#BMW 's Vision Next 100 is the concept car of my childhood dreams

 BMW is on a world tour this year with a selection of concept cars that present its vision for the next 100 years of automotive development. Catering to our wildest adolescent fantasies, these cars are aggressively, almost absurdly futuristic, with this week's debutant Rolls-Royce and Mini models exhibiting a preference for pizzazz over practicality. BMW's own-brand Vision Next 100 vehicle is no less extreme, eschewing traditional things like a dashboard and rear-view mirrors in favor of high-tech alternatives.

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 I was already a fan of the futurism embodied by BMW's Vision concept when it was made official back in March, but seeing it in all its aerodynamic glory in London this week, I'm upgrading my excitement by a couple of notches. The car simply looks stunning, like a more practical, more gadgety version of today's supercars. It has a thoroughly streamlined shape that nevertheless still accommodates four people and even has room to include the design flourish of fin-like taillights (which I love). It's very much the sort of thing I used to sketch during boring math classes in high school, and it's that connection with the fantastic that makes BMW's concepts so compelling today.

 Adrian van Hooydonk, head of BMW Group Design, says that "if you are able to imagine something, there's a good chance it could one day become reality." Setting a developmental horizon of 20 to 30 years, BMW is looking beyond the current trend of adding more displays to the interior of cars, past even the proliferation of flexible OLED displays, to the point where "the entire windscreen will serve as a giant display." On the outside, a new Alive Geometry will shift the car's shape in accordance with how it is being driven, flaring out or tapering down as required.

 The purpose of the BMW Vision Next 100 cars is to create concepts that people can engage with, and the company firmly believes that the emotional driving experience must be informed by emotional design. That's why the headlights look like a falcon's talons and why the golden honey paintjob splinters out into small polygons as it morphs imperceptibly from the metal exterior to the darkened windows.

 I didn't get to see inside this particular BMW, but the company has helpfully provided video materials showing off what the ride would be like. Comprising both a Boost mode for the best of BMW's storied driving tradition and an Ease mode for a relaxing, autonomous ride, this vision of the future aims to be both thrilling and convenient.

 The BMW, Rolls-Royce, and Mini Vision Next 100 concept cars will be on show at London's Roundhouse from this Saturday through to the end of next week.


Theverge.com

Unikernel power comes to Java, Node.js, Go, and Python apps

  Anyone who wants to experiment with deploying apps as self-contained miniature OSes now have a UniK, a new software tool to speed the process. genesis mining promo code

An open source project sponsored by EMC allows applications written in C/C++, Java, Go, Node.js, and now Python to be transformed into unikernels -- operating systems that do nothing but run a single, dedicated application.

 UniK (pronounced "unique") is one of several experiments with unikernels to see if their minimal footprint and security profile can work better than containers for some workloads.

 UniK promises a simple way for an organization to find out if a unikernel version of a given app runs better than its containerized counterpart. The workload is about the same as would be required to deploy the app as a container.

 Written mainly in Go, UniK compiles images that can then be deployed to Virtualbox, VMware vSphere, or Amazon Web Services. Go, C++, Node.js and Python are made part of a runtime that uses the rumprun platform, an existing toolchain for creating unikernel-like software. Java apps are deployed via OSv, a single-application OS that comes with JVM support.

 Docker has been interested in bringing its container system and unikernels closer together. Back in January, it acquired Unikernel Systems, hoping to add the company's toolchain so that deploying unikernels is as easy as compositing a Docker image. UniK uses Docker images for its needed tooling, but it doesn't yet incorporate Unikernel Systems' technology -- so far, no implementation of a unikernel-centric Docker has been available for public use. 

 Another recent project, IncludeOS, has attempted to ease unikernel creation, but not in as broad a manner as UniK. IncludeOS provides a C++ library for a minimal level of operating system functionality to a program, allowing it to be deployed as a self-contained image that boots on a hypervisor. Again, it's C++ only, where UniK aims to encompass multiple languages.

 This story, "Unikernel power comes to Java, Node.js, Go, and Python apps" was originally published by InfoWorld.

Read #Microsoft CEO’s memo to staff about #LinkedIn acquisition

Microsoft just surprised everyone with its plans to acquire LinkedIn for $26.2 billion in cash. While many financial analysts will be inspecting the details more closely, a lot of onlookers simply want to know... why? Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has sent an internal memo to staff about the LinkedIn acquisition, and it attempts to answer why the company is interested in the social networking giant. genesis mining promo code

Nadella hints that LinkedIn will help play into its Office software in the future. One feature will be LinkedIn's newsfeed "that serves up articles based on the project you are working on and Office suggesting an expert to connect with via LinkedIn to help with a task you're trying to complete." Nadella sees a future where LinkedIn can be more intelligent and feed into Office 365. "New opportunities will be created for monetization through individual and organization subscriptions and targeted advertising," says Nadella. Here's the full memo:

Team,

I'm excited to share that today Microsoft announced a deal to acquire LinkedIn. You can see how Jeff Weiner, the CEO of LinkedIn, and I envision the opportunity ahead in this public presentation.

This deal brings together the world's leading professional cloud with the world's leading professional network. I have been learning about LinkedIn for some time while also reflecting on how networks can truly differentiate cloud services. It's clear to me that the LinkedIn team has grown a fantastic business and an impressive network of more than 433 million professionals.

Given this is the biggest acquisition for Microsoft since I became CEO, I wanted to share with you how I think about acquisitions overall. To start, I consider if an asset will expand our opportunity — specifically, does it expand our total addressable market? Is this asset riding secular usage and technology trends? And does this asset align with our core business and overall sense of purpose?

The answer to all of those questions with LinkedIn is squarely yes. We are in pursuit of a common mission centered on empowering people and organizations. Along with the new growth in our Office 365 commercial and Dynamics businesses this deal is key to our bold ambition to reinvent productivity and business processes. Think about it: How people find jobs, build skills, sell, market and get work done and ultimately find success requires a connected professional world. It requires a vibrant network that brings together a professional's information in LinkedIn's public network with the information in Office 365 and Dynamics. This combination will make it possible for new experiences such as a LinkedIn newsfeed that serves up articles based on the project you are working on and Office suggesting an expert to connect with via LinkedIn to help with a task you're trying to complete. As these experiences get more intelligent and delightful, the LinkedIn and Office 365 engagement will grow. And in turn, new opportunities will be created for monetization through individual and organization subscriptions and targeted advertising.

Jeff and I both believe we have a significant opportunity to accelerate LinkedIn's growth and the value it brings to its members with Microsoft's assets and scale. In fact, when Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn, and I spoke about the opportunity for us to come together, he called it a "re-founding" moment for LinkedIn and an opportunity to reach the mission the company set out on 13 years ago.

The opportunity for Office 365 and Dynamics is just as profound. Over the past decade we have moved Office from a set of productivity tools to a cloud service across any platform and device. This deal is the next step forward for Office 365 and Dynamics as they connect to the world's largest and most valuable professional network. In essence, we can reinvent ways to make professionals more productive while at the same time reinventing selling, marketing and talent management business processes. I can't wait to see what our teams dream up when we can begin working together once the deal closes, which we expect will happen this calendar year.

A big part of this deal is accelerating LinkedIn's growth. To that end, LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand and independence, as well as their culture which is very much aligned with ours. Jeff will continue to be CEO of LinkedIn, he'll report to me and join our senior leadership team. In essence, what I've asked Jeff to do is manage LinkedIn with key performance metrics that accrue to our overall success. He'll decide from there what makes sense to integrate and what does not. We know that near term there will be no changes in who reports to whom so no reporting relationships at Microsoft will change in that regard. This approach is designed to keep the LinkedIn team focused on driving results while simultaneously partnering on product integration plans with the Office 365 and Dynamics teams. During the integration, we'll pick key projects where we can go deep together that will ultimately result in new experiences for customers. Kurt DelBene will lead the overall integration efforts at Microsoft in close partnership with Qi Lu and Scott Guthrie.

I'm on the LinkedIn campus today in California and will host a call for investors at 8:45 a.m. PT with Jeff, Brad and Amy -€” please join if you can. Following that, I'll then spend the day meeting with the LinkedIn team. Tomorrow, I'll host a special Microsoft employee Q&A -€” I hope you can make it.

So far, what I've learned about the LinkedIn team is how much our cultures share many of the same attributes. We both care deeply about individual and collective growth, and find deep meaning in the work we do to make a difference in our world. Together we'll do just that.

While I'm in northern California sharing our vision to empower professionals, the Xbox team is in southern California at E3 sharing our vision to empower gamers. I encourage you to check out the E3 press briefing, which starts at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time.

Finally, if you're not on LinkedIn, join up now and start using and learning more.

Satya

Theverge.com

IHS: #Chromecast Sales Overtake Apple TV for First Time

 Apple's TV has lost traction versus rival Google's smaller Chromecast stick. And while Apple might make up a little room if it announces a fifth-generation Apple TV at Monday's Worldwide Developers Conference (and launches it soon after), there are plenty of rumors that suggest the event isn't going to have any big hardware announcements whatsoever. So, Apple might be stuck chugging along a bit longer while Google's Chromecast continues its sprint. genesis mining promo code

 According to a recent report from IHS, the Chromecast has struggled to beat the Apple TV throughout much of its life so far. However, the tides finally turned in Google's favor in the first quarter of the year, where IHS figures put Chromecast sales at 3.2 million to the Apple TV's 1.7 million.

 As for why, IHS maintains that Google has been pushing a much different (and seemingly more successful) strategy for selling its streaming stick than Apple's marketing for its media box. And you can probably even guess what that is: the Chromecast, at $35, has incredible mass-market appeal, and it is priced low enough that even those who are not quite sure if they'll use one very much might be tempted to pick one up. It's simple. A Chromecast doesn't even need a specialized UI or remote for you to use it—just your phone or tablet and, of course, Chromecast-compatible apps.

 "The Apple TV, starting at $149, has inexorably been shuttled into the segment's top end. The device is now positioned as a premium hub that appeals to consumers of digital video, to casual gamers and to iOS owners who are intrinsically attracted to Apple's singular user-interface," reads IHS' report.

 That said, the significant price delta (and different features) between the two devices does skew an apples-to-apples comparison a bit. It's like saying Android devices are obliterating iOS devices in sales—a true statement, but one that conceals the simple fact that there are many manufacturers making many Android devices, but only one manufacturer making iOS devices.

 IHS also expects that this trend—the Chromecast beating the Apple TV in sales—is likely to persist, though the firm didn't share any estimates on what an updated Apple TV might be able to do for the company's sales, if anything.

Pcmag.com

June Android distribution: #Marshmallow at 10%, Lollipop at 35%

 It's that time of month again when Google gives developers and users a quick glimpse at the health of the Android market as far as version numbers go. And boy how the mighty have fallen! The combined might of the three Jelly Bean releases no longer has any hold, as it goes below a fifth of the market. Lollipop has taken over its throne, becoming the largest so far. Meanwhile, Marshmallow rises at a steady pace, now occupying 10% of the Android space.

For a long time, Android 4.1 to 4.3 reigned unchallenged, reaching heights in early 2014 when it nearly conquered three-fourths of the pie. Which isn't surprising considering we're talking about three Android releases lumped together. A year later, it would finally be dethroned by Android 4.4 "KitKat", though the latter's victory would be short lived, as Android 5.0 and 5.1 Lollipop would overtake it in just 8 months.

Now the Jelly Bean is near the end of its journey. Android 4.3 in particular, teeters close to the lower limit. It now stands at 2.7%, not that far from Android 2.3 Gingerbread's 2.0%. Any distribution that goes below 0.1% gets removed from the list. Amusingly enough, Android 2.2 Froyo still remains solidly in its place, which it has held for the past 6 months.

Looking to the future, it would seem that Marshmallow's path is secure. But there's a catch. Android N is around the corner and it brings some features that are quite irresistible. There's split screen for one. But there are also other goodies like a more reasonable Doze mode and quicker system updates. It is possible that Marshmallow might reach its highest point in just a month or two. It's not exactly unheard of, as versions like Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) and 5.0 (Lollipop) never reached the 20% that its other siblings enjoyed.

Given how many Marshmallow devices there are in the market now, and some are still getting their updates, it could yet be another messy phase as far as Android fragmentation is concerned.

SOURCE: Google

#Google tests a cleaner look for Search

 Google has begun to test a new Material Design layout for its desktop search results. The company introduced Material Design in 2014 at its annual I/O conference during its Android Lollipop unveil, promising to spread the new grid-based look across Android, Chrome OS and the web. It's... taken a while to get there, and arguably the most important of Google's web properties -- YouTube and Search - still haven't made the switch. Last month, Google began testing a fresh look for its video streaming site, and now, we're beginning to see that familiar grid of floating cards show up in google.com search results.

The change isn't exactly monumental: Google Search has always returned results in a grid, so the basic layout is functionally identical to the current one. The biggest change is a visual one: the background in the test is a light gray, and individual search results are boxed in white with a small drop shadow to imply elevation.

Another major change is to the informative modules that Google shows for certain terms. Typing "Run The Jewels," for example, would bring up a list of search results accompanied by a card displaying information on the musicians and upcoming events on the right. In the new layout, this card is shown inline, before the regular search results. Given this is just a limited test, there's every chance this behavior will change if Google makes the Material Design layout the default.

Small changes elsewhere include new iconography for the magnifying glass in the search box, and switching out the settings cog for the three vertically aligned dots. Both the changes will be familiar to Android users. The google.com homepage has also been modified in line with the new aesthetic.

The test seems to have begun fairly recently, and on a small scale: There have been a few mentions of the new layout on Twitter and Reddit over the past week, and it's only showing up in one Engadget editor's search results. The company frequently trials new features and layouts on a small group of its users, seemingly at random. Many of the changes never make their way out of the testing phase. We've reached out to Google to ascertain its plans for the new design.

Engadget.com

#Snapchat Passes Twitter in Daily Usage

 The four-year-old messaging app is said to have 150 million people using it each day.

Snapchat Inc. has 150 million people using the service each day, said people familiar with the matter. That makes the four-year-old messaging app more popular than Twitter Inc. by daily active users. genesis mining promo code CZL5k6

 Snapchat has been growing quickly, boosted by its popularity among young people. The app had 110 million daily users in December, said the people, who asked not to be named because they weren’t authorized to speak about the numbers.

 Twitter, which was founded in 2006, has less than 140 million users interacting with the service daily, according to an average of analysts’ estimates surveyed by Bloomberg. The short-messaging service was once the largest social network after Facebook Inc. but has since been surpassed by Facebook’s other apps, including Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

 Twitter has 310 million monthly active users, according to its most recent earnings report. The company doesn’t disclose how many of those people check in daily, but in the third quarter, it said about 44 percent of monthly users are active each day in the service’s top 20 markets. Twitter Chief Financial Officer Anthony Noto said at the time that the percentage had been stable but that “we’ll be sure to disclose” if there was a significant change. The company hasn’t given an update since then. This implies a daily active user count of 136 million. Twitter and Snapchat declined to comment.

 Snapchat has made communicating more of a game by letting people send annotated selfies and short videos. It has allowed people to use its imaging software to swap faces in a photo, transform themselves into puppies, and barf rainbows. (In March, Facebook said it acquired the startup behind an app called Masquerade, which offers similar photo-manipulation tools.) Snapchat encourages people to visit the app frequently with features such as the "Snapstreak," which counts the number of consecutive days they’ve been communicating with their closest friends. Snapchat’s other content, such as news and Live Stories, disappear after 24 hours.

 Messaging on Snapchat is “very modern,” Twitter Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey said on Wednesday at Recode’s technology conference. He acknowledged that Twitter at times can be confusing and alienating—something he’s trying to fix.y.

Bloomberg.com