Tag: Latest Tech Update

An In-Depth Look at Smart Contract Audits

I have been thinking about the smart contract audit process and its cost, so I did some little research. Distributions of smart contract arrangements onto the Ethereum blockchain are increasing. Since late 2017, the figure of effective calls to smart contracts has remained steady at 1.2 million per day. It is convincing to ensure that these smart contracts, often holding significant assets, are not misused. At present, a contract audit before deployment is the most preferable option available to detect subtle vulnerabilities and assessing the security code and quality.

What is a smart contract audit?

I am therefore convinced that smart contract audit is a valuation of the secure growth process. In the cause of a smart contract audit, developers have a chance to learn from Ethereum specialists, denote underspecified areas of their system, and detect gaps in their coding process. 

What is smart contract audit cost”

The record shows that over 2 billion USD worth of digital assets safeguarded since it was founded in 2017. Some factors contribute to the cost of a smart contract audit, mention as follows; 

“How much does a it cost?”

 The record shows that over 2 billion USD in digital assets have been safeguarded since the company’s inception in 2017. 

The following factors contribute to the cost of a it:

Complexity

The cost of an audit is affected by the changing complexity of the audit. 

A low-cost audit, for example, is a token that strictly adheres to the ERC20 standard. 

The ERC20 token standard is one of the earliest patterns in Ethereum smart contract development and is defined by the number of hours spent on it.

When the complexity of an audit increases, it necessitates more engineering hours, resulting in a high audit cohesion.

Clear documentation can also help to reduce the complexity of an inspection. 

The cost will rise if there is a lot of time spent.

 Timeline

The issue of time arises when clients require smart contracts audits to be completed in a short period. These clients will be asked to pay a premium. 

The amount of time spent auditing a project varies according to its complexity. 

As a result, the best option is to contact Quantstamp as soon as possible so that you can factor audit time into your development cycle

However, just as smart contract audits cannot replace internal quality assurance, poorer architectures, or overcome complexity or vulnerability, everything in this world has limitations.

Founders Club | Shashank Kumar, Co Founder – Razorpay | Leadership Series

How WhatsApp’s Yet To Be Launch Feature View Once Works?

Technology has helped humans to cross the boundaries of the planet, but at the same time, it emerges as a curse to humanity; most of the credit belongs to the people who use technology as a widget tool to leak someone’s confidential data. 

Sharing someone’s personal images and videos was not a reliable option to exert an act of revenge, but people won’t understand it due to their small mindsets. Well, WhatsApp has introduced a new feature for you on the lines.

The latest feature, View Once, will help you to stay more secure after sharing your images and videos with someone. WhatsApp beta testers are currently testing the feature that enables users to send images or videos that the receivers can only view once. The feature is very similar to the one’s already available on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat.

The View Once feature from WhatsApp will enable the sender to see if the recipient has opened the media or not. Also, it permits the receiver to open the image or video only once, and it gets deleted after being opened, which plays a crucial role in terms of security, but the View Once feature is not completely secured; it comes with a few drawbacks. 

One can take a screenshot of the received media on WhatsApp, and the sender will never know about it; but in contrast to what WhatsApp is offering, a similar feature in Snapchat even notifies you when the recipient took a screenshot of the image. The new View Once feature is available in group chats too, but the flaw is blocked contacts can still see single-use attachments, which raises an eye over its safety concern.

The feature will be soon available for all Android users if it performs well during the beta testing as it is being monitored for blemishes, but there’s no word on when the feature will roll out to iOS and desktop.

Tech Saves the Day – the Dash Cam

I had been looking to buy a dash cam when one showed up on my doorstep, a gift from my son. Dash cams have been around for several years and I have read several articles about the necessity to have one in countries like Russia where if you don’t have a dash cam, you will be a victim of a staged accident. Since there are many options to consider when buying a dash cam, I remained stuck, not able to finalize a decision and bite the bullet.

Now that I have had a firsthand experience, I have seen just how invaluable a dash cam is under the right circumstances. I can now appreciate why certain features are more critical than others and the ultimate importance of having one in each of one’s vehicles. My firsthand experience was an accident with our car when my wife was driving without passengers. I got the phone call just before noon from my wife that she was in a car accident.

The damage to both vehicles was to the front end and on the other vehicle the right front wheel well. On our vehicle, it was to the front end and the left wheel well. Without witnesses, considering the damage pattern of both vehicles, and both drivers saying they had green lights, it was a matter of “she said, she said” and the insurance company would not accept responsibility. That was until I submitted the dash cam video.

So what’s the takeaway? Dash cams are relatively inexpensive devices [the one that captured my wife’s accident was purchased on Amazon for under $50 US (around ₹7,496)], had excellent reviews and made by Apeman (Apeman C420) that everyone should have in each of their vehicles. Sharing a single dash cam amongst vehicles is a very bad idea because if dash cams are not fully automatic, coming on each time the car is started and staying on for the full duration of the ride and then turning off automatically, the likelihood of the dash cam working its magic in the unexpected incidents is greatly diminished. Dash cams need to be “set up, test the results by taking a ride and then reviewing the video for clarity, positioning, and automatic operation, and then forget it,” that is until you need it.

Here is my take on the critical features/options for choosing your dash cam:
  1. Resolution – at least 1080p, 4K is now affordable and would be a better option to catch license plate numbers, but it also requires 4 times the storage space
  2. Viewing angle – at least 150 degrees
  3. Window mounting suction cup – this is critical, the dash cam has to stay on your window, if it keeps falling off you won’t use it
  4. Night vision – check out YouTube videos of the dash cams you are reviewing to confirm that the captured night video is of value.
  5. Power plug – it must fit well into the cigarette lighter (power point) or the automatic operation of the dash cam will be hindered
  6. Ease of removal of the dash cam but leaving on the suction cup – this is important for theft prevention. You do not want to keep putting on and removing the suction cup from your windshield as it can be time-consuming to affix the suction cup correctly.
  7. Removable SD memory card storage.

Dash cams are not only helpful to car owners when they are in an accident, but they can also prove very valuable when a driver witnesses a road rage incident where they are the target or when another vehicle operator is the target. Some dash cams can be set up to monitor your vehicle when it is parked and even notify you of an incident if one occurs.  Since dash cams store both video and audio a driver can read off a license plate number and car description aloud and know that it’s captured on the dash cam, so you don’t need to write it down or memorize the information.

Technological advances are often a double-edged sword, where the benefits must be weighed against the drawbacks of costs, inconvenience, and loss of privacy; dash cams are no exception. Many dash cams record all the audio (unless configured not to do so) spoken when the car is in operation, so you need to be mindful of what is said in a “dash cammed” vehicle. Dash cams will capture evidence of the cam’s owner’s own mistakes and could be used to prove the guilt of the cam owner. The vehicle operator needs to pay attention to the dash cam’s signalling indicating that the cam is in operation and when the operation has ceased or like any other technology it may stop operating and become just a useless appendage to the vehicle’s windshield. However, the benefits cannot be overstated if you need a witness and one does not come forward.

Dash cams have become a commodity product. The components used to make them are inexpensive and readily available. While there are many options that can complicate purchase decisions, the most important decision is “do I need a dash cam?” As with any product, it is important to read the reviews and make purchases from reliable companies that stand behind their products. That said, the most important decision is whether or not you need a dash cam. In my experience, the answer is a resounding “YES.” Regardless of the sophistication, options and features of the dash cam you choose, having one in your vehicle is much more important than having the “best one” in your vehicle.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G I Unboxing & First Impressions | Borrowed From Future?

We experienced the future of smartphones with Samsung’s latest innovative product. Open up to the future and immerse yourselves in the latest technology with our unboxing & first impressions. Stay tuned for the detailed review, till then let us know which feature attracted you the most about this uber-luxurious smartphone.

Audi and Nunam transform old laptop batteries to mobile power banks!

Everyone is aware of the wonders-on-wheels that Audi launches. However, what we don’t know is that the company has been trying to give back to the environment! Yes, since 2009, the Audi Environmental Foundation has been supporting innovative projects that strengthen environmental protection. Recently, the foundation is known to support the non-profit start-up company ‘Nunam’. The 29-year old German-Indian founder found a unique way to prevent premature recycling of electronic waste and provide a cheap alternative of electricity to the ones in need.

Have you ever thought about what happens to your used, but waste-laptops; the ones that you sell for recycling purposes? Nunam is just another stop in the supply chain of electronic waste, except it’s a more sustainable one. The company buys discarded laptop batteries from scrap dealers in the Indian state of Karnataka and uses their battery cells for stationary energy storage systems. The results are another source of power that can be used to supply electricity to items that consume small amounts of power such as smartphones, fans, or lamps. These power banks further serve as a power source for small vendors, fruit and vegetable merchants at a market and in rural parts of the country. 

By doing so, the start-up is aiming to overcome various challenges with a single solution. First, it saves energy by ensuring that the batteries are fully utilized. Those batteries are not produced, they’re reused. This conserves raw materials and energy in the production phase. Additionally, reusing the material reduces the amount of scrap that would otherwise end up in residual waste, landfills, or recycling. The resulting power banks are charged with solar energy and not with coal-based electricity, thus fostering cleaner energy systems. At last, they’re providing access to clean energy to ones in need, with a 20% reduction in cost. 

Nunam co-founder Prodip Chatterjee says: “We are creating win-win situations: Old battery cells that would otherwise end up in residual waste are first reused and then disposed of properly. Scrap dealers earn money by reselling to us and Indian families and merchants benefit from affordable power banks. A five-year-old laptop can serve as a light source for Indian fruit and vegetable merchants at a market, can power a small fan, or can charge a mobile phone.”

The company takes care of the entire cycle of used battery system~ from procurement of used batteries to recollection from energy users and final recycling. They use real-time data, analytics, and cloud computing to help them track the whole process. Nunam has so far found that old laptop batteries have an average remaining capacity of approximately two thirds. It starts by testing the capacity and condition~ the ones with more than 60% residual capacity are assembled into new power banks, with approximately 1kWh; which eventually ends up charging smartphones or operating smaller household appliances for a day. These prototypes are connected to the Internet via SIM card and transmit data which ensures that the power banks are returned to Nunam again at the end of their service life. Nunam passes the ‘used-second-life’ batteries to a local battery recycling company. 

 “Technology is most environmentally friendly when it remains in use as long as possible. If we can do it for other purposes after their initial use, we can save energy and raw materials and reduce the amount of electronic waste. Effective cycles are an important lever for conserving resources,” said Rüdiger Recknagel, Managing Director of the Audi Environmental Foundation. The foundation therefore targets its support to projects for environmentally friendly use of technology under the “Greenovation” action area.

Tech This Week: A Recap of Global Tech News for the Week

Tech fans from around the world are always looking for the latest updates and features that technology has to offer. Be it the launch of a new product or the update of an existing one, the excitement is the same either way. To quench your thirst for tech news and events here is a gist of all the major happenings from around the world:

Segment 1: Global Launches 

LG Velvet for the USA

  • LG’s Velvet just got launched in the US on 22nd July following its launch in South Korea and several European countries. It is now available in the US market for $599, from AT&T.
  • It has a striking new look for LG, complete with a 6.8-inch OLED screen and IP68-rated waterproofing. The Velvet will be offered in Aurora Gray, Aurora Silver, Aurora Red, and Pink White. There’s just a single configuration of the Velvet that has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage with microSD card support. 
  • It comes with the Snapdragon 765G, which has a built-in 5G modem, much like the new OnePlus Nord.

Oppo Reno 4 Global Launch Date Announced

  • The Oppo Reno4 & the Pro version has hit  China in June and in India has been announced as July 31, 12:30 pm. 
  • Meanwhile, a notable tipster has suggested that the Oppo Watch will likely arrive in India on the same day. However, the company is yet to confirm this development. 
  • Oppo tweeted that the Oppo Reno 4 Pro will come with a 6.5-inch display with a 90Hz refresh rate and “3D borderless sense screen.” The display offers a near bezel-less experience with its 92.01 percent screen-to-body ratio. 
  • The Oppo Reno 4 Pro that was launched in China comes with a triple camera setup at the back with a 48-megapixel primary camera, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera, and a 13-megapixel telephoto camera. 
  • The phone has a 4,000mAh battery include an in-display fingerprint sensor, 5G, 32-megapixel selfie camera, is powered by Snapdragon 765G Chipset paired with up to 12GiG  of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.
  • The Oppo Reno 4 Pro will be available to purchase via Flipkart and Amazon. While you have to wait for the announcement in its pricing and availability details.

Segment 2: India Launches

HP Powerhouse Gaming Portfolio

    • HP unveiled its new OMEN Laptops and accessories on Wednesday. It also introduced the first 16” Pavilion Gaming laptop.
    •   It also made updates to the OMEN Command Center, all designed for today’s gamer to play their best while pushing the limits of what their devices can do. It offers “First of its kind” hardware technologies with unmatched power without any compromise.
  • OMEN 15 (Intel) is available at a starting price of Rs. 79,999 and OMEN 15 (AMD) is available at a starting price of Rs. 75,999.
  • Pavilion Gaming 16 (Intel) is available at a starting price of Rs. 70,999, while the pavilion gaming 16 (AMD) is available at a starting price of Rs. 59,999.

One Plus Nord

  • OnePlus just had a one-of-its-kind Augmented Reality launch for its much talked about –  OnePlus Nord which starts at Rs. 24,999 
  • The base model offers 6GB RAM and 64GB storage, while the 8GB RAM 128GB storage option carries a price tag of Rs. 27,999 and the top-end 12GB RAM 256GB storage model is priced at Rs. 29,999.
  • The Nord houses a quad-camera set-up on the back consisting of a 48MP main lens, along with 119-degree ultra-wide, depth, and macro lenses of 8MP, 5MP, and 2MP, respectively. 
  • It also has a 90 Hz Fluid Display for faster and more reactive touch and swipe and is  available in two colour variants – Gray and Blue
  • The phone will sport a 4100 mAh battery, and Warp Charge. The device also comes with 5G support and runs on the android 10-based OxygenOS.

Redmi Note 9

  • Redmi Note 9 has been launched in India as the latest affordable smartphone by Xiaomi. The new model is the third in the Redmi Note 9 series — after the Redmi Note 9 Pro and Redmi Note 9 Pro Max.
  •  The new member of Redmi family comes in three storage variants – 4GB + 64GB at Rs 11,999, 4GB + 128GB at Rs 13,499 and 6GB + 128GB at Rs 14,999.
  • It’s available in three colours – Pebble Grey, Arctic White, and Aqua Green.
  • The dual-SIM Redmi Note 9 runs on Android 10 with MIUI 11 on top.
  • It features a 6.53-inch full-HD+ Dot Display with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. 
  • Inside, the phone has an octa-core MediaTek Helio G85 chipset, coupled with up to 6Gig of RAM.
  • It has a quad rear camera set-up  With a 5,020mAh battery with a 22.5W fast charger in the box. The company claims a two-day battery life, 
  • Amid Indo-Sino border tension, the Chinese smartphone maker claims that the all-new Redmi Note 9 is  NOW  ‘Made In India’.

Jabra Elite 45h

  • Danish wearable gadget-maker Jabra launched the Elite 45h on-ear headphones on Wednesday. The headphones aim to offer a long battery life of up to 50 hours and claim to offer up to 10 hours of battery life within just 15 minutes. They are priced around Rs 10,000.
  • The device features Jabra MySound to optimize and personalize sound experiences based on individual hearing profiles.
  • It has an on-ear form factor and features ear cushions made of PU leather material. There is also the single-fold design that lets the headphones lie flat and fit easily into a bag. 
  • The speakers enable music to be delivered while the dual-mic design removes noise around so one can enjoy crystal clear calls. 

Nikon Z5 Camera

  • The Nikon Z5 entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera has just been launched in India. This is currently Nikon’s most affordable Z-series camera with a full-frame sensor.
  • The new camera fills an all-important void between the Nikon Z6 and the Nikon Z50. With this lens, the Z5 will be available at a bundled price of Rs. 1,36,995.
  • The Nikon Z5  has a five-axis stabilizer and all feature a new, 24.3-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor that is not a backlit unit.

 You get a 3.6 million dot resolution electronic viewfinder and a tilting rear 3.2-inch LCD display with touch support.

Samsung to launch 5 new devices on August 5

  • Samsung is all set to host its Galaxy Unpacked event on August 5 and has now confirmed that it will unveil as many as five products at the event next month.
  • the company, via a recent teaser, has already confirmed that the Galaxy Fold 2 will launch at the event. 
  • There may be three variants in the Galaxy Note 20 series this time around – the Samsung Galaxy Note 20, Galaxy Note 20+, and Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. 

Vivo S7 price and specs leaked

  • Vivo S7 price and specifications have been leaked online. While the Chinese company is yet to officially confirm the existence of the device, a tipster has leaked the specifications of the alleged Vivo S7 device on Weibo.
  • The source claims that the Vivo S7 will launch with a price label of approximately Rs. 32,100. This price will reportedly be for the 8GB RAM + 128GB storage variant. The company is also said to offer the 256GB storage option, which will be available for roughly Rs. 35,300).
  • As per the leaked details, the new Vivo phone will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G chipset and dual selfie cameras. It is also likely to feature an in-display fingerprint sensor. 
  • If rumors and leaks are to be believed, the Vivo S7 will launch with a 44-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GH1 primary selfie sensor. It will be assisted by an 8-megapixel secondary sensor along with a super-wide-angle lens. The upcoming Vivo S7 smartphone might be a successor to the current Vivo S6 phone.

Smartphone Shipments drop, Xiaomi worst affected 

  • Smartphone shipments have seen a drastic fall in the April-June period due to the coronavirus lockdown. Phone shipments fell 48 percent on the year, as mentioned in a report by Canalys. 
  • Around 17.3 million smartphones were shipped in the quarter, as compared to 33 million in the previous year. 
  • market leader Xiaomi saw a dramatic fall as its shipments fell 48 percent 
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