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Firefox Quantum beta promises to double your browser speeds
After announcing plans for Project Quantum late last year, Mozilla has now launched its overhauled Firefox in beta stage, making it an increasingly imminent challenge to Chrome. And it's a very feasible challenge too, given the browser's improvements. Speed is its main selling point -- Mozilla says Quantum is roughly twice as fast as Firefox was a year ago. This is largely due to a new CSS engine written in Mozilla's programming language, Rust, which operates across cores rather than as a single memory-hungry process on one core. It also priorities tabs, loading up in-use tabs before background ones, which Mozilla says makes Quantum 30 percent more RAM-efficient than Chrome. The team has also tracked down and eliminated 469 bugs that were contributing to slowness.
Mobile customers claim Verizon capped Netflix and YouTube speeds
A week after millions of Americans contacted the FCC to preserve net neutrality, Verizon Wireless customers have reported lower speeds than expected when using Netflix. Some users in a Reddit thread noted their connections were capped at 10Mbps, as well as those who checked using Netflix's speed-testing tool Fast.com. Verizon mobile customers have also reported reduced speeds on YouTube resulting in lower-quality video; In response, the telecom admitted it has been temporarily testing a new video optimization system, which it claims shouldn't affect viewing quality.
Xbox One update boosts download speeds up to 80 percent
A big part of current-gen gaming we just have to live with is spending time we could be playing waiting for things to download. Microsoft is looking to ease that burden with an update to Xbox One. With the latest version of the console's operating system, the company says it increased download speeds 80 percent if you're internet connection is faster than 100Mbps. If you're on a slower connection that's less than 100Mbps, the update should still boost game and app downloads by 40 percent.
GoPro videos can now show native speed and motion data
When GoPro introduced the Hero5 Black, it came with a long overdue feature found on many other action cameras: GPS. The problem was, beyond tagging where your photos and videos were shot, it didn't really add much. That changes today with the introduction of "gauges." As the name suggests, you can add widgets on top of your action videos that show how fast you're going, your GPS path, current height/elevation and G-Force. And while the feature is available starting today (you'll need to download the latest version of GoPro's Quik for desktop), videos you already shot with GPS activated can also make use of the gauges.
Terahertz radiation could speed up computer memory by 1000 times
One area limiting speed in personal computing speed is memory -- specifically, how quickly individual memory cells can be switched, which is currently done using an external magnetic field. European and Russian scientists have proposed a new method using much more rapid terahertz radiation, aka "T-rays," the same things used in airport body scanners. According to their research, published in the journal Nature, swapping out magnetic fields for T-rays could crank up the rate of the cell-resetting process by a factor of 1000, which could be used to create ultrafast memory.
Google is testing internet speeds straight from search
For years Ookla has dominated internet speed test traffic, but Netflix recently unveiled a simpler option. Now, Google may be muscling into the game with its own test that works straight from search. Internet marketer Dr. Pete Meyers spotted an "Internet speed test" appearing directly in search results prompted by the query "check internet speed." If you click the "run speed test" box (below), Google's Measurement Lab checks your connection speed and gives more details that can help system administrators.
Netflix launches Fast.com, a dead-simple speed test
For obvious reasons, Netflix is obsessed with the speed and quality of your internet connection. To help keep you up to date on how your connection is doing, it's launched Fast.com, a trademarked webpage that simply loads and runs a speed test, no user intervention necessary. While it also links to speedtest.net to help those looking for more details and control, Fast.com is pared down with no ads, no plugins, no configuration and not even an option to check upload speeds.
Watch an electric Corvette shatter a speed record
Numerous car makers and gearheads have built extremely quick electric vehicles, but who holds the speed record? Not necessarily who'd you'd expect. The International Mile Racing Association has declared that Genovation's GXE, a heavily modified Chevy Corvette, is the world's fastest street-legal electric car. As you'll see in the video below, the sports EV hit a brisk 186.8MPH while hardly breaking a sweat. The GXE team accomplished the feat in its first day of testing, in fact, so it's entirely possible that you'll see higher speeds in the near future.
Bloodhound's land speed record attempt delayed until 2017
It looks like we may have to wait a little longer to see a car break the 1,000mph barrier. After wowing crowds with its supersonic car back in September last year, the British-led Bloodhound SSC team has announced that it's pushing back its land speed record attempts after failing to secure the funding it needs.
NY Attorney General wants public to report broadband speeds
If you're a New York resident, here's your chance to tell the state government how bad your internet service really is. The state's Attorney General wants the public to test their broadband speeds and report the findings as part of an investigation into ISP speed and service claims. Attorney General Eric Schneiderman asked citizens to pitch in on Sunday as his office continues to examine whether or not the likes of Verizon, Time Warner Cable and Cablevision provide lower broadband speeds than what customers are paying for.
Nexa3D needs your cash to make its 'ultrafast' 3D printer
Not long ago, we saw a new kind of super-fast 3D printer that works by "growing" objects from resin, rather than laboriously depositing the print material in layers. Another company called Nexa3D has launched a product on Kickstarter that's similarly quick, claiming that you'll be able to print objects at a speed of around 1-inch every 3 minutes. That's around 25-100 times faster than a regular 3D printer, and objects can be made to around 120 microns of detail, fairly close to the resolution of a Makerbot Replicator 2. Like the Carbon 3D printer we saw earlier, this new system works by using light to harden a photo-curing resin that is gradually extruded from a tank.
Bluetooth is getting big range and speed boosts in 2016
If you're like me, you employ multiple Bluetooth devices on a daily basis. From headphones to speakers and household gadgets, the wireless connectivity drives many of our tech habits. Thanks to the Bluetooth SIG, the company that oversees the wireless technology, the connectivity that we use on the regular will be a lot better in 2016. The group announced today that in order to improve the experience with connected devices that fall under the Internet of Things (IoT), its making some big updates. While the changes are aimed at smart home gadgets, industrial automation and location-based services, Bluetooth connections in general will have four times the range and a 100% speed boost without requiring more power. This means faster data transfers for medical uses, for example. The Bluetooth SIG is also working on mesh networking so that a collection of individual devices could work together to blanket an entire area or building. This would have a major impact on homes, with the potential for all of those connected wares to work more efficiently. Of course, it means that setups like iBeacon and Google Eddystone could see improvements, too.
Google wants to make mobile web browsing faster
Let's face it: a lot of those beautifully-designed websites, feature articles and media don't translate well for those browsing on a mobile device. To improve the speed and efficiency of the mobile web, Google has announced the Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) Project. Through the initiative, Mountain View is looking to leverage existing HTML tech to help publishers build "light-weight" sites that load faster, even if they contain video, animations, slideshows and other items that typically require significant bandwidth. "We also want the same code to work across multiple platforms and devices so that content can appear everywhere in an instant," a blog post announcing AMP explains. Google has already used AMP's HTML open framework for Search and its other apps/services (like News) could see the tech as well. The company already has around 30 publishers on board, including Twitter, Pinterest, WordPress and LinkedIn. Of course, Google isn't the only one improving mobile browsing as Facebook varies how your News Feed loads based on your connection.
Casio is making smartwatches, too
When America's greatest actor needed to defuse a bomb mounted to a passenger bus, there was only one name he could trust to keep time: Casio. Like Keanu Reeves, the company's fallen out of the limelight a bit since then. It has a comeback plan, though: smartwatches. As The Wall Street Journal tells it, the outfit thinks it has what's necessary to compete in the crowded space too. Namely, a rich history of making watches that do more than tell time. It expects the device to hit "a level of smartwatch perfection" by being durable, easy to put on and generally being comfortable to wear.
Who wins a speed test between iPhone 6, the Samsung Galaxy S5, and the HTC One M8
The iPhone 6 has proven itself the leader in speed when it comes to benchmark tests, but how does it do in real world app launching test situation? A new video from PhoneBuff answers that very question, pitting the iPhone 6 against the Samsung Galaxy S5 and the HTC One M8 in an app launching contest. When the same app was not available for both iOS and Android a comparable app was used instead. It's important to note this is not a scientific test, but merely a simulation of how the devices work under (admittedly extreme) real world conditions. In this case the iPhone 6 wins handily, beating the second place HTC One M8 by about 10 seconds. You can watch the video below.
Aussie electric vehicle breaks 20-year-old world speed record
Record-breaking EV or solar vehicles can be awkward, but the new EV speed champ from Australia looks like an actual car. The Sunswift eVe from NSWU managed 62MPH over 500km (310 miles) on a test circuit, besting the previous 45MPH record in a rout (pending final FIA verification). It could've done even better using its built-in 800-watt solar panels, but they were actually switched off for the EV-only record attempt. The same team holds the solar speed record at 55MPH with its Sunswift IV, but unlike that car, the Sunswift eVe can seat two people in relative comfort. Its Panasonic battery pack can be fully charged in eight hours from a standard outlet or gain two hours of endurance in the same time from the panels. The team hopes to make the 700-pound eVe street legal in Australia -- not to make Tesla sweat, but to help cure the biggest headache with EV tech: range anxiety.
Government reminds Comcast and Verizon not to lie
If you're like me, you've paid for a certain speed from you internet provider only to get a fraction of the promised bandwidth. The FCC is reminding those who control access to the interwebs to be honest and forthcoming with their advertised data with the Open Internet Transparency Rule. The decree requires providers to give you every bit of data on their broadband services needed to make "informed choices." It also requires the disclosures to be "accurate and truthful," covering network management (handling congestion, etc.), performance, terms of service, plan descriptions, pricing and fees. You know, to eliminate surprises down the road. Of course, spilling data on expected and actual speed figures are part of the lot as well. And the Commission urges you to keep a watchful eye on your service, reporting any discrepancies with advertised numbers. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's full statement on the matter awaits after the break. [Photo credit: Sh4rp_i/Flickr]
Verizon FiOS gets a speed boost: now uploads go as fast as downloads
Before Google Fiber, Verizon FiOS was the speedy internet service everyone wanted in their neighborhood. The arrival of 1Gbps connections, a slowed rollout, and an ongoing battle with Netflix that's slowing streams to a crawl has slightly dulled the cachet, but it's still one of the fastest providers out there. Now it's getting even faster, but Verizon isn't boosting download speeds again -- those will stay the same as customers get matching upload speeds on every plan. On the fastest tier (previously 500Mbps down / 100Mbps up), speeds will increase by 5x to 500Mbps, and most customers will see their speeds double. New customers can get the symmetrical speeds right away, and they'll roll out to existing customers throughout the fall. To go immediately to the front of that list FiOS subscribers can sign up for the MyRewards+ customer loyalty program, which is free, and pretty much just requires inputting your birthdate. [Image credit: Mark Von Holden/AP Images for Verizon]
FCC considers improving its definition of broadband to a video-friendly 10Mbps
The FCC last set its definition of broadband as 4Mbps downstream, and 1Mbps upstream. That was fine for 2010, but it's arguably outdated in 2014 -- you can't reliably stream HD video or host high-quality video chats on that kind of connection. The agency is clearly aware that it needs to modernize, as it's drafting a proposal that would increase the baseline to at least 10Mbps down and 2.9Mbps up. It may also explore tiered definitions that vary based on regions or even times of day. Broadband in a gigabit-class city like Austin may get tougher standards than rural Wyoming, for example.
FCC Speed Test app for iOS lets the government track your iPhone's network performance
Downloading an app from the federal government might not top your list of priorities at the moment, but if you're looking to tick that public service box without a need to worry about measly pay, background checks and furloughs, the FCC could sure use your help. That org's latest venture, the FCC Speed Test app for iOS, delivers yet another connectivity benchmark tool to iPhone and iPad users. This free download also benefits the government's Measuring Broadband America program, however, enabling the FCC to build out a public database of network performance across the country. Unlike its Android counterpart, this iOS app doesn't test performance in the background, so you'll need to fire it up to see how well your cellular or WiFi connection is doing. It's available from the App Store today.
