartphone's power usage depends largely on the distance from the nearest base station.As a user moves, this distance changes, increasing or decreasing the power needed to communicate with a base station.Given several different potential routes, the power usage profile should reveal which the user has taken.

To find this out, Michalevsky and his colleagues created an Android app called PowerSpy that measures power usage.

For More Details:-
RMP Infotech
www.rmpinfotech.in

Now, Armband That Alerts Users if They Are Running a Fever

Japanese researchers have developed a fever alarm armband, a flexible, self-powered wearable device that goes off in case of high body temperature. The flexible organic components developed for this device are well-suited to wearable devices that continuously monitor vital signs including temperature and heart rate for applications in healthcare settings.

"The fever alarm armband demonstrates that it is possible to produce flexible, disposable devices that can greatly enhance the amount of information available to carers in healthcare settings," said professor Takao Someya from the University of Tokyo's graduate school of engineering.

The system could also be adapted to provide audible feedback on body temperature, or combined with other sensors to register wetness, pressure or heart rate, he added.

The new device combines a flexible amorphous silicon solar panel, piezoelectric speaker, temperature sensor and power supply circuit created with organic components in a single flexible, wearable package.The fever alarm armband incorporates several first-ever achievements.

It is the first organic circuit able to produce a sound output and the first to incorporate an organic power supply circuit.

For More Details:-
RMP Infotech
www.rmpinfotech.in

New Web Tool to Help Researchers Speed Up Data Collection

A team of US scientists has created a Web application that speeds up researchers' data collection.

The app called Computer Assisted Neighbourhood Visual Assessment System (CANVAS) literally eliminates the costly and time-consuming aspects of conducting research. Researchers used the Web app to rate 150 different features of neighbourhoods in major metropolitan cities across the US.

The app makes use of Google Street View technology that links together images to create panoramic views of cities and rural areas.

"Before Google Street View, sociologists had to cover hundreds of square miles in neighbourhoods and painstakingly record visual details to answer research questions about gentrification, elders and healthy ageing, and more," said Michael Bader, a professor from American University in Washington, DC.

"CANVAS takes Google Street View a step further by marrying its image data collection with Django software, providing a reliable, efficient and comprehensive tool for conducting sociological research on a large scale," Bader said.

For More Details:-
RMP Infotech
www.rmpinfotech.in