Apple's Siri Has New Role in New 'Smart' Home Systems

The First Smart Home Gadget - Siri

Apple had announced its HomeKit project last year but now has taken over the home gadget wherein users would be able to talk to everything from light bulbs to A/c. The first smart home gadgets which will be controlled by Apple’s voice activated digital assistant will be on sale shortly just prior to its rival giant Google’s announcement of the building of its own software for Internet connected home appliances and other gadgets. It will enable firms to utilise the Apple’s Siri voice recognition in controlling their home.

The latest products would be important for the developing industry of smart or connected homes where thermostats, appliances as well as door lock tends to contain computer chips which communicate wirelessly. However, several companies are working on the same products, analyst state that Apple would convince consumers in trying them out to make it easy in controlling various products from familiar devices like the iPhone. The HomeKit certified product which will be hitting the market includes wireless hubs from two companies, Insteon and Lutron Electrons. The hubs which are about the size of a small home router or cable TV box tends to act as the central controller for lights as well as other gadgets.

Hub Handled With Smartphone App

The hub on the other hand can be handled with a smartphone app. For instance, Lutron Electronics is offering $230 for a starter kit with its Caseta Wireless Smart Bridge hub together with two dimmer units for wall switches or plug-in units for lamps which are controlled by the hub while Insteaon states that its hub would be working with compatible lights, power switches and thermostats.

In the coming weeks, it is presumed that there will be three other companies selling HomeKit thermostats, climate sensors and power plugs. Similar products could be purchased from these companies which tend to have their very own smartphone app in controlling them and the tie-in with Apple would mean that a user could control those apps with the voice activated digital assistant, Siri, on Apple’s iPhones and iPads. Users would have to link with an Apple TV box in order to control from outside the house.

HomeKit Software – Meet Standards for Compatibility

Apple is also of the opinion that products utilising HomeKit software need to meet standards for compatibility in order to function with HomeKit products that could be made by other manufacturers as well as for encryption in order to keep hackers from taking control over a system or to steal user information. As Apple wants Siri to play a leading role in smart homes, it main rivals also wants it. Google has recently announced that it would be creating Brillo software, asa common platform for Internet connected gadgets in the home or for commercial setting while Microsoft as well as Samsung is promoting software which would be capable of controlling home systems.

According to research firm International Data Corp, global market for `Internet of Things’, which is the concept of connecting household devices to the Internet, would triple to $1.7 trillion by 2020.It stated that `devices, connectivity and IT services would be making up the majority of the IoT market by 2020. Technology firms like Google Inc., Cisco systems, Intel Corp, Samsung electronics as well as telecoms majors such as Vodafone and Verizon have been betting greatly on Internet devices which are connected to home for the future profit and revenue.

UN: Encryption Must Be Protected

Recently, the office of United Nation for Human Rights has released its press release by stating that online anonymity and encryption of one’s personal data are the basic human rights in the cyber space.

According to the David Kaye, who is author and presenting the special report to the UN Human Rights Council stated that Online anonymity, encryption and security concepts for privacy are necessary for the exercise of human right and the freedom of opinion in addition of expression in the era of digital age. The more he added that these securities can be essential for the purpose of exercise of other rights such as; privacy, freedom, economic rights and more.

The report comes from the debate that how government should access the citizens' private data and other personal information for which government authorities are claiming that they are doing it for nation security especially after the attacks such as; 9/11 bombings.

Backdoor to access the users encrypted data: 

Edward Snowden make the privacy issue more important when in 2013, he leaked the multiple documents which was revealing that NSA and GCHQ is spying on all communication which are through internet as millions of the people in all over the world are using that platform. Apart from that now these agencies are also monitoring phone conversations in US and they are also tapping the phones conversation of foreign politicians. In present NSA and the US government is bullying the tech giants to provide backdoor into their products so that they can access the encrypted data and personal information about citizens such as; Emails of Gmail and Facebook chat history.

The whole issue comes in lime light in 2014 when US government forbid the few of tech companies from letting their users to know that US government is spying on that, but apart from that NSA also planted the malware in most of the software’s to pay on the US citizens. In recent interview US government claimed that it’s necessary for their intelligence agencies to access the encrypted data and personal information of users as well.

Is it good to spying on the people? 

It can be difficult issue for government agencies, who are claiming that spying on the internet communication and telecommunication will make than enable to identify the terror plots, but on the other side the freedom of opinion and protection of personal data is also important as they are basic human rights in all over the world. But if it’s really essential so state or government agencies must demonstrate the limitations on security which they are getting in the form of encryption.

State must be transparent if they are using any backdoor to spy on the citizens. However; its law in most of the European countries to disclose the encryption keys to the government, judicial and other agencies who have power to investigate legally in order to decrypt the group’s personal information for the mass surveillance.

iPhone Text Crash Bug Hits Twitter and Snapchat

Image Credit: The Guardian

Apple iPhone’s OS or the operating system which is known as the iOS, is one of the most popular operating platforms in the world. iOS is the most trusted operating systems as also the most widely used. iOS is used in phones, computers and laptops as well as the other gadgets of Apple.

iPhones go through software update every now and then, and recently it seems like the newest iPhone iOS 8 has developed a new text bug. This text bug is harmless in nature and does not cause any lasting damage to your phone. But what it succeeds in doing is that it crashes your phone down time and again and you have to wait for about some minutes to get your phone rebooted again.

While, this text bug had been affecting just through texts, recently it has been noticed that when that particular text is sent via third party apps like twitter and Snapchat, even that is getting affected as well and eventually causes the phone to crash down.

What is the text bug? 

The text bug is nothing but a group of non- Latin characters and is referred to as the Unicode. It consists of characters from mainly languages such as Chinese and Arabic and this whole faulty sequence is sent with a text called ‘power’.

Whenever this text is sent to an iPhone and you try to open it, what happens is that your phone crashes down and takes a few minutes to reboot again. This is also applicable in the case of third party apps and if someone sends the text to you from Snapchat or twitter, even then when you try to open it, the phone crashes repeatedly. It works on twitter in the event of direct messages or even if you are mentioned in one of the messages. When the notification pops up on your phone and you try and see it that is when the crash occurs.

Why does the text bug crash your phone? 

It is not exactly known as to why the text bug crashes your phone but it has been seen that it mostly tends to do so if it has been opened from the notifications. Actually the Unicode characters eat up too many resources of the iPhone when it appears as notifications on your screen and hence leads to the crash. The message can also be sent from any other OS based phone in order to crash and iOS phone. But when opened from the app itself, it seldom leads to the crash.

How to solve the problem? 

The only permanent solution to the problem is when apple brings forward a software update. But till then you can work your way around this bug. You can use Siri to text and after you have texted in the bug ridden message thread, you can easily open the message thread without it leading to the crash.

Once you open the thread, just delete that particular Unicode or the thread altogether. One of the best ways of avoiding this bug is to turn off the notifications of twitter and Snapchat which will prevent the crashing of your iPhone.

iOS 9

iOS 9 – Next Major Version – Apple’s Operating System

iOS 9 seems to be the next major version of Apple’s mobile operating system which is already being processed at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino. Details are not yet made available on iOS 9 though rumours are on, indicating that the update would be focusing more on optimization as well as stability improvements instead of the major design changes together with new features.

Users are expecting some changes but a new San Francisco font, Siri improvements, a HomeKit `Home’ app, iPad split-screen multitasking as well as transit direction could be added in the new iOS 9. Apple had introduced a main design overhaul with iOS 7, however with iOS 8, it is said that the company debuted features like Apple Pay, Continuity as well as new abilities like extensions and widgets.

It appears that Apple would be having a hard time marketing iOS 9 update which does not come with showy additions as in the case of iOS 7 and iOS 8, though the new version of iOS which Apple has improved from its previous iOS updates would probably be popular with users who could have faced issues in iOS 8. After the release of iOS 8, some of the Apple’s user base seemed to be displeased with the update, condemning the company in introducing features without resolving lingering bugs.

The World’s Most Advanced Operating System – Finely Tuned

In the case of iOS 8, it has faced an above average number of bugs since its introduction in September, resulting in problems such as Wi-Fi, screen rotation problem, battery drain, Bluetooth connectivity failures and much more.

There is a pattern for an update which aims in improving the underlying structure of one of Apple’s operating system instead of introducing new features. Apple had introduce OS X Snow Leopard in 2009, which had brought about many under the hood optimization improvements and had the complicated task of urging users to pay to upgrade which was done with the tagline - `the world’s most advanced operating system – Finely tuned’.

Snow Leopard has been described as an operating system update which `revitalized existing Macs’ with the introduction of features that made it evidently faster and `refined and enhanced’ than the earlier operating system – OS X Leopard. Probably we would see some of the same opinions in the case of iOS 9 if it tends to accomplish the repairs of all the pending bugs in iOS 8 and make improvements on the many features gained across iOS 7 and iOS 8.

Well Matched with Apple’s A5 Processor

It has been reported that iOS 9 will be well-matched with device using Apple’s A5 processor and may also offer improved performance when compared to iOS 8. iOS devices with A5 chip include the original iPad mini, iPhone, the iPad 2 and the fifth generation iPod touch.Updated security features are also included for iOS 9 andOS X 10.11 and it is said that Apple is also working on a new kernel level security system known as `rootless’ which would be helpful in curbing malware as well as protect sensitive data by refraining users from accessing protected files on their Macs. One of the main optimization which could be in store of iOS 9 would be the decrease in the amount of space the operating system would take up.

How Housing.com App is Beneficial for Users

Property portal housing.com has come up with a property app that is not only considered to be one of the most innovative features in the search for properties but also one of the simplest and yet effective tools to use while on the move. The app is available both on the iOS and Android platforms. Anyone who is using communication devices on these platforms simply needs to have the best internet plan and he/she can become experts at property search quite easily. The app has been designed primarily to search, shortlist and manage property listings. The portal has ensured that the interface is kept simple and the property seekers do not have to face a lot of problems trying to find the best properties.

The features of the housing app

Anyone who has the housing app can search for properties for sale and rentals. Students and professionals can also find PG and hostel accommodations. There is also a provision of searching property agents. this might be the puzzling bit. Why are property agents needed when the gadget is so effective? Well no matter how good a gadget or an app might be, the work on the ground would have to be done by the property buyer himself or someone helping the buyer. This someone helping the buyer is the property agent who takes it upon himself or herself to have the property offered to the property seeker. The agents not only help in saving time but also allow completion of documentation and other formalities as well. One of the best parts about searching for properties using property agents is that one individual offers numerous options. Take the example of real estate brokers in Mumbai. These brokers are able to help find the best apartments in a jungle of apartments and high rise. It just is not possible to search for the best house on your own considering the number of options that are there. This is why the app offers a special provision to those who would rather have the options ready or made available to them. The search features of the app also allow one to explore the houses under the charge of each of the agents. This helps in sourcing numerous options from one source. Then of course the completion of formalities or negotiations are also done by the real estate agent.

How to search for property agents? 

When logging into the app, there are clear options which show where to search for property for sale from. Similarly there are options to search for rental houses and PGs. The option to search for property agents is also available. All that one has to do is to type the name of the locality where the property agent is sought. Then the map of the locality appears along with cluster markers highlighting concentrations of real estate agents in Mumbai. One can zoom in to see the individual markers to see which agent is present in which part of the locality. The agent details come up by tapping on the marker and all that the end user has to do is to explore the various options of property agents in Mumbai to select one and contact him/her.

In Conclusion

Property portal housing.com has ensured that all property search related services are as impeccable on the mobile as ever.