CES 2019: 'Indestructible notepad' works underwater
           

A Ukrainian start-up has created a 'damage-proof' pad and a pencil that never goes blunt.
           

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46835407
           

CES 2019: 'I feel my sanity draining away'
           

The biggest show in tech is nearing its close - but how did attendees react this year?
           

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46833021
           

US government shutdown leaves websites insecure
           

The partial US government shutdown has led to many website security certificates not being renewed.
           

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46836905
           

CES 2019: Hunting down the big beasts of tech
           

Dave Lee goes on 'safari' in Las Vegas to find out what the tech giants are showing off.
           

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46845401
           

Hands-on with Hyperkin's NES light gun for LCDs and Raspberry Pi DIY SNES kit
   

During CES 2019 we went hands-on with the latest products from Hyperkin. Perhaps most important from its lineup, the Hyper Blaster HD and RetroN DIY for SNES. Be sure to check out the full gallery.  Read more...
   

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/neowin-main/~3/EoQLgu6FKBI/hands-on-with-hyperkins-nes-light-gun-for-lcds-and-raspberry-pi-diy-snes-kit
   

Valve unveils dedicated, curator-like DLC pages for Steam
   

In its attempt to modernize the browsing experience on Steam, Valve has unveiled a new design for browsing DLC. The dedicated pages share UI approaches with the existing curator pages. Read more...
   

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/neowin-main/~3/eJbuobzBbeM/valve-unveils-dedicated-curator-like-dlc-pages-for-steam
   

Microsoft releases new Office Insider Fast ring build for Windows
   

Folks on Windows looking to test the newest features in Office can rejoice, as Microsoft has released a brand new build to the Fast ring. It brings support for live captions and subtitles. Read more...
   

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/neowin-main/~3/uBOhaLUAeno/microsoft-releases-new-office-insider-fast-ring-build-for-windows
   

CES 2019: Taking a look at Samsung's Digital Cockpit; its vision of driving in the future
   

Samsung is best known for its smartphones and displays, but it has been expanding its reach into new areas over the past few years. At CES 2019, it showed off its new Digital Cockpit for vehicles.  Read more...
   

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/neowin-main/~3/y_7Ewps9pso/ces-2019-taking-a-look-at-samsungs-digital-cockpit-its-vision-of-driving-in-the-future
   

From high-end tablets to powerful cameras, the year 2018 saw some cool gadgets arriving in India.

Here are the top 5 picks from the lot.

1. Apple Watch Series 4



Call it guardian of your health. If you are constantly worried about an elderly person in your family suffering a fall in the bathroom or in the garden, the Apple Watch Series 4 is what you need.

The device houses a feature called "Fall Detection" that will alert emergency contacts saved in your iPhone in case you meet with a hard fall.

The new Watch has an electrical heart sensor with two new features -- low heart rate notifications and faster heart rate reading.

The moment you get furious, Watch Series 4 sends you an immediate notification about your heart rate going through the roof, requiring you to cool down.

In the US, Apple Watch Series 4 will now help users take an electrocardiogram (ECG) right from their wrist and check irregular heart rhythms (hope these features come to India soon).

Apple Watch Series 4 is now available in India- the GPS+Cellular variant starts from Rs 49,900 and GPS-only model from Rs 40,900.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S4



Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 for Rs 57,900 is packed with rich features -- both for the workaholic and the lazy soul. The 2-in-1 comes equipped with Samsung "DeX" (docking station) and S Pen, making it a perfect device for those who are always on the go and seek entertainment on the side.

The redesigned S Pen offers services like navigate, translate and organise notes -- and even to send personalised texts via Samsung "Live Message".

The device has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, runs Android 8.1 Oreo, has 4GB RAM in two 64GB and 256GB internal memory with microSD variants. There is a 13MP rear and 8MP front camera.

If you are a Samsung smartphone user, especially Note 9, and want the same experience on a bigger display, Galaxy Tab S4 is your default choice. Invest in a Book Cover Keyboard to give the tab a laptop-like form factor.

3. OnePlus 6T



Undoubtedly the flagship killer of the year in the Rs 30,000 - Rs 40,000 segment.

The company's latest addition packs in all the goodness of OnePlus 6 along with meaningful upgrades such as the much-anticipated under-display fingerprint sensor, a smaller waterdrop-style notch and a bigger battery.

The 6T is OnePlus' costliest smartphone so far with a price tag of Rs 37,999 (for the 6GB RAM and 128GB internal storage base variant). It is also available in a configuration of 8GB RAM+128GB storage and 8GB RAM+256GB storage for Rs 41,999 and Rs 45,999, respectively.

OnePlus has brought a slew of meaningful upgrades to the 6T and the phone definitely looks and feels better this time. Topped with a bigger battery and some hardware improvements, OnePlus 6T makes for a highly desirable smartphone in the premium category.

4. Amazon Echo Plus (2nd Gen)



The Rs 14,999 All-New Echo Plus (2nd Gen) with a smarter Alexa comes with a built-in smart hub that helps you set up compatible Zigbee-enabled smart home devices directly, just using your voice.

Just ask Alexa to discover your devices and begin controlling compatible lights, plugs, locks, thermostats, sensors and in-wall switches.

With seven microphones, beam-forming technology and noise cancellation, Echo Plus will hear you from all directions.

One feature that is worth mentioning is the equaliser (EQ) feature that allows users to personalise sounds by adjusting the bass, mid-range and treble.

Just ask Alexa to increase or decrease a specific band like "turn up the bass" or "decrease the treble" and she does it for you.

The second-generation Echo Plus with a far more intelligent Alexa is a real upgrade if you have experienced the first generation Echo.

5. Canon EOS R



The first full-frame mirrorless camera from Japanese camera maker Canon, the 30.3MP EOS R is the show stopper.

With the new EOS R, four types of RF mount adapters have been introduced to complete the EOS R ecosystem.

The EOS R features an electronic viewfinder. The camera is equipped with features like advanced Dual pixel CMOS AF, Digic 8 imaging processor, High density AF points positions, Multi-function slider bar, Flexible AE Mode and High speed data communication RF mount.

The RF lens mount is a balance of optical, mechanical and electronic engineering excellence, enabling innovative full-frame lens designs, faster auto focus and high-speed communication between the camera and lens.

The 54mm diameter RF mount is what makes EOS R unique with its short back-focus of 20mm and 12-pin contact points for enhanced communication between the lens and body.

The camera costs Rs 189,950 and with the EOS R kit (RF24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens), the price is Rs 278,945.

Science fiction movies often tell tales of future discoveries that make us wish we were already there … - but in fact, the future is here, and we are surrounded by technological developments that prove time and again that there is no limit to what humanity can achieve and do. Scientists from all over the world work day and night to improve our lives, and they are slowly achieving positive results that can certainly change the whole world. Want to know exactly what these results are and how your life will change in the near future? Learn about the 10 most recent scientific discoveries in various fields.


1. An electronic device that helps the disabled walk again


A group of neurophysiologists from the United States and Russia did what seemed impossible until today - they gave a person who is paralyzed from the waist down the possibility of walking again! They did this with the help of electronic equipment intended for a completely different purpose - to reduce pain - but it turned out that the technology allowed people, paralyzed from the waist down, to move their lower extremities, even if the nerve damage in the area was very serious. According to neurophysiologists, the process of rehabilitation took 44 weeks, and as of writing, the person on whom the experiment was conducted can already stand on his own and walk on the treadmill.

2. The first full-color x-ray



Scientists from New Zealand have created the world's first 3-D full-color X-ray using a device based on the original X-ray machine. The new device uses particle detection technology called Medipix, which was also used in the large particle accelerator on the Swiss-French border used to find the Higgs boson, whose existence was only theoretical until 2012. MediPix technology works like a subatomic camera that provides high contrast images. Color x-rays clearly show differences between muscles, bones, and cartilages, as well as size and location of cancerous tumors.


3. A vest that warns of a heart attack a few days in advance



This smart vest looks like a simple vest, but inside there are sensors and electrodes that do ECG, blood pressure and pulse tests 24 hours a day without the need for a doctor. The information derived from the tests is sent directly to one’s smartphone using an app. According to the inventor of the vest, there is even the possibility of predicting heart attacks two days in advance by identifying abnormal cardiac activity. The vest has already been tested on volunteers and has shown good results, and we can expect it to be available for purchase in the next few years.


4. Eye drops that remove the need for glasses



This development comes from Israel, and these days researchers at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and Bar Ilan University are working on eye drops that can fix the cornea of the eye. This means that using these eye drops on a daily basis can permanently remove the need for glasses, and the product has already been tested and shown great results. The drops are effective for both nearsightedness and farsightedness, and according to one researcher, David Smadja, they can even prevent cataracts and make our vision better than it naturally is.


5. First flying cab



At first glance, Aerocar EHang 184 looks like a drone, but it is much more than that. This is a flying vehicle that can drive 2 people up to 15 kilometers away at a speed of 130 kilometers per hour, but this isn’t the most surprising thing. This flying vehicle doesn’t require a pilot because it is completely autonomous and has already been successfully tested in China. According to the developers of the flying vehicle, all passengers have to do is set their destination and off they’ll go.


6. An external hand skeleton controlled through the power of thought



Scientists from the EPFL Research Center in Switzerland have succeeded in creating a prototype of a hand that can be controlled with the power of thought. In previous versions, electrodes had to be attached to the hand under the skin of the body, but now these electrodes are kept in a helmet that just needs to be worn on the head. It is very easy to control the hand and the learning process takes only a few minutes. The device was tested on people with spinal injuries and those who have had a stroke. Now engineers are working on improvements to make this hand good enough for mass production.


7. Editing genes to treat diseases



In August 2017 experts at the University of Oregon in the United States succeeded in successfully modifying fetal genes that are responsible for the development of heart disease. With that being said, the significant innovation in biological engineering is that gene editing can also possibly be used in adults. A 44-year-old with Hunter’s syndrome – a rare genetic disorder - has undergone genetic modification to erase the disease, and researchers are still waiting to see the results of the process, and if they are positive, it will be possible to treat a host of serious genetics-related diseases through gene-editing.


8. The cure for cancer is just around the corner



Modern medicine is making huge strides in making the word "cancer" much less threatening. Although cancer can’t be cured completely, for the time being, it is possible that in the near future overcoming the disease will be much easier and simpler. As early as 2017, a number of people who had been battling cervical cancer received advanced treatment, in which a special drug was sent to the uterus using sperm. As a result, 90% of cancer cells were completely removed, and this method appears to be more effective than chemotherapy and may even replace it.


9. Water was found on Mars



Science has long known that the red star was once full of liquid, and indeed has ice reservoirs, but researchers were still on the lookout for evidence that Mars has liquid water and they found it in July 2018. The Italian space agency found an underground water reservoir using advanced radar, according to them, they found a lake 20 km wide and 90 cm deep. This gives great hope to the future settlement on the planet, which is scheduled to start in the year 2022.


10. Birth control pills - soon for men too



For years scientists have been trying to develop birth control pills for men, but the problem is that they have always been found to have severe side effects, such as causing extensive damage to the liver. However, in March 2018 researchers at the University of Washington announced that they may soon release the first anti-pregnancy pills for men which actually work and aren’t harmful. In pills, there is a combination of hormones that suppress sperm production, and like the pills that exist for women, they need to be taken regularly once a day. In addition to being effective, the subjects reported only minor side effects that did not impair their daily routine. One of the most prominent side effects was changes in cholesterol levels, but it is not yet a phenomenon that will rule out the possibility that these pills will be available for purchase in the near future.