Cloud - Page 22 of 49

l + f: Amazon AWS, an armed security guard and a truck

Have you ever wondered how Amazon gets your data into the AWS cloud?

(Image: monticello / Shutterstock.com)

So that Amazon AWS customers do not have to upload their confidential data via insecure internet connections, the cloud provider provides a special service: Upon request, a huge one with hard drives can be parked (100 Petabyte) loaded truck in front of the company’s own data center and copies the data to the data carrier via fiber optic cable.

An armed security guard is included so that nothing happens to the data on the way to the AWS cloud server. The “modular data center on wheels” is called “Snowmobile” and can be booked for an unknown price for AWS customers.

This information comes from an interview with a security officer from Amazon AWS on the website Logicmag.io.

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Best laptop for kids 2021: Affordable and robust computers to help them learn

(Pocket-lint) – Now more than ever, if your child needs to do school work at home, or watch TV on a screen that doesn’t take up the main family TV, you might be considering whether to buy them a laptop pretty soon.

Best tablet for kids: Hardy devices for young people to enjoy

For most kids (and parents) a laptop makes a lot of sense in this context. Letting them work or play whether they’re at the kitchen table or at school means that they’re able to use their computer to the full. So, we’ve taken a look at the laptops currently on the market to whittle them down to a list of the best ones for you to consider for your child.

Our priorities for this list are durability, affordability and performance — so you won’t find any high-end Macbooks or ultrabooks here. These aren’t intended as powerhouses, but rather as useful machines for their young users.

Our guide to the best kids’ laptops to buy today

HP Stream 11

View offer on HP Store (sponsored link)

Our top Windows 10 laptop for kids and also one of the best cheap laptops full stop. What would be a little slow for an adult using a laptop all day could be just about perfect for a kid learning the ropes. A

child is unlikely to be using their laptop for more than a couple of hours at a time (unless you’re letting them!). HP’s Stream 11 is, therefore, a great bet for a kid that needs a small laptop to get started with. You don’t get much storage or much power, but it’s extremely affordable.

Lenovo

Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3

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This convertible Chromebook is one of the best laptops in its class and the device will adapt to pretty much every scenario.

It’s not a powerhouse of course, with Intel Celeron, 64GB of storage and 4GB of memory but it really does offer a lot for the price point.

Pocket-lint

Acer Chromebook 314

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Acer’s 14-inch Chromebook has a solid list of specs for the outlay, including the Intel Celeron N4000, 4GB RAM, 32GB of storage (like other Chromebooks you’ll need to take advantage of cloud storage). There are also two USB-C ports.

You should be able to get a full day of battery life from it, while the HD display works well in all lighting conditions.

Asus

Asus Chromebook C223

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Completing a hat-trick for Asus, it’s another Chromebook, but this time an extremely dinky one. If your kid wants a bit of a smaller machine, this could be the answer. Despite its 11.6-inch size, it’s still got a decent keyboard squeezed in, and being small makes it super portable.

It’s not got much power under the hood, but it’s also almost jaw-droppingly inexpensive, and in the computing world you do generally have to pay for performance.

With Chrome’s system prioritising cloud storage, if you’ve got a decent internet connection to work with, your kid should be able to do most things they’ll need to on this tiny little number.

Pocket-lint

Surface Go 2

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The 10.5-inch Surface Go 2 is a super-portable machine designed for gettings bits and pieces done when on the go – emailing, taking notes in a class, watching a bit of Netflix on the way home – rather than trying to be an all-powerful Surface product.

While the basic cost matches the 2-in-1’s small-scale you need to add a Type Cover and Surface Pen that cost extra.

Microsoft Surface Go 2 review: A portable little Windows package

Writing by Max Freeman-Mills. Editing by Dan Grabham.

Lenovo Yoga AIO 7 official, along with new monitors: the news from CES 2021

Among Lenovo’s announcements at CES 2021 also a desktop with adjustable display, and two new monitors that mix compactness with elegance. The details.

by Nino Grasso published 07 January 2021 , at 15: 01 in the Systems channel

Lenovo Yoga

The Chinese company has formalized new products, including notebooks (which we talked about separately), all-in-one desktop PCs and monitors . Lenovo Yoga AIO 7 is a display computer rotating, designed to take up as little space on the desk as possible, and its announcement was accompanied by those of Lenovo L 24the-30 and Lenovo L 27is-30 , two sleek and slim monitors, both with IPS panels.

Lenovo Yoga AIO 7

Lenovo Yoga AIO 7 is a desktop all -in-one very interesting not only for the design, inspired and elegant thanks to the small size of the frames, but also and above all because of the rotating support that allows you to use the computer not only horizontally, but also vertically. The user can change modes with the push of a single finger, and can also activate the display remotely via smartphone or tablet, without turning on the PC. In the future, through a software update, it will be available to play content on the screen via the internet, with the Yoga AIO 7 which can be transformed into a 4K Smart TV.

The computer uses a certified audio system JBL Harman, positioned under the display and embellished with a soft-texture design for the outside. Lenovo Yoga AIO 7 will be sold in Cloud colors Gray and Moon White, and comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a detachable 5MP webcam. The all-in-one computer will allow you to upload a notebook or transfer files via drag-and-drop with a single cable.

The integrated display is a 27 “4K IPS that looks very promising: it offers a color gamut of 99% both in the DCI-P3 standard and in the Adobe RGB standard. On the hardware level we will have CPU up to AMD Ryzen 7 4800 H, and GPU up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060, while Alexa will be integrated into the operating system natively with the possibility of activating it through the exclusive use of the voice .

Lenovo Yoga AIO 7 price is starting from 1. 599 dollars, with availability expected globally (in some markets) in February 2021 The computer is already available in the Chinese market.

New Lenovo monitors

Lenovo L 24the-30 and Lenovo L 27is-30 are two monitors with extremely compact dimensions and a definitely recognizable appearance. They use In-Plane Switching (IPS) displays from 24″ is 27 “ and are designed for the main destinations of use, such as films, online browsing, work, and even for video games. They offer “vivid images”, according to Lenovo, and a wide viewing angle thanks to the presence of IPS panels, along with a dedicated cable management system and a smartphone holder integrated within the design.

Lenovo L 24the-30

The monitor stand is made of metal, with the model from 24 “which offers a two-tone finish, while the one from 27 “is proposed in Graphite Gray. Both monitors offer a thickness, in the panel part, of maximum 7.1mm , while the reduced bezels offer an almost edgeless design. On the front of the technical specifications we have the support of the Full HD resolution (1920 x 1080) and a refresh rate of 75 Hz with AMD FreeSync compatibility. There is also the TUV Rheinland certification for the reduction of blue light emissions.

Lenovo L 27is-30

The price of Lenovo L 24the-30 will be 159, 99 dollars , with availability expected in March 2021. Lenovo L will also arrive in the same period is-30 , at a price of 189, 99 dollars in the US market. Prices and details for the Italian market will be announced in the future.

Amazon's AWS may not be called AWS in China

Amazon.com is not allowed to market its cloud services in China as “AWS. That was decided by a court in the People’s Republic. A Chinese IT company had already registered” AWS “as Amazon eight years earlier. This means that Amazon’s brand registrations are Not valid for AWS and related terms such as “aws marketspace”.

Also, Amazon.com and The Wall Street Journal reports that its Chinese partner will pay around ten million euros in damages if the judgment becomes final. Chinese law regularly forces foreign companies to to enter into a joint venture with a Chinese partner. The parties to the dispute can appeal to the highest court in the country, which usually has suspensive effect.

The early bird catches the worm The Chinese company ActionSoft Science & Technology Development has the “AWS” brand ts 2004 in the trademark classification 42. Amazon did not submit AWS logos until 2012 – too late. The data company argued that it had been using “AWS” as a brand since 42, but was unable to assert itself in court.

In the Middle Kingdom, Amazon Web Services only have a single-digit market share. More important providers there are Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei and China Telecom.

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heise + | Full-frame camera Zeiss ZX1: a role model or a flash in the pan?

Full-frame camera Zeiss ZX1: a role model or a mayfly? Modern concept, proud price Handling Zeiss ZX1: image quality in laboratory and practice Conclusion and table The well-known optics manufacturer Zeiss is breaking new ground. The full-format compact ZX1 does not want to stand next to the Canons, Sonys and Nikons of this world. She wants to be a pioneer – the beginning of a new generation of all-in-one solutions for demanding photographers. The ZX1 combines the entire photo workflow: In addition to taking photos, images can be edited using the Lightroom app. The photos can be shared on social media or in the cloud via integrated interfaces and WLAN – without detours via smartphone or PC. The ZX1 is based on the mobile operating system Android.

The Zeiss -Camera brings a permanently installed high-resolution 34 – Millimeter lens and a full-frame sensor with 36, 4 megapixels with. In addition to photos, it also records moving images in 4K. The development of the ZX1 brought some unexpected challenges for the manufacturer. According to himself, he had problems integrating the software. As a result, the market readiness was delayed by almost two years, because originally the ZX1 should already be at the beginning 2019 appear. The concept of an “all-in-one” camera is not entirely new. Samsung already had a similar idea with the Galaxy Camera 2012. But the Koreans have long since withdrawn from the camera business. Unlike the Zeiss ZX1, Samsung placed less emphasis on high dynamics and excellent imaging performance in its hybrid camera, so the Android camera had a permanently installed 21 – fold zoom lens and a 1 / 2.3 -Inch CMOS sensor.

Modern concept, more proud Price Samsung and, eight years later, But Zeiss (had) the intended target group: bloggers and social media aficionados. But here the price of the ZX1 contradicts the clientele, because it costs 6000 euros. And not every blogger is an influencer like Stefanie Giesinger or Shirin David and has their budget. Other potential buyers could be professional photographers who need to deliver results to their customers quickly, preferably already processed. But which professional buys a 3200 – Euro camera with a fixed 35 – millimeter focal length? This restricts the style of the picture and the choice of motifs. As a typical reportage focal length, the lens can be used well for street and travel photography. In addition, certain types of landscape shots and portraits belong to the repertoire of the ZX1. One of its greatest strengths is the Zeiss camera in the backpack, because the laptop, external hard drives and interchangeable lenses can stay at home. So light luggage, only filters, cleaning set and spare batteries are required. The latter are an absolute must because the large display and internal processing consume a lot of power. Although the battery with just under 3200 mAh offers a large charging capacity even for full-frame cameras, one uses however, the display, you can see how this decreases. Zeiss does not provide any information on the number of recordings according to CIPA. Optionally, however, the ZX1 continues to take photos if the camera is charged via USB-C, so you also have the power bank in your backpack.

Access to all contents of heise + exclusive tests, advice & background: independent , critically founded c’t, iX, Technology Review, Mac & i, Make, c’t read photography directly in the browser register once – read on all devices – can be canceled monthly first month free, then monthly 9 , 95 € Weekly newsletter with personal reading recommendations from the editor-in-chief Start FREE month Start your FREE month now heise + already subscribed?

heise offer: building IoT 2021: Submit your presentation for the online conference now

heise offer

by 11. January 2021 the organizers are looking for lectures and workshops on developer topics related to the Internet of Things.

Rainald quantity-solar day This year the building IoT takes place on 24. and 25. March for the sixth time. However, the organizers heise Developer , iX and dpunkt.verlag will host the developer conference as an online event for the first time. In addition to the two conference days, additional workshops are planned.

The building IoT 45 is aimed at IT professionals, the applications and Create products for the Internet of Things. Only the browser is required to participate in the online event. All participants receive access to the live stream and afterwards access to the video archive with all lectures. Questions can be introduced via text or video chat.

The call for proposals runs until . January 2021, and we are looking for lectures with a length of 45 minutes as well as full-day workshops. Possible topics are:

Protocols and communication standard Industrial IoT and Industry 4.0 Security and Safety Testing of IoT platforms Data analysis and machine learning Cloud platforms and their connection Edge and Fog Computing Data protection and legal aspects Experience reports are particularly welcome. Anyone who would like to be informed about the progress of the building IoT can subscribe to the newsletter or follow the organizers on Twitter – the hashtag for this year’s upcoming conference is #biot 21.

(rme)

Xbox Game Pass: These games are included in the subscription for 2021

Initially only a niche product, cloud gaming services are becoming increasingly popular. Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass is no exception. The monthly subscription now includes over 100 games and only in January four new titles are added. Since the end 2020 EA Play has already been included in the basic version of the subscription. This additional service gives players access to older EA games such as Mass Effect Andromeda, Titanfall 2 or Mirror’s Edge Catalyst. However, it should be noted that not every game from the Xbox version of the game streaming service comes automatically to the PC. In the following there is therefore a list of all currently available titles for desktop PCs.

The basic subscription model currently costs 10 euros per month. In addition to access to the game library, the package also includes a discount when buying games in the Windows Store. The subscription can also be canceled on a monthly basis. Players who want to use Xbox Game Pass on both PC and their Xbox console should consider subscribing to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, as both platforms are included. The extended model costs 13 euros per month and also grants access to some Android and mobile device games. In addition, it is possible for users to stream games directly from the cloud to the tablet or smartphone of their choice.

Even if this function is currently reserved primarily for Android devices, Microsoft has already indicated that a browser integration on iOS devices is also planned.

In January 2020 the following games take place their way into the Xbox Game Pass:

Injustice 2
What Remains of Edith Finch
Neoverse
YIIK: A Postmodern RPG

A complete list of the currently included games is here in alphabetical order:

A Plague Tale: Innocence
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition

Alan Wake

Alien: Isolation

Alvastia Chronicles

Among Us

Ape Out

Apocalipsis

Ark: Survival Evolved

Astrologaster

Astroneer

Bad North

Battle Chasers: Night War

Battle Chef Brigade

Battlefleet Gothic: Armada

Battletech

Battletoads

Blair Witch

Bleeding Edge

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night

Bridge Constructor Portal

Broforce

Call of the Sea

Carrion

Carto
Celeste

Children of Morta

Cluster truck

Comanche (Preview)

Company of He roes Complete Collection

Crackdown 3

Crosscode

Crossing Souls

Crusader Kings 3

Darksiders Genesis

Day of the Tentacle Remastered

Dead by Daylight
Dead Cells

Death’s Gambit

Deep Rock Galactic

Deliver us the Moon

Descenders

Disgaea 4 Complete +

Dishonored 2

Disneyland Adventures

Don’t Starve Giant Edition

Doom Eternal

Double Kick Heroes

Downwell

Dragon Quest IX

Drake Hollow

Dungeon of the Endless

Eastshade

Endless Legend

Endless Space 2

Enter the Gungeon

Europa Universalis 4

F1 2019

Fallout 76

Final Fanta sy 7

Final Fantasy 8 Remastered

Final Fantasy 9

Final Fantasy 15

Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour

Five Nights at Freddy’s

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2

Five Nights at Freddy’s 3

Five Nights at Freddy’s 4

Five Nights at Freddy’s 5

Forager

For the King

Forza Horizon 4

Forza Motorsport 7

Frostpunk

FTL: Faster Than Light

Full Throttle Remastered

Gato Roboto

Gears 5

Gears of War 4

Gears Tactics

Gears Ultimate

Goat Simulator

Golf with your Friends

Graduate 2

Greedfall

Grim Fandango Remastered

Gris

Grounded (Preview)

Guacamelee! 2

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Halo Wars 2

Halo Wars: Definitive Edition

Halo: Spartan Strike

Halo: Spartan Assault

Haven

Hearts of Iron 4

Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice

Hello Neighbor

Ho llow Knight

Hotline Miami

Human: Fall Flat

Hyper Dot

Hypnospace Outlaw

Ikenfell

Indivisible

It lurks below

Katana Zero

Kathy Rain

Killer Instinct: Definitive Edition

Knights and Bikes

Levelhead

Lonely Mountains Downhill

Machinarium

Marvel vs Capcom: Infinite

Mechwarrior 5: Mercenaries

Microsoft Flight Simulator

Minecraft Dungeons

Mistover

Middle-earth: Shadow of War

Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight

Monster Sanctuary

Monster Train

Moonlighter

Morkredd

Mother Russia Bleeds

Moto GP 20

Mount & Blade Warband

Moving Out

Mutant Year Zero

My Friend Pedro

My Time at Portia

Neon Abyss

New Super Lucky’s Tale

Night Call

Night in the Woods

No Man’s Sky

Nowhere Prophet

Observation

Ori and the Blind Forest : Definitive Edition

Ori and the Will of the Wisps

Out of the Park Baseball 21

Overcooked 2

Oxenfree

Pandemic The Board Game

Phoenix Point

Pikuniku

Pillars of Eternity: Hero Edition

Plebby Quest

Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid

Rage 2

Recore: Definitive Edition

Reigns: Game of Thrones

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Rise of Nations

River City Girls

Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure

Scourgebringer

Sea of Thieves

Sea Salt

Shadow Warrior 2

Slay the Spire

Spiritfarer

Star Renegades

Starbound

State of Decay 2

Stellaris

Stranger Things 3

Streets of Rage 4

Streets of Rogue

Subnautica

Sunset Overdrive

Super Lucky’s Tale

Surviving Mars

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

Tell Me Why

Tetris Effect

The Bard’s Tale Trilogy

The Bard’s Tale 4: Director’s Cut

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics

The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan

The Gardens Between

The Long Dark

The Messenger

The Outer Worlds

The Surge

The Swords of Ditto: Mormo’s Curse

The Touryst

Thumper

Torment: Tides of Numenera

Totally Accurate Battle Simulator (Early Access)

Touhou Luna Ni ghts

Trailmakers

Train Sim World 2020

Two Point Hospital

UnderMine

Unruly Heroes

Unto the End

VA – 11 Hall-A Cyberpunk Bartender Action

Vambrace Cold Soul

Void Bastards

Wargroove
Wasteland 2: Director’s Cut

Wasteland 3

Wasteland Remastered

We Happy Few

West of Dead

Wilmot’s Warehouse

Wizard of Legend

Wolfenstein: Youngblood

World of Horror

World War Z

Worms WMD

Xeno Crisis

Yakuza 0

Yakuza Kiwami

Yakuza Kiwami 2

Yes, Your Grace

Yooka-Laylee and the Impossible Lair

Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection

EU plans its own satellite internet

The EU Commission is considering the operation of its own satellite internet. To this end, it has commissioned a feasibility study from a consortium of European satellite manufacturers and operators, telecommunications companies and rocket service providers for 7.1 million euros, the results of which should be available in a year.

According to the Airbus group involved, the system is intended to provide safe internet access for citizens, companies and public institutions and to open up white spots in rural and remote areas. If the project is approved, it would be the third major satellite-based European space project after the Earth observation program Copernicus and the GPS alternative Galileo, which is currently being developed.

Expectations and requirements Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton is one of the big supporters of the system, according to Airbus. This is to be based on the EU’s Govsatcom program for connecting and sharing satellite services and also use the results of the EuroQCI initiative, which promotes innovative methods for quantum cryptography.

The consortium, to which Arianespace, Eutelsat, Hispasat, OHB, Orange, SES, Telespazio and Thales Alenia Space also belong, is to determine the expectations of potential users and the requirements of the mission. The corporations should provide a preliminary draft design and concept for the provision of services and the associated costs.

Better critical infrastructure It will also be examined how the satellite system could improve and connect to critical infrastructures including terrestrial networks in order to strengthen the EU’s access to the cloud and provide digital services independently. The tasks also include finding out whether the project could strengthen the 5G ecosystem and the interoperability of different communication systems. The future 6G mobile radio technology should already be taken into account.

The head of the ArianeGroup, André-Hubert Roussel, appealed to the Commission to give the initiative in the area of space policy top priority. Europe must drive this program and associated projects ambitiously, he told the Playbook newsletter service of the online magazine “Politico”. Direct entry into the satellite-based network would require an ongoing wave of rocket launches. The longer the EU waits, the more Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX establishes itself as the cheaper option to put satellites into orbit, especially since it receives public contracts in the USA for its Falcon 9 rocket.

SpaceX is already in the process of building up a satellite network for Internet supply with Starlink, and so has a clear lead. In December, the Federal Network Agency assigned the US company the first time-limited frequencies for its planned mega-constellation. The British communications company OneWeb is pursuing a similar project, for which the European rocket operator Arianespace, which belongs to the ArianeGroup, recently 36 sent satellites into space.

(anw)

heise + | Liability for interference: Cloudflare must prevent access to illegal links

Liability for interference: Cloudflare must prevent access to illegal links Universal Music Group against Cloudflare in court Neutral business model Article in c’t 2 / 2009 read Since there have been sufficiently powerful connections, the Internet has also been used for the illegal distribution of copyrighted music. Laws, jurisprudence and technical detection methods, which have been refined over and over again, have made some pirate practices unattractive over time. Gone are the days of simple download websites with locations where the operators are threatened with legal access.

Even once booming file sharing networks via peer-to-peer systems are largely history. But in the age of cloud computing and globally distributed network resources, music pirates are finding concepts that mean new territory for courts. This applies to the use of content delivery networks (CDN) such as Cloudflare.

The 2009 provides its contract customers with all sorts of services related to their offers on the network. Cloudflare products can use distributed caching to keep direct traffic away from customer servers by acting as a reverse or mirror proxy. You can redirect access to the Domain Name System (DNS) with your own DNS resolvers and thus disguise the identity of the site operator. They provide web providers with protection against hacker attacks and at the same time can significantly accelerate data traffic.

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The countries' learning platforms work – or they don't

Lernsax in Saxony is now running in Saxony, the study room in Berlin is causing problems. In Hamburg, at least on the second day of school after the Christmas holidays, it looks as if homeschooling could run technically without any problems there Hardly usable for a day. According to the ministry, the cause was a technical problem in the data center, but there were no capacity problems. “We are also dissatisfied with the frequent disruptions and apologize to parents and students,” emphasized a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Education. The technical problems of the learning platform for schools have now been resolved. “The platform is running flawlessly again today,” said a ministry spokeswoman on Wednesday upon request.

Berlin is examining alternatives Berlin has it After considerable difficulties on Monday, the first day of school after the Christmas holidays, there were new problems with the platform Lernraum Berlin on Tuesday. While various parents and teachers on Monday complained about long waiting times on Twitter, among other things, or were unable to register at all, the next day at least a lot of content for online lessons could not be found on the home page. On Tuesday, however, the education administration assumed that the platform would be stable again. Problems had already arisen before Christmas.

In Hamburg, after technical difficulties at the start of school, the second home schooling day is without major problems according to the responsible authorities started. There were no corresponding reports, said a spokesman for the school authorities on Wednesday morning. The server capacities have been significantly upgraded. The few schools that still use outdated school servers would be obliged to purchase new hardware at short notice. Experience shows, however, that it can take a few weeks until the new server is available.

Wheel is reinvented in every country Even before Christmas, the teachers’ association had criticized the fact that every country had its own system. “To this day I still don’t understand why every country has to reinvent the wheel here. That would actually have required a joint effort,” said Association President Heinz-Peter Meidinger. In hardly any federal state there is a really functioning learning platform, and the past six months have hardly been used to upgrade the platforms.

On Lernsax there are up to 80. 000 Daily users. There are 108. 000 accounts for the Berlin learning area, said the education policy spokeswoman for Left parliamentary group in the House of Representatives, Regine Kittler. It can be doubted whether much more is possible there. It is therefore appropriate to add another platform. Stefanie Remlinger from the Berlin Green Group suggests itslearning.

This is currently used in Bremen. In Schleswig-Holstein, as in Saxony-Anhalt, Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse, Moodle is used, among others, and the Fuxmedia platform in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Lower Saxony has the education server NiBis, Brandenburg the weBBcloud, North Rhine-Westphalia provides material about lern: line, in Thuringia and Saarland work is being done on a school cloud and Bavaria has the online platform mebis and Hamburg has the digital.learning.lab. ( with material from dpa ) /

(anw)

Best free video calling apps 2021: Keep in touch with friends or colleagues

(Pocket-lint) – With huge numbers of us now working from home and spending more time in the house, there’s never been a time when you need to call colleagues or friends.

Secret WhatsApp tips and tricks you might not know about

There are a few stand-out examples that offer instant messaging and video chat as well as numerous other features. Every app is available across multiple platforms, with the exception of Apple’s FaceTime that is restricted to Apple devices.

Our guide to the best video calling apps

Facebook/TechCrunch

Messenger

Best for Facebook devotees

Facebook recently worked to streamline Messenger, which has been separate from the main Facebook app for several years now. Messenger is used by many individuals and businesses for communication and you can even use it without a Facebook account.

You can video or voice chat with an individual or a group very easily. Need to know how to use it for video calling? Check out: How to video call on Facebook Messenger

Messenger also has recently announced Messenger Rooms, a way to join group video calls with up to 50 people – yes, it’s like Zoom or Skype.

Facebook’s Messenger Rooms: The Zoom-like video calling feature explained

WhatsApp

WhatsApp

Best for small group calls – up to eight people

Facebook-owned WhatsApp may be second to Messenger in North America, but globally it is massive. As of early 2020 the app said it has over two billion users worldwide which is quite an incredible reach for an app that started as a paid-for premium offering.

WhatsApp’s strength is that it is easy to make new chats and search for messages in the past. You can also see when messages are received and read and it’s just great with pictures.

It can be used for video and voice calls. You can start a call with one individual and then add other participants easily. The limit on group video calls is now eight.

How to make WhatsApp group voice and video calls

Apple

FaceTime

Best for Apple-to-Apple calls

We don’t know how many users FaceTime video has, but it’s massive between Apple users and you can easily flip back and forth between video and voice.

Of course, being Apple-only is a disadvantage not shared by any of the other apps here but it is available across both iOS and macOS.

As well as individual calls, you can now easily make a Group FaceTime call – if everyone you’re talking to is on an Apple device, it’s mega easy to sort out.

How to make a Group FaceTime video call

Zoom

Zoom

Best for large group/workplace video conferencing (and for the tiled view)

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to virtually meet with others – either by video or audio-only or both, all while conducting live chats – and it lets you record those sessions to view later.

A Zoom Meeting is a video conferencing meeting that’s hosted using Zoom while a Zoom Room is physical hardware that companies can install in meeting rooms.

What is Zoom and how does it work? Plus tips and tricks

One of the best features is the tiled view, so you can have everybody on screen at the same time – even if you have tens of participants.

If you want to know if you’re in good company when using Zoom, you are: over half of Fortune 500 companies reportedly used Zoom in 2019.

Zoom meeting passwords explained: Why are they now on by default?

WhatsApp

Google Meet

Best for G Suite (Google apps) users

While Google Duo (below) is more of a one-to-one solution, Google Meet is Google’s option for video calling and sits alongside Google Chat. It does have a separate app, but most people who use it are customers of Google’s G Suite, which is basically Gmail, Calendar and Docs but for business.

You can start meetings from Gmail or Google Calendar and you can video chat with individuals, conference or just text chat.

As of 4 May 2020, Google made Google Meet free to anyone with a Google account – this will last until the end of September 2020 at present.

What is Google Meet Chat, how do they work, and when can you use them?

Skype

Skype

Best for cross-device calling across PCs, Macs and mobile devices

Microsoft-owned Skype remains one of the most ubiquitous ways to make a video call and as such it’s a good option just because so many people have it. As well as PC and Mac, it’s also available for iOS and Android of course.

And you can even now access it via a web browser and also set up instant meetings with people who don’t have an account using Skype Meet Now. The group calling feature is also really powerful.

As in Zoom, you can also change your Skype background.

It also integrates nicely with Office 365 and if you use this for work you’ll be familiar with Skype for Business.

How to use Skype: A beginner’s guide for complete Skype novices

Pocket-lint

Slack

Best for perpetual office chat and one-to-one calling

Slack is a little different to the competition as it’s more of an open platform. It works as a central place for communication that pulls in third-party apps to make it work.

It’s meant for team communication – we use it here at Pocket-lint – and is a great way to share files (it also integrates with Google Drive or Dropbox). The free version enables you to make calls but only one-to-one; you need a paid subscription to call a group (and it’s expensive). It’s also been redesigned recently to make it easier to use.

Another great feature of Slack is its ability to search entire conversations for certain words so finding what’s been talked about is easy. The app is iOS and Android friendly and autocompletes friends’ names making tagging them simple.

What is Slack and how does it work? Plus plenty of Slack tips and tricks

Google/Pocket-lint

Google Duo

A WhatsApp alternative for easy calling between devices

Relatively recently brought out by Google, Duo is free to use, enables one-to-one video and voice calls and it works across both iOS and Android devices – unlike Apple’s FaceTime. It’s primarily an app for consumers rather than business – Google Hangouts is Google’s work calling solution.

It relies on your number, lets you reach people in your phone’s contacts list, offers end-to-end encryption, and has nifty features like Knock Knock, which allows you see live video of your caller before you answer.

What is Google Duo? What you need to know about Google’s video and voice call app

Pocket-lint

Viber

The best Skype alternative

Viber is a comprehensive alternative to Skype. It was primarily a service for calling directly between devices, but it now also has WhatsApp style chat and can be used to share files.

One of the great things about Viber is how widely available it is across platforms including Android, iOS, Windows Phone, BlackBerry, Windows 8, Mac and more. That means video calling across devices or chatting using IM with emoticons should be seamless and simple. Plus it’s all free.

Pocket-lint

WeChat

Another great Skype alternative

WeChat is being hailed as the one-stop-shop alternative to most communication apps. It’s like combining text, Skype, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram into one app.

WeChat enables you to share photos and videos directly with other users or they can be posted to their profile, like the Facebook wall. Another feature, called Shake, allows users to find others nearby to chat locally.

WeChat also allows voice chat, group chat, video chat and emoticon sharing. And it’s all free to download.

What is two-factor authentication and why should you use it? Plus how to enable for Apple, Google and more

Writing by Dan Grabham.

2021 for service providers according to Juniper Networks: 5G, AI and the concept of Enterprise-at-home

According to Juniper, next year i service providers will invest in edge computing and security; business and residential networks will become one and monetization opportunities for 5G will grow

by Alberto Falchi published on 04 January 2021 , at 11: 21 in the Cloud channel

Juniper Networks 5G artificial intelligence

The 2020 took everyone by surprise, overturning the plans and forecasts of companies, which had to reinvent themselves to manage the difficulties caused by the pandemic triggered by Covid – 19. How will this reflect on 2021? Juniper Networks , a multinational specialized in products for the network, shared some thoughts on trends that will characterize the Service Provider sector .

Edge, security and the Enterprise-at-home concept

According to Juniper, one of the keywords for the 2021 will be edge . The increase in traffic experienced in 2020 will drive the growth of CDNs, and service providers will double their investments on the edge to bring applications and services closer to users, thus reducing latencies. People, as confirmed by numerous sector studies, will continue to work remotely, and this will push companies to invest in solutions such as “ Enterprise-at-home “, capable of protecting endpoints regardless of where they are located, not only within the company perimeter.

Smart working and growing dependence on the network will push service providers to adopt orchestration and automation based on AI and machine learning to manage traffic peaks, mobility and fragmentation that will generate complex and difficult to predict traffic patterns. To ensure business continuity, companies will also need to evaluate the service providers they will rely on for their employees, who will need to be able to guarantee a solid and secure infrastructure, even in poorly covered rural areas. In short, there will no longer be a clear separation between business networks and corporate networks, and the difference will be so nuanced that they can be considered as one.

The business opportunities offered by 5G

We have been talking for years about bridging the digital divide (and not only in Italy), and with the spread of 5G the goal will be closer, given that through FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) it will be able to guarantee ultra-fast connectivity even in rural areas where investments in fiber are not considered strategic. The pandemic, despite having pushed service providers to review some priorities, has not slowed down investments in 5G, so much so that Juniper plans to develop new applications – in particular gaming, virtual and augmented reality.

400 G: not only in data centers

Currently networks 400 G, capable of transferring data at the speed of 400 Gb / s , are mainly used to connect cloud data centers but in 2021, according to Juniper, there will be a boom in this technology, which will also be adopted in networks of national service providers, in CDNs.

A phenomenon that will see its peak in the second half of 2021. Only after 2021 on 400 G will make its appearance in metro networks, where 5G will bring even more traffic and network density.

TechStage | TV-OS: strengths & weaknesses of Android TV & Co

Testing Tests overview Smartphone Huawei P Smart 2021: Budget model with room for improvement Asus Zenfone 7 Pro: Turbo smartphone with flip camera Samsung Galaxy Xcover Pro in the test: Hard but slow Oneplus Nord N 03 5G in the test: galloped in price Oppo Find X2 Pro in the test: performance bargain Asus ROG Phone 3 in the test: Perfect gaming smartphone LG Wing in the test: 1.5 displays and gimbal cam Smartwatch Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 in the T est: competition for Apple? Huawei Watch GT 2 Pro in the test: Smartwatch with cross-country battery Apple Watch: Smartwatch with contract from 15 € per month Apple Buy Watch 6: All generations in the price check Skagen Falster 3 in the test: Smartwatch with Wear OS Test Huawei Watch GT 2: Noble fitness tracker in watch form Huawei Watch GT in the test: record-breaking battery life Multiroom Ikea Symfonisk in the test: Sonos loudspeakers under 100 Euro Bose Portable Home Speaker in the test: battery, WLAN, Airplay 2 Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Musiccast: Multiroom from Yamaha in the test Denon Heos in the test: Versatile multi-room system Flat soundbar Teufel Sounddeck Streaming in the test Teufel Raumfeld in the test: rich multiroom sound Keyfinder Tile Slim (2019): Key finder in credit card format Bluetooth key finder Tile Pro in the test: 122 m range! Key finder Tile Pro in the test: the range champion Orbit Bluetooth tracker in the test: looking for wallet and keys Nonda iHere 3.0: smart key finder under test Chipolo Classic and Plus: Bluetooth key finder under test Musegear finder 2: Keyfinder without registration obligation Action-Cam DJI Pocket 2 in the test: Zoom and 64 – Megapixel sensor Actioncam Insta 360 One R: 1-inch image sensor in the test Gopro Hero 8 Black in the test: Back to the top Insta 360 One R in the test: The modular action cam Motorola Moto G8 Plus Review: Great smartphone, but … Insta 360 Go: Micro-GoPro in the test Motorola One Action Test : Good hardware, bad camera microSD In the test: Kingston UHS-I U3 microSDXC Kit MicroSD card for smartphone: Samsung Evo Plus 2017 Test report: Lexar Professional 1800 x microSDXC Kit Test report: Intenso Premium microSDXC card with 64 GByte Android Sonos Move in the test: The robust all-rounder Honor 20: Inexpensive high-end smartphone in the test Xiaomi Mi 9: top technology at a bargain price Doogee S 90 in the test: modular outdoor smartphone ZTE Axon 10 Pro in the test: high-end phone at a competitive price Motorola Moto G7 Power in the test: large battery, small price Sony Xperia 10: smartphone with 21: 9 display in Test Counselor Advisor overview Purchase advice The right cordless screwdriver for the home workshop t Bargain: Which Fire TV Stick from 19 € is the right one? Purchase advice: What good is a leaf blower with a battery for 45 Euro? True wireless headphones: How much do you have to invest? Buying advice water cooling: High-end PCs cool better Adviser: Air conditioning and fan against the heat wave Sony shows the Xperia 1: Is the predecessor XZ3 worth it now? Practice Caution, money away: Kickstarter & Co. are not shops Turn off Android notifications from annoying apps Here’s how: Install the new Android L keyboard now Tip: Use “Ok Google everywhere” in Germany In the test : Will the jailbreak work for iOS 7.1? Goder ma and mobile medicine: The doctor apps are coming! Instructions: Jailbreak for iOS 7 on iPhone 5S, 5, 4S and 4 Technology Importing technology from China, part 2: Customs, taxes and tricks Drones & copters: From toys to FPV Racer What does the end of an ecosystem mean? Smartphones with a flexible display: What’s the point? Overview of smartphone processors: Everything Snapdragon? Evolutionary dead ends: the very worst cell phones mpass: Pay with the NFC mobile phone – or the NFC toilet roll Display calculator Calculate pixel density, number and display proportion Best list Test winner Price comparison Price comparison overview Smartphones from Android 7.0 Phablets with stylus Fitness tracker with GPS Bluetooth headphones with ANR Drones with GPS Video TechStage Counselor TV-OS: Strengths & weaknesses of Android TV & Co beginning Android TV Tizen OS Web OS My Home Screen Loewe OS Metz VIDAA U3.0 Conclusion Comments by Jochen // 03. 01. 2021 11: 10 Clock

Does it matter which operating system the new Smart TV has? TechStage presents the most important OS for TVs in the guide and explains where they score.

Modern smart TVs no longer only differ in terms of appearance, equipment, and picture and sound quality. An essential feature is the operating system, which is largely responsible for ease of use. While the smartphone market is dominated by Android and iOS, several operating systems are competing for flat screen televisions. We will introduce you to all the important ones and address the respective strengths and weaknesses.

The article appears in our UHD TV theme world. There were other articles published there, for example our guide for really big TVs, tips for buying a next-gen TV or our constantly updated list of the cheapest TVs from all categories (e.g. OLED, HDMI 2.1 or just huge).

Android TV Not only on smartphones, but also on smartphones TVs are very popular with Android. In addition to Sony and Philips, TCL and Metz Blue rely on Android TV from Google. Corresponding televisions can not only be set up using the remote control supplied, but optionally using an Android smartphone.

Tile-like structure, clear structure and a lot of apps: that’s Android TV. #The start page has a uniform design on almost all Android TVs: Here you can find a list of the most important apps, streaming services and TV channels. All applications are arranged in tiles on the user interface; additional applications can be added in next to no time. While Android was still a bit sluggish and unstable to use in previous versions, these teething troubles have been resolved with Android 9.0 (Pie).

The gear wheel at the top right takes you to the most important system settings, the Google Assistant is lurking at the top left, for example to browse streaming services by voice or to call up current weather information or traffic reports.

The selection of apps under Android TV is generally huge and one of the best on the market. Thanks to the Google Play Store, you will find a varied portfolio in the areas of video, music, games and news. The integrated Google Chromecast ensures flexible compatibility with smartphones. While the standard interface is identical on all Android televisions, the individual manufacturers adapt their menus for picture and sound settings individually.

Overall, Android TV scores with a clear design, high operating speed and an extensive selection of apps. Smaller weak points in terms of performance can only be found on very inexpensive or older flat-screen TVs with an Android system. It is therefore important to check every now and then whether there is an update for your own TV.

Tizen OS With Tizen, Samsung uses its own operating system; the sheer number of Samsung TVs alone makes it a major competitor to Android TV. With Tizen OS, all functions are packed into a horizontal menu bar. You can store the most important apps here, preview streaming content, switch sources, open TV recordings from USB sticks and jump to the picture and sound settings.

Tizen OS from Samsung offers a lot of information at a glance and likes it colorful. All of this succeeds quickly even if the selected Samsung television does not have the fastest processor. In contrast to its competitors Philips and Panasonic, Samsung has integrated a powerful media player into Tizen OS, which can play photos and videos as 360 Degree view. In addition, there is a function in “Ambient Mode” to display paintings, photos or infographics with news or weather data on the screen when not in use. Alternatively, this takes on the look of the wallpaper behind the flat screen TV.

Relatively new is the intelligent program guide, which combines content from television and streaming services. In terms of apps, Samsung is one of the leading manufacturers on the market. In addition to HD +, you can also find Disney +, Apple TV, DAZN, Sky Ticket, Netflix, Tidal, Amazon Music, Spotify and Deezer. Tizen OS supports Apple AirPlay 2 to stream photos, music and videos from iPhone or iPad wirelessly to the hip flask, as well as Google Chromecast and Bluetooth.

If you like control by voice, you will also get your money’s worth with Tizen OS. A recent software update makes Google Assistant available on Samsung smart TVs in addition to Bixby and Amazon Alexa. Together with WebOS from LG Tizen OS is one of the most user-friendly and versatile operating systems on the market.

Web OS LG uses the WebOS operating system in its OLED and LCD televisions, which is visually reminiscent of the keyboard of a piano. The latest version, WebOS 5.0, is extremely fast and clearly structured. The high level of operating comfort is also due to the fact that you can control a mouse pointer on the TV with the LG remote control. So you can move the so-called Magic Remote freely in the air and navigate to the desired window like with a laser pointer. This is surprisingly precise and you get used to it quickly.

LG’s WebOS provides apps and functions like on a keyboard. The individual tiles give access to the TV program, the most important apps (these are freely configurable), the home dashboard – an overview of all connected and networked devices – as well as the art gallery, the sports alarm and the fast media player for 360 – degree representations. The art gallery contains paintings, photos and drawings that transform the LG TV, including a wooden or metal frame, into a deceptively real work of art. The sports alarm provides timely information about when your favorite team is playing again, for example in football or basketball, and provides constantly updated results.

With AirPlay 2 and the support of Chromecast and Miracast, WebOS 5.0 is very communicative. The range of videos and games in the app area is plentiful, including Apple TV, Disney +, DAZN, Sky Ticket, Google Play Films, Netflix and Zattoo. However, music and news apps still have room for improvement. The already installed application “Reelgood”, a streaming guide that bundles content from Netflix, Disney +, Amazon Prime Video and Maxdome, is very useful.

LG has thought of the Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. In terms of handling and clarity, WebOS 5.0 is currently ahead, closely followed by Samsung Tizen OS, Panasonics My Home Screen and Android TV.

My Home Screen Panasonic equips its current flat screen TVs with the My Home Screen 5.0 operating system. This is clearly laid out, almost spartan, and requires little space on a flat screen. In the horizontal bar you can find the app icons from Netflix, YouTube and the “HD +” platform as well as access to the complete range of apps and an overview of all connected devices.

My Home Screen from Panasonic is limited to the essentials and is therefore intuitive to use. The sorting of the symbols is flexible, other applications can be added. You can also assign a button on the remote control to start your favorite app with just one press of a button.

New in My Home Screen Version 5.0 is the preview of thumbnails with various cinematic content as soon as you navigate to the streaming apps from Netflix and YouTube. The Panasonic software works quickly and smoothly with barely noticeable waiting times when changing menus. In addition to a DLNA server, My Home Screen also has the TV> IP function. This allows the TV signal to be transported over the network to a television set in another room in which no programs are traditionally accessible via cable, satellite or DVB-T2.

At Panasonic, the app offer is still expandable. With Disney + and Apple TV, two industry giants are missing here. Even those who like to stream music are currently losing out with the Japanese. When it comes to voice control, Panasonic is also not up to date: Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant can only be used in conjunction with separate speakers.

Loewe OS The traditional Loewe brand, which after the takeover by the Skytech Group was able to avert its final end at the very last second, is building its high-priced television with the Loewe OS6.3 operating system. In contrast to earlier Loewe TVs, the current models are easy to operate thanks to their attractive user interface with rectangular symbols and a simple menu structure. However, you have to get used to some little things first, such as the fact that a longer press on the “Home” button leads to the picture and sound settings.

The Loewe OS is clear, but important streaming apps such as Netflix are missing. The start page gives you access to the TV recordings that land on the internal hard drive. With the apps, however, you have to do without industry giants such as Netflix. These are only accessible via a Fire TV Stick from Amazon, which Loewe makes available to its customers free of charge after registering online. All applications on the streaming stick can be accessed via the heavy Loewe remote control.

In the spring 2021 Loewe wants to significantly expand the range of apps with a new platform. Loewe OS6.3 works quickly overall, but like Panasonic only enables voice control via Amazon Alexa via separate speakers such as the Echo Dot. Multimedia files can be accessed from a smartphone or a Fritzbox, for example. Loewe OS 6.3 has caught up with the market leaders from LG, Samsung, Panasonic and the like, but cannot quite keep up in terms of appearance and comfort.

Metz While the cheaper smart TVs of the Metz Blue series are delivered with Android, some Metz televisions come with a Linux Operating system used. This offers a special feature: The user can decide for himself how complex the user interface should appear. In addition, the number of functions can be gradually adapted to your own needs (“Simple”, “Comfort”, “Expert”). The start page and the submenus are kept very factual with clear labeling, but dispense with colored frills. But you know immediately which function is where.

The Metz user interface is based on a Linux system and attaches great importance to sober objectivity. The Linux system promptly implements control commands via the remote control and works at a good speed. The heavy metal signaling device with a well-structured key arrangement has reserved three keys so that preferred functions can be freely assigned to them.

If apps are important to you, you should think twice about buying a Metz TV. Because Netflix, Disney +, Apple TV, YouTube, Rakuten TV or Amazon Prime Video are just some of the relevant applications that are not available here. You have to buy a Fire TV stick separately.

Instructions are stored in the operating system so that you can look up almost any important topic quickly if you have any questions. Bluetooth and Chromecast are supported for streaming. Overall, the Linux operating system is very tidy and quickly transparent, without setting optical highlights.

VIDAA U3. 0 At the steadily growing TV manufacturer Hisense, the operating system listens to the bulky and somewhat getting used to name VIDAA U3.0. Here memories of Android TV are immediately awakened. This is ensured by the large tiles on the user interface, which not only include apps, but also the entrances and the media player.

Reminiscent of Android, but is named VIDAA U3.0: the operating system from Hisense . The operating concept is well thought out, Hisense dispenses with a nested menu structure and also makes life easy for new customers who previously trusted a different TV brand. There is also an aluminum remote control, which is also clearly designed and has four direct selection buttons for the streaming portals Netflix, YouTube, Rakuten TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Hisense cannot keep up with the range of apps from Sony, Philips, Samsung or LG, but the most important streaming platforms are on board. Via the home network, VIDAA U3.0 allows access to multimedia files that are slumbering on a PC hard drive or a media server in the network. The media player is, however, quite simple and neither does 360 – Degree representations still zoom in on photos. Amazon Alexa can be used for voice commands via voice.

Overall, VIDAA U3.0 makes a very smooth impression, but you have to be patient when switching and starting recordings on USB Bring your hard drive. Because the remote control does not have its own record button. Rather, you first have to navigate to the TimeShift menu and from here to the record button. Top dogs like LG, Samsung and Panasonic are still ahead in the area of ease of use.

Conclusion The operating system of a TV may not seem essential at first glance. But it depends a lot on how you want to use the television in the future. Anyone who mainly watches traditional television or plays via a Blu-Ray player (guide) does not have to attach excessive weight to the TV OS. But if you use apps and streaming services, or stream video games from the cloud via a cloud service such as Shadow or Geforce Now, you should take a close look at what you are buying. Android TV is one step ahead here, and hardly any other manufacturer has app support.

The good news is that these functions can be upgraded if necessary. There are enough cheap streaming sticks, as our guide to streaming boxes shows in comparison. If you need a little more power, you should take a look at the Nvidia Shield TV (guide).

The article appears in our UHD TV theme world. There were other articles published there, for example our guide for really big TVs, tips for buying a next-gen TV or our constantly updated list of the cheapest TVs from all categories (e.g. OLED, HDMI 2.1 or just huge).

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How the CSU wants to make Germany more digital

According to its own statements, the CSU wants to make Germany more digital and has an agenda for 2021 formulated. The decision paper contains, among other things, demands for rapid network expansion, a fully digital identity card in the smartphone and a reduction in internet bureaucracy. The party also calls for a “minimum taxation” from US Internet companies such as Google or Amazon.

The 17 Point-comprehensive submission, which the CSU state group wants to resolve on January 6th and 7th at its retreat in Berlin, contains proposals that To make Germany a “pioneer of digitization”, as it says in it. The paper is available to the German Press Agency. First the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” reported about it.

Google and Amazon tax According to the will the CSU is supposed to have a “Europe-wide regulation for a minimum taxation” of large digital corporations like Amazon or Google. The US corporations have been criticized for years for their business models. “We want to tax the Internet giants,” says the draft resolution. If Google and Facebook made money with personalized advertising and data from Germany, then they would have to “give something back to our community from this profit”. The time is ripe for a “Google and Amazon tax”, they say. The paper does not contain a specific number.

In addition, the party calls for “a spaceport for Germany and Europe”. Up to 2028 would be up to 8500 small satellites launch into space to collect data on earth observation and environmental and climate research. They all needed a porter and a launch site. Germany should provide this spaceport. “We want to set up and operate a mobile launch platform in the North Sea together with industry,” says the draft resolution.

ID card in the app According to the will of the CSU, digitization in Germany is to be promoted at different levels. The newly founded mobile radio infrastructure company (MIG) is supposed to help, by no later than 2024 all white spots in the mobile network expansion “with stationary or mobile masts to eliminate”. Until 2025 the party wants according to the resolution proposal 15 provide billions of euros for gigabit networks. The goal is “a nationwide 5G network”.

If the CSU has its way, the identity card should in future only be available digitally, on the smartphone. The ID card has had electronic functions for around ten years. In order to use it, you previously needed a normal ID card in addition to a smartphone.

“We want the online ID card to be even easier to use in the future and the ID card to be displayed directly can be saved on your own smartphone, “says the CSU template. Administrative procedures should be digitized as completely as possible. Frequently used services should be as easy as ordering in an online shop. This should then also apply to other official documents such as the driver’s license.

Cookies as a burden Surfing the Internet should also become less bureaucratic. To this end, the CSU wants to abolish the general obligation to consent to so-called cookies. Cookies store data on the user’s hard drive when surfing the Internet and are also used to present consumers with individual advertising.

In its paper, the CSU demands that users stipulate by law “that users can use generally agree to cookies via a setting in your browser “. From the point of view of the CSU, the obligation to be asked for consent to cookies every time you visit a new website should be dropped. She is a “burden for fast surfing”.

School subjects “Programming” and “Digital Economics” The CSU in the Bundestag is also calling for educational reforms to make schools and pupils more fit for the digital world. “The subjects of programming and digital economy must be available throughout Germany,” says the draft resolution for the CSU regional group meeting on January 6th and 7th. In addition, every subject must also be able to be taught digitally.

A nationwide education platform should enable video conferences and digital learning management, it says. “The federal platform is an open offer to the federal states, which can be networked with federal infrastructures and is available for all educational areas.”

Röttgen: “System failure” of educational federalism A national education summit by the federal and state governments for digitization is necessary. “It doesn’t make sense for each country to develop its own server and cloud solution. It is right and necessary that the federal government support this,” says the paper. “But it is also true that a lot of things arrive too slowly or too little. We therefore want future federal funding to be linked to clear deadlines for implementation.”

The CDU presidency candidate Norbert Röttgen stated “a crisis in educational federalism that had become too clear in the pandemic”. The federal education system is not even able to spend the five billion euros from the federal budget on digitizing schools, he criticized in the newspapers of the Funke media group. “I don’t want to take away any competencies from the federal states, but this system failure is unacceptable. As a result, German schools are far from being able to give online lessons in all aspects.”

VR glasses and consoles for daycare centers The CSU does not want to start promoting digital education in schools . “We want to introduce children to the correct use of digital media as early as possible,” it says – already in daycare. To this end, the CSU wants to campaign for a funding program for daycare centers with a volume of one billion euros. “The aim is to fund the acquisition of cameras for the production of stop-motion pictures, tablets and apps, VR glasses and consoles that combine analog gaming and digital learning.”

(hob)

Review Qnap TVS 672N: fast, flexible and scalable cloud storage in-house

RESUME The Qnap TVS – 672 N is a NAS aimed at the true audio enthusiast. With the enormous amount of storage capacity, lovers of films and series will not complain. Support for Roon, Linn Audio and the possibility for virtualization are big pluses. The scalability of the hardware ensures that you are ready for years to come. The Qnap TVS – 743 N is (almost) a must have for the digital audio enthusiast.

PLUS POINTS Hardware Scalability Future proof Storage capacity Roon Virtualization MINUSES Price can deter You still need to buy hard drives With the exponential growth of streaming services, we would almost forget that not too long ago we provided our own streaming or still do. The NAS is an extremely suitable system for this. NAS systems have gone through many developments and are now able to accomplish a lot more. We’re going to enter the Qnap TVS 672 N and at the same time wondering if owning a NAS is still interesting.

Qnap TVS 672 N: Large amount of local self-managed storage

Netflix, Disney +, Amazon, Videoland, Tidal, Spotify, Deezer and Qobuz. Just a quick selection from the enormous range of streaming services. But many audio enthusiasts have already built up a huge library of music. And many film lovers also have a collection with films and series. Of course, it would be weird to pay a streaming service money to watch movies or listen to music you already own. So why not start your own streaming service at home on your own computer network?

We have received a heavyweight from Qnap: the TVS – 672 N NAS server. NAS stands for Network Attached Storage, or in plain English, storage capacity on the network. Perhaps an overkill for one person, a solution for another. We are curious what the Qnap TVS – 743 N us in the streaming era can offer.

Qnap TVS 672 N: Scalable Hardware for User (s)

Technology has an expiration date . You know from a smartphone that a faster and better model will be on the market in a year. A NAS server should be more aging-free. The Qnap TVS – 672 N therefore has a lot of functionality on board, which you can scale. We have the test model with 4 GB DDR4 RAM (RAM stands for Random Access Memory, that is working memory, not storage memory). The processor on board is a desktop processor and supports up to 32 GB RAM. So if the initial amount of RAM is not enough, you can just expand.

This also applies to the storage capacity. It is also easy to expand. Our test model TVS 743 N has six hard drive bays. These can easily be put in at the front. In addition, the device also has 2x m.2 NVMe ssd storage slots (Gen 3 x2.2 GB / s). This makes SSD caching possible, which can increase the overall speed considerably. There is also a USB connection on the front for easy and fast file transfer and a display for reading information.

The party really starts at the back. The first thing that strikes us are the two expansion options with Pcie. It is therefore possible to expand with, for example, a (small) video card. Or the Qm2 card for an extra SSD, if necessary. We also see three ethernet connections type RJ 45. These have different speeds. 5G / 2.5G / 1G network ports make it possible to work with large files over the network. There is also 1x a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port, 2x a Type C USB 3.2 Gen 2 port and 2x Type A USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. Because the Qnap TVS – 743 N equipped with a desktop I3 8100 T 3.1 GHz processor, you have access to Intel graphics. At the back we also find an HDMI connection that supports 4K. To make it complete also a 3.5 millimeter audio input and output.

On the Qnap TVS – 672 N runs Qnap’s own software. The Qnap operating system runs from 5 GB flash memory and that is nice and fast.

This is really just the hardware that we can see on the outside just as quickly. This gives you as a user, but also as a small company, an enormous amount of functionality. And we haven’t even looked at the software yet. It does indicate that this NAS is focused on the future.

Qnap TVS 672 N: Roon Ready

Connecting and installing is almost as easy as connecting a Sonos Five or Bluesound to the network. Qnap has paid attention to this in the right way to make it as easy as possible for the user (s). We set a password and end up in the Qnap environment of the NAS server. The first thing to do is add storage. We set a raid volume. This ensures that we significantly reduce the risk of data loss. Preference is given to large discs in sets of two. The support for a large amount of storage is of course available. Drives up to 18 TB are supported should it be needed now or in the future. Multiply that by a factor of six and we can get rid of quite a bit of music and movies, even with raid volumes configured.

There’s actually little you can’t do with the Qnap TVS – 672 N can do. You can set up the Nas for the office or for entertainment. And the latter is exactly what has our attention. Qnap has its own piece of software for music and movies. That works fine and for the average music and video enthusiast this is more than enough. Butâ ?? ¦â ?? ¦ there is something that we as audio enthusiasts attach a lot of value to. Roon! One app to rule them all! Roon does not need any further introduction (If you do, read our article about the Roon Labs software). But if you still want to read more about it, read all about how Qnap how Roon works enabled on the NAS. It can be downloaded and installed as an app. There is a small catch. To get Roon working properly, Roon has a few requirements. For example, Roon would run best from a separate SSD of at least 300 GB and 4 GB RAM to keep it running smoothly. The SSD can be both internal and external. 6 TB of storage is also not an unnecessary luxury. So if you want to do a lot on the Qnap TVS – 672 N, you can always upgrade the amount of RAM. Consider, for example, a mail and / or Ldap server, together with Roon and also Plex. Because Roon, as we know, is a demanding piece of software. Still, it’s nice to know that the Qnap TVS – 672 N is prepared for it.

However, the possibilities don’t stop there. We choose to install Roon on an external Samsung T7 SSD. The Samsung T7 SSD uses USB 3.2 Gen 2 and can therefore use speeds of until 1000 Get Mb / s. Plex is slightly less demanding and can be installed without Diva behavior.

Qnap also offers the possibility to run virtual systems. For this Qnap uses the software Container station. This gives you the option to run a Linux virtual machine or use Docker. Why can that be useful (and we think mainly in audio and video)? Because it gives you the option to set up a virtual machine that is purely focused on audio. Suppose you don’t have Roon but Linn. Qnap also provides this. But if you prefer to work with a different system, you can set up a virtual machine that serves as an audio streamer or database. Many people love to interact with a Raspberry Pi and try things out. On the Qnap you just create a virtual â ???? Raspberry Piâ ???? and you start working with it. Maybe you have a security camera around your house and you want the images for a few more days can look back. So there are a lot of possibilities and functionality that the Qnap TVS – 672 N us can offer.

Qnap TVS 672 N: work in your own cloud Today you cannot open the newspaper or newspaper app or there is a message about a data breach. Another company that has lost data or data that has ended up on the street. Working in â ???? the Cloudâ ???? is of course great and also offers many outcomes, but â ???? The Cloudâ ???? In short, is still someone else’s computer. And the use of someone else’s computer is usually not unlimited, nor is it free. Why not just your own cloud? That is not a bad idea at all in this special period, in which we all work more and more in different places from a distance.

This actually happened organically for us. We had the Qnap TVS – 672 N fully equipped for entertainment. But slowly we started to use more functionality. We started working on the Qnap with text files and photos that we want to be able to share. More and more the Qnap started to become a digital partner in our daily use. With the Boxsafe app you can link the suite from Google or that of Microsoft Office 400.

But if there are more information is put on the Qnap, another aspect becomes important. Especially if the server can also be accessed from the internet. We are referring to information security. This is a subject to which complete books and training courses are devoted. Telling it in one paragraph how this should and works is simply not possible. Nevertheless, we would like to give a few tips. Make sure you have good passwords, but preferably a passphrase. Create separate users, other than Admin and do not give those users the admin rights. This separates the powers / rights. If you want to use third party software, make sure you can validate the origin of the software. It should preferably be a reliable source and maker. It’s safer to use Qnap’s app center itself, but in some cases it’s no different.

Qnap TVS 672 N: Final Verdict

The Qnap TVS – 672 N is a fairly heavyweight. With a price of 1. 599 euro is the Qnap TVS – 672 N not suitable for everyone. The price of one or more hard drives is in addition to that, but the user can start with one or two drives and expand later if necessary. But for the digital audio and video enthusiast, the Qnap TVS 672 N one solution and offers more than enough possibilities to provide storage. The Qnap is also highly scalable and you will always be able to upgrade in the coming years. Think of more RAM, an M.2 SSD or even a video card. And as an audio enthusiast, you don’t have to purchase a separate Roon server, you just install it on the Qnap. An Intel Nuc that functions as a server can easily cost around 365 a 599 euro (without storage or memory), but can expire when using a Qnap NAS.

Our initial question “Is it interesting to own a NAS?” we can answer with “yes”. Qnap also has smaller models and also more extensive models. Should the Qnap TVS – 743 If you are a heavy overkill or even fall short, then there is certainly a Qnap model that suits your personal needs.

Qnap TVS 672 N: c inclusion

The Qnap TVS – 672 N is a NAS aimed at the true audio enthusiast. With the enormous amount of storage capacity, lovers of films and series will not complain. Support for Roon, Linn Audio and the possibility for virtualization are big pluses. The scalability of the hardware ensures that you are ready for years to come. The Qnap TVS – 672 N is (almost) a must have for the digital audio enthusiast.

Hifi rating: five stars

Price 1. 599 euro

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