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A Quick Refresher on How Computer Memory Works

Posted on May 10, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

RAM, DRAM, SRAM, SSD, HDD. The language of computer memory, like most other components of computers and smartphones, is a collection of alphabet soup. So it can be difficult to wrap your brain around what exactly those collection of letters mean, and more importantly, what the hell they do.

Thankfully, this TED-Ed video breaks down the surprisingly human-like properties of computer RAM, or random access memory. Never knew the difference between DRAM and SRAM was? Confused why you should care if your new laptop uses solid-state drives instead of other out-of-date storage tech? This five-minute video explains it all.Th tutorial won’t exactly make you a professor on the subject. For example, it doesn’t even attempt to discuss quantum computing. But at least the next time you look at a spec sheet you won’t go completely cross-eyed.

Source: A Quick Refresher on How Computer Memory Works

Posted in HowTo, Interesting, Tech | Leave a comment

Windows 10 Upgrades Will Cost $120 Starting July 30th, So Go Do It Now

Posted on May 5, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

Free upgrades to Microsoft’s latest operating system are running out soon. On June 30th, one year after the release of Windows 10, anyone who hasn’t already upgraded will have to shell out $119 to move up to the latest and greatest.

More than 300 million people have already upgraded to Windows 10, and if you haven’t yet, you definitely should (here’s how)—Not only because it’s good (it is), but because if you don’t you’re going to have to pay for it soon. [Microsoft via The Verge]

Source: Windows 10 Upgrades Will Cost $120 Starting July 30th, So Go Do It Now

Posted in Deals, HowTo, Interesting, MSFT, Tech, tips, WIN10 | Leave a comment

Hoverboard World Record: Franky Zapata went 7,388 ft on a Flyboard Air | BGR

Posted on May 2, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

Last month, we were blown away by a new hoverboard video that was so amazing most everyone decided that it had to be fake. The hoverboard in question – dubbed the Flyboard Air – was built by Zapata Racing and featured seemingly impossible specs: autonomous flight up to 10,000 feet, a top speed of 93 mph and 10 minutes of flying time.

Well, in an effort to silence the haters and skeptics, Zapata Racing over the weekend was it again. This time, inventor Franky Zapata set out to set a new hoverboard record with the futuristic Flyboard Air. And whereas the first Flyboard Air video featured a lot of quick cuts and close-up shots – and thereby bolstering the notion that the video received the special effects treatment – the video that Zapata Racing filmed over the weekend is, dare we say, easier to take at face value.What’s more, the recent Flyboard Air demonstration took place in front of a crowd of invited journalists, photographers and Guinness World Record officials. In short, maybe this crazy futuristic device is actually the real deal. As for the new hoverboard record, Zapata managed to take the Flyboard Air on a 7,388 foot journey. Highlights of the record-breaking trip can be seen via the two videos below.

See more: Hoverboard World Record: Franky Zapata went 7,388 ft on a Flyboard Air | BGR

Posted in History, Interesting, News | Leave a comment

DESPIERTA BORICUA! WAKE UP BORICUA!

Posted on April 29, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

HEPR_STR
DESPIERTA BORICUA!

Yo no soy independentista ni nada parecido. Pero si soy Boricua y los acontecimientos de la isla me preocupan. No pretendo juzgar a nadie ni ningún grupo excepto uno, los políticos. No hay ninguna respuesta fácil ni rápida para la situación que enfrentan los Boricuas en la isla. Cualquier camino que se tome será difícil. Lo que se ha estado haciendo por décadas es claro que no funciona. Ya es hora de tomar otro camino. Es hora de que se levante un pueblo y tome las riendas de su futuro nuevamente. “Despierta Boricua”. Todos sin importar el partido político o ideología deben marchar hacia el Capitolio y demandar la renuncia de todos los supuesto líderes, eliminar el exceso de burocracia y regresar a un gobierno que realmente representa a un pueblo. Suena ilógico pero es posible. Hay que exigir le al gobierno que debe honrar el pedido de su pueblo por unicameralidad en vez de atropellar la decisión tomada por ese pueblo. Es hora de hechar a un lado su beneficio político por el bienestar de el pueblo que juraron proteger y dirigir. Todos comparten la culpa. Es triste que el pueblo sufra por la malas decisiones tomadas por aquellos que se pintan como gladiadores cuando en realidad son más parecido a un parasitos que en vez de luchar por su pueblo simplemente buscan sus beneficios. No pretendo tener las respuesta. Pero un cambio es obviamente necesario. Desde cuando el sistema actual está anunciando un cambio y aún no llega. Ya es hora que otro u otros vengan a intentar el cambio. Locura se define como el hacer la misma cosa repetidamente y esperar un cambio cada vez. Hemos repetido la misma formula varias veces ya es hora de dejar la locura. Solo es mi opinión.

WAKE UP BORICUA!

I am not part of the independent movement. But I’m a Boricua and the events on the island worry me. I do not pretend to judge anyone or any group except one, politicians. There is no easy or quick way to fix the situation faced by Puerto Ricans on the island. Whatever path is taken will be difficult. What has been done for decades is clearly not working. It’s time to take another path. It is time for a people to rise up and take charge of their future again. “Despierta Boricua”. Everyone regardless of political party or ideology must march on the Capitol and demand the resignation of all our current “leaders”, eliminate excess bureaucracy and return to a government that truly represents the people. It sounds illogical but possible. We must demand that the government honor the request of its people and abolish the dual cameral system and implement a unicameral one instead as the people have voted for over a decade ago. It is time to cast aside their political benefit for the welfare of the people sworn to protect and govern. They all share the blame. It is sad that the people suffer for the bad decisions made by those who are supposed to be gladiators when they are actually more like a parasite. Instead of fighting for its people they simply looking out for their benefits. I do not pretend to have the answer. But a change is obviously necessary and since when has the current system been announcing a change and still has not come. It is time that others try to implement change. Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over and expecting change. We repeated the same formula several times it is time to stop the madness. It’s only my opinion.

Posted in Awareness, Interesting, Politics, PR, [ STR ] | Leave a comment

Bangladesh Bank heist: Hackers used bank’s $10 routers to steal $81M | BGR

Posted on April 22, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

This past February, some clever hackers pulled off a daring bank heist that was aided by a Bangladeshi bank’s decision to buy cheap second-hand $10 routers. In fact, the cheap routers let hackers get away with $81 million by giving them access to the secure computers that handle SWIFT monetary transactions and helping them hide their tracks.

Some 20 individuals who received payments from hackers have been identified so far but the masterminds of the attack have yet to be discovered. Even worse is the fact that most of the funds, which were routed to accounts in the Philippines and diverted to a local casino, are still missing.

According to Reuters, the head of the Forensic Training Institute of the Bangladesh police’s criminal investigation department revealed that security oversights from the bank helped hackers steal the money. Hackers took advantage of the $10 routers that had no firewalls to get into the bank’s system and were aided by the fact that the bank’s switches weren’t sophisticated enough to trace the hackers’ steps.

“You are talking about an organization that has access to billions of dollars and they are not taking even the most basic security precautions,” cyber firm Optiv consultant Jeff Wichman told Reuters.

Furthermore, the SWIFT servers inside the bank were on the same network with the rest of the banks’ 5,000 computers, rather than being on a walled, secondary one. Furthermore, the room that houses the SWIFT computers isn’t monitored by a bank employee at all times in spite of the sensitive nature of the activity that goes on in it. Instead, all transactions are automatically printed on a printer in the room.

Police believe that both the bank and SWIFT should take blame for the heist. The Belgian banking authority said that the heist only breached the Bangladesh Bank and not its secure messaging services. The bank stated that SWIFT officials only advised that a router upgrade is in order after the heist.

Source: Bangladesh Bank heist: Hackers used bank’s $10 routers to steal $81M | BGR

Posted in Hacking, Interesting | Leave a comment

Microsoft rolls out Windows Ink for beta testers

Posted on April 22, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

Windows Ink is available today for Insiders in the Fast ring, allowing users to sketch, write notes on sticky pads and draw all over screenshots with a digital pen (or your finger, if you’re an au naturel kind of person). The update adds a Windows Ink Workspace, which is accessible from the system tray or by clicking the back of your connected pen. The Workspace brings up pen-enabled apps like the sketchpad, sticky notes and screen sketch, and it has a space to suggest more pen-friendly experiences.

The sketchpad is a blank canvas with a slim selection of drawing tools, including a ruler and various ink colors. Screen sketch allows you to draw on top of a screenshot and then share the finished product with friends or colleagues. The sticky notes app receives some updates, such as the ability to customize the notepads by size and color. In the future, users will be able to jot down a flight number and Bing will pull up the relevant info, and they’ll be able to set Cortana reminders attached to their notes, among other planned upgrades.

Users can also customize their pens, changing what happens when they click, double-click or press and hold the back. All of this is part of the big Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

Source: Microsoft rolls out Windows Ink for beta testers

Microsoft Offers Free Year of Office 365 to Some OneDrive Users – Thurrott.com

Posted on April 19, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

Microsoft has begun emailing OneDrive users who qualify for a one-time-only offer of a free year of Office 365 Personal. This offer is only being made to those users who were using more than 5 GB of OneDrive storage when Microsoft announced it would lower the free storage allotment on the service.

“As you know, the amount of storage that comes with most OneDrive accounts is changing from 15 GB to 5 GB,” the email reads. “You previously confirmed your desire to keep your 15 GB of free storage (and the 15 GB camera roll bonus if you have it). As a result, your account will not be affected by these changes.”“We also want to extend an offer that we are making available to users who are close to or will be over the new storage limits,” the email continues. “You can claim a free one-year subscription to Office 365 Personal. This subscription includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage.

We want to apologize for any inconvenience these changes may have caused you. We listened to our users’ feedback, and we are committed to making OneDrive the best option for people who want to be productive and do more.”

Reddit AMA with 92-year-old holocaust survivor | BGR

Posted on April 13, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

Reddit’s Ask-Me-Anything (AMA) sessions can be very entertaining as a variety of people hold these digital meetings where they would answer questions from curious Reddit fellows. But Henry Flescher’s AMA is a heartbreaking one, detailing some of the cruelties of the second World War.Flescher, a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor, hosted the Reddit AMA session in early April with the help of his grandson, who insisted that he share his Holocaust survival story with the world.

Chevrolet Colorado Xtreme Truck | Uncrate

Posted on April 6, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

CHEVROLET COLORADO XTREME TRUCKCreated for the Thai market, the Chevrolet Colorado Xtreme Truck is one concept we wouldn’t mind seeing brought back to the states. Built on the already capable Z71 4×4, the Xtreme takes its offroad prowess even further with the addition of side plates on the sports bar, a safari bar with a powerful integrated lighting system, and a host of new gauges and interior accessories like grab handles and an inclinometer. It’s finished off with a rugged, lined bed, 18-inch mud terrain tires, and an orange and black color scheme.

Source: Chevrolet Colorado Xtreme Truck | Uncrate

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The Best Solution to Stop Skyscrapers From Casting Shadows on Central Park

Posted on March 25, 2016 by StevenTorresRamos

Upper Manhattan-dwelling New Yorkers have been complaining for years that supertalls are going to ruin the views from their beloved Central Park. Here’s a very good solution: lower the elevation of the park.

The annual eVolo Skyscraper Competition consistently delivers some of the wackiest concepts for tall buildings we’ve ever seen. I particularly love the way this year’s winning proposal, named New York Horizon, subverts the competition’s intentions completely. Instead of designing a whimsical tower, Yitan Sun and Jianshi Wu propose excavating Central Park just enough that the skyscrapers around it fade into the distance.

The new, lower Central Park would be 100 feet below street level, just enough to remove New Yorkers from the urban experience. The perimeter would be surrounded by mirrored glass that would vaguely remind park-users that they were in the city, but mostly just reflect the terrain around them.

Sunken Central Park.

Besides adding legitimate hills, rock climbing areas, and swimmable lakes, the design also calls for the same basic types of hiking and jogging trails you have in Central Park today. (That said, the terrain looks a bit more rugged, which isn’t very promising for the future of the city’s contested horse carriages.) Of course, all that dirt currently in the park will have to go somewhere—so the designers propose using it to add mini-mountains to underdeveloped plots all over Manhattan.

Remember that all of Manhattan once looked more like this—It was a rugged, bedrock-strewn landscape that had to be heavily sculpted and filled just to look somewhat park-like. In that way, the plan returns the park to its natural state. Giving the park a more dramatic landscape would allow you to feel like you’ve not only escaped the city, but also traveled through time, while only being a few steps from the subway. The supposed shadows from the supertalls wouldn’t really be any match for the glorious rock formations before you. You’d probably forget they were there entirely.

Source: The Best Solution to Stop Skyscrapers From Casting Shadows on Central Park