drag2share: Google brings data compression from mobile Chrome to PCs

source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/26/google-chrome-data-saver-beta/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

Google has offered an option to reduce the amount of data Chrome uses on Android and iOS for a while, and now it's rolled out an extension to do the same for desktop users. Just like the mobile option, it works by compressing the data on Google's servers first -- click here for more info on how it works -- before sending it on, and claims some pages can be reduced in size by as much as 50 percent. VentureBeat spotted Data Saver (beta) in the Chrome Web Store, where the description notes that just like on mobile, it doesn't intercept SSL-protected or Incognito tabs to protect user's security and privacy. Proxy-based compression is hardly a new concept, but if you're a heavy Chrome user then now you have a Google-powered option, especially if you're on a tethered connection or somewhere else it pays to be bandwidth-conscious.

[Image credit: Bloomberg via Getty Images]

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Facebook showed how stunning video games will look on the Oculus Rift this year (FB)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-oculus-rift-gaming-demo-2015-3

During its annual F8 developer's conference, Facebook showcased how immersive and realistic gaming could look on the Oculus virtual reality headset this year. The company's CTO Mike Schroepfer said virtual reality gaming would be coming this year on a device shipped by Oculus when speaking on stage.

To demonstrate how realistic gaming could seem on Oculus' hardware, Facebook showed a demo of a space ship launching that makes you feel like you're in the driver's seat:

There's no final release date for the consumer version of the Oculus, but it's clear that Facebook has big plans for its future. The company is convinced that 2015 will be the year of virtual reality. 

Schroepfer says the technology is finally advanced enough to bring VR to the mainstream and succeed where others have failed. 

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Article: This router hack is injecting ads and porn into random websites

A new strain of malware is using routers to inject ads and pornography into websites, according to a report from Ara Labs. Once a router is compromised, the malware will load third-party content onto almost any website visited by the user. The attack alternates between loading ads and directly lo...

http://www.theverge.com/2015/3/25/8290277/router-hack-adware-porn-security-ara-labs

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Article: Google Granted Patent for Smart Contact Lens

May allow people with diabetes to easily measure glucose levels Google has been granted a patent for a contact lens with an embedded chip, The patent, which was discovered by WebProNews, features a sensor in the lens. Google has previously said that it is partnering with the pharmaceutical compan...

http://time.com/3758763/google-smart-contact-lens/

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drag2share: Amazon hosts a robot competition to automate its warehouses

source: http://www.engadget.com/2015/03/25/amazon-warehouse-robot-competition/?utm_source=Feed_Classic_Full&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Engadget&?ncid=rss_full

Amazon leans heavily on warehouse robots to assist workers and fulfill your orders on time, but these machines still can't pack items quickly enough to replace humans. However, the internet giant is determined to make these mechanical helpers more useful. It's holding a competition at a conference this May to see who's best at producing an autonomous robot that grabs products off shelves and stuffs them into boxes. This may sound like a relatively straightforward challenge, but it isn't -- the bots have to grab a variety of objects while breaking as little as possible, including fragile things like food.

Although the victor only gets $25,000, there's potentially a lot of prestige involved. Amazon will no doubt be interested in doing business if there's a clear winner, and the techniques developed in the challenge could apply to other robots where a delicate touch is necessary. Either way, there's a real chance that Amazon will take one step closer toward highly automated shipping hubs. And that's not necessarily a bad thing for the human staff. While Amazon might end up replacing employees with robotic packers, such a move could also help people cope with crushing holiday workloads and let them focus on more exciting (or at least, less monotonous) tasks.

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