Kozminski Techblog

According to Arstechnica, cheating in video games has reached a new level. Hackers have developed a special device that helps the player accurately aim at the enemy. In fact, it is a hardware analogue of Aim Bot. The developers claim that this cheat is undetectable by any protection because it does not violate the integrity of the game files, which is typical for software cheats. The device can be used with both PCs and consoles.

For obvious reasons, Arstechnica did not mention the device’s real name, formally labelling it CVCheat, nor did they provide links to where it could be purchased. However, the hackers themselves were eager to share with the portal how it works. Actually, CVCheat is an advanced video capture card that connects to a PC or console via HDMI and monitors the frames sent by the GPU to the screen. Using built-in artificial intelligence and computer vision algorithms, CVCheat detects the location of enemies in the central area of the screen where the player is looking.

Next comes the algorithm, which calculates exactly how far and in which direction the mouse should be moved for the enemy to be in the crosshair. CVCheat can detect the enemy as a whole and its body parts, allowing, for example, to efficiently distribute headshots. The data collected by the capture card is sent to a dedicated pass-through device, such as Titan Two or Cronus Zen, which is used to emulate a mouse or gamepad movement to bring the aim to the target and fire a shot.

Individually, all the devices used to operate CVCheat are perfectly legal. For example, the same Titan Two or Cronus Zen cards are used to enable the use of computer mice and keyboards with game consoles and create game macros. However, all together they create an effective cheat that requires no modifications to the game files, so no anti-cheat can detect it.

CVCHeat has flexible settings, allowing you to determine the size of the reticle area, the speed of the aim, the body parts to be shot at, and so on. The current version of CVCheat operates on the Triggerbot principle, i.e. it allows for accurate shots to be fired at an enemy who has hit the reticle area. In addition, it has a recoil control function after each shot.

A more advanced version is already in development, which will offer fully automated aiming and shooting processes, and will be able to work with any PC game as well as Xbox and PlayStation game consoles. The Pro version of CVCheat has been priced at $50 by hackers. According to its developers, it works effectively in games displayed at up to 240 frames per second. And it only takes 10ms for it to detect an enemy on the screen and make a shot.   Game developers have already sounded the alarm. For example, publisher Activision is blocking any advertisements on YouTube that use CVCheat in their online shooter Call of Duty: Warzone, because people have already appeared in the game using it. According to the hackers themselves, around 200 people are already using their development.

Source: arstechnica.com

The photo-sharing platform, operated by Facebook, said that the latest test came after mixed feedback to experiments in which it removed likes, commonly used as a measure of popularity.

Instagram has run a global beta testing in which users were able to choose whether to hide the number of likes on their own or others’ posts, said a Facebook spokeswoman.

“In 2019, we began hiding the number of likes for a small group of people to see if it reduced some of the pressure of posting to Instagram,” the press office said in a statement. “Some people found it helpful, but some still wanted to see the number of likes so they could keep track of what was popular.”

Facebook is also exploring a similar experience: in response to users’ requests for more control over how they interact with content on the platform.

Last month, Instagram accidentally hid likes for a large number of users in a small test, which sparked a strong reaction. Some users saw this as an important step for users’ mental health, while others saw it as a disaster for authors collaborating with brands. Users participating in the Instagram test still be able to privately see their number of likes.

Personally, I believe that this opt-in approach is the only way Instagram can strike a balance with their community, especially given the social pressure and anxiety that can be prompted by Instagram likes. And then everybody can make their own decision. What do you say?

Will you be hiding likes on your account? Let me know in the comments.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2021/04/14/instagrams-new-test-lets-you-choose-if-you-want-to-hide-likes-facebook-test-to-follow/#:~:text=If%20you’ve%20been%20opted,%E2%80%A6%E2%80%9D%20menu%20at%20the%20top

A preview version of the virtual reality platform for effective communication and collaboration was freshly introduced by Microsoft [1]. Let’s look behind the scenes as the future of collaborative telecommuting is coming!

The very concept was originally introduced by Microsoft at the Ignite 2021 conference. It consists in the users interaction with each other and with digital 3D models in a single virtual space, that is superimposed on the real world.

The virtual space can be connected to using a wide range of devices. The platform supports most VR headsets, tablets, smartphones, PCs, and, besides, Microsoft’s mixed-reality headset called the HoloLens 2.

The company claims that Mesh feels like “you’re really in the same room with someone and sharing content.” People in Mesh will be represented by virtual avatars from the social network AltspaceVR, which Microsoft acquired back in 2017. But eventually, the company wants to arrive at holoportation (virtual 3D teleportation in real-time), where people will be able to appear in a virtual environment as themselves.

According to The Verge editor Tom Warren, who participated in an hour-long demonstration of the technology, it’s similar to working through Microsoft Teams. A Microsoft representative appeared right in front of the reporter’s desk and started handing him virtual jellyfish and sharks, whose shape and colour could be changed.

According to Warren, it turned out to be “much more exciting” than the Zoom calls he participates in every day.

The platform provides community demonstrations, screenings, and shared experience in addition to traditional online meetings. For example, in this way you can hold a speech in front of an audience of listeners, said James Cameron during the Microsoft demonstration.

Mesh is not just a tool for virtual meetings, but a full-fledged platform based on the Azure cloud, which will be opened to third-party developers.

Who could benefit from Mesh you may ask, Microsoft anticipates a high demand among architects, developers, designers, and other professionals who really need to collaborate in a single space but have some troubles with that due to the pandemic. Mesh will also allow you to play Pokemon Go, which has also been affected by the pandemic.

The good news tells us the platform will be available on multiple devices from HoloLens 2 to smartphones. A preview version of Mesh is available for Microsoft’s headset since March 2, along with a preview version of the AltspaceVR social network. The company also plans to incorporate Mesh into its Teams and Dynamics 365 products.

I’m not arguing that holograms that are in the not-too-distant future are extremely convenient. Virtual conferences indeed can become a tool even more effective than offline ones, due to augmented reality tools. However, it is also true that the availability of Mesh is still far from being a mass product. The previous Microsoft Mesh was not that successful, so they shut it down [2]. Later it was replaced by already tolerable OneDrive, the same probably will be this time – they show sketches of the technology, but it does not seem that in the next few years it will be possible to seriously use it.

What do you think of that perspective? We would make an interesting dialogue if you could elaborate on that in the comments!

[1] https://www.theverge.com/22308883/microsoft-mesh-virtual-reality-augmented-reality-hololens-vr-headsets-features

[2] https://www.zdnet.com/pictures/screen-shots-microsofts-live-mesh/

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The minute I heard about this marvel, the decision to write an article regarding The June came to me by itself. It left me dazzled by a broad range of features that I can only hope will become standard in toaster ovens in the future. These functions all together make this “smart” toaster oven worth your look. At least, considering the ability to cook things ranging from eggs to popcorn there! June doesn’t act like a simple oven, it acts like Alton Brown, in the flesh, is in your kitchen, translating overwhelming instructions into quick, digestible steps for you so that you can concentrate on doing other important things.

So let’s move on to the deepened acquaintance of this classy looking appliance. Just to be clear, it’s designed by former Google, GoPro and Apple employees. The June oven has an Apple product vibe, which makes sense because June partnered with Quantum Computers, the manufacturer of Apple’s laptops and Watch. Both the oven and its interface are stunning. You can confirm that just by looking at the product!

The appliance constitutes an Internet-connected toaster oven that acts as a convection oven, toaster, air fryer, dehydrator, slow cooker, broiler, and finally…warming drawer! So you don’t need a lot of electronic devices in the kitchen, freeing up countertop and cabinet space. As you might have guessed, it’s aimed at busy folks who like homemade meals but don’t want to be chained to the kitchen. June is a helpful kitchen assistant that lets you go do your things without the risk of burning the house down. Maybe it doesn’t save you time, but at least offers peace of mind.

“In a short amount of time, it’s proved itself a reliable performer that I can use in more ways than I ever expected I could.”

The happy customer : )

You can operate the June from the touchscreen on the front, that is pretty beautiful and responsive, not worrying if your fingers are a bit greasy or wet from meal prep. Another way is to manage it from the June app (iOS and Android compatible), on which I would like to dwell on. For beginners to pair the June app with the toaster, it’s necessary to enter a security code generated by the app on the touchscreen of the toaster. The possibilities that open of using it impress. Let’s just watch together:

• You are offered a lot of interesting updated recipes as well as step-by-step video instructions for meal prep
• You can preheat the oven even when you’re far from it
• You watch the temperature rise as the oven preheats
• You get a notification when the June is ready to cook
• There is countdown based on the time you set for your bake
• Finishing a bake results in two notifications
• It automatically turns off the heat after the food is done and keeps it warm

The app is very attractively laid out, but that’s not all. Most importantly, there’s the heat and fog resistant camera inside the oven that can identify up to 65 foods you put inside as well as offer a predetermined cook time to ensure the ideal meal. But the absolute best thing about this camera is that you can watch what you’re cooking as it cooks (and others can, too) simply clicking on “live video”. Enjoy how your meat caramelizes, cookies harden, or chocolate chips melt… You’ll definitely open the app more often than any other ones on your phone. The next logical step of the “live video” feature, of course, is to share the video with someone. It’s pretty hilarious, isn’t it?

At the same time, I have to be critical to this innovation, drawing on a range of not so pleasant comments. The first claim is for June’s price, that is higher than for the regular oven. Excuse me, but you’re buying nothing but benefits! The next one:

“Cleaning is a pain. With all the slick shiny metal surfaces, it is hard to keep the thing clean. When you use it a lot, like any oven, it builds up a stubborn layer of splatter that does not want to come off. To the top of that, the camera became to work worse…”

The pessimistic customer : (

Come on, any kitchen electronic devices become dirty with time. But unlike them, the June will remind you to clean it.

For the next complaints, I have no counterarguments.

“The app is beautiful but sometimes glitchy.”

 

“Kitchen gadgets often try to reimagine a single task. As the result, they poorly combine multiple tasks.”

 

“June isn’t going to replace your instant pot or rice cooker. The instant pot is insurmountable.”

What do you think? Whether the disadvantages really overweigh the advantages?

To my mind, the June Intelligent Oven is a beautiful piece of hardware that eliminates the excuses for making meals at home. I think smart devices such as these are our future. Maybe it’s crazy to imagine a world where all your smart appliances can talk to one another. For example, if the June oven could check my smart fridge for which ingredients I have and suggest something to make, then my smart fridge could automatically place an order to Amazon Fresh to restock anything that is missing. That would really be the ideal. For now, the June oven is a promising glimpse of that future, but it isn’t quite there yet.

Links:

1. https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/12/how-a-toaster-oven-helped-me-learn-to-stop-worrying-and-love-the-internet-of-things/?comments=1
2. https://techcrunch.com/2016/11/15/the-june-oven-makes-the-art-of-cooking-a-science/
3. https://techcrunch.com/2016/03/25/june-oven-cooks-up-22-5-million-in-series-a-delays-ship-date-to-add-improvements/
4. https://techcrunch.com/video/junes-second-gen-oven-starts-at-599/
5. https://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykarcz/2018/12/01/90-days-later-the-june-oven-rules-my-kitchen/#6794a8659129