Kozminski Techblog

Although Christmas holidays are coming to its end, Whatsapp still has a gift for us. However, Apple or Microsoft might not be as happy about it as we are.

German website MacerKopf has leaked Whatsapp screenshots showing the video call feature. (MacerKopf 2015)

Whatsapp is a popular messaging service which has gathered more than 900 million users in six years and was purchased by Facebook for $19 billion.

Video call looks quite simple on the screenshots. But simplicity is what made Whatsapp so popular. MacerKopf also stated that the feature should be available already in January. (Kelly 2015)

In addition, an upcoming Whatsapp update shall also feature redesigning and desktop access. A new design is supposed to focus on green colours. (Gsmarena 2015)

Being able to use the app from your computer is quite a good idea. As it has been really annoying not to be able to access Whatsapp if your phone is not available.  Viber and Skype have the feature. Time for Whatsapp to join them.

Opinions tend to differ. Some users state that they will no longer need Facebook if Whatsapp is available on the web.

However, Facebook is not afraid of loosing its users due to Whatsapp updates. But Apple’s FaceTime and Microsoft’s Skype should get anxious. Will it ever be possible to challenge the dominance Facebook and Whatsapp with new users attracted by video calling and desktop access?

Future will show if the update will be successful for both Whatsapp and Facebook. What we can analyse now is our actual need for it.

Are we personally going to use Whatsapp video calls or are we too much used to Skype?

Are we going to use Whatsapp on our laptops or it will remain our quick messenger app for smartphones?

My personal answer to these questions is “No”.

Bibliography:

Gsmarena (2015), WhatsApp will support video calls in a few weeks, report claims, Available at: http://www.gsmarena.com/whatsapp_will_support_video_calls_in_a_few_weeks_report_claims-blog-15670.php .

Kelly G. (2015), Massive WhatsApp Update Starts Google, Microsoft, Apple Attack, Forbes, Available at: http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/12/26/whatsapp-video-calling-update/.

MacerKopf (2015), WhatsApp: Fotos zeigen Videochat, Tabs in Arbeit, Available at: http://www.macerkopf.de/2015/12/21/whatsapp-fotos-videochat-tabs-arbeit/.

Cybercrime is becoming more and more popular and dangerous. That issue definitely requires more attention and new ways of handling it. Currently, hackers feel pretty free and elusive. According to “Rzeczpospolita”, our government has noticed this problem. Minister of digitization, Anna Streżyńska, decided to appoint a new vice minister – vice minister for cyber security.

In my opinion, this is the highest time to take a closer look on this problem, from business perspective as well as the personal one. A lot of business loose money because of hackers and a lot of people do not feel safe in the Internet because of them. Therefore, I am glad that there will be someone responsible for fighting with cybercrime. The beginnings are always hard and probably it will take a lot of time until this fight will be effective, nevertheless, maybe the awareness that there is someone watching will make hackers a little bit less active.

What is your opinion? Do you think this a good idea, or just a waste of money?

Source: http://tvn24bis.pl/z-kraju,74/przeglad-prasy-bedzie-minister-do-walki-z-hakerami,606474.html

LIFI, Lifire or VLC or how to connect to Internet via LED lights but limited to broadcast.

A gadget or a future technology? Researchers estimate commercialization till 2018.

After the presentation of the 1^st smartphone Lifi in Las Vegas in 2014, this technology continues its development. Few experts announce the implementation of 14 billion LIFI LED by 2020. The potential turnover is estimated to 6 billions USD dollars by 2018 (Source: Markets and Markets).

Does this mono directional technology will replace WIFI and the rest?

Safely communicate via Internet in a Café or in a train without loosing any speed because the neighbour is downloading a movie is priceless. Spread an Internet connection in a conference or in a building without any hackers risk, this is what LIFI promoters want to communicate.

How does it work?

Source:newtecharticles.com

– The computer or server that transmit the datas is plug into electricity network via a power line carrier.

– The datas are transmitted at high speed to LED lights through the electricity cable.

– The LED lights are equipped with a digital processing device. The data are transmitted through the lights.

Limits:

• Is Lifi economic? As it use lights to spread Internet connections. The lights have to be turned on; this can be problematic in public places.
• Lifi is mono directional, it means that the devices cannot send any signal but only receive. All kind of applications that require sending signals are limited for example send emails or instant messaging.
• The users have to be under the lights to receive Internet connections.
• Lifi inventors will have to convince device producers to equip smartphones tablets or any device that has Internet connection with Lifi receptors.

Plus:

• Lifi transmission is much faster than radio signal (x10000)
• Lifi offer an extraordinary security, the flow is available only under the lights.

More here:

http://newtecharticles.com/new-li-fi-technology-to-access-internet/

http://www.techly.com.au/2015/11/02/lifi-not-wifi-power-internet-future/

As our life dramatically goes mobile, society is also craving for digital ways of identification of counterfeit products or documents.

Scientists from Birmingham have already started working on this issue.

A startup called RealTag has been created. It invented a mobile application which can differentiate between counterfeit goods and real ones. (BBC 2015)

Scientists have come up with a concept of a unique tag which manufacturers can attach to their products. The label should be impossible to copy. And a special app will be able to read it. Information about the tag will be referenced with a cloud-based database in order to confirm authenticity.

Founders came up with an idea of the project after becoming aware of the issue of counterfeit malaria treatments. Thousands of people die each year because of the use of fake drugs. (Security Document World 2015)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rHt12T2YoI

Commercial director of RealTag, David McGee said: “The first phase of the company was to deliver proof of concept. Phase two is now to prove that the product works, and works on a large scale and in an economically viable way.” (University of Birmingham 2015)

Counterfeiters try to adapt to anti counterfeiting solutions. As a result one brand from the sector of spirits spent £1.5 million on a counterfeiting solution which was copied within a month. RealTag claims that their branded app together with unique labels will be impossible to replicate.

Fighting with fake goods with the help of a device which each of us has in their picket is not a bad idea. Who would not want to avoid purchasing fake alcohol, clothing or drugs?

But how long will the app work without counterfeiters copying it?

To which extent will we trust the app?

And popularising such a tool for a crowd is another issue to be resolved.

Bibliography:

BBC (2015), Label allows smartphones to identify counterfeit goods, Available at: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-35073351.

Security Document World (2015), Interview: David McGee on RealTag’s solution, Available at: http://www.securitydocumentworld.com/article-details/i/12456/.

University of Birmingham (2015), The Smart Way to Authenticity, Available at: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/business/news/2015/july/realtag.aspx.