Facebook Ends Microsoft Bing Search Results

Social media giant Facebook has officially announced that it has stopped displaying results from Microsoft's Bing search engine on it's site.

Facebook says it will now focus on allowing users of Facebook to quickly find comments, posts and other information that other users post on the website.

"We are currently showing Facebook search results in Facebook because we are focused on helping people find what's been shared with them on Facebook," a Facebook spokesman said.

According to Facebook there are more than a billion search queries on the site everyday and more than a trillion posts have already been made on the site. The vast amount of information that users post and share on Facebook could eventually replace the need to search the web search engines for answers.

"...some of my site engineers remind me that we have more information than any search corpus out there," Mark Zuckeberg said on a conference call in July 2014.

Very Good Reasons To Buy An Android Phone Over an Iphone

We are aware of the constant war between Apple Iphone and Android devices and how opponents and proponents of each always try to strangle themselves.

Although each phone has it's advantages and disadvantages, let us take a closer look at the real world and try to be realistic for once:

1. Perfect Sync

We all know how useful services like Gmail, Google Maps and Google Calender can be to us and it is common knowledge that they sync better on Android devices than on Apple devices.

Also Android phones get the best features first in updates before Iphone users.

2. Replaceable Batteries

It is common knowledge that batteries degrade over time and with constant use, we know that most Android phones have easily replaceable batteries which you can change without stress.

But try and change an Iphone battery then feel free to come and narrate your ordeal.

3. Expandable Storage

A lot of Android phones have easily expandable storage in addition to the on board phone storage. This means that you can easily move around with your media and have unlimited fun and control, we even have devices expandable by up to 128Gb and more in addition with various cloud storage platforms and OTG capability.

Try and add a memory card or OTG capability to an Iphone and you will know the true meaning of 'Mission Impossible'

4. Launchers

You can easily customise your Android phone screen, feel and functionality with launchers. There are dozens of launchers to choose from.

Iphone peeps may not really know or understand how these works.

5. More Options

You have a lot more hard ware options to choose from when it comes to Android phones from 6 inch QHD screens to Curved displays and bended screens, the choice to choose is yours to make.

6. Cheaper Options

It is a well known fact that Iphones are expensive and there is little we can do about that for now but the fact remains that you can easily get some very good quality Android phones with high tech specifications for half the price of Iphones.

This is purely a matter of choice, but hey let's think about those millions of people without enough money for an Iphone but need the functionality and power of a high end device.

7. Easy Media and File Transfer

Have you ever heard that beautiful song that you have been searching for a long time suddenly play on your friend's phone or you will really like to have that video or file transfered from his phone to your phone right now.

With an Android device you absolutely have no problem, all you need to do is to put on your blue tooth or your flashshare.

But with an Iphone that simple process is much more complicated, just try it and see.

This Could Be The Most Famous Picture In The World

Do you recognise the picture above? Chances are very high that you would recognise it almost immediately.

Yes, this is the default wallpaper for Microsoft Windows XP which was released in 2001 and has since had more than 400 million copies in use as at 2006 (excluding pirated copies). So we know for a fact that this particular picture has been seen several billion times over the years.

The image is called Bliss, it is a real photo of a real place (Sonoma County,California) it is free of any digital manipulation and the photo was taken by photographer Charles O'Rear in 1996.

Microsoft now owns all the copyright to this picture and the photographer, Charles O'Rear cannot say exactly how much Microsoft bought it from him (because of a Non-disclosure agreement) but he would only say that it was an "extraordinary amount" and one of the largest ever paid to a living, working photographer.

Amazing Pictures of Phone Masts Disguised To Look Like Something Else

Mobile phones and their networks have become something we are now used to having, some people even think its a basic right to have a mobile phone.

This ubiquity means that mobile phone companies must erect their masts all around us in order to ensure that there is strong and adequate network coverage for everyone.

The problem is that some people complain that these masts have become eyesore that destroys the landscape of their otherwise beautiful environment. Some have gone as far as obtaining court orders against the erection of such masts in their localities.

Some very brilliant and resourceful engineers have attempted to solve this problem by erection such masts such that they blend into the lands scape and people don't even notice.

The following are pictures of some of these masts and towers.

Mobile Phone/Church Bell Tower in LaVista, New England. 

Mobile Phone mast like a tree.

Mobile Phone tower disguised as a palm tree.

Mobile Phone towers disguised as Cactus in Tucson, Arizona.

Mobile Phone mast disguised like a Church Cross in Lake Worth, Florida.

Mobile Phone tower made to look like a tree.

Mobile Phone antenna concealed to look like brick exterior of a house in Sopot, Poland.

Look exactly like Palm Trees.

Mobile Phone Cactus mast in Tucson, Arizona.

Looks like a Fir Tree in Bedfordshire, United Kingdom. 

Mobile mast/Church Bell Tower: Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas, Texas. 

Mobile Phone tower flagpole, College Station, Texas.

Another one made to look like a Palm Tree.

Made to look like a Super Tree 

Constructing a Mobile Phone tower Cactus in Arizona.

Interesting Facts About Online 'Big' Data

1. Google alone has more than one million servers spread out in various data centers across the world.

Servers

2. Data centers alone consume about 1.5 percent of the total electricity output in the entire world.

3. Some experts have said that the internet is growing by an exabyte of new data every single day. Equal to 250 million DVD's.

4. The National Security Agency (NSA) is currently building arguably the biggest data center in the world, it would be the first data center to store a Yottabyte of data. This is equivalent to 1,000 Zetabytes or 1 million Exabytes.

5. 426 million photos are uploaded on Facebook everyday.

Facebook Photos

6. 48 hours of video content is uploaded on Youtube every minute.

7. All the data on the internet doubles every two years.

8. Twitter produces 7 terabytes of data every day.

9. Facebook processes 10 terabytes of data everyday.

Facebook Data Center

10. 70% of online data is created by individuals- but enterprises and businesses are responsible for storing and managing 80% of it.

11. 1 billion pieces of content are shared via Facebook every single day- Mark Zuckerberg.

12. Every two days we create as much information as was created from the dawn of civilisation up till 2003 - Erich Schmidt.

13. By 2020 about 35 Zetabytes of data would have been created online and a third of these would have passed through the cloud.

14. 247 billion e-mail messages are sent every day and 80% of them are spam.

E-mail

15. More than 500 new websites are created every minute.

16. Facebook alone has stored, has access to and analyses more than 30 petabytes of user-generated data.

17. It took more than 10 years to process the whole human genome, now it can be processed in one week.

18. Google processes more than 24 petabytes of data everyday.

19. More than 3 billion 'like' buttons are pushed everyday on Facebook.

20. There are more than 500,000 data centers in the world and they are all large enough to fill 5,955 football fields.

Get Books and Tutorials about Data Centers Here!

Largest Data Centers in the World

When we ask where is the internet located, what do you say? All the data used and generated on the internet everyday is definitely stored somewhere. But where?

These huge data are stored in locations across the world known as Data Farms or Data Centers and they are the backbone of the data used on the internet.

Some are owned by companies for their own exclusive use while others are owned by companies and they provide storage and cloud services to other companies, government institutions and the military.

Below are some of the biggest of such data centers built in various places across the world.

1. Digital Reality Data Center, Chicago: This massive data center located in Chicago has a size of about 1.1 Million Sq. Ft. It is supported by more than 50 generators and uses about 8.5 million gallons of cooling fluids.

Digital Reality

This facility needs about 100 megawatts of electricity to run.

2. Quality Technology Data Center, Atlanta: This is a massive 990,000 Square ft. facility and is run by it's own on-site power station supported by 36 generators. In total it generates about 120 megawatts of electricity.

Data Racks at QTC, Atlanta

3. NAP of Americas Data Center, Miami: This 2.2 million sq. ft data center is located in Miami and is a major centralised infrastructure for over 183 networks spread across North and South America and even the rest of the world making it one of the most sensitive and important data centers in North America.

NAP of Americas, Miami

It's clients includes the U.S military, banks, major I.T firms etc. The security for this facility is very extensive and includes a 7-inch thick reinforced steel and concrete wall.

This data center can withstand a Category 5 hurricane hit. It is built to last.

4. Next Generation Data Center, Newport, Wales: This data center, owned by Microsoft, is a perfect example of a green data center because it does not use cooling towers and use less than 1 percent of the water volume used by other data centers. The size is about 550,000 sq. ft.

Next Generation Data Center, Wales

5. Range International Information Hub, Langfang, China: This ambitious project, when completed in 2016 will be the largest data center in the world.

Artist Rendering

At 6.3 million sq. ft it would be almost the same size as the Pentagon. Owned by Range International and designed by IBM, this super massive data center would become a complex hub that would provide services for a wide range of customers across the entire globe.

6. The NSA Data Center, Bluffdale, Utah: This data center is owned by the National Security Agency(NSA) of the United States and it costs $2 billion to set up. It is officially known as the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity Initiative(CNCI) and is known to be able to capture all forms of communication like phone calls, e-mails, Internet searches, online data etc.

NSA Data Center, Utah

The size is more than 1 million sq. ft.

7. Tulip Data Center, Bangalore, India: At more than 1 million sq. ft this is currently the largest functioning data center in Asia and the building and design was fully supported by IBM.

Tulip Data Center, Bangalore

The facility use about 100 megawatts of electricity, has 20 modular data centers in a four-tower building and is dedicated to cloud and networking services.

The Toughest and Most Rugged Laptops in the World

They are built to last, to survive tough conditions and perform. With these devices the ever present fear of damaging your laptop by accidentally dropping them will permanently go away.

Most of them were originally designed to be used by the various arms of the military but they have eventually been modified for civilian purposes, especially those people who need to operate laptops in rugged conditions.

Sit back as you read about the toughest and ruggedest laptops in the world.

1. Lenovo Thinkpad X131e: This beast has a battery life of about 8 hours which means you can use it outdoors for extended periods.

It has a reinforced design and stainless steel hinges.

Lenovo Thinkpad

It has a rubber padded HDD enclosure and this laptop can survive high temperature, shock, humidity, extreme vibration, low pressure (up to 15,000 feet) and dust.
It is built to last.

You can get the Laptop HERE!

2.Getac B300: This particular laptop is designed and engineered to be used in extremely dangerous areas with hazardous particles without any fear of damage to the system or the body.

Getac B300 

The whole laptop is encased in a magnesium alloy covering which makes it both water-proof and gives full protection from external shock.

And it does not fall back on specifications: Intel Core i7, 2.0Ghz Processor, 2Gb to 8Gb RAM, 250Gb to 500Gb of HDD and the battery can last up to 11 hours at a single stretch.

You even have an option for a second battery to double the usage time.

But beast does not come cheap. Price tag is about $3,500.

You can get it HERE!

3. Panasonic Toughbook 31: You can mistakenly step on this laptop or even drop it on the floor without any problem. This is because the Panasonic Toughbook 31 can withstand some of the toughest environmental conditions in the world including blowing rain and 110 km/hr winds.

Panasonic Toughbook

It also comes with an Intel Core i5 processor with very impressive specifications, pressure sensitive touchpad, backlit keyboard and even a stylus.

You will fall in love with this tough baby. And it doesn't come cheap, price tag is just over $3,000.

You can get it HERE!

4. General Dynamics GD8000: This rugged laptop is surprisingly light for it's toughness.

Here are many if the pros: Intergrated fingerprint reader, Removable harddrive, TPM 1.2 Network Security Standard and a Security Lock slot.

General Dynamics GD8000

Some of it's surprising cons are as follows: The harddrive is 160Gb and it uses complex and large files.

But when it comes to ruggedness, its a wonderful option.

5. Dell Latitude E6400 XFR: When it comes to rugged protection this laptop is an excellent option, it is even backed and supported by the United States Department of Defence.

It can fully and conveniently withstand the force of pressurised water and has real military ballistic armour protection which means that it can survive the impact of some bullets.

Dell Latitude

It also has a webcam that produces clear and accurate images and the laptop is 15 percent lighter than other comparable devices.

One of the major drawbacks is the battery which lasts for only about 3 hours although it has a 12-cell battery option which will cost you more, unfortunately.

But this rugged device is actually designed to be used at the war front where it will survive most of the toughness of battle.

The Most Rugged Smartphones in The World

The Most Rugged and Toughest Smartphones in the World

Forget about smartphones having gorilla glass screens, most of these sleek babes cannot even withstand the weight of a real-life gorilla or even survive a simple drop from the table.

We bring to you the very few phones that can stand the real tough military tests and ensure that you have an absolute peace of mind:

1. Nautiz X1: Nautiz is a range of smartphones manufactured by the Swedish company Handheld Group which specialises in the manufacture of rugged computers and mobile phones.

Nautiz X1 Smartphone

The Nautiz X1 is the sleekiest in the range of Nautix X Series. It s a very rugged and strong mobile device and it comes in both Android and Windows Mobile version, but its internal specifications are just normal and basic.

It can withstand humidity, vibration, drops and extreme temperatures. It can conveniently survive drops from four feet.

It is fully water-proof and impervious to dust and sand.

1Gb RAM

1Ghz Processor

etc

And it comes with a hefty price tag of about $1,000.

2. CAT B15: CAT is known and respected for the production of rugged equipment for the construction sector and as we know civil and construction engineers also use smartphones, just like everyone else.

Little wonder why they made a phone with that audience in mind.

Rugged CAT B15 Smartphone

It is dust-proof and water-proof (up to 1 Metre for 30 minutes).

Drop-to-concrete resistance from up to 1.8 Metres in height.

It can withstand salt, vibration, solar radiation, thermal shock etc.

512mb of RAM and 4gb internal memory are one of the drawbacks of this tough phone.

The screen can be operated while it is still wet.

The conclusion is that this phone can conveniently survive some heavy and serious punch. And the price tag is just about $350.

You can get it HERE!

3. CASIO G'One Commando 4G LTE: This tough smartphone is made for tough and rugged conditions, like a commando, can even be operated through gloves and comes with two very loud front-facing speakers.

Casio G'zOne Commando 4G LTE

It comes with 4G LTE connectivity for lightning fast internet access.

The price tag is just around $500. You can get the phone HERE!

4. Kyocera Torque: Another rugged smart phone that can withstand extreme heat, shock, vibration and it is very resistant to dust and water damage.

Kyocera Torque

It comes in various models with the most advanced currently being a 1.2Ghz dual-core CPU, 5MP Camera and 4G LTE connection capability.

The price tag is just below $500. You can get it HERE!

5. Runbo X6: Just like it's name suggests this phone is tough enough to withstand some tough conditions. It comes with an MTK processor, 12mp Camera and a 4,200 mAH battery.

Runbo X6 Smartphone

6. Tag Heuer Sub Nano: We all know that Tag Heuer is a luxury brand but it is surprising to see them making mobile phones.

This particular model has a special liquid-repelling coating and is shock-resistant. It comes with a 1Ghz processor and a 5mp camera.

Tag Heuer Sub Nano

This phone is actually a beauty to behold and only very limited quantity was made.

7. Durrocomm Conquest: This is another phone that comes with rugged cabalities and it comes with an internal silicon cushion between the inner and outer casings for durability.

Durrocom Conquest

The touchscreen can work and function perfectly even when it is wet.

Price tag is about $600 and you can get it HERE!

The Toughest and Most Rugged Laptops In The World