Technology News

When the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus went on sale last week, parent company Ford once again showcased its panoramic cockpit, which extends from the driver's side to the passenger's side of the dashboard. The infotainment system is now based on the Android Automotive branded information management system with pre-installed apps from the Android website. However, unlike the automotive Android system (also known as “Google Built-in”) found in cars like Polestar and Volvo, Ford has customized the user interface like smartphone makers do with Google's mobile operating system .

Previously, Ford used its QNX-based Sync interface, which powers more than 235 million infotainment systems on the road today. Like Ford Sync, QNX supports both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which are based on the user's smartphone and supported by the car's operating system. Some readers may remember that the ill-fated BlackBerry PlayBook tablet was the first time the QNX operating system was introduced to the public.

Android Auto and Android Automotive/Google Built-in are distinguished by the fact that the latter is a full-fledged in-car operating system that runs natively on the car's computer systems and manages all telemetry data stored on the dashboard, the driver's panel and other systems. In addition to Ford, car manufacturers that are integrating Google's new operating system into their vehicles include Volvo, Polestar, Honda, GM, Cadillac, Renault, Nissan, Buick and Chevrolet. Apple's equivalent of CarPlay, known as “next-generation Apple CarPlay,” is expected to launch in vehicles from Porsche and Aston Martin (among other manufacturers whose names have not yet been announced) later this year.

With drivers clearly preferring a smartphone-like experience in their car, the introduction of their fully integrated car OS variants seems to be taking a backseat to QNX and other car operating systems. Integrated car operation. Developed by BlackBerry following an acquisition in 2010, QNX is a UNIX-based operating system that powered the company's first and last consumer tablets. BlackBerry, formerly known as RIM (Research in Motion), was once the world's leading smartphone manufacturer, but experienced a rapid decline due to the rise of the iPhone after its launch in 2007 and subsequently after the rise of Android.

Despite the collapse of BlackBerry's smartphone business, QNX, along with its expertise in software security, allowed the company to stay afloat – in 2023, the company's gross revenue exceeded $800 million and still employed approximately 3,000 people. The launch of the new generation of Apple CarPlay and Android Automotive could bring an unfortunate feeling of déjà vu for the Canadian company. Although BlackBerry tried to downplay Toyota's customer loss in 2021 by saying it was focusing more on fully autonomous vehicles, the company has since seen its QNX market share decline by 18% in 2020 to 14% in 2022 , as Google was on the rise. By 2025, S&P Global predicts that BlackBerry's share of the embedded automotive operating system market will fall to just 5%.

A key advantage that could keep QNX relevant is support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto interfaces, while at the same time allowing automakers to maintain full control of their systems, a factor that some automakers may appreciate. However, Android Automotive could pose a greater threat to BlackBerry's QNX, as Google's open approach to software usage allows companies like Ford to control and customize Android Automotive's look and feel to suit each of its brands and even within vehicle product lines. While Android Automotive-equipped cars also support Apple CarPlay, it's unclear whether Apple will follow suit and support Android phones, the Android Auto interface and apps in upcoming vehicles from Porsche, Aston Martin and others.

Historically, this seems unlikely. It is rare for Apple to license its operating systems to other OEMs, leading to speculation that the move may be related to Apple's long-developed Apple Car project and could be designed to recoup some of the investment. It seems unlikely that Apple will allow automakers to change its interface, let alone support Android Auto. However, given Google's growing popularity among automakers, Apple clearly believes it has a role to play in the embedded software systems space. The Apple company, which is reportedly still working on a 2028 relaunch of its Apple Car, could find value for its own project in data from sensors and telemetry from vehicles that use its operating system.

While BlackBerry's outlook once again appears bleak, the company has fortunately diversified into other sectors and business interests since the decline of its smartphone business. In addition to using its embedded QNX operating system in cars, it is also used in other IoT applications across various industries. Its encryption and security software, a key feature of its BlackBerry smartphones, has also found other uses in businesses. This diversification could prove valuable as the company faces further disruption to one of its key businesses from all-too-familiar adversaries.

The game ofOrc Shop Games saw its release announced first quarter of 2024 At PC And epos. Players will be able to discover this very soon Turn-based tactical role-playing game with one component villainous and be artistic direction by hand. Here the roles are reversed because that is what matters Save goblins from extinctionhunted and hunted by human heroes, dwarves and all their traditional enemies.

Official press release:

The turn-based tactical role-playing game Goblin Stone will be released in the first quarter of 2024
You've spent the last year trying to kill her, now it's time to save her.

Manila, January 25 – The award-winning independent studio Orc Chop Games announced today that their turn-based tactical role-playing game Goblin Stone will be released on Steam and the Epic Games Store in the first quarter of 2024.

Self-published and developed by Orc Chop Games, Goblin stone is a Epic turn-based RPG with a roguelike twist that offers the opportunity to help goblins survive while they are hunted to extinction.
In a procedurally generated adventure, players will assemble a ragtag group of goblins and embark on a perilous path to survival, battling villainous adventurers, pompous elves and grumpy dwarves while skillfully overseeing an underground lair completely hand drawn.

“We wanted this game to truly reflect our vision and for players to experience Goblin Stone exactly as we intended. We have been working on this game for many years and it has become a real passion for the team. Orc Chop Games is thrilled to see players immerse themselves in this carefully crafted world soon.”

Goblin stone is narrated entirely by Scottish voice actor James Smillie and features music by award-winning composer Peter McConnell, known for Hearthstone, Psychonauts 2 and Monkey Island.

Players can choose from hundreds of combinations between goblin classes, weapons, abilities and map traversal. The game features over 60 different enemy types, 25 boss fights, and the ability to expand and manage your own hideout. Players can also experience one innovative reproductive system to strategically fuse the goblin genes to improve their traits and customize their team.

Goblin stone is planned for PC via Steam and Epic Games in the first quarter of 2024.

External links: official website, Steam, Twitter

Published on January 27, 2024 at 4:32 p.m.

The Ingenuity helicopter's extraordinary adventure on Mars is over after 72 flights.

A light and fragile blade

It was a damaged rotor blade upon landing of this 72nd and final aircraft that abruptly ended the mission. Pretty impressive for the helicopter, which was originally only intended for five flights. Given the success of this mission, NASA decided to continue it as long as possible.

A touch of Quebec

The resounding success of this historic mission is due in part to the participation of Quebec engineer Farah Alibay. It made flight to another planet possible for the first time. Attached to the belly of the Perseverance rover, Ingenuity landed on Mars on February 18, 2021. Two months later it completed its first flight.

Beyond expectations

Always pushed by NASA to fly higher and further, Ingenuity covered a total of 17 km and accumulated just over two hours of flight time. Perseverance must continue its solo mission without its valuable scout. The helicopter had found another purpose: to identify the most passable routes and areas of interest for the rover. Ingenuity reached a height of 24 meters and a speed of 36 km/h.

SEE ALSO: Rescuing a coyote whose head was stuck in a bucket

Iceland is currently testing new exotic fruit crops in greenhouses heated by geothermal energy. Although banana production is still minimal, many other fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, already provide the country with this energy source. “Green Energy”.

Surprising, but very real. The University of South Island (FSU) is currently testing the cultivation of various varieties, including bananas, in geothermal greenhouses heated to 20°C. This energy is generated by volcanic activity on the island.

“Because there isn’t a lot of light, they grow a little slower. It takes about 18 months for a plant to produce a bunch of bananas,” explains production manager Elias Oskarsson, who nevertheless says: “We can grow whatever we want.”

This production remains experimental and not profitable enough to be commercialized. On the other hand, the cultivation of other fruits and vegetables in greenhouses heated by geothermal energy is widespread and is being promoted by the government, which wants to improve the country's food independence. More than 40% of the vegetables consumed by Icelanders are grown locally.

Electricity is four to six times cheaper than in France

No problem, for example growing tomatoes in Reykholt, a town in western Iceland, 100 km north of the capital. “The water is at a temperature of around 100°C when it arrives and we circulate it through the pipes on the walls and in the ceiling,” which heats the 11,000 m² greenhouse without any other energy source, explains owner Knutur Rafn Armann , which met us in the report at the top of the article. “We harvest 6,000 to 7,000 tonnes per year. The tomatoes that are picked here in the morning can be in the supermarket in the afternoon or the next morning.”

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  REPORT – Iceland: Up close to the lava fountains of the Fagradalsfjall volcano

With seven geothermal power plants connected to 130 active volcanoes on the island, Iceland is self-sufficient in its energy production and electricity costs are four to six times lower than in France. “Each kilowatt hour costs five cents (euro), the price does not fluctuate from one month to the next or from one season to the next,” emphasizes the communications manager of the Hellisheidi power plant near the capital.

JB | TF1 report: Elise Stern, Loeiza Larvor, Clément Dubrul

By creating unique landscapes, volcanoes continue to shape Iceland. The earth is boiling beneath our feet and it is not the ideal place to plant a vegetable garden. However, Icelanders manage to grow fruit and vegetables all year round in their huge greenhouses. For example, a farmer in Reykholt (Iceland) produces 600 to 700 tons of tomatoes per year. Thanks to a nearby hot water source, this company's secret is abundant energy. Geothermal energy provides almost free energy for agricultural development, enough to offset high labor and infrastructure costs. Icelandic vegetables find buyers at the stalls, even if they are a bit expensive. Tomatoes, peppers, mushrooms and potatoes are available all year round. Thanks to seven geothermal power plants, almost all of which are public, Iceland is self-sufficient in its energy production. The price of electricity in the country is four to six times cheaper than in France. This renewable, inexhaustible energy is available almost everywhere in the country. Unique properties that inspire the craziest experiments. A greenhouse heated to 20°C thanks to geothermal energy makes it possible to grow bananas. Supported by the government, which aims to improve food independence, the sector is experiencing strong growth. More than 40% of the vegetables consumed by Icelanders were grown in their country. TF1 report E. Stern, L. Larvor

“I can actually tell it where I want it to go,” explained engineering professor Giovanni Beltrame, demonstrating other robots he uses with his newly formed research unit.

This text is a translation of an article from CTV News.

The unit, called Astrolith, is developing a type of artificial intelligence that could one day help with lunar exploration.

Astrolith makes computers and software that can be adapted to various exploration devices such as drones and robots.

“We have many professors, 18 in fact, with varying levels of expertise to advance lunar engineering toward permanent colonization of the Moon and beyond,” Beltrame said.

The last time Americans put a space probe on the moon was in 1972.

But the race to explore the moon is gathering pace. Several countries, including Japan, have landed lunar modules this month.

Americans and Canadians will also take part in manned explorations over the next two years as part of the Artemis missions.

However, this time the scientific world has much more ambitious goals – and this is where the Polytechnique team comes into play.

“In the future, I would say in the near future, mining will play a role because it is very important to establish colonies on the moon, so you have to mine your own resources there,” Beltrame argued.

Astrolith's development technology could even change the way we use our own planet.

“It is also possible that mining in space is more beneficial than mining on Earth due to the environmental impact of mining here.”

The sensors developed are so advanced that cameras on robots can map their surroundings in three dimensions and react accordingly. Mr. Beltrame is surrounded by young master's and doctoral students who want to rediscover the lunar ambitions that inspired NASA in the 1960s.

“It would actually be my dream to live on the moon, but it's still a bit early for that. But we are working on it,” said Guillaume Ricard, member of Astrolith.

It's a new space age for a team looking to carve its own legend into the lunar surface.

Trick: Chrome/Edge extension Simple price alerts (link) allows you to be automatically informed of a price drop Amazon, AliExpress, Banggood, eBay, Geekbuying, Rakutenetc.

The KuKirin G2 Master electric scooter stands out for its premium features and offers users an efficient and reliable means of transportation.

One of the main advantages of this KuKirin G2 Master scooter is its ability to reach high speeds. The two motors with a nominal power of 2x1000W ensure remarkable response and performance. Three speed modes allow you to reach 60 km/h quickly.

The battery, an essential part of any electric vehicle, offers such remarkable autonomy. With a capacity of 20.8 Ah and an operating voltage of 52 V, it guarantees a journey of up to 70 km on a single charge.

The KuKirin G2 Master also shines with its ability to move on different surfaces. Its ability to overcome gradients of up to 20° makes it easily suitable for different types of terrain. In addition, its braking system is very efficient with front and rear disc brakes.

The scooter is equipped with full LED lighting, including headlights, taillights and indicators, which guarantees good visibility in all conditions. The shock absorption system with hydraulic shock absorbers at the front and rear ensures superior driving comfort, even on uneven surfaces.

Price reduced to 945.15 euros on the Banggood website

You can save a lot when purchasing the KuKirin G2 Master electric scooter with a coupon on the Banggood website. This code actually reduces the price to 945.15 euros (excluding optional shipping guarantee). Not insignificant aspect: With the shipping method “Priority Shipping in the EU”, the shipping costs are included in this price.

It follows this link that you have access to this promotion. You will find the voucher to copy on the confirmation page of your order NewOff20. To redeem this voucher you must be connected to your Banggood account (which must be created for free if necessary). In order to ensure the transaction with regard to the punctual receipt of the ordered goods and also their good quality, you can make the payment PayPal. You need to be careful as the usage of this coupon is limited. The discount can therefore end at any time.

The two small studios are based in Paris and Montreal Contact In recent months, big names from all walks of life have received the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences Esther Duflothe actress Fanny Ardantthe great traveler and author Sylvain Tesson, Denys Arcand, Michel Onfray, Monia Chokri, Philippe Geluck, Eric Emmanuel Schmittthe former head of the French secret service, Alain July, Eric Zemmour, head of Reconquest and several others. To date, around fifty major meetings have been offered to an audience that now hears and sees the broadcasts throughout the French-speaking world.

On the occasion of its first anniversary, the website's traffic figures demonstrate its growing importance. For example on the platform YoutubeSubscriptions exploded, going from 10,000 to nearly 70,000 in just a few months. In the last 5 weeks alone, the website received one million views, a significant increase.

This encouraging trend can also be observed on other audio platforms, which pleases Stéphan Bureau: “I am very pleased to incorporate this very dynamic web experience into my practice in the world of information. Above all, I am happy that it is possible to put different viewpoints and opinions side by side on one platform! Freedom of expression must be nurtured if we want to keep our muscular ears! “.

10 episodes will be broadcast on the WEB platform from Télé-Québec since September 2023

Another very positive development for ContactTélé-Québec partnered with the broadcast of our programs last September and acquired ten episodes (Denise Bombardier, Léa Clairmont-Dion, Frédéric Lenoir, Jean-Philippe Baril Guérard, Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt, Yann Perreau George St-Pierre, Fanny Ardant, Denys Arcand And Monia Chokri) to power your web TV. A collaboration that we hope to continue next year. Contact is also in negotiations with other broadcasters outside of Quebec to increase the influence of its catalog.

A second year that looks good

Author Kamel Daoud, leading investigative journalist Denis Robert and Franz-Olivier Giesbert are expected to take part in the coming weeks Contact. And the second year promises to be plenty with more episodes to come.