SilentSense Phone Security

A few days ago I wrote about the new iPhone 5S Fingerprint Scanner and how it could really help with security and how well it (should) work. Well any victory like that in technology can only be short lived. There will always be someone to challenge and try to outdo the competition. So who will it be this time and what are they going to do to try and compete with the iPhone 5S new security feature? It is a variation of a sensor called SilentSense

This software is being worked on by the geniuses over at Cornell University. It has been deemed to be effective more than 99% of the time. With numbers like that, it could easily become a top contender in the security game for mobile phones. While the researchers did claim that the program was running on Android OS and not iOS, it is still plausible for one to think that this could be integrated onto iOS without too much effort. The way it it works is by "exploiting dynamics from the users touch behavior bio-metrics and the micro-movement of the device by the user's screen-touch actions". Now this basically means that the software provides data, subject to the user, based off of your finger movements and how you manipulate the device while using it.

All in all, this software seems more secure than the fingerprint scanner. But then again, even though it sounds better "on paper" it's still in the works.  We really wont be able to fully tell until both of these security measures are put against each other side by side.  We will see how this "SilentSense" works against the Fingerprint scanner when it finally comes out. The idea of the phone "knowing" your movements, and thus recognizing you as the user is a very cool concept. Be on the look out for more information regarding this software coming soon.

Vacation in Style: How to Score a Private Jet Flight

Written by Laura Chapman

If you've ever dreamed about flying off on holiday aboard your own private jet, your dreams may be about to come true. It’s a fact: flying privately is no longer a privilege reserved for the extremely rich and famous. How is this possible? Surely it costs many thousands of pounds to hire a private jet? Wrong: A seat on a private jet can now cost little more than a seat on a commercial airline.

Private jets in Europe carry an average of just over two passengers per journey, despite the fact that the aircrafts are usually designed to seat between eight and 12 people. Furthermore, 40% of these jets fly completely empty on their return journeys in Europe, and a staggering 60% in the USA. An increasing number of budding entrepreneurs are tapping into this market and setting up companies that offer passengers huge discounts on private flying – through group bookings and through bidding for otherwise empty return legs.

Accessible to “everyday passengers”

One such company in the US is Social Flights. CEO, Jay Deragon, claims that his company makes flying private available to everyday passengers. The Beta-tested site offers its members within the US the option to purchase individual seats on private jets, as opposed to having to hire the entire plane.  The site also offers the charter of a whole plane at an affordable rate by pooling together with other members that are looking to fly to the same locations at the same times.

Social Flights is proving extremely popular; within a few months of its launch, the company already had over 8,400 members. Between them, they access a fleet of more than 500 private jets. Deragon explains that his company gives people the ability and freedom to organize their travel either on their own or with others.

New method of transport

For European flights Victor offers a similar service. The company, run by successful entrepreneur Clive Jackson, offers members of the public almost half a million possible routes. It covers flights between almost a thousand European airports and has access to 200 aircraft. Jackson claims that, as the site grows in popularity, he is able to add increasing numbers of routes to customers. Victor now has over 2,100 members and is growing fast as people get used to the idea of this new and attractive method of transport. It’s easy to see why companies like Victor and Social Flights are becoming so popular. A seat on a flight from Luton to Malaga, for example, is currently being offered for £1,532 through Victor, as opposed to costing around £10,000 if you were to fly solo. It is still considerably more than an economy seat with a more conventional airline, agreed. However, the huge cut in costs makes private jet flying a lot more accessible for people that otherwise would not be able to afford it.

Revolutionizing the travel industry

This new mode of transport is being tipped to revolutionize the travel industry, and it is the power of social media, crowd collaboration and travel technology that is driving it. Both of the above companies depend on interaction and active participation from their members in order to succeed, and both use innovations in travel technology through sites that enable new services. The overall cost of a seat on board a private jet from Victor, for example, depends on how many other people want to fly with you. This therefore encourages the site’s community of members to encourage each other to fly; the more contact you make with other members, the more chance you have of finding other people that will share the cost of the jet with you.

Members can publish posts offering their desired point to point trip or book themselves onto an existing flight and then call on their social network to help fill that plane. In some cases, this activity can see the cost of each seat on the jet fall to below that of many commercial airlines.

So, next time you think about booking that holiday abroad, and you shudder at the thought of airport check-in queues and cramped seats, have a little browse on some of these sites. As more and more companies tap into this trend, these deals are sure to become even more accessible for the masses. Who knows; next time you have your summer holiday you could be enjoying all same luxuries as the rich and famous on board your own private jet.

Best Tech Gadgets To Use On An Overseas Trip

Posted by John Beagle 

Written by Ryan Franklin

Are you getting ready to trek overseas for work or vacation? There is no need to leave all your favorite gadgets at home. Part of the fun of traveling can be recording your experiences with a camera, or enjoying your beloved e-reader and portable DVD player in an unfamiliar land. Plus, here are three travel specific gadgets that will make your overseas trip even better:

1.     You might not be a polyglot, but your electronic Franklin Global Translator is! Especially if your trip will take you through a variety of different countries, a guidebook for each language may not be practical to stuff in your pack. Plus, one of the most exciting parts about traveling is that you never know when you’ll end up in a bar with a group of people from all the corners of the world. This global translator speaks 12,000 pre-programmed phrases and knows 450,000 words in 12 different languages.

2.     What good is a gadget if it’s all out of juice? One of the smartest things you can bring along with you on your overseas trip is a travel adapter. When you travel outside of North America, you are going to encounter a surprisingly wide array of electrical systems, which means unusual plug configurations and non-standardized voltages. Shoot for a combination converter/adapter like the Conair Travel Smart that will allow you to both adapt to different plugs and convert the voltage to appropriate amounts. You can usually ascertain pretty quickly which sort of plug you need, but the voltage question may be trickier. It’s nice to have just one device for both purposes.

3.     If you have ever traveled to a third world country, you probably already know the lecture: don’t drink the water, and don’t eat the street food! But with the SteriPen Ultraviolet Bacteria and Pathogen Killing Water Wand, you can drink easy. Simply stick this purifier into a glass or bottle of water and turn it on. It only needs about 48 seconds to transform 16 ounces into safe, potable water.

Remember, make sure to keep your gadgets locked up and secured while you’re traveling!

Ryan Franklin is a guest blogger who writes about international travel and the benefits of air charters. He is based in Teterboro.

Google Maps Now Offer Real-time Arrival Estimations

If you are going somewhere and need to get there as quickly as possible, Google Maps can now offer you some assistance.

Google Maps has upgraded and now allows users to see an estimated arrival time based on real-time traffic conditions. When you go to Google Maps and search for directions to wherever you are going, you will now have a few options. You will be shown several different routes on the map with arrival times based on if there is no traffic, as well as different routes with arrival times based on the current traffic conditions at that time.

"In areas where the information is available, this new and improved feature evaluates current traffic conditions and is constantly being refreshed to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date estimate possible," wrote Szabolcs Payrits, the software engineer for Google Maps, in a post on Thursday, March 30.

Some people might remember that in the past Google Maps had something similar to the estimated travel-time based on traffic conditions. It used to say something to the effect that if there was traffic, it could take this long to arrive at your destination. However, these estimated times were based on historic traffic data. Now, Google Maps will be much more helpful with the real-time traffic updates.

"We hope being able to plan your travels based on current traffic information saves you time and perhaps even prevents some road frustration," Payrits wrote. "Happy driving!"

Sources: PCMag - Google Maps Directions Gets Real-Time Traffic and Google Blog - Find out you trip duration based on current traffic

DVD Video Projectors are exactly what they sound like, a combination unit that combines a DVD media player with a video projector, cutting out the need for multiple pieces of electronics and wiring.