Ananda Banerjee
Articles by Ananda Banerjee
Is the IoT the "IoC"? Thoughts, Predictions and the Worst Exponents
Internet of Things, as touted by Cisco, is expected to be the next big thing— at least by 2020. If predictions are to be speculated, approximately 11.6 billion handsets and even a bigger number of other gadgets are going to embrace IoT— with open arms— in the years to come. While the IoT adoptions have increased massively in 2016— aiding the creation of newer jobs, there are a few areas which need to be looked at with a stricter point of view. Many of us have already questioned the efficacy of IoT as a new technology— raising eyebrows at its all-encompassing stature and inevitability. While being confident is good, Internet of Things is soon transforming into Internet of Crap— courtesy the overenthusiasm of companies, erroneous adoption techniques and completely absurd gadgets. Before moving any further into this article, I would like to mention the reasons why IoT, as a futuristic adoption, fails to impress me. Nature of Predictions IoT, without doubt, had a wonderful start. However, the moment predictive analysis pitched in, things took an ugly turn. This innovation was meant for connecting devices towards consumer benefit but eventually the implementations stopped surprising us. The saddest part, however, is that most IoT devices are popularized keeping the business-centric community in mind when the crux of development should include the consumer market. The modern day IoT devices are based on predictive algorithms and I do have issues with the nature of included predictions. Internet of Things tries to be optimistic but fails to account for the negatives which are a part and parcel of consumer life. The Sudden Growth In the world of technology, a 20 to 30 percent adoption rate is considered normal. However, certain IoT predictions shot up to 100 percent which easily looked way beyond the comfort zone. Cent percent adoption rate, easily takes credibility out of the equation and this is what was witnessed at CES 2017 when a host of absurd IoT powered devices were introduced. Unproven Prowess Trust me, I am not the one who initiated Internet of Crap as an emotion. However, what compelled me to join the bandwagon was the lack of proven potential. It has already been half a decade but IoT hasn't been able to make a substantial contribution to the technological arena. Barring a few instances when users can verbally command their PCs to download movies and other streaming clients, there hasn't been an innovative path taken by IoT towards holistic technological development. It is 2017 and we don't need technologies for doing petty home-based jobs. Instead, we crave for something revolutionary and IoT is far from offering any of it. The Hype While optimism is a great asset, being all hyped up about something might be impairing. As a matter of fat, IoT, unlike Artificial Intelligence or Machine learning— zoomed its way into 2017. Speed is definitely good but it shouldn't come at the expense of quality. However, I would like to think that more than the overenthusiastic companies, it is the hype surrounding IoT which is to be blamed. Internet of Crap isn't an overnight feeling but it's the extent of disappointment, amplified upon encountering misleading and unimportant gadgets. Trivialization Trap I am still hopeful for Internet of Things and believe that it can easily bounce back to reality. However, the willingness to experiment with every device needs to stop right here or else the overblown concept will soon diffuse into oblivion. Let us talk about smart cities and smart cars where IoT can actually make a difference. If utilities are concerned we might just be looking at something more than just YouTube to Mp3 converter for satiating out technological requirements. The reason for this apathy towards the inclusion of IoT in the entertainment industry would be the oversaturation of the existing sphere. When it comes to streaming websites, downloading content and even watching Hulu and Netflix— IoT isn't the approach we want to fall back upon. The Worst Devices: Strictly "IoC" Now when we have summarized the reasons and the path ahead for Internet of Things, it's only fitting to lighten this discussion with certain gadgets which might just be the worst exponents of IoT. Face Mask This gadget was first introduced at the recently concluded MWC and I can't stop smirking. I wouldn't be using a lot of cuss words but this so-called Smart 'Face Mask' is more of a marketing gimmick and yet another example of the overhyped IoT. While this device comes with brain entertainment technology, temperature measurer and even an on-board microphone, it loses a lot of points when utility is concerned. I doubt whether this gadget will bring in good sleep but am certain that Bluetooth proximity with the brain will surely cause some serious discomfort. Tape Measure Obviously 'Smart' Not many of us consider the Smart Tape Measure as an inseparable ally. However, the Korean MNC behind the manufacturing process thought otherwise. While this Bluetooth powered measure seems inconsequential, it also misses out on the fallback technology i.e. a battery rejuvenator. Bottom Line While Internet of Things still looks promising as a technological breakthrough, it's time companies realize that adding to the existing lineup of gadgets won't bring laurels to this concept. Instead, the approach should be towards adding substance to innovations rather than stressing on quantity.
The Worst of CES 2017: Radiation Boxers to Hair Brush
The Consumer Electronics Show— as per the name— is expected to showcase the best tech innovations for the concerned year. While we did come across some of the most intuitive devices, there were certain renditions displayed at the CES 2017 which made me cringe. CES 2017, like any other year, was expected to come out with the best startup tech or consumer electronic products— capable of stirring the monotony. While the likes of Huawei and Toshiba succeeded in surprising us, there were certain gadgets or rather displays which were underwhelming to say the least. CES 2017 was more of a year for the televisions but in this post, we will be restricting our domain to the worst entities— courtesy faulty design, lack of functionality and redundancy. Radiation Boxers Trust me, I wasn't expecting CES 2017 to showcase something like this. More than the obvious embarrassment, I was saddened to see the French company— Spartan— come up with a utility undergarment based on a possible hoax. These radiation boxers are designed to prevent almost 99 percent of wireless radiation— emanating out of cellphones. As interesting as this might sound, there haven't been a lot of conclusive evidences regarding the effects of cellphone usage on the genitals. Male infertility courtesy wireless radiation hasn't yet been postulated with a lot of substantial proofs— making Spartan Radiation Boxers the joke of CES 2017. Batband Headphones Usually, a person or even a volunteer wouldn't prefer looking like a dork— even if it means trying out a new technology. Here is a ludicrous gadget— termed as the ear-free Batband Headphones which actually transforms the back of your head into a freaking stereo. The band wraps itself over the skull and it can get embarrassing to carry around this supposed abomination. The 'bone conduction' technology, on the other hand, sounds promising as it allows only the wearer to hear the audio even without plugging stuffs into the ears. Then again, I have a problem with the design cues and for me the embarrassment of wearing the same outweighs the functionality of listening to streaming music or audio outlets. Go and ask the Google Glass! L'Oréal's Hair Brush Yes, I didn't goof up. Its CES 2017 and what we see is a smart hair brush from L'Oréal. Quite expectedly, the company has reasons and justifications behind the launch. This smart hair brush is expected to carry forth or rather strengthen the concept of IoT, in the simplest possible manner. Upon combing or brushing, the Smart Hair Brush courtesy the 'Kerastase Hair Coach' sends out certain bits of information to the concerned smartphone— informing the user about the hair dryness, loose ends and other stuffs. While this might still be useful to a select few, I guess the company went a bit too far with the concept of Internet of Things. Not everything around requires Wireless connectivity and its time companies realize the same. Hit me with some other disappointments of CES 2017 in the comments below:
Resurgence of Foldable Smartphones: Futuristic or Obsolete?
Motorola's Moto Flip was my first smartphone— which I owned back in 2008. While I still have that battered handset albeit a bloated battery and non-functional display, it wouldn't be wrong to say that the design cues were revolutionary and highly futuristic. No wonders, after almost 9 years of innovation, we are back to the old ways— discussing foldable smartphones and an inevitable resurgence of the same. The Past, Present and Future The concept of flipable or rather foldable handsets was adopted with open arms. While the devices looked classy, they were mostly hailed for the smaller form factor and the style statements. Moto Flip had an amazing radio, simple yet refreshing user interface and obviously the 3.5mm audio jack. However, most companies decided to move ahead— addressing complicated technologies, pixelated displays, potent cameras and what not. Then again, 2017 seems to be the year when the likes of LG and Samsung might just address the past and bring back those flipable devices— simply to spice up the monotony associated with the existing smartphone market. That said, it wouldn't be wrong to assume that Samsung was working on a foldable handset— roughly for a few years now and the expected launch in 2017 might not be as surprising as it might look like. The company was recently bashed for its exploding Note 7 and 2017 might just be the right time to bring back some vintage wine, preferably in a new bottle. The Rumors When it comes to a new strategy, rumors are bound to plague the internet. However, the rumor mill— this time— looks seriously legit and we might just see a new foldable handset from Samsung by the end of July. Certain sources have reported that the Korean OEM is already working on the production phase and as many as 100,000 units will be released— at once. When it comes to the form factor, the concerned device might just double up as a massive, 7-inch tablet. Quite Innovative I Guess!! Not just Samsung but even LG seems to be working on a foldable smartphone— expected to hit stores by the last quarter of 2017. Other revelations hint towards a possible unveiling at the 2018 Mobile World Congress but talking through the rumors should be saved for the next post. Foldable smartphones and their revival aren't anything uncalled for. Actually, these were conceptualized way back at the CES 2014 with the first prototype showing up a year later. Since then, most companies have been busy innovating further and this concept was ignored, momentarily. However, Samsung is expectedly back with something called the Galaxy X— codenamed Project Valley and we can't stop talking about the same. Purported Features Frankly, I am upbeat for the resurgence of foldable handsets— precisely smartphones, as they will be offering something new as compared to the existing levels of boredom. In terms of feature sets, the upcoming Samsung Galaxy X or whatever the name might be— is expected to arrive with a closed clamshell— adorning speakers and selfie cameras within. 4K resolution looks imminent and a dual rear shooter arrangement is also in talks. While some might consider the 4K display as an overkill— especially when clamshells are considered— Samsung might just do anything to revive the foldable smartphone market. Companies might actually opt for different user interfaces for these upcoming smartphones as most of us are already expecting the displays to work in and out. This might spruce up the mobile app development principles and most app creators could then work on launchers and other applications for these foldable entities. I wouldn't go in-depth with the processor and camera expectations as those theories would be too farfetched— at least for now. However, I am expectant of a massively powerful smartphone if the concept of foldable handsets is addressed, anytime soon. Bottom Line There is a reason behind my excitement for the revival of clamshell smartphones. I believe that the future of smartphones can be a lot better if companies are willing to borrow the best from the past and pair it with innovations of the present. Foldable smartphone market makes me hopeful of the much-needed smartphone revolution— precisely when most companies are pondering over their next step in this partially saturated market. Do share your ideas about the foldable smartphones in the comments below:
Nokia in 2017— Redemption or Disappointment?
I got a heartache when Microsoft snapped ties with Nokia. While the naming rights were handed over to HMD global, Foxconn acquired the feature-phone market. Nothing seemed right as my favorite firm was dissolved and a reincarnation seemed highly improbable. However, it seems Nokia has made a comeback of sorts by introducing a new smartphone, exclusively in China. Termed as HMD Global's Nokia 6, this handset marks the second stint for the company albeit a weaker processor and a promising acoustic setup. In this post, I will be talking about my opinions regarding Nokia's future as a smartphone manufacturing company. The Good I still have a distant memory of the Nokia 216 feature phone— flaunting a 2.4-inch screen and 30-day standby support. I must say that Nokia 6 is a great improvement sans Microsoft's branding. The unibody aluminum chassis is a massive addition and the adoption of Android Nougat is certainly a big step from Nokia— right into the future. Apart from that, Nokia seems to have improved its acoustic aura with the inclusion of Dolby Atmos support and two stereo quality speakers. The screen, as per the tabulated specs sheet, looks great at 5.5-inches and 1080p. The Bad While each one of us was expecting Nokia to start 2017 with a bang, the company— veiled as HMD Global played safe with the Nokia 6. The only reason for me to say this is the lack of a competent processor. Nokia 6 throws in Qualcomm's Snapdragon 430 SoC which is more of an average processor— released at the fag-end of 2017. While Xiaomi was the first one to get it on-board, Lenovo pushed it further with the likes of K6 and other associated models. Frankly speaking, I don't condemn the addition of Snapdragon 430 as it is a decent enough Octa-Core SoC for the entry-level smartphones. I am only disappointed on seeing Nokia's safe play even after been pushed into oblivion for such a long time. I would have expected the company to come out, making a statement of sorts. Instead of announcing its arrival, Nokia chose to slide in a basic smartphone— presumably to see the market reactions. Coming back to the specifications which feel average, the camera at 16MP is more of a letdown. The f/2.0 aperture is a bad option for low-light photography and even the 8MP selfie shooter couldn't save the day. Moreover, the camera looks spec-heavy but misses out on 4K video recording support. Bummer! Not just the processor, I am also saddened by Nokia's approach of underutilizing the not-so-bad Snapdragon 430. Nokia 6 lacks NFC and VoLTE which are actually the brighter spots of the concerned processor. While users will still be able to watch streamed content over applications like YouTube and Vimeo— the download speed might not be that great courtesy Cat.4 LTE support. Lastly, the 3,000mAh battery looks weak as compared to some of the other handsets in the market. Snapdragon 430 supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0 but it will be interesting to see if Nokia 6 utilizes the same. Will there be Microsoft-Again? HMD Global took over the name for a reason. This is one Finnish firm comprising of ex-Nokia employees and therefore the fixation for 'Nokia' nomenclature is understandable. Moreover, Microsoft took over Nokia only as an experimental move and with the desire to leverage the 'Lumia' brand name. With that out of the way, there isn't a chance that Microsoft will be showing any interest in Nokia— unless the latter comes out with a chain of high-end gadgets. The Future? I have always been a fan of Nokia branded handsets as Symbian was my favorite platform for a long time. Therefore, my connection with Nokia goes way beyond the postulates of hardware and software. However, as a tech enthusiast, Nokia 6 didn't impress me at all courtesy the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset. That said, I am still looking forward to the Mobile World Congress 2017 and expecting Nokia to come out with certain bigger announcements. I understand that a battered company looks to play safe but I would never underestimate Nokia as it has the capability of surprising even the best in the business. Do let me know if you guys are as upbeat as me regarding Nokia second stint.
Should Twitter Include the 'Edit' Feature?
Although I am not that regular on Twitter, the concept of 'Edit' actually intrigues me. During my short stint on this social platform, I have made innumerable typos— some costing me reputation and even friends. That said, lately there has been a lot of talk regarding the inclusion of a certain feature called 'Edit' which was backed by several users and even mulled by many. In this article, I will be sharing my personal experiences which might or might not influence the readers in accepting this feature, with an open mind. However, before moving further into this article it will be appropriate to get an overview of this presumed change. Quite recently, Jack Dorsey, CEO Twitter took to this platform and started asking tweeters about the type of changes they would like to see. While expectations poured in, quite a lot of talk was focused towards the 'Edit' feature— allowing users the power of editing their words and sentences, in case a change is required. Contradictory Thoughts While a form of edit is definitely needed, head honchos are actually zeroing in on the actual application of this concept. For me, quick edits are what Twitter should look at as there are many analogies that might drive in a sense of separation among users. Moreover, anything other than Quick Edits would force Twitter to change the entire changelog, making things cumbersome for the users. That said, it can even take the platform down for a few days. People are advocating different school of thoughts when it comes to this feature. While some are suggesting a time-based window for making these edits, many lethargic users are optimistic about the 'Edit Anytime' feature. While both the concepts sound convincing in some way or the other, I am actually upbeat for the former as a time-bound editing feature would make a lot of sense. Let us take a closer look at both the analogies before delving deep into the pros and cons of each. The Time-Bound Edit Option This approach allows users to edit their tweets within a given time frame. While nothing has been decided up till now, I am looking for a time frame of up to 5 minutes— before which the tweet can be edited for mistakes, grammatical errors and even typos. The Concept of 'Edit Anytime' If tweets could be edited at will, it will surely please a lot of users over this platform. However, this approach comes with a minor glitch as similar to Facebook, Twitter will also have to include a revision history to keep records of the original post. Moreover, this idea could damage the trust factor within the platform, as a shady user can readily change the original tweet upon receiving replies to the same. The tweets can be altered at will, making it hard to detect changes— which can even be detrimental in nature. That said, the 'Edit Anytime' feature— if implemented— is expected to help YouTube and players which offer streaming based services. These players can readily change the nature and content of their tweets, depending upon the featured programs. Moreover, if the content team goofs up, there is always an option to get the tweet back on track— without deleting the same. Other Concepts Some of the other improvements which have been suggested alongside the 'Edits' include the concept of bookmarks. Apart from that, the safety aspect will also get a boost— with Twitter allowing users to report bullies. I am actually excited about this 'Edit' feature and expecting Twitter to get a lot innovative with the same. It was only yesterday when I made a small mistake and published the tweet. It got overlooked and garnered pretty good impressions from my community. However, the realization came quite late and I had to delete the entire tweet. Twitter needs to get this fixed and any approach would suit my kind of tweeting. Do let me know if you feel differently.
CES Expectations— 5 Epiphanies for the Exhibit Space!
The Consumer Electronics Show is nothing short of an enigma— more so for the technocrats. This splendor will soon hit off (in less than a week) and we can't stop ourselves from predicting the pathway to glory. CES has been the center of attraction for most tech-savvy individuals and I am no different. However, my expectations aren't actually restricted to certain companies or gadgets but span across multiple technologies and concepts. Being a believer, I predict CES 2017 to be grander— at least in terms of technological improvements. In this post, I will be talking about my expectations from this event which might very well turn into realities— on seeing the existing trend. Rise of Artificial Intelligence AI is something I am extremely upbeat for. While the rise of Alexa and Siri makes me optimistic, technological advancements have actually enhanced the nature of my predictions, in a big way. What adds further is the growth of analytics, big data and ubiquitous connectivity. Most companies and manufacturers have already been building infrastructures and technologies to fit AI in a pretty big way. No doubt, AI will bring in a paradigm change, in terms of the gamut of possibilities. Be it the world of smartphones or automobiles, Artificial Intelligence is expected to play a bigger part in 2017 courtesy the acceptance and better technical skills. If you ask me about the companies, I will put my money on Google, Amazon and Apple with an evolved version of Siri on the cards. Readdressed Concept of Intelligent Assistants While some might confuse the same with AI, an intelligent assistant is something that leverages the concept of natural language, systematic learning and Artificial Intelligence— all at the same time. CES 2017 will surely be seeing a plethora of these assistants— working in cohesion with voice commands and other handy attributes. One good thing about these assistants is the seamless interface, usually clubbed with certain intuitive algorithms. Not just IoT devices but even the more organic ones will be benefitted from these assistants. Get ready to witness ecosystem and joint announcements from the company— targeting the intelligent sphere, in a sizeable manner. Better Security Standards Lately, there has been a fixation towards Internet of Things. However, IoT comes with multiple challenges as the hierarchy is hackable and plagued with several loopholes. Apart from the security threats, IOT also suffers from certain consumer-centric worries. I am expecting companies to address IOT or rather 'Insecurity of Things' in this case, mainly for fixing the glitches associated with this concept. I am expecting CES 2017 to be a better place for most application developers who are trying to make it big, globally. This can only be achieved if the back-end and even the consumer end of IOT is readily fixed for glitches. Opting for such an approach will work wonders for some of the more basic streaming options and even the bigger organizations like Vimeo. Addressing the same will not only fix the vulnerabilities of an entire system but will be immensely beneficial to the consumers. Growth of Virtual and Augmented Reality While CES 2016 came up with a lot of VR tricks and innovations, 2017 is expected to be a better year for this technology. Not just virtual reality which offers another dimension to look at, CES 2017 is expected to throw in certain AR tricks— allowing us to experience something way better than what exists currently. NBA would soon be broadcasting games in virtual reality which will surely amp up the existing fan base. While some might argue that VR has been a failure up till now with a net worth of mere $2.7 billion in 2016, I am optimistic regarding VR's fate in 2017— courtesy commercialization and newer exploits. The likes of Oculus and Vive are the torchbearers of this technology but we might soon see newer players into the scheme of things. The Concept of Services Trust me, I am not talking about a vague and hypothetical aspect of technology. The concept of services means that every technology which gets introduced in the CES needs to be coupled with excellent industrial applications and a near perfect blueprint. Our concern shouldn't be restricted towards specs but towards utility in general. These are some of my expectations regarding the CES 2017 and I am pretty confident that most of these will be included into the mix. Do let me know if there are other innovations keeping you engrossed and excited.
Managing Passwords— Is There a Right Way and an Easy Way?
Trust me, I logged into Pubic Access after multiple attempts as I had to recover my password, via the prescribed modus operandi. Therefore, I readily claimed the topic regarding 'Password Management' as it would be great to share my experiences— both pleasant and horrifying— with the community. Why Manage Passwords? To be precise, managing passwords is more of a compulsion, targeted more towards seamlessness and less towards safety. No doubt safety and security are paramount but hackers won't actually be interested in your account unless the perks of sabotaging the same are humongous. That said, recently many Android empowered- Qualcomm backed handsets were compromised— raising pertinent questions regarding our online security. The problem, herein, lies in the way we think of passwords. For most of us, passwords are like access keys into the account and more of an ego booster provided we can remember the same with minimal efforts. However, the exact science behind great password creation is to make it relatable and intricate at the same time. This is where things can get contradictory as something relatable need not be written down while something intricate should be. So, the question is— 'Is there a middle path to password management?' The Advent of Password Managers If you are looking for a middle path to tread on when it comes to password management, 'Password Managers' can be your perfect allies. Be it a simple name or something more complex (including a full gamut of alphabets and characters)— a password manager can readily store everything in an encrypted manner. However, this isn't the only reason I am fond of these managers. Password Managers, usually, come with an easy interface to work with. This means, we need not be computer experts, in order to leverage the best out of them. P.S- Shortly, I would be enumerating my favorite password managers for better insights. Coming back to the topic of password managers, it is the utilitarian nature of these entities which makes us opt for one of these— every now and then. A Password Manager actually urges us to keep things decluttered, in order to lead a life sans worries. Just imagine the plight of remembering the passwords for all your social accounts and trust me, the more social you are— the more uncomfortable things will turn up. Password managers are like digital safes which can be unlocked by a specific pattern or 'Password and are usually considered very. The Loopholes? You might ask me that even for managing a Password Manager, we need to remember one password or rather the master key. Doesn't that defeat the very purpose of having a password manager? My answer is, 'No, it doesn't'. At the end, it all pans down to the technological prowess and expertise behind your approach. For example, Google has recently allowed Gmail access via remote smartphone unlocking which is actually a great move for users on the go. Moreover, certain smartphones come with retina and fingerprint scanners— making it easier to work with the 'Password Managers. So, if you don't have an advanced smartphone that opens up on a fingerprint swipe— don't cringe and blame the Managers. Are these Password Managers Safe? Obviously not! Nothing that emanates out of human innovation is safe. Password managers can still be hacked but the best part with these options is the data is exposed in an encrypted manner and cannot be decrypted. The only thing a hacker can get hold of is the scrambled set of passwords— literally impossible to decode. The Pen-Paper Analogy My father still likes to write down his passwords— even for online transactions. While I respect his efforts, drought of social interaction is one reason why he can still do with the pen-paper analogy. However, for a millennial it is almost impossible to keep a track of all his or her passwords by adopting this approach. Surely, the Pen-Paper analogy works but only when you have lesser accounts to handle. Moreover, if you have opted for free services or other entertainment providers, it is inconsequential to even get a strong password for yourself— as nobody will be hacking into an account that works free. I can't predict the same for YouTube though which is a much larger platform with better online visibility. My Favorite Picks I was actually intrigued by the current offering from LastPass as the 'sync to all feature' is something which will go places and allows users to feel at home with their password managements. Apart from LastPass v4.0— which is the premium version, I am precisely fond of the Zoho Vault. This manager is great for single users and less complex in terms of usage. Next in the list is 'Sticky Password Premium' which comes with the functionality of cloud storage. However, if you disable the Wi-Fi sync, the passwords will never go out of the home network. There are a slew of other open-source and even commercial password managers for general use but I would like to enlist them in my subsequent articles. For now, it will be better off if we can take some time out and understand the usefulness of Password Managers. I am not asking you to trash your existing strategies but do consider these innovative options if you prefer keeping things organized and less convoluted. Hit me in comments if you have more names to offer.
Are 'Desktops' Still in Fashion—The Utilitarian Conundrum
Desktops are slowly being pushed into the oblivion courtesy the advent of convertibles, power packed smartphones and even handy laptops. However, somewhere in the herd of utilitarian gadgets, desktops are still surviving— with a few enthusiasts opting for resourcefulness over glamour. Advocating desktops isn't synonymous to only old school users but several millennials are also settling for this piece of hardware owing to a few validated reasons. In this post, I would be enlisting 6 reasons why desktops are still posing a threat to some of the more advanced gadgets. While we might find it misleading to purchase a desktop PC when there are portable and much more convenient laptops waiting in the shed, the stationary entities can easily surprise the haters with certain utilities which even the most advanced notebook might miss out on. Seamless Upgrades Ever wondered why your laptop takes a hell lot of time to get fixed even for the smallest of glitches. The architecture is advanced but the nooks and crannies are more convoluted as compared to a traditional notebook. Be it attending to the machine in case of a meltdown or adding peripherals and internals to the same, desktop PCs make things simpler. Moreover, it is easy to assemble a desktop PC with select options unlike any prefabricated laptop. A desktop PC allows you to change just the motherboard for a paltry sum unlike the more advanced machines with higher refurbishment costs. However, desktops from Apple— including iMac cannot be upgraded and pose similar issues to that of a traditional laptop. Value for Money Desktops offer value for money when it comes to those enviable internal configurations. As compared to the premium laptops, a similarly stacked desktop is expected to cost a lot less. So, if someone is looking to compromise on portability, a powerful desktop can actually be availed at a mid-range price point. Better at Actual Processing Ever wondered as why laptops are smaller in size even with similar set of processing elements. The reason is the different breed of processing components which are smaller, in terms of architecture and often less powerful. While laptops are undoubtedly more energy efficient, a desktop can outclass the former in terms of raw power. Flexible Visual Performance Apart from certain processing tweaks, desktops PCs can also be relied upon for great visual experiences. While laptops and mobile devices come with a plethora of screen real-estates, desktop PCs are usually spread out and exhibit respectable display resolution. Moreover, these gadgets are best suited for viewing movies and other streaming clients which offer online packages and a wide-range of entertaining options. Therefore, if you are letting go of flexibility, desktop PCs can actually be the best entertainers in town. Out of the World Gaming Performance If you are actually considering gaming on a larger scale, I would still advise you to go for a desktop as it is a sturdier device when it comes to handling gruesome processing requirements. For most gamers, performance exceeds portability and this is where desktops make the cut. Moreover, a similarly rated laptop comes with the mobile version of the same processor for saving on power which might not be the beast you are looking for. An Option to Use Multiple Gadgets A powerful desktop PC isn't going to burn a hole in your pocket and therefore it will be possible to invest in a mid-range or budget notebook. So, for the price of one expensive gadget, you can purchase one loaded desktop and even a mid-range notebook, in case portability is also on your priority list. I would recommend considering Chromebooks as the new series is pretty exciting and loaded with an exceptional array of features. Final Answer Considering the current trend, most people would still opt for a powerful laptop but I prefer taking the conventional path for my more convoluted processing requirements. To me desktops are still cool as they offer several perks over laptops and other gadgets with smaller real-estate. Moreover, they can be upgraded with the latest hardware, offering customers with an option to stay updated.
Are Smart Home Assistants Worth the Investment?
Smart homes have recently been hogging the limelight courtesy the rise of Amazon Echo and Google Home. While these two are fighting for that coveted corner in select households, consumers are actually finding it hard to decode the technological conundrum— concerning the utilitarian nature of these intuitive products. The question is, 'Are Smart Home Assistants functional entities or an unabashed splurge'? The Concept Before I answer the concerned question, it is only fitting to understand the concept behind Smart Homes and the central operational hub that might or might not exist in your vicinity. It all starts with the derivative of IoT or Internet of Things— a technological breakthrough that aims at connecting smart products within a restricted domain. IoT therefore brings along an improved cataloge of Alexa Skills and Voice Search for the Echo and Google Home, respectively. Questions to be Answered Now when the overview is out of the way, we need to focus on the implementation and limitation of these entities. To be precise, it all started with the Smartphone assistants like Siri on iPhones and Cortana for Windows. While these were only the basic representations of smart assistants, the greater picture was actually inspired by them. The existence of proactive elements allowed the gadget to synthesize the gathered information, gauge the learning patterns and offer insights accordingly. Therefore, it was quite intriguing to own a gadget which would— process the information explicitly— keep our appointments in check, process locational data and even work as built-in sensors. Basically, Smart Home assistants were inspired by these Smartphone Utilities and grew into slightly bigger entities— only in terms of real-estate. My Answer to Smart Home Assistants Personally, I would like these Smart Home Assistants to persist in real-time as I think they have the potential to grow into better and bigger allies— in near future. However, if we consider the existing scenario, the situation seems to be highly fragmented, in terms of utilities, interconnections and even resources offered. Most vendors and companies are toiling hard to bring every functionality on-board, mainly for interpreting Smart Home Assistants in the envisioned manner. At present, products like Amazon Echo are the best exponents of this technology, offering an extended gamut for the existing price point. While the future looks optimistic, the available solutions are way dumber than they actually look. The reason for such a derogatory term would be the way most Smart Home Assistants function. The idea, up till now, is to command devices with codes and execute programs which are tiresome to initiate, manually. However, Smart Home Assistants need to be way more than mere gadgets which can handle jobs for us, in case the nature of task is slightly convoluted. These Assistants need to take cues from their Smartphone counterparts which are still more proactive as compared to the household entities. The idea would be to congregate the info and present it in a manner which is actually useable to the customer but in a far-fetched manner. Changes which Need to Come A Smart Assistant needs to be way more advanced than it actually is. The first step would be to fit in an array of sensors for detecting stuffs and even human presence. This step automatically makes the future entities more interesting and intelligent to work with. Next, companies should include the aspects of artificial intelligence and machine learning into the scheme of things. This will help gadgets conclude data and learning patterns in a much better way. Apart from that, Smart Home Assistants need to be better at data gathering and actionable resources— in order to be counted as options worth investing in. Companies with Brighter Prospects When it comes to innovation, Amazon leads the chart even if Echo isn't the most complete Smart Home assistant around. The amalgamation of Alexa looks inspiring and we might just witness something better in a few years from now. Apple is the next big thing when it comes to smart home-based devices. Siri brought a lot of promise to the table and the Cupertino giant actually boasts of the ubiquitous ecosystems which we all might be looking at. Google is also in contention with better technological endpoints to boast of. While Nest has been a failure of sorts, Google Home has been a pretty standard move from the company which is now expected to go head-on with Amazon, in terms of functionality. Samsung has recently been involved with SmatThings acquisition, bringing a lot of promise and an option for seamless integration across gadgets and households. Apart from these, I am also pretty upbeat for the likes of Comcast, Alarm.com and other companies which are trying hard to get noticed. However, they all need to bring AI into the scheme of things, in order to be in reckoning for the next big thing— in the world of Smart Assistants. Bottom Line It will be extremely fortuitous if the existing Smart Home assistants can make it big globally. While I would recommend using these innovative entities as a part of an experimental vigil, spending a fortune on the existing options might not be the sanest of ideas. Our limbs can still suffice as the cost vs. utility ratio is excruciatingly high, when it comes to investing in a Smart Home Assistant, regardless of the company and the current specs sheet.