Zoom is one of the biggest challenges facing mobile manufacturers, with telephoto secondary cameras often being used instead of bulky lenses. However, Samsung is reportedly in talks to acquire a company with some interesting zoom-related tech. The Korean brand is in “advanced talks” to acquire Israeli company Corephotonics for between $150 million and $160 million, according to Israeli publication Globe.Corephotonics is no stranger to the smartphone industry, having worked with Oppo to show off a periscope camera solution. The camera setup, demonstrated at MWC 2017, enables 5x lossless zoom with the aid of a prism. The Israeli company also signed a collaboration agreement with Oppo last year. Coincidentally, the Chinese brand has been touting a 10x zoom solution this year, so we’d assume the Israeli company has contributed some of its know-how to this feature. A zoom-focused triple camera setup? Samsung could steal Oppo’s thunder if it chooses to … [Read more...] about Samsung reportedly in talks to buy company behind Oppo’s periscope camera tech
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‘Tech backlash’ behind scooter-trashing trend, says Uber bike company
The “tech backlash” is to blame for a wave of scooter-trashing, according to Uber’s bike-sharing business. Nick Foley, The Silicon Valley giant’s head of bike and scooter hardware, said residents had been angered by too many “scooters of low quality” being dumped on city streets. US ride-hailing firm Uber bought Jump, which offers shared electric scooters and bikes, last spring. Instagram accounts dedicated to chronicling the destruction of the shared e-scooters, which have launched in many American towns and cities over the past year, have recorded people pushing them over and throwing them into drains and ponds. Mr Foley said: “When you build something that’s really high-quality and has this... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium … [Read more...] about ‘Tech backlash’ behind scooter-trashing trend, says Uber bike company
You’re hired! Thai startup fills gap in tech talent recruiting
BANGKOK (Reuters) - When app developer Sattha Puangput was looking to move from a startup to a new role, he updated his profile on GetLinks, a website that pairs technology professionals with companies looking to beef up their tech teams. The GetLinks logo is seen at the startup's office in Bangkok, Thailand November 22, 2018. REUTERS/Chayut Setboonsarng Within days, he says, he was called to several interviews and eventually accepted an offer with hypermarket chain Tesco Lotus to develop Android software using Kotlin, a language based on Java that uses fewer lines of code and makes for more efficient app development. Knowledge of new languages and programming tools helps build software faster and allows developers to easily work together. Customers say what sets GetLinks apart is its focus on matching specific tech skills such as app development and programming languages like Flutter and Docker - not just general programming - to meet the needs of Asia’s … [Read more...] about You’re hired! Thai startup fills gap in tech talent recruiting
How the tech industry can help fix our AI skills shortage
In 2015, Uber opened a research facility around the corner from Carnegie Mellon University’s National Robotics Engineering Center in a move positioned as a partnership between the two organizations. Within months, dozens of faculty members had left their positions for full-time roles at Uber, draining the center of much of its talent. Other major tech companies have followed a similar path – in 2018, Facebook launched AI labs in Seattle and Pittsburgh headed by former professors. These stories provide a window into a tug-of-war that’s been playing out between the tech industry and academia. Keen to build products and services that use AI and machine learning, tech firms and other businesses have been hiring away researchers and professors from universities, creating a shortage of academics who can teach the next generation of data scientists. The proportion of computer science PhDs who stay in academia has reached a “historic low,” the Computing Research … [Read more...] about How the tech industry can help fix our AI skills shortage
Silicon Valley exodus: Why rising costs and politics are driving tech talent out
"Winter is coming,” says Russell Hancock, chief of think tank Joint Venture Silicon Valley. “The markets don’t lie.” Hancock, who knows Silicon Valley like the back of his hand, might be spot on. House sales in San Jose have soared by 131pc, the highest rate in America, according to 2019 figures from real-estate giant Redfin. Rising living costs, a growing homelessness crisis, Donald Trump and a sense of crisis at some of Silicon Valley’s most successful companies is driving a wave of departures from San Francisco. The Bay Area has been the thriving home of the world’s most famous tech hub for decades, witnessing the dotcom boom and bust and the flood of workers looking to make their fortunes... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per … [Read more...] about Silicon Valley exodus: Why rising costs and politics are driving tech talent out