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Silicon eyed as way to boost electric car battery potential

(Reuters) - The race to build a better electric car battery is turning to silicon, with several companies working to engineer types of the material that can boost driving range and cut production costs.

Emission fiasco: NGT directs Volkswagen to deposit Rs 100 crore

The National Green Tribunal Friday directed Volkswagen to deposit an interim amount of Rs 100 crore with the CPCB in a case related to allegations against the German auto major for using 'cheat device' in emission tests of its diesel vehicles. A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel also formed a committee comprising officials of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Ministry of Heavy Industries, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and Automotive Research Association of India to calculate the actual quantum of the environmental loss. The green panel directed the committee to submit the report within a month and asked the company and the petitioner in the case to appear before the panel within seven days with their contentions. The tribunal was hearing pleas filed by a school teacher Saloni Ailawadi and a few others seeking ban on sale of Volkswagen vehicles for alleged violation of emission norms. The automobile giant had earlier submitted a roadmap before ...

Cybersecurity conference to discuss attacks on governments, industries

Speakers at the AVAR 2018 international cyber security conference will discuss advanced persistent targeted attacks on governments and industries to security for smart cars in the Internet of Things (IoT), said a city-based cyber security major.

Where data sits is irrelevant as its ownership is the key: Jack Dorsey (IANS Interview)

Stressing that data localization is an irrelevant debate in an era of Cloud, the deliberations must be in the direction of how people own and control their data, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has said.

Mercedes-Benz launches new CLS; price starts at Rs 84.7 lakh

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz Friday launched new CLS model with a starting price of Rs 84.70 lakh (ex-showroom, all India). The third generation CLS is powered by a new two-litre BS VI compliant diesel engine with power of 180 kw, the company said in a statement. "With the launch of the new CLS 300 d, Mercedes-Benz continues its offensive with its 12th product launched in 2018," Mercedes-Benz India Vice President (Sales and Marketing) Michael Jopp said. "We have an exciting line-up for 2019 as well and our product innovations will continue in the coming months," he further said. Jopp said the company is confident that the third generation CLS would offer "superior luxury and comfort" to its customers and will continue to delight them. The new CLS has luxury features like Burmester surround sound system, which includes 13 high-performance speakers precisely tailored to the vehicle interiors providing an acoustic experience, the company added. The vehicle is also equipped with .

Mark Zuckerberg wants to give you more control on Facebook content

The content flowing on Facebook has always been hitting the scanner for multiple reasons. Now, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced his plans to build a tool that will users more control on what they see on the site.Zuckerberg said that the company continues to train its AI systems to sift out content which is reported or is in violation of the policies. Once they are trained better, Facebook will be able to build the tool that can keep specific kind of content users choose not to see, even if that content is not in violation of the company standards, Engadget reported.The idea behind building the tool is to let users be the best judges for the content. While racial slurs don't always violate guidelines and nudity may get sifted out, users will have the choice to filter the 'borderline' content to protect themselves or consume the content if they so wish.Facebook is also planning to create a new system for content reporting and takedown requests.

Google's latest update makes your Wear OS device even more battery efficient

Google has rolled out a new system version, called the H update, to Wear OS for its smart devices. With the latest update, Wear OS devices will become more energy efficient.In its blog, Google explained that the update extends battery life further by turning on Battery Saver to only display the time once your battery level falls below 10 percent. Off body efficiency has also been improved. After 30 minutes of inactivity, the Wear OS watch will go into deep sleep mode.Other features include smart app resume for apps so you can pick up easily from where you left off. Lastly, you can now turn off your watch by simply holding the power button till you see the option to turn off the screen or restart.The update will be rolled out over the coming months.

Massive database breach leaves millions of text messages exposed

Another day, another breach. A security breach of a Voxox server has exposed the database containing tens of millions of text messages.The exposed server belongs to the California-based communications company. According to TechCrunch, the server was not protected with a password, allowing any miscreant to snoop on the data, including real-time conversations.The server was found on Shodan, which is a search engine for publicly available devices and databases. It was also attached to one of Voxox's own subdomains. The worst part is that the server was running on Amazon's Elasticsearch, making the data within easily readable and searchable for specific details.TechCrunch's investigation into the matter found that the database appeared to have a little over 26 million text messages year-to-date. However, it is likely the figure may be higher.The compromised data also included details on two-factor authentication code. The company is reportedly looking into the matter.

Google set to release new system update to 'Wear OS'

Google is set to release a new system update called the "H Update" to its "Wear Operating System (OS)" with features like the battery saver, body efficiency and smart app resume.

IIT Kharagpur's research to boost LPG distribution

IIT Kharagpur researchers have devised a decision support system to help maximise the LPG connections in BPL (below poverty line) households, an official statement said.

Microsoft acquires conversational AI and bot development firm

Microsoft has announced to acquire a conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) and bot development company XOXCO for an undisclosed sum.

Facebook drops firm that sought to discredit critics

Facebook said Thursday it was severing ties with a political consultancy that sought to discredit critics of the social networking giant using questionable campaign-style tactics. The California-based company's announcement followed a lengthy New York Times investigation detailing Facebook's struggles with its image as it came under scrutiny for its handling of Russian-led misinformation efforts. Facebook said in a statement that "we ended our contract" on Wednesday with Definers Public Affairs, which specializes in opposition research and, according to the Times, sought to link anti-Facebook efforts to financier George Soros. But Facebook disputed claims that it used the firm in a nefarious way. The Times, Facebook said, was "wrong to suggest that we ever asked Definers to pay for or write articles on Facebook's behalf -- or to spread misinformation." The Times said in its investigation that Definers had sought to cast billionaire liberal donor Soros as the "unacknowledged force" ...

West Bengal govt to set up cyber crime centre

The West Bengal government is planning to set up a state-of-the-art centre for cyber crime, a senior official said Thursday. The proposed cyber crime centre, likely to be named as West Bengal Cyber Security Centre of Excellence and would have a helpline, he said. "The centre will operate on a 24X7 basis. Initially, the centre will be in New Town and later we have plans to move it to Sector V in Salt Lake," he said. "The proposed name for the centre will be Complaint and Grievance Redressal Management System (CGRMS)," he said adding that expressions of interest for the centre were called on October 10. The helpline would be maintained by the company which would be given the responsibility to run operations of the centre, the IAS officer said.

Does not compute: Japan cyber security minister admits shunning PCs

A Japanese minister in charge of cyber security has provoked astonishment by admitting he has never used a computer in his professional life, and appearing confused by the concept of a USB drive. Yoshitaka Sakurada, 68, is the deputy chief of the government's cyber security strategy office and also the minister in charge of the Olympic and Paralympic Games that Tokyo will host in 2020. In parliament on Wednesday however, he admitted he doesn't use computers. "Since the age of 25, I have instructed my employees and secretaries, so I don't use computers myself," he said in a response to an opposition question in a lower house session, local media reported. He also appeared confused by the question when asked about whether USB drives were in use at Japanese nuclear facilities. His comments were met with incredulity by opposition lawmakers. "It's unbelievable that someone who has not touched computers is responsible for cyber security policies," said opposition lawmaker Masato Imai. And ..

Intel opens new chip design facility in Bengaluru

Global chip maker Intel Corp on Thursday opened its new design centre in this tech hub for innovations in disruptive technologies.

New Samsung Data Center SSD line-up now in India

Samsung India on Thursday introduced Samsung Data Center solid-state drive (SSD) line-up for Small and Medium Business (SMBs) in the country.

IIT researchers devise programme to maximise LPG connections

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur have devised a computer programme that will help maximise LPG connections in BPL households in the 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana', a statement issued by the institute said Thursday. An IIT Kharagpur team of researchers, led by Prof Manoj Kumar Tiwari of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, have devised the 'Decision Support System' (DSS) focusing on the 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana' for maximising (optimizing) the number of LPG connections, particularly in below poverty level (BPL) households, it said. A decision support system (DSS) is a computer programme that helps in making sound rational decisions using mathematical programming and operation research techniques. The DSS mathematical model devised at IIT KGP has found the optimum number of total (BPL) connections required in a region and the number of dealerships that need to be commissioned in a region over the policy time frame, .

Intel India opens design house costing Rs 1,100 cr at B'luru

Marking its 20th anniversary, Intel India Thursday announced the inauguration of its latest state-of-the-art design house at its campus here, built with an investment of approximately Rs 1,100 crore. The newest facility located at Intel's 44-acre campuson Sarjapur Ring Road, has 620,000 sq. ft. of space including 100,000 sq. ft. of world-class lab infrastructure, the company said in a release. Extending Intel's R&D presence in India, it will house technologists who work on cutting-edge engineering across hardware and software, it said. Intel said, the state-of-the-art design facility was inaugurated by Minister of State (IC) for Communications and Minister of State for Railways Manoj Sinha and CFO and interim CEO of Intel Corporation Bob Swan in the presence of many other delegates from the government, industry and academia. "The inauguration of the new research and development (R&D) facility reinforces our commitment to India. We haverobust collaborations with ...

Facebook denies it knew of Russian activity as early as spring of 2016

Facebook on Thursday denied The New York Times report that suggested that the social network was aware of a Russian campaign designed to influence the 2016 US presidential election as early as spring of 2016.

Olectra-BYD deploys electric buses for Sabarimala pilgrimage

Electric vehicle maker Olectra-BYD said Thursday it has deployed its 10 electric buses for Sabarimala pilgrimage to take pilgrims to the hill-top shrine in zero-emission vehicles. It is the first company to deploy electric buses in Kerala under commercial operations in collaboration with the state road transport corporation, Olectra-BYD said in a statement. A total of 10 electric buses will be deployed for travel to the shrine, with five buses being flagged off Thursday in Thiruvananthapuram by state Transport Minister A K Saseendran, the company said in a statement. "We are sure that like other states, our 10 buses will repeat the success in Kerala as well. The eBuzz K7 has already proved its reliability as it has been successfully plying at a high altitude and steep gradient of 13,000 feet in Himachal Pradesh," Olectra Greentech Executive Director N Naga Satyam said. The eBuzz K7 electric buses are manufactured in India by Olectra Greentech (Formerly Goldstone Infratech) in a ...