A team of Australian scientists have used small drones as part of a novel survey approach for looking at possible methods that could be used to make marine conservation more accessible, affordable, and reliable. In undertaking the research, scientists at Murdoch University's Harry Butler Institute launched small multirotor drones from a boat off the Pilbara in Western Australia to record and categorise marine sightings of dugongs during three field seasons over two years. The drones were flown in small grids, rather than a typical horizontal flight path. Murdoch University research fellow Christophe Cleguer said this technique helped overcome the usual constraints of using small drones for marine surveys, such as short flight endurance and aviation regulation. "We looked at normal aerial survey methods and designs -- which are based on using planes flying over large areas -- and adapted it to small drones that are limited in range and endurance," he said. "Instead of using a … [Read more...] about Murdoch University scientists develop grid-system drone technique to survey dugongs
Qualcomm chip vulnerability found in millions of Google, Samsung, and LG phones
Millions of phones across the globe were affected by a vulnerability found within a ubiquitous Qualcomm chipset , according to researchers with Israeli cybersecurity firm Checkpoint. ZDNet Recommends Best cheap phones Best Android phones Best older phones Best Samsung phones Best rugged phones Best 5G phones Check Point's Slava Makkaveev published a blog post on Thursday highlighting a security flaw in Qualcomm's Mobile Station Modem Interface "that can be used to control the modem and dynamically patch it from the application processor." "An attacker can use such a vulnerability to inject malicious code into the modem from Android. This gives the attacker access to the user's call history and SMS, as well as the ability to listen to the user's conversations," Makkaveev wrote. "A hacker can exploit the vulnerability to unlock the SIM, thereby overcoming the limitations of the service providers imposed on the mobile device," he added, explaining … [Read more...] about Qualcomm chip vulnerability found in millions of Google, Samsung, and LG phones
Apple needs to bring its Podcast app and subscription model to Android
We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more . podcast platform parity Apple can't afford to lose podcast ground to Android listeners. Jeramy Johnson 6 May 2021 1 Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central A few weeks ago, Apple made a bit of a splash with its announcements about its new AirTags trackers as well as updates to the iPad Pro and iMac, but it also announced significant changes to one of its more popular "services" — podcasts. Apple doesn't own podcasting per se , but it does deserve a ton of credit for the way it has nurtured and popularized the platform for millions of users around the world over the past decade and a half. At the Spring Loaded event, Apple unveiled a new design for its Podcasts app to go along with its new Apple Podcast Subscriptions service. Apple Podcast Subscriptions are rolling out to Apple customers across iOS and macOS this month, and no one is quite sure how creators or consumers … [Read more...] about Apple needs to bring its Podcast app and subscription model to Android
Gigabyte announces a pair of Aorus pre-built gaming rigs with Intel/AMD chips and Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics
In a nutshell: With a naming scheme inspired by a famous EV maker, Gigabyte's new high-performance Aorus Model X and Model S pre-builts combine either an Intel 11th-gen i9-11900K or an AMD Ryzen 9 5900X CPU with an Nvidia RTX 3080 and other powerful components for a top-tier gaming experience. There's no word yet on pricing, but Gigabyte will offer a 3-year warranty on both models when they become available to buy. The new Aorus Model X and Model S offer the same choice of core components inside different form factors. This includes choosing between either an 8C/16T Core i9-11900K or a 12C/24T Ryzen 9 5900X chip and pairing it with a fixed choice of GPU: An Nvidia RTX 3080 . Going with team blue gets you Intel's flagship Z590 chipset on both models, while RAM comes in at 16GB (DDR4 - 4400Mhz) on the Model X and 32GB (DDR4 - 4000MHz) on the Model S. Their AMD-equipped variants feature an X570 motherboard on the bigger 58L Model X and a B550 chipset on the compact 14L Model … [Read more...] about Gigabyte announces a pair of Aorus pre-built gaming rigs with Intel/AMD chips and Nvidia RTX 3080 graphics
Windows 10’s Sun Valley update revamps icons used since Windows 95
Forward-looking: If, like me, your age allows you to nostalgically look at some Windows 10 icons that have remained pretty much the same since Windows 95, prepare for disappointment. The operating system’s Sun Valley update is refreshing these graphics with a more contemporary look. Windows Latest spotted the revamp in the latest preview builds of Sun Valley, which is set to land in October or November. In addition to adding new icons for File Explorer and other apps, Microsoft is updating the icons inside the Shell32.DLL. Some of the icons have remained pretty much unchanged since Windows 95 arrived over 25 years ago. There are images of floppy disk and CD drives, computer chips, hibernation mode, networking, and more. The new icons do look quite modern, with extra color and a less antiquated style. The change should give Windows a more unified appearance, rather than containing elements from different eras of the OS. Sun Valley has been in the works since last … [Read more...] about Windows 10’s Sun Valley update revamps icons used since Windows 95