In a time where far too many people are being laid off, it’s nice to get a bit of good news for a change. AR tech start-up Magic Leap, have had a bit of a rocky year cumulating in the announcement they would be laying off half of their employees. Thankfully it was just announced that they received a $350M investment and those layoffs have been cancelled.
Troubled augmented reality company Magic Leap Inc. has raised $350 million in new funding, according to an internal memo to employees obtained by The Information.
Details on the round, which depending on its form should be a late-stage Series F, are somewhat vague. The investors are described only as current and new investors with the suggestion that a key healthcare company may have been involved.
Although the fundraising itself is surprising, it was good news for employees as Magic Leap withdrew a notice to terminate about 1,000 staff issued in April — meaning that staff on the chopping block will now keep their jobs. Notably, at that time, Magic Leap said it was in the process of negotiating “revenue-generating partnerships.”
The news that a healthcare company may have invested in the company follows Magic Leap’s announcement in December that it was shifting to enterprise augmented reality after failing in the consumer market. The company’s first product, the $2,295 Magic Leap Creator Edition, sold only 6,000 units, a huge disappointment give that the company predicted sales of 100,000 units.
It is nice to see that Magic Leap lives to fight another day, although it’s less and less likely we will see Magic Leap in game development with the shift towards enterprise computing, where they will compete directly with Microsoft’s HoloLens. More details of the investment and Magic Leaps rocky recent history check out the video below.
That’s it! You should now be all set to use .NET 5 Preview2.
What’s new?
ASP.NET Core in .NET 5 Preview 2 doesn’t include any major new features just yet, but it does include plenty of minor bug fixes. We expect to announce new features in upcoming preview releases.
See the release notes for additional details and known issues.
Give feedback
We hope you enjoy this release of ASP.NET Core in .NET 5! We are eager to hear about your experiences with this latest .NET 5 release. Let us know what you think by filing issues on GitHub.
Review: STM Goods’ ChargeTree is a compact way to charge all your gear
The new ChargeTree multi-device wireless charging stand from STM Goods lets you power up your iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch while only taking up a tiny footprint.
Multi-device wireless chargers are prevalent these days. Nearly every company that creates a solo wireless charging pad has its own multi-device alternative.
Most of these follow a similar formula. They look like an extra-large charging pad that also has some sort of Apple Watch charging puck integrated into it, whether hovering above the phone or inline with the two other wireless charging sites.
STM Goods is one of the first to buck that trend and take that three-in-one idea and go vertical rather than horizontal.
ChargeTree is powered over USB-C
ChargeTree design
ChargeTree is all about fitting the most into a small space. It has an angled wireless charging stand to the front, a small wireless charging pad for a set of headphones around back, and an Apple Watch charger hovering in the air.
The front charger is capable of outputting up to 10 watts of power, even though iPhones are limited to only 7.5W. It has a small lip covered in silicone for the device to rest on, which helps ensure that it is always correctly aligned with the Qi charger inside, and you can position your phone vertically or horizontally as well.
The phone’s perch hides three status LEDs
Hidden within the phone’s perch are three status lights, one of which will illuminate for each of the three wireless chargers found on the ChargeTree.
When used horizontally, it’s a perfect stand for kicking back and watching a few episodes on Quibi, or maybe taking a FaceTime call while still charging your device.
Side view of the ChargeTree
We’ve frequently been fans of charging stands with the latest generation of iPhones. With Face ID, it is more difficult to unlock the phone while it is flat and parallel with the table or charger, without resorting to entering the code or craning your neck.
Using a charging stand, it is easy to see what is happening on your phone as well as to unlock it when necessary.
AirPods charging pad
Then there is the small wireless charger around back that’s limited to 5W of power. This makes it just right for a set of AirPods, which the stand makes clear by showing an outline of set of the personal audio accessories.
It is just the right size to hold a set of AirPods or AirPods Pro without them sticking out the sides. This too has a silicone pad to prevent lateral movement.
We’ve seen elevated AirPods chargers from companies such as Zens. While it does free up space, they are often right above your iPhone, and has the potential for the Apple Watch to cause damage to your iPhone should it fall or use a larger metal band.
Here, it is only above your AirPods, not your iPhone, and it has enough height that we wouldn’t worry about dangling bands.
The built-in Apple Watch charging puck
We do want to be clear that this Apple Watch charger, for the time being, is not Apple certified, though we’ve not experienced any negative effects in our extensive time testing the device. One perk of not being MFI-certified is that STM can alter the appearance slightly, with the sides of the puck blending down into the body of the ChargeTree for a very sleek appearance.
Should you buy the STM ChargeTree?
If you are put off by the lack of official MFi certification on the Apple Watch charger, then hold off on this version of ChargeTree.
If that doesn’t give you an uneasy feeling, we’d wholely recommend STM Goods’ ChargeTree multi-device charger. It is finally something different and takes space into consideration on our increasingly sought after desk space.
As we get more devices to charge, space becomes a premium and it is nice to have something this small to easily fit on our nightstand or desk.
STM Goods thought through the important aspects such as horizontal charging, easily detectable status lights up front, and utilizing USB-C.
If you have an Apple Watch, a set of AirPods or AirPods Pro, and an iPhone, there is little reason to not consider ChargeTree.
Sleek, minimalist design
Three-in-one charger
Doesn’t slow down under max load
Phone works in both orientations
iPhone fast charge
USB-C support
Apple Watch puck blends in
Charging puck isn’t Apple certified
Only one phone at a time
Rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy
Snag your own STM ChargeTree for your iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods off Amazon for $79.95.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-02-2020, 11:16 PM - Forum: Windows
- No Replies
Windows 10 May 2020 Update now available; here’s how to get it
Windows 10 continues to play a key role in how we learn, live and work during these unique times, and we want to ensure a high quality and reliable experience, while also delivering you the latest innovations. In mid-April, we announced the initial availability of the Windows 10 May 2020 Update through the Windows Insider Program’s Release Preview ring, allowing us to both monitor and improve the quality of the release. Based on affirmative preview feedback, today we are pleased to announce that we are starting to make the May 2020 Update available. In this blog, we will cover how you can get the update and choose when to install, and availability for commercial organizations to begin targeted deployments.
How to get the Windows 10 May 2020 Update
To ensure you continue to have a reliable, productive experience with your Windows 10 devices, we are taking a measured and phased approach to how we offer the May Update, initially limiting availability to those devices running Windows 10, versions 1903 and 1909 who seek the update via Windows Update.
Beginning today, the May 2020 Update is available for customers who would like to install this latest release. If you are ready to install the update, open your Windows Update settings (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) and select Check for updates. Once the update appears, you can select Download and install. (Note: You may not see Download and install on your device as we are slowly throttling up this availability over the coming weeks, or your device might have a compatibility issue for which a safeguard hold is in place until we are confident that you will have a good update experience.) Once the download is complete and the update is ready to install, we’ll notify you so that you can pick the right time to finish the installation and reboot your device, ensuring the update does not disrupt your activities. This new “Download and install” capability is available for devices running Windows 10, version 1903 or version 1909. For more information on the new user update controls and how to get the May 2020 Update, watch this video.
Semi-Annual Channel released for commercial customers
Today’s release of the May 2020 Update (Windows 10, version 2004) marks the start of the 18-months servicing support lifecycle. If you’re an IT administrator, we recommend that you begin targeted deployments to validate that the apps, devices and infrastructure used by your organization work as expected with the new release and features. Windows 10, version 2004 is available through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Windows Update for Business and the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) for phased deployment using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager or other systems management software. For information about the latest features for commercial customers, see “What’s new for IT pros in Windows 10, version 2004.” For insights on how to update, see the Windows IT Pro Blog post on feature updates while working remote. If you’re curious about Windows Server, version 2004, which was also released today, see the Windows Server Containers blog.
Keeping you protected and productive
Given all the recent changes to work and home life, we are focused on meeting you where you are and helping you adapt to these new challenges. We have often noted that being on the latest version of Windows 10 provides you with the latest features, security improvements and control. This is even more true today. The May 2020 Update offers many new features that can save you time, make you more productive and help you have fun – in addition to further enhancing your control and choices related to updates. Find out more in the “What’s new in the Windows 10 May 2020 Update” blog.
We will closely monitor the May 2020 Update experience and share timely information on the current rollout status and known issues (open and resolved) across both feature and monthly updates via the Windows release health dashboard and @WindowsUpdate. As always, please continue to tell us about your experience by providing comments or suggestions via Feedback Hub.
Fedora 32 is available now. You’ll likely want to upgrade your system to get the latest features available in Fedora. Fedora Workstation has a graphical upgrade method. Alternatively, Fedora offers a command-line method for upgrading Fedora 30 to Fedora 31.
Before upgrading, visit the wiki page of common Fedora 32 bugs to see if there’s an issue that might affect your upgrade. Although the Fedora community tries to ensure upgrades work well, there’s no way to guarantee this for every combination of hardware and software that users might have.
Upgrading Fedora 31 Workstation to Fedora 32
Soon after release time, a notification appears to tell you an upgrade is available. You can click the notification to launch the GNOME Software app. Or you can choose Software from GNOME Shell.
Choose the Updates tab in GNOME Software and you should see a screen informing you that Fedora 32 is Now Available.
If you don’t see anything on this screen, try using the reload button at the top left. It may take some time after release for all systems to be able to see an upgrade available.
Choose Download to fetch the upgrade packages. You can continue working until you reach a stopping point, and the download is complete. Then use GNOME Software to restart your system and apply the upgrade. Upgrading takes time, so you may want to grab a coffee and come back to the system later.
Using the command line
If you’ve upgraded from past Fedora releases, you are likely familiar with the dnf upgrade plugin. This method is the recommended and supported way to upgrade from Fedora 31 to Fedora 32. Using this plugin will make your upgrade to Fedora 32 simple and easy.
1. Update software and back up your system
Before you do start the upgrade process, make sure you have the latest software for Fedora 31. This is particularly important if you have modular software installed; the latest versions of dnf and GNOME Software include improvements to the upgrade process for some modular streams. To update your software, use GNOME Software or enter the following command in a terminal.
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Additionally, make sure you back up your system before proceeding. For help with taking a backup, see the backup series on the Fedora Magazine.
2. Install the DNF plugin
Next, open a terminal and type the following command to install the plugin:
sudo dnf install dnf-plugin-system-upgrade
3. Start the update with DNF
Now that your system is up-to-date, backed up, and you have the DNF plugin installed, you can begin the upgrade by using the following command in a terminal:
sudo dnf system-upgrade download --releasever=32
This command will begin downloading all of the upgrades for your machine locally to prepare for the upgrade. If you have issues when upgrading because of packages without updates, broken dependencies, or retired packages, add the ‐‐allowerasing flag when typing the above command. This will allow DNF to remove packages that may be blocking your system upgrade.
4. Reboot and upgrade
Once the previous command finishes downloading all of the upgrades, your system will be ready for rebooting. To boot your system into the upgrade process, type the following command in a terminal:
sudo dnf system-upgrade reboot
Your system will restart after this. Many releases ago, the fedup tool would create a new option on the kernel selection / boot screen. With the dnf-plugin-system-upgrade package, your system reboots into the current kernel installed for Fedora 31; this is normal. Shortly after the kernel selection screen, your system begins the upgrade process.
Now might be a good time for a coffee break! Once it finishes, your system will restart and you’ll be able to log in to your newly upgraded Fedora 32 system.
Resolving upgrade problems
On occasion, there may be unexpected issues when you upgrade your system. If you experience any issues, please visit the DNF system upgrade quick docs for more information on troubleshooting.
If you are having issues upgrading and have third-party repositories installed on your system, you may need to disable these repositories while you are upgrading. For support with repositories not provided by Fedora, please contact the providers of the repositories.
Amazon Prime Members Can Claim 16 Free Games Right Now
A new month always brings a new batch of free games for subscribers to services like PlayStation Plus and Games with Gold, and anyone who's signed up for Amazon Prime can look forward to free monthly games and loot as well. Twitch Prime, a membership included with any Amazon Prime subscription, has announced its latest batch of free games for June 2020, and they're available to claim now.
The star of June's freebies is definitely Observer, a first-person psychological horror game from Bloober Team, the developers of Layers of Fear and Blair Witch. Observer is set in the year 2084 in Krakow, Poland, where you'll play as a detective who is able to hack into people's minds (whether they're alive or dead) to find clues and solve crimes. The game earned an impressive 9/10 in GameSpot's Observer review for its haunting atmosphere, incredible cyberpunk storytelling, and inventive sound design.
"Cyberpunk is a reflection of where we’re headed as a society, an oddly alluring reality where we've allowed impressive technology into our lives at the cost of our humanity," wrote critic David Rayfield. "This is a niche genre that needs new revisions and new pioneers so it can keep evolving as we inch closer to seeing its fictional warnings play out in real life, and Observer adds to the familiar parables in fascinating and unexpected ways. In that respect, and on so many other levels, Observer is a haunting and remarkable achievement."
We are excited to announce a new release of Red Hat Dependency Analytics, a solution that enables developers to create better applications by evaluating and adding high-quality open source components, directly from their IDE.
Red Hat Dependency Analytics helps your development team avoid security and licensing issues when building your applications. It plugs into the developer’s IDE, automatically analyzes your software composition, and provides recommendations to address security holes and licensing problems that your team may be missing.
Without further ado, let’s jump into the new capabilities offered in this release. This release includes a new version of the IDE plugin and the server-side analysis service hosted by Red Hat.
Support for Python applications
Along with Java (maven) and JavaScript (npm), Dependency Analytics now offers its full set of capabilities for Python (PyPI) applications. From your IDE, you can perform the vulnerability and license analysis of the “requirements.txt” file of your Python application, incorporate the recommended fixes, and generate the stack analysis report for more details.
Software composition analysis based on current vulnerability data
An estimated 15,000 open source packages get updated every day. On average, three new vulnerabilities get posted every day across JavaScript (npm) and Python (PyPi) packages. With this new release, the server-side analysis service hosted by Red Hat automatically processes the daily updates to open source packages that it is tracking. The hosted service also automatically ingests new vulnerability data posted to National Vulnerability Database (NVD) for JavaScript and Python packages. This allows the IDE plugin and API calls to provide source code analysis based on current vulnerability and release data.
Analyze transitive dependencies
In addition to the direct dependencies included in your application, Dependency Analytics now leverages the package managers to discover and add the dependencies of those dependencies, called “transitive” dependencies, to the dependency graph of your application. Analysis of your application is performed across the whole graph model and recommendations for fixes are provided across the entire set of dependencies.
Recommendations about complementary open source libraries
With this release, Dependency Analytics looks to recommend high-quality open source libraries that are complementary to the dependencies included in your application. The machine learning technology of the hosted service collects and analyzes various statistics on GitHub to curate a list of high-quality open source libraries that can be added to the current set of dependencies to augment your application. You can provide your feedback about the add-on libraries by clicking on the “thumbs-up” or “thumbs-down” icons shown for each recommendation. Your feedback is automatically processed to improve the quality of the recommendations.
IDE plugin support
The Dependency Analytics IDE plugin is now available for VS Code, Eclipse Che, and any JetBrains IDE, including IntelliJ and PyCharm.
We will continuously release new updates to our Dependency Analytics solution so you can minimize the delays in delivery of your applications due to last-minute security and licensing related issues.
Stay tuned for further updates; we look forward to your feedback about Dependency Analytics.
The Epic Games Store Will Launch On Mobile Devices
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has big plans for its video game distribution platform, the Epic Games Store. One of these plans is to bring the digital launcher to Android and iOS devices in the future.
In an interview that kicked off GameSpot's Play For All summer gaming event, Sweeney spoke about the EGS's success, the difficulties releasing a competitor to the massively popular Steam, how cross-play can be a boon for the industry, and much more. During the interview, we asked Sweeney if he had any goals for the EGS in the future, which is when he brought up mobile devices.
"We'd like to bring the [Epic Games] Store to iOS in the future, and we will bring it to Android," Sweeney said. "We think it's a good way to help the industry [move] forward and it's another way where Epic as a game developer had built up this audience around Fortnite and learned how to operate a distribution platform on PC and Android.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 06-02-2020, 10:34 AM - Forum: Python
- No Replies
How to Join a List of Lists? You Don’t. You Flatten It!
Short answer: To flatten your list of list lst, use the nested list comprehension [x for l in lst for x in l] to iterate over all nested lists (for l in lst) and over all their elements (for x in l). Each element x, you just place in the outer list, unchanged.
When browsing StackOverflow, I stumble upon this question from time to time: “How to Join a List of Lists?“. My first thought is that the asking person is referring to the join() function that converts an iterable (such as a list) to a string by concatenating its elements.
But nothing can be further from the truth! The question is usually about “flattening” the list: to transform a nested list of lists such as [[1, 2, 3], [4, 5, 6]] to a flat list [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]. So, the real question is:
How to Flatten a List of Lists in Python?
Problem: Given a list of lists. How to flatten the list of lists by getting rid of the inner lists—and keeping their elements?
Example: You want to transform a given list into a flat list like here:
Solution: Use a nested list comprehension statement [x for l in lst for x in l] to flatten the list.
lst = [[2, 2], [4], [1, 2, 3, 4], [1, 2, 3]] # ... Flatten the list here ...
lst = [x for l in lst for x in l] print(lst)
# [2, 2, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3]
Explanation: In the nested list comprehension statement [x for l in lst for x in l], you first iterate over all lists in the list of lists (for l in lst). Then, you iterate over all elements in the current list (for x in l). This element, you just place in the outer list, unchanged, by using it in the “expression” part of the list comprehension statement [x for l in lst for x in l].
Try It Yourself: You can execute this code snippet yourself in our interactive Python shell. Just click “Run” and test the output of this code.
Exercise: How to flatten a three-dimensional list (= a list of lists of lists)? Try it in the shell!
Video: List Comprehension Python List of Lists
Watch the video to learn three ways how to apply list comprehension to a list of lists:
To become successful in coding, you need to get out there and solve real problems for real people. That’s how you can become a six-figure earner easily. And that’s how you polish the skills you really need in practice. After all, what’s the use of learning theory that nobody ever needs?
Practice projects is how you sharpen your saw in coding!
Do you want to become a code master by focusing on practical code projects that actually earn you money and solve problems for people?
Then become a Python freelance developer! It’s the best way of approaching the task of improving your Python skills—even if you are a complete beginner.