Google has published a set of open source libraries that should improve the storage and transmission of 3D graphics, which could help deliver more detailed 3D apps.
Google said 3D graphics are now a fundamental part of many applications--including gaming, design and data visualization software--and that as graphics processors get more powerful, larger and more complex 3D models will become commonplace--especially as virtual reality and augmented reality content becomes more common.
But as 3D models get more complex, storage and bandwidth become a potential bottleneck, and so Google's Chrome Media team has created Draco, an open source compression library to improve the storage and transmission of 3D graphics.
Draco can be used to compress meshes and point-cloud data, and also supports compressing points, connectivity information, texture coordinates, color information, normals and any other generic attributes associated with geometry. The result is that applications using 3D graphics can be significantly smaller without compromising visual fidelity, according to Google.
Draco performance.
Image: Google
"For users this means apps can now be downloaded faster, 3D graphics in the browser can load quicker, and VR and AR scenes can now be transmitted with a fraction of the bandwidth, rendered quickly and look fantastic," said Jamieson Brettle and Frank Galligan of the Chrome Media Team.
Google argued that video and audio compression have shaped the internet over the past 10 years, with streaming video and music on demand, so tools like Draco are needed to help boost the usage of 3D.
"With the emergence of VR and AR, on the web on mobile (and the increasing proliferation of sensors like Lidar) we will soon be swimming in a sea of geometric data. Compression technologies, like Draco, will play a critical role in ensuring these experiences are fast and accessible to anyone with an internet connection," it said.
The Chrome developers said that support for creating multiple levels of detail from a single model to further improve the speed of loading meshes is also on the way. The Draco code can be found on GitHub.
Just three days after releasing a Windows 10 Creators Update test build chock-full of new features, Microsoft is releasing another new test build, but this time to both PC and Mobile Fast Ring testers.
This new build has quite a few new features, especially for Windows 10 phone users who haven't had a new Windows 10 test build in weeks.
On PCs, Microsoft has added some new capabilities for discovering and enrolling in Windows Hello facial recognition. There's an improved progress indicator when signing in, plus visual guidance for tracking faces in real time.
On PCs, Cortana can now help users pick up where they left off by displaying quick links in the Action Center designed to help users get back to the Edge sites or other documents they've been most recently using.
Build 15007 adds the ability to share tabs in Edge and to more easily import settings from other browsers to Edge.
On Windows 10 Phones running 15007, users can sign into Cortana with work or school accounts instead of their Microsoft Accounts. There are also new options to set recurring time-based Cortana reminders.
With 15007, phone users can now reset apps back to their original state, as they already can on PCs running Windows Anniversary update.Mobile testers now can sync settings using Azure Active Directory using Enterprise State Roaming. Users can sync passwords, Wi-Fi profiles, browser favorites and other app data. And they now can use the new Payment Request API for web payments that was added for PC users with Build 15002.
"I genuinely believe that if I was to give people a choice that the take-up would be 99 per cent in favour of Apple," says CIO Matt Peers.
Image: Google
This week marks the tenth anniversary of the launch of Apple's iPhone. During the past decade, the device and its associated operating system iOS have moved from consumer innovation to business standard. Apple devices and their Android adversaries now dominate the global smart phone market. But which operating system is best for business? Five CIOs give their views to ZDNet.
1. Openness is a key benefit of Android
Neil Moore, head of ICT at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, says his organisation's recommended platform is Android. The vast majority of employees in the organisation use this mobile operating system.
Part of the focus on Android relates to the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Platform (ESMCP), which is the next-generation communication platform for UK public bodies and a replacement for the current Airwave system. Moore says that, although the programme requires delivery across all platforms, Android is the clear lead system for ESMCP.
Other issues are important, too -- particularly integration and support. "Openness is certainly a key issue for us," says Moore. "We've found in the past that there's been more issues integrating systems due to the proprietary nature of iOS."
The organisation does allow some employees to use iOS if there is a specific need. Moore and his team provide limited support for Apple devices. "But the line we take is that Android is our preferred operating system," he says. "Our standard equipment runs on that operating system."
2. Familiarity is the key to the popularity of Apple devices
Matt Peers joined global law firm Linklaters as CIO in May 2015. Prior to his arrival, the firm was a heavy user of BlackBerry devices. Linklaters is now more wedded to Apple devices and iOS. Everyone who works for the firm -- from the back-office to the chief executive -- receives a corporate-supplied smartphone.
"I genuinely believe that if I was to give people a choice that the take-up would be 99 per cent in favour of Apple," he says. The firm saw about 185 iPhone 7s join its network on the day the device launched earlier this year.
Peers says the firm selected Apple over Android due to user preferences. He cites three key reason why Apple is more popular: familiarity with iOS from a domestic setting; ease of use when compared to other platforms; and compatibility with the firm's existing security products.
Android or iOS is one of the biggest decisions you'll make for your company, especially regarding security. Here are the latest security updates from both ecosystems.
Peers, however, remains open to new ideas, particularly when it comes to user preferences around mobile devices and operating system. "I constantly listen to what people are telling me in the firm," he says. "If we start to get a ground swell of opinion that we need to be offering other devices, then we will."
3. Work experience means Google is ready for business
Mark Ridley, group technology officer at venture builder Blenheim Chalcot Accelerate, is a big fan of Android but until recently he would have said iOS represented the slightly better choice for business. He says recent developments have changed his mind, suggesting the latest Android devices -- such as Google Pixel -- are highly secure and business-ready.
"These modern devices have the capability to do biometric authentication, so I'd be pretty happy from a security point of view using most of the recent Android devices in business," he says. "I'm still a huge fan of Google." However, Ridley recognises that iOS and Android have their respective plus points.
"The user experience with both is incredible," he says. "The power that lies within the operating system on iOS and Android devices is amazing. It's nothing like the early days of mobility, where you were wedded to a particular operating system and all the platforms had their faults."
Ridley, though, retains a strong bond with Android. "I feel like you can have a really great work experience in a pure Google world," he says. "Being able to simply give workers a device to log-on to and work from makes a real difference to productivity. It also commoditises technology."
4. Compatibility and usability are Apple plus points
Toby Clarke, interim head of IT at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, says he does not have a preference when it comes to the best mobile operating system for the business. The explanation for that sentiment is related to the current focus of his work.
"At Moorfields, I've been focused on other areas of IT provision rather than mobility during the past couple of years," he says. Clarke, who was previously IT director at finance specialist Abbey Protection Group for more than a decade, has spent has time at Moorfields focusing on standards, infrastructure, and skills.
He does, however, have a personal take. After many years of BlackBerry use, Clarke switched to iOS, rather than Android. He cites compatibility and usability concerns as key, particularly when it comes to connections to some of his devices and services.
"BlackBerry lost its traction because people stopped making apps -- and if you can't get great software, you'll drop the system," he says. "I love the iPhone but I think both iOS and Android will co-exist in the enterprise of the future."
5. Let your people decide which device is right
Graham Benson, CIO at Rentalcars.com, says mobility at his firm is all about giving power to the user. His organisation gives people the choice of Android or iOS. The firm also supports both Mac OS and Windows for PC.
"The selection of your operating system only becomes an issue if you choose to make it a concern," he says. "Technical workers, especially, understand devices and platforms and they will have certain preferences."
For Benson the appropriateness of an operating system for work is directly related to the type of task being completed. Workers can bring their own devices to work to help fulfil tasks. The firm runs a separate system called Rentalcars Guest that allows people to connect their own devices securely to the network.
The key to choosing the right mobile operating system, says Benson, is staff satisfaction. "I don't have a problem with people making their own choices," he says. "It's much more important to keep your people happy at work."
Design is a rather broad and vague term. When someone says "I'm a designer," it is not immediately clear what they actually do day to day. There are a number of different responsibilities encompassed by the umbrella term designer.
Design-related roles exist in a range of areas from industrial design (cars, furniture) to print (magazines, other publications) to tech (websites, mobile apps). With the relatively recent influx of tech companies focused on creating interfaces for screens, many new design roles have emerged. Job titles like UX or UI designer are confusing to the uninitiated and unfamiliar even to designers who come from other industries.
Let's attempt to distill what each of these titles really mean within the context of the tech industry.
UX designers are primarily concerned with how the product feels. A given design problem has no single right answer. UX designers explore many different approaches to solving a specific user problem. The broad responsibility of a UX designer is to ensure that the product logically flows from one step to the next. One way that a UX designer might do this is by conducting in-person user tests to observe one's behavior. By identifying verbal and non-verbal stumbling blocks, they refine and iterate to create the "best" user experience. An example project is creating a delightful onboarding flow for a new user.
"Define interaction models, user task flows, and UI specifications. Communicate scenarios, end-to-end experiences, interaction models, and screen designs to stakeholders. Work with our creative director and visual designers to incorporate the visual identity of Twitter into features. Develop and maintain design wireframes, mockups, and specifications as needed."
Example of an app's screens created by a UX designer.Credit: Kitchenware Pro Wireframe Kit by Neway Lau on Dribbble.
Deliverables: Wireframes of screens, storyboards, sitemap
Tools of the trade: Photoshop, Sketch, Illustrator, Fireworks, InVision You might hear them say this in the wild: "We should show users the 'Thank You' page once they have finished signing up."
Unlike UX designers who are concerned with the overall feel of the product, user interface designers are particular about how the product is laid out. They are in charge of designing each screen or page with which a user interacts and ensuring that the UI visually communicates the path that a UX designer has laid out. For example, a UI designer creating an analytics dashboard might front load the most important content at the top, or decide whether a slider or a control knob makes the most intuitive sense to adjust a graph. UI designers are also typically responsible for creating a cohesive style guide and ensuring that a consistent design language is applied across the product. Maintaining consistency in visual elements and defining behavior such as how to display error or warning states fall under the purview of a UI designer.
"Concept and implement the visual language of Airbnb.com. Create and advance site-wide style guides."
-UI Designer job description at Airbnb
The boundary between UI and UX designers is fairly blurred and it is not uncommon for companies to opt to combine these roles.
A UI designer defines the overall layout and look & feel of an app. Credit: Metro Style Interface 4 by Ionut Zamfir on Dribbble.
Tools of the trade: Photoshop, Sketch, Illustrator, Fireworks
You might hear them say this in the wild: "The login and sign up links should be moved to the top right corner."
A visual designer is the one who pushes pixels. If you ask a non-designer what a designer does, this is probably what comes to mind first. Visual designers are not concerned with how screens link to each other, nor how someone interacts with the product. Instead, their focus is on crafting beautiful icons, controls, and visual elements and making use of suitable typography. Visual designers sweat the small details that others overlook and frequently operate at the 4X to 8X zoom level in Photoshop.
"Produce high-quality visual designs—from concept to execution, including those for desktop, web, and mobile devices at a variety of resolutions (icons, graphics, and marketing materials). Create and iterate on assets that reflect a brand, enforce a language, and inject beauty and life into a product."
It is also fairly common for UI designers to pull double duty and create the final pixel perfect assets. Some companies choose not to have a separate visual designer role.
A visual designer lays out guides and adjusts every single pixel to ensure that the end result is perfect. Credits: iOS 7 Guide Freebie PSD by Seevi kargwal on Dribbble.
Tools of the trade: Photoshop, Sketch
You might hear them say this in the wild: "The kerning is off and the button should be 1 pixel to the left!"
Remember the subtle bouncing animation when you pull to refresh in the Mail app on your iPhone? That's the work of a motion designer. Unlike visual designers who usually deal with static assets, motion designers create animation inside an app. They deal with what the interface does after a user touches it. For example, they decide how a menu should slide in, what transition effects to use, and how a button should fan out. When done well, motion becomes an integral part of the interface by providing visual clues as to how to use the product.
"Proficiency in graphic design, motion graphics, digital art, a sensitivity to typography and color, a general awareness of materials/textures, and a practical grasp of animation. Knowledge of iOS, OS X, Photoshop and Illustrator as well as familiarity with Director (or equivalent), Quartz Composer (or equivalent), 3D computer modeling, motion graphics are required."
-Interaction Designer job description at Apple
Tools of the trade: AfterEffects, Core Composer, Flash, Origami
You might hear them say this in the wild: "The menu should ease-in from the left in 800ms."
A UX researcher is the champion of a user's needs. The goal of a researcher is to answer the twin questions of "Who are our users?" and "What do our users want?" Typically, this role entails interviewing users, researching market data, and gathering findings. Design is a process of constant iteration. Researchers may assist with this process by conducting A/B tests to tease out which design option best satisfies user needs. UX researchers are typically mainstays at large companies, where the access to a plethora of data gives them ample opportunity to draw statistically significant conclusions.
"Work closely with product teams to identify research topics. Design studies that address both user behavior and attitudes. Conduct research using a wide variety of qualitative methods and a subset of quantitative methods, such as surveys."
Front-end developers are responsible for creating a functional implementation of a product's interface. Usually, a UI designer hands off a static mockup to the front-end developer who then translates it into a working, interactive experience. Front-end developers are also responsible for coding the visual interactions that the motion designer comes up with.
Tools of the trade: CSS, HTML, JavaScript
You might hear them say this in the wild: "I'm using a 960px 12-column grid system."
Showoff: Often times front end developers need to share their work with colleagues, clients or open source world. There are many tools for that, but simplest way is to get shared hosting and throw HTML files there. Here you can find top 10 web hosting reviews. Lots of useful information there. Pay attention to inmotion hosting review, as well as a2 hosting review.
Product designer is a catch-all term used to describe a designer who is generally involved in the creation of the look and feel of a product.
The role of a product designer isn't well-defined and differs from one company to the next. A product designer may do minimal front-end coding, conduct user research, design interfaces, or create visual assets. From start to finish, a product designer helps identify the initial problem, sets benchmarks to address it, and then designs, tests, and iterates on different solutions. Some companies that want more fluid collaboration within the various design roles opt to have this title to encourage the whole design team to collectively own the user experience, user research, and visual design elements.
Some companies use "UX designer" or simply "designer" as a catch-all term. Reading the job description is the best way to figure out how the company's design team divides the responsibilities.
"Own all facets of design: interaction, visual, product, prototyping. Create pixel-perfect mocks and code for new features across web and mobile."
This is the single most common phase I hear from new startups. What they are usually looking for is someone who can do everything described above. They want someone who can make pretty icons, create A/B tested landing sites, logically arrange UI elements on screen, and maybe even do some front-end development. Due to the broad sweeping scope of this role, we usually hear smaller companies asking to hire a "designer" rather than being specific in their needs.
The boundaries between each of these various design roles are very fluid. Some UX designers are also expected to do interaction design, and often UI designers are expected to push pixels as well. The best way to look for the right person is to describe what you expect the designer to do within your company's process, and choose a title that best represents the primary task of that person.
A version of this article originally appeared here. It was republished with permission.
Are you a beginner who wants to learn hacking but don’t know where to start? If so you are at the right place. Since most of the books and free resources on the Internet are only meant for those who already have a considerable amount of knowledge on the subject, they fail to teach hacking for beginners. Therefore, I have decided to come up with this post that gives useful tips for beginners on how to kick start their journey to becoming a hacker.
What is the Best Way to Learn Hacking for Beginners?
Consider the following steps:
Step-1: Begin with the Basics
For beginners who have little or no previous knowledge of hacking, it is always better to start off from the basics. Instead of directly learning how to hack, you can begin exploring more about topics such as computer networks, network ports, firewalls, common network protocols like IP address, HTTP, FTP, DNS, SMTP etc. along with how each of those stuffs work.
You can also begin to learn more about alternate operating systems Linux whose knowledge becomes very much essential in the field of hacking. The more you learn about the basics, the more easy it is to find vulnerabilities and device exploits. Once you develop a basic understanding of the fundamental concepts, you will be in a position to easily understand various hacking techniques that are in practice.
Step-2: Find a Good Source to Start Learning
If one has a fair amount of experience in the field of hacking, there exists so many books and websites that give out technical information on latest vulnerabilities along with possible ways to exploit them. However, for beginners it is hard to find sources that teach hacking right from the basics in a simple and easy to follow manner.
So, I decided to put together all my 10+ years of experience in the field and come up with a book for beginners called Hacking Secrets Exposed which demands no prior knowledge of the topic and is easy for the readers to follow and understand at every step. This book also comes packed with all the necessary fundamental concepts (as mentioned in the step-1) so that readers can find them all at one place. Therefore, I recommend this book for all those beginners who have a dream to start off their journey to becoming a hacker. This is an excellent source of knowledge for all those who have a little or no prior background of hacking. For more information on this book, you can visit the official website from the following link: howtohack.gohacking.com.
Step-3: Learn Programming (Optional)
If you want to take your hacking skills one step ahead, programming is something that you can’t skip down. Although you can easily find a lot of ready made tools and programs that let you hack with ease, it is always better to have some basic knowledge of programming languages like PHP and JavsScript so that you will be in a position to develop your own tools and exploit codes. However, if you do not wish to learn programming you can skip this step and still be a good hacker.
How Long does it Take to Master the Skills of Hacking?
Since hacking is not something that can be mastered overnight, you should never be in a hurry to get going. It requires knowledge, skills, creativity, dedication and of course the time. Depending upon the amount of effort and dedication you put, it can take up anywhere between a few months to few years to develop all the the necessary skills. Everyone can become a hacker provided they learn it from the basics and build a solid foundation. So, if you want to be a hacker all you need is passion to learn, a good source of knowledge that will guide you through the basics and some perseverance.
