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The LG C1 pairs 4K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate with FreeSync and G-Sync for an amazing gaming experience. Image: LG

Only the best deals on Verge-approved gadgets get the Verge Deals stamp of approval, so if you're looking for a deal on your next gadget or gift from major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and more, this is the place to be.

Our inaugural deals post this week is full of amazing deals, many of which are currently matching their best prices to date. Both the 65-inch and 77-inch models of LGs C1 OLED are on sale for their lowest prices ever at Amazon, for instance, with the 65-inch panel going for $1,596.99 instead of $2,499.99. Other sizes are available for a discount as well, but youll want to direct your attention to either the 65- or 77-inch models for the best value.

While weve never reviewed the C1, several staff members own the 2021 model and cant seem to shut up about it not just because it offers excellent visual fidelity but also because of its list of excellent, gamer-centric features. In addition to 4K resolution and support for Dolby Vision which allows for a spectacular depth of color the C1 has a Game Optimizer feature that allows you to switch between Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync, technology that provides an ultra-smooth image for its 120Hz refresh rate. Pair that with the panels 1ms response time, and youve got one of the best TVs for gaming available today.

The C1 also has a number of excellent quality of life features baked in, including support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants, HDMI 2.1, and Apples AirPlay 2. In total, the LG C1 features four HDMI ports, with a single eARC port, three USB ports, and a single optical audio connection.

An OLED TV loaded with features, including support for 4K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and Nvidia G-Sync and AMD FreeSync.

Right now, you can get a free Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 when you buy an unlocked 128GB Samsung S22 Ultra for $949.51 at Amazon. The Galaxy Watch 4 typically goes for $230, and the 128GB version of the S22 Ultra is usually $1,199.99. The S22 has been subject to some fairly substantial discounts since its debut, but the addition of a Galaxy Watch 4 makes this the best value weve seen on this phone to date.

The S22 Ultra is the largest phone Samsung has offered since its Note series (RIP). The phones massive, 6.8-inch screen has a resolution of 1440 x 3088 and is powered by a speedy Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor, which provides excellent responsiveness and performance. The expansive display also comes with Samsungs S Pen, a stylus that conveniently docks within the chassis of the phone, and an impressive camera array that consists of a 108MP standard shooter, a 10MP telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide. There is also a 40MP front-facing camera for snapping selfies.

Our biggest gripe aside from the lackluster night mode for selfies is the battery, which struggled to make it through the day without needing to be topped off. However, despite its drawbacks, we still consider the S22 Ultra to be an excellent phone and certainly worth a look when a free smartwatch is thrown into the mix.

Note that the model of the Galaxy Watch 4 on offer here features a 44mm face and is the Bluetooth-only configuration of this watch as opposed to the LTE-enabled version. Our consensus on this wearable was a bit mixed, namely due to its reliance on the Samsung ecosystem of apps, but it remains one of the best smartwatches available thanks to its snappy performance and robust health-tracking capabilities. Read our reviews of the S22 Ultra and Galaxy Watch 4.

This 13-inch laptop has a 2560 x 1600 Retina display, and while it may lack a touchscreen, it's still equipped with Apples True Tone technology, which adjusts the color temperature of the screen based on your current lighting environment. In addition to the speedy M1 CPU, which allows the Air to run Intel-based apps in addition to those native to macOS, the Air also includes 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. The M1 CPU helps extend the Airs battery life, too, allowing it to operate for up to 18 hours on a single charge.

The slim profile of the MacBook Air only allows for a pair of USB-C ports, but they are both Thunderbolt 4-compatible, which allows the laptop to pair with a dock for additional connectivity. The 720p webcam definitely leaves a bit to be desired, but otherwise, the M1 MacBook Air remains a solid laptop, especially for the college-bound grad. Read our review.

Continued here:
LG's brilliant C1 OLED just hit its lowest price ever on Amazon - The Verge

Data security and users' privacy are the core elements that lie behind all the best VPN software. However, even the most top-notch security features can have some vulnerabilities at times.

Malicious actors can hack VPN servers to steal users' data, for example. Some governments are even passing invasive laws to force providers to hand over this information upon request - that's exactly what's happening in India at the moment.

It's in this context that our top-rated service ExpressVPN has developed its own TrustedServer technology to boost users' data protection. "Because of how it's engineered and the fact that it runs in RAM only, our VPN servers are built from the ground up to ensure no sensitive data is logged, even by accident, and thus not accessible by us or third parties, said ExpressVPN vice president Harold Li.

Let's have a better look at how ExpressVPN's TrustedServer tech works and how it differs from traditional servers.

ExpressVPN developed its own TrustedServer technology in 2019 with the aim of minimizing the risk of users' data being compromised.Not long after its release, independent audit professionals from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) confirmed that the new platform works in compliance with ExpressVPN's Privacy Policy. This means that no connection logs nor activities logs are retained.

A VPN server - whether a physical or virtual one - is a combination of pieces of hardware and software that allow users to connect to a secure private network. It's the VPN server that masks your real IP address, replacing it with one of its own. It's the software running the server, together with the VPN protocol, that's responsible for encrypting your data and traffic.

An industry-first in the market, the top provider builds its very own secure VPN servers platform - all of its 3,000+ are developed upon this technology.

ExpressVPN TrustedServer technology has essentially brought two main important innovations that set them apart from traditional servers.

1. Servers running entirely on RAM: never keep logs

Traditional servers generally run via a hard-disk system. This means that the data is locally retained until it's erased and written over. If the servers are seized or hacked, there's a risk that third parties can access users' sensitive information.

In contrast, TrustedServer technology works on Random Access Memory (RAM). Also called volatile memory, RAM needs power to store data. This means that every time you shut down your device, all the information will vanish, and in the case of servers, nothing is stored on the server after a reboot.

2. Secure and up-to-date code stack: minimize risks of bugs

Another important innovation comes with the way TrustedServers are internally built. Normal servers have their operating system (OS) and software installed the first time these are set up. Every time there's a new update, this is added on top of the existing system. This creates opportunities for differences to arise among servers, meaning that developers cannot be 100% sure that all the servers run with the same secure code.

TrustedServer intends to fix these potential vulnerabilities by running its servers via a single cryptographically signed read-only image. So, every time the server is rebooted, the newest version of the stack (the OS and the VPN infrastructure above it) is loaded as a unique block. In this way, the risk of vulnerabilities and misconfiguration is eliminated. It also means that the server owner - in this case, ExpressVPN - knows exactly how each server is running at all times.

ExpressVPN is the only provider in the market that developed its RAM-only servers in a way that the entire software stack is reinstalled at every connection. However, other services are now running their servers with volatile memory instead of a hard-disk.

It was in 2020 that NordVPN, Surfshark and Private Internet Access upgraded all their servers to be RAM-only. They took further security measures, too. NordVPN is now shipping its own hardware to data centres, for example, while PIA's staff is no longer handling the server setup.

CyberGhost is another big name that made the change from hard-disk to RAM servers. The provider went even further, though. It also offers a few NoSpy servers for extra security. These are built in their Romanian headquarters so that its team manages them internally end-to-end.

Learn how to boost your streaming experience with ExpressVPN MediaStreamer

Get today's best pricing on ExpressVPN

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ExpressVPN TrustedServer - everything you need to know - TechRadar

Revel is a flexible mobile POS system for numerous reasonsnot just because it lets you manage multiple locations from one system. You can use it on an iPad to take orders tableside, set it up as a kiosk with an iPad stand for customers to place their own orders, or accept online orders. It also works well for several types of businesses, including retail stores and restaurants.

The advanced inventory features by Revel let you manage complex inventories. So, you can manage multiple SKUs, variables, or raw ingredients. Similar to other top ranked POS systems with inventory management, youll get low-stock alerts, so you never oversell. Plus, you can turn your mobile POS system into a handheld barcode scanneruse your phone with the Revel inventory app to scan codes to update inventory quickly.

The price for Revel is a bit higher than other mobile POS solutions at $99 per month (if paid annually), but there are a few caveats. Youll have to sign a three-year contract to get that price. Plus, theres an onboarding fee that starts at $674. To be fair, Revel is a more complicated system, so youll likely be grateful for the installation and onboarding help. Revel offers its own payment processing solution, but despite what the company claims on its site, pricing isnt transparentno fees are published.

Who should use it:

Revel is a pricey mobile POS system, but it may be worth it if you have multiple stores with multiple inventories to manage. Youll have to contact them for a quote on pricing for hardware and payment processing.

See the article here:
The Best Mobile POS Systems Of 2022 - Forbes

VERY recently, India became home to a 100 Unicorns with a consolidated valuation of $332.7 billion.Unicorns are companies with over $1 billion valuation, and needless to say, this is anamazing feat considering India only had 10 Unicorns in total by the end of 2016. As a result of phenomenal innovation and continuous flow of funding within the Indian start-up ecosystem, India has marched ahead by building world-class companies. These start-ups are creating large-scale employment and providing breakthrough solutions and technologies. The future further looks bright with India being anticipated to be home to 60,000-62,000 start-ups, including more than 150 unicorns, by 2025.

Now, a majority of these Unicorns are built around high-quality software accompanied by a solid user base to help them attract worthy investment or persuade potential buyers. Quality being the key word here. Consumers, clients, users are hooked to quality products/services that work uninterruptedly, sans any issues. No Unicorn can afford a quality disaster, and the only way they are able to deliver great-looking error-free apps is by roping in the lesser known and appreciated heroes in software development, i.e. the software testers. And Manish Gupta, CEO of a specialist software testing company TestingXperts, believes that in the coming days, testing will play an even more crucial role with companies looking to deliver software to market faster.

With the pandemic accelerating the age of digitalization, software testing is a non-negotiable service to enable digital transformation in an error-free, accelerated manner. Software developers create programmes for digital applications. Its software testing companies who work continuously, stay ahead of the curve, pre-empting and detecting flaws to ensure a seamless user experience," explains Manish.

Nearly 87% of unicorns provide software products that need quality assurance, and hence hire independent software testing companies, treat them like an equal part of the internal team to prioritize customer experience and have a more robust chance of growing valuation.

For any business to scale, it has to validate and verify its product. The same applies to a high-quality application - there are multiple dimensions to be looked at. For instance, does the application perform the business function?Where does it stand on usability, stability and accessibility?Can it handle volumes, per second, per minute? Does it have the ability to function across hundreds of mobile device brands and versions? Most importantly, is it secure? Is the speed too slow or acceptable? In a digital world, where every second is valuable, any discrepancy only amplifies cost and affects efficiency and reputation of the app. Continuous testing, right from the nascent stage, is for these very checks and balances," says Manish. Tx has worked with leading Unicorns including Swiggy, Acko, Delhivery, to name a few, and helped them maintain high product quality, expand their products functionality, and increase customer satisfaction, customer loyalty and revenue.

Aniche player in establishing competitive standards in several testing areas, global research and analysts have recognized TestingXperts as a leader in Quality Assurance helping organizations with digital transformation and providing a flawless consumer experience, which, in turn, makes businesses grow.

We are surrounded by digital applications (web, mobile, smart devices etc.) and rely heavily on them for getting our small to big needs fulfilled. Right from simple things like ordering a snack or booking a movie ticket, to more complicated needs like banking or medical diagnostics, we take it for granted that these applications will do their job as they should be. Thats exactly the job software testing companies, and software testing functions within companies in general, perform. Imagine a world where the payment you made to a friend ends up not getting credited, or the flight tickets you just booked end up being booked for a wrong date even if these happen one in a million cases, it would severely impact our lives and the confidence with which we go about carrying out these tasks through software," explains Manish, rightly pointing to the criticality of error-free software.

Another interesting paradigm is testing automation which forms the bed-rock of faster application delivery. Automation has emerged as a major success path for businesses to get their desired digital-first solutions. Businesses today need complex solutions at speed, and to combat the same, automated testing is the key to ensure repetitive tests can be carried out without manual intervention," adds Manish.

With software impacting every facet of our lives with more complex technology, it is evident that software testing will continue to thrive and help companies launch innovative solutions to market with ease and lead to more Unicorns, and in the near future, Decacorns.

Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same.

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'software Quality Is Key To Success Of Digital World' | Mint - Mint

Intel shared details of some interesting software-based initiatives at its Intel Vision event in ... [+] Dallas. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

For most people, the name Intel evokes hardware. Intel has played a pivotal role in the explosion and evolution of processor technology over the last 50 years, and remains a dominant player in the computer hardware arena. At Intel Vision in Dallas last week, though, the company shared an alternative version of Intel Insideembracing the software side of the equation as well.

In his keynote presentation on Day 2 of the event, Greg Lavender, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer; General Manager of Intel Software and Advanced Technology Group, opened with a bit about his appreciation for the contributions of Michael Faraday and described himself as a software guycaptured in the electromagnetic field of hardware.

He talked about digital transformation and the benefits of new technologies but added a word of caution. Every innovation brings its own set of new challenges. It is true that the seamless integration of technology into our lives is allowing us to do more than ever. But at the same time, it's creating an attack surface and attack vectors at a scale that we've never seen before.

That set the stage to discuss the importance of Confidential Computing, and initiatives Intel is working on to enhance trust and improve cybersecurity for everyone.

I spoke with Lavender during the Intel Vision event about his keynote and Intel offering a software-as-a-service (SaaS) solution to help developers optimize application performance. Or, providing an easy button as he explained it.

Intel is in a unique position to understand how the hardware works. They engineered it. As such, Intel is also intimately familiar with what the hardware is capable of and how to optimize performance.

In contrast, Lavender noted that there are an estimated 25 million software developers, with about a million added just in the last year. Many are not deep, experienced programmers. The advent of low-code and no-code development tools has lowered the bar for entry. These developers want an application that works, is secure, and can scalebut they dont necessarily have the knowledge or skills to know how to make all of that happen.

Hence, the easy button.

There can also be significant costs associated with poor performance. Cloud platforms and services are typically billed based on consumption of resources. Applications that use those resources inefficiently can result in a shocking bill at the end of the month.

Intel acquired Granulatea company focused on optimizing cloud performance. Granulate automates the process of identifying issues and bottlenecks, and resolving inefficiencies to improve performance and reduce costs.

Intel provides an initial profile and recommendations for free. For most companies, though, software changes often. DevOps practices and CI / CD (continuous integration / continuous deployment) tools have accelerated the development lifecycle. To ensure optimal performance on a consistent basis, Intel is offering performance-analytics-as-a-service under a subscription license through the Intel Developer Cloud.

Another software-based initiative Intel shared at Intel Vision is Project Amber.

Trust makes the world go roundespecially online. Our world increasingly relies on and revolves around technology. Connecting to platforms and services, interacting with applications, and communicating between devices or individuals all require trusttrust that the entity on the other end is legitimate, and that any communications and data between Point A and Point B will be secure and protected from interception or unauthorized access.

The question is how to achieve that trust.

In a nutshell, there are three steps that have to happen for Confidential Computing. First, you request an instance from the cloud. Second, the instance is spawned within a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE). Third, based on that attestation and trust, you deploy sensitive workloads in the cloud.

Seems relatively simple, but there are issues. I spoke to Nikhil Deshpande, Director of Product Development at Intel, about the challenges of trust in online interactions. He pointed out that in many cases today the cloud platform you request the instance from is attesting to the trustworthiness of its own TEE. This self-attestation is a problem for some customersespecially in tightly regulated industries.

Another challenge organizations face is that many have hybrid environments that span multiple cloud platforms. They might get attestation from a cloud platform, but it is limited only to that infrastructure. If you are running workloads across three different cloud platforms, you end up with three different attestations, and no uniform way to assure trust across the complete environment.

Finally, Deshpande said that a third challenge is that some organizations attempt to solve the first two challenges by building their own framework for attestationbut that is complex. It costs a lot to build and maintain a functional system.

Intel hopes to address these challenges with Project Amber. Project Amber will be an independent, third-party trust authority. The simplest way I can explain this initiative is to compare it to a Certificate Authority (CA). A CA is an independent, third-party that provides assurance of certificates. Project Amber will do the same thing for trust.

Within a system, a TEE typically relies on a Trusted Platform Module (TPM)a physical or embedded technology that resides on the motherboard or in the processor. TPMs use cryptography to securely store essential and critical information and enable platform authentication. The main question I have regarding Project Amber is, How do you get that level of trust in the cloud? How do you know you can trust the Trust Authority?

Deshpande explained that one element of Project Amber is a feature called Verify Integrity of Trust Authority. We will have a verification ability for the end users to ensure that they can actually see how Project Amber has verified certain things. Our intention is to be very transparent, because security needs transparency, and we want to be transparent across all. So, there are features built into the service to provide assurance to the Project Amber user that this is how this attestation has been protected.

The initiative is in the early stages right now. Deshpande explained that Intel plans to launch a pilot of Project Amber by the end of this year, with a goal of moving to GA (general availability) by early 2023.

This is just the tip of the iceberg from Intel Vision. Intel execs shared tons more on the roadmap, andwell, vision for what lies ahead. These two aspects stood out to me, though, as examples of a company that is synonymous with PC hardware pursuing new horizons and exploring how software can make the hardware better and more secure.

Original post:
Intel Blazes Security And Software Trails At Intel Vision - Forbes