In arguably one of the most genuinely beneficial software updates we’ve seen in a while, Amazon has launched a new feature that enables audio to be streamed directly from its Amazon Fire TV devices to hearing implants.
A collaboration with hearing device maker Cochlear, the feature makes use of the open source Audio Streaming for Hearing Aids (ASHA) protocol and marks the first time that a smart TV device can stream sound directly to a hearing implant processor.
The feature is now available for Fire TV Omni Series, Fire TV Omni QLED Series, Fire TV 4-Series, Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) and Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen) devices and can work in conjunction with Cochlear Nucleus 8, Nucleus 7, Nucleus Kanso 2 and Baha 6 Max sound processors.
Cochlear already offers direct sound streaming to its Nucleus Sound Processor devices from iPhone or Android phones.
According to Amazon, the new accessibility feature will offer Cochlear users a more comfortable way to watch their favorite movies and TV shows as well as use Alexa, listen to music, and hear navigational sounds.
The new Cochlear feature follows Amazon’s recent move to offer ASHA support on Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen) for Bluetooth hearing aids made by Starkey, the company which manufactures the Audibel, NuEar, MicroTech and Audigy brands.
A blog post and accompanying video featuring hearing-impaired Amazon software engineer Michael Forzano who helped test the feature, highlights just how much of a profound effect the new functionality could have for Cochlear users.
In the posting Forzano, states he didn’t watch TV because he’d miss “40–50% of the words thanks to echoing and poor sound quality.” Using his implant in conjunction with Fire TV appears to have had a real impact in terms of quality of life improvement, with Forzano stating: “I’m really excited for the world that this is going to open up for me”.
With direct streaming to implants such as this one, watching TV just got a lot easier for some people – from compatible Fire TV devices, at least.(Image credit: Amazon)
Analysis: Amazon support is an encouraging sign for those affected by hearing loss
With as many as 430 million in the world currently living with some form of hearing impairment according to the World Health Organization, and a recent report warningthat one billion young people worldwide could be at risk of hearing damage from listening to headphones at too-loud volumes, it does therefore seem like something of a missed opportunity that more consumer tech manufacturers aren’t tapping into the accessibility benefits these new devices are offering.
This latest move by Amazon arguably goes a step further with its support for Cochlear implants likely to make a world of difference for users. Fingers crossed today’s news will prompt a flow of tech firms getting on board – how great would it be to see Cochlear audio streaming compatibility for Apple TV 4K (2022) or Chromecast with Google TV… or from any smart TV, really.
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Individual content creators can now access professional creative tools as Sony unlocks its Creator Cloud platform for all.
Formerly the preserve of the media and entertainment industry, the collection of cloud-based apps, which includes a photo editor and online video editing software, is now available to small teams and individual creators “interested in leveraging the efficiencies and opportunities offered by the cloud,” according to the Japanese firm.
While the initial offering is small, the company hopes to add tools and features based on user feedback.
What is Sony Creator Cloud?
The Creator Cloud suite for enterprise users launched in September 2022, offering a host of cloud applications for photographers, editors, and designers.
With a firm belief that “the lines between hardware and software, online and offline are increasingly blurred thanks to the possibilities offered by the cloud,” according to Sony, the platform allows users to invest in a single hub for web-based apps. With Adobe’s recent investment in Cloud-to-Camera technology and the upcoming release of browser-based versions of apps like Photoshop, Sony evidently sat up and took notice.
New users will find the hub populated with a raft of AI-powered apps and tools. However, most require a payment or subscription.
Topping the bill is Master Cuts - a free video editing software tool currently in beta that launched in tandem with the next-generation platform. It’s a tool best suited to preparing footage to be enhanced in a fully-fledged video editor. Alongside this is Catalyst Browse/Prepare for video playback and editing and its accompanying Adobe Premiere Pro plugin.
Photographers appear well-served with a Lightroom alternative RAW photo processor for uploading, editing, and managing images. Remote camera control is also supported.
As expected, Sony customers get more significant benefits. Owners of specific Sony cameras are granted 25GB of free cloud storage for their media, while a 5GB cloud storage limit applies to everyone else.
Users can sign up for Sony Creator Cloud by clicking here.
Food delivery platform Zomato on Wednesday said it has launched Everyday, home-style meal service under which its food partners will collaborate with home-chefs. "Zomato Everyday will bring you closer to home by serving you meals that make you feel at home," company's Founder Deepinder Goyal said in a blog-post.
Around 76 percent of respondents have claimed that they have noticed a rise in pesky calls or SMS based on their conversations with WhatsApp business accounts and their activity on Facebook or Instagram, online survey firm LocalCircles said on Wednesday.
Amazon.com said on Wednesday it had completed its $3.5 billion (nearly Rs. 29,000 crore) takeover of primary care provider One Medical, a day after a US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) official announced that the agency would not challenge the deal. The acquisition, announced last July, gives the online retailer a virtual health offering as well as offices for in-per...
Market research company TrendForce has shared its prediction for DRAM manufacturing in the coming year, and it looks like servers may just tip the scales to become the most important sector.
The firm reckons that server DRAM will account for 37.6% of the total bit output for 2023, placing it only just ahead of smartphones at 36.8%. While the difference may not seem significant, the significance really lies in the huge growth in the server market.
The predictions take into account the previous year’s trends and predictions for the current year based on several real-time factors, like the widescale emergence and adoption of artificial intelligence.
DRAM manufacturing 2023
Ordinarily, it’s possible that 2023 might not have been the year that server DRAM would have overtaken mobile DRAM and it’s possible that the trend might be reversed next year. This is because 2022 saw a significant mobile DRAM oversupply, and companies are now playing catchup trying to burn through existing inventory.
However, the prediction for both smartphone shipments and their increase in the average DRAM content remains fairly conservative, which could be an indication that companies are turning their attention elsewhere amid global economic pressure.
A recent boom in AI technology and other high-performance computing applications have seen the need for server DRAM increase more significantly. TrendForce projects that the average DRAM content of servers will increase by 12.1% YoY for 2023, compared with 6.7% for smartphones.
As it looks to the two or so years ahead, TrendForce expects this year’s predicted trend to continue as servers continue to overtake smartphones, which is largely down to the increasing prevalence of AI which has recently proven itself a public hit.
Audio brand RØDE has revealed the fifth generation of its flagship condenser microphone, the NT1, which the company claims to be “unclippable”.
The company points to the mic's new “32-bit float digital output” giving podcasters, vocalists, and content creators enough headroom for an up to 192kHz recording that is free from distortion. RØDE states “users can record anything from a whisper to scream… with no chance of [the] signal clipping.” At most, all you have to do is adjust the audio in a DAW (digital audio workstation) to an optimal level and you’re good to go. Additionally, the NDT1 features the company's new Dual Connect output for both XLR and USB-C connectivity. That way, you can connect the mic to a mixer or some kind of professional audio equipment via XLR or straight to your computer via USB.
A USB microphone with the 32-bit float is a pretty big deal. The dynamic range of most USB mics hover around 16-bits, sometimes 24-bits, limiting the amount of headroom you’re given resulting in scuffed audio. It’s also helpful for those who are starting a new podcast as they’re given a bit of extra leg room to work with as they won’t have to mess with audio gain too much. The main downside of a 32-bit float is that it creates bigger files so keep that in mind with the NT1.
Professional environment
Alongside those two features, the NT1 houses a ton of other audio tools to help users establish a professional recording environment. RØDE really packed this microphone to the brim.
It comes with the company’s own Revolution Preamp tech which houses a “powerful on-board DSP for advanced APHEX audio processing” allowing users to run plugins. Tools like compressors, noise gates, or a two-step high-pass filter can be added to further enhance a recording. You even connect up to eight separate NT1 mics onto a “single computer for multitrack recording” over USB. This is possible thanks to RØDE’s own ASIO driver.
Other notable features include a HF6 gold-sputtered capsule to deliver “detailed midrange and rich bass” as well as an incredibly low self-noise level of 4 dBA. To put that into perspective, the sound normal human breathing makes is 10 dB, according to the CDC.
The NT1 is currently available for pre-order for $249 and will ship out sometime in March 2023 (the announcement doesn't say exactly when). You have a choice between black or silver in a “rugged aluminium body [with] high-grade finishes” making it resistant to scratches. In addition to the mic, you’ll be getting a shock mount, pop filter, and cables for the XLR and USB ports.
Considering what you’re getting, $250 is honestly a really good price. But if you want to shop around before buying an NT1, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best USB microphones for 2023. You get classics like the Blue Yeti mic.
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Experts have warned of a new information-stealing malware has been observed circulating around the dark web as it looks to gather new customers and victims alike.
Cybersecurity researchers from SEKOIA came across multiple ads, on different underground forums and Telegram groups promoting a new infostealer called Stealc.
Apparently, Stealc is not built from scratch, but is rather an upgrade to other, more popular infostealers, such as Vidar, Racoon, Mars, and Redline Stealer, having been first spotted in January 2023 but then gaining more traction the following month.
Weekly updates
Stealc was built, and is being advertised, by a threat actor going by the name “Plymouth”. It is currently at version 1.3.0, and it seems to be getting new tweaks and upgrades at least once a week.
Some of the newly added features include a C2 URL randomizer, and improved logs searching and sorting system. Stealc was also seen sparing people from Ukraine.
After further analyzing a sample of the infostealer, SEKOIA uncovered that it uses legitimate third-party DLLs, that it’s written C and abuses Windows API functions, that it’s lightweight (only 80KB), that it obfuscates most of its strings with RC4 and base64, and that it exfiltrates stolen files automatically (requiring no action from the threat actor).
SEKOIA has also found Stealc to be able to steal data from 22 web browsers, 75 plugins, and 25 desktop wallets.
Besides advertising it on the dark web, Plymouth was also busy deploying it to target endpoints. One of the ways they do it is by creating fake YouTube tutorials on how to crack software, and providing a link in the description which, instead of the advertised crack, deploys the infostealer.
So far, more than 40 C2 servers were discovered, leading the researchers to conclude Stealc is growing quite popular. The popularity, they speculate, comes from the fact that crooks that can access the admin panel can easily generate new stealer samples, thus increasing its range.
SEKOIA believes Stealc can become quite popular as it can be adopted by low-level hackers, as well.
Electronics and IT secretary Alkesh Kumar Sharma on Tuesday said that the production of semiconductors in the country will start very soon. He was responding to a query around plan of action of the Ministry of Electronics and IT after state-owned company Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) raised the issue of shortage of electronic chip and printed circuit board...
Beginners tend to confuse WordPress.com and WordPress.org, which, more often than not, leads them to choose the one which is not right for their needs. WordPress.com and WordPress.org are, in fact, two completely different website solutions offered by two different organizations.
To put it simply, WordPress.com offers a quick and free way to set up a site, with options to pay for functionality as the site and business grow. WordPress.org, on the other hand, offers advanced options and monetization from the start.
In the next few pages, we will delve deeper into the differences and similarities of both of these services to help you choose the right one for you and get you started on your journey of building an amazing website.
WordPress.com is a website platform that comes with a web hosting service included in all of its plans. While not as popular or powerful as its counterpart, it aims to make the website creation process easier for beginners.
Since WordPress.com is fully hosted, users can simply sign up for an account and launch their site immediately without worrying about a hosting solution. It also provides a free website address out-of-the-box.
With WordPress.com, it’s possible to create a site at no cost and switch to a paid plan later for more resources.
Easy to manage – WordPress.com will take care of site maintenance jobs such as upgrading software, managing your web server, and securing your website.
Requires minimal effort to start a website – setting up a WordPress.com site is straightforward since it already comes with hosting and a domain name.
Suitable for bloggers – WordPress.com has all tools needed to start a fully functional blog, allowing users to get their site live and running in no time.
There also some negative aspects to consider before choosing WordPress.com, such as:
Ads on free websites – if you start with the free option, your site will display ads from WordPress.com, making your website look less professional. You’ll need to upgrade to a premium plan to remove these ads.
No monetization ability – users can’t monetize their site with WordPress.com’s free service unless they purchase its Premium option that costs $18/month.
Limited access to plugins – you need to choose either WordPress.com’s Business plan or a more powerful one in order to install plugins on your website.
Lack of customization options – when using the free service, you’ll have limited access to WordPress.com themes and customization options.
Restricted access to the website stats – with the free plan of WordPress.com, users can’t install Google Analytics or other tracking platforms.
WordPress.com is an excellent platform for beginners to start a website for free. However, the service is quite limited when it comes to features, even if you’re on one of its premium plans. Unlocking the more advanced features requires a Business plan, which costs $40/month.
WordPress.org is an open-source software that’s free to download and install. This CMS is highly customizable thanks to its wide selection of themes and plugins and is fit for any type of website, from blogs to eCommerce stores.
However, to use it to its fullest users need to purchase a domain name and a hosting service.
Luckily, many web hosts offer cost-effective WordPress hosting solutions. Some of them are:
Hostinger – a great performance web host with an intuitive control panel. Their WordPress hosting plans start from $1.99/month. Check out our Hostinger review for an in-depth look.
Bluehost – offers various hosting services, including WordPress hosting plans (opens in new tab) that start from $2.95/month. Our Bluehost review showcases the pros and cons of using this web host.
GoDaddy – provides one-click installations for WordPress and other popular CMSs. This hosting company also offers four WordPress hosting plan options (opens in new tab), starting from ￡5.99/month. Read our GoDaddy review for more information.
Unlike WordPress.com, WordPress.org won’t display any ads on your site.
Here are more benefits of choosing WordPress.org:
Flexibility – users are free to customize their site and improve its functionality using any themes and plugins they want. People with coding knowledge can also utilize their own templates and tools.
A wide range of third-party plugins – there are thousands of tools available that integrate with the WordPress.org software, supporting or expanding such features as lead generation, SEO, and email marketing.
Monetization – unlike WordPress.com, WordPress.org lets you run ads and sell products directly from your website.
Supports scripts – WordPress.org users can add tracking scripts like Google Analytics on their site without limitations. This is a great advantage for those who want to use their site metrics to make data-driven decisions.
Before starting with WordPress.org, ensure you consider these aspects as well:
Purchase a hosting service – it’s essential to look for a web host if you want to use this self-hosted platform. Thankfully, many hosting providers offer affordable and beginner-friendly plans, coupled with a one-click WordPress installation option and support.
Responsible for website maintenance – WordPress.org users are responsible for their own backups and updates.
Although it might take longer to create a website with WordPress.org software, this platform offers more flexibility to build any kind of site you want.
Both WordPress.com and WordPress.org offer robust features, but the right platform for you depends on your website’s goals, budget, and skill set.
Let’s compare WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org based on their pricing, features, platform flexibility, security, ease of use, support, and monetization options.
Price
An important factor to look out for when picking your future website software is the price – it’s crucial to ensure that your budget can cover the upfront costs and long-term fees of using the platform.
People who want to spend little to no money on their sites can start with WordPress.com’s free plan – they will get up to 3 GB of disk space and a domain name with the .wordPress.com subdomain.
However, this option comes with WordPress.com’s branding ads, and users have to purchase a premium plan to remove them.
WordPress.com’s premium options for regular websites cost between $9-$70/month. All of these paid options include a free custom domain name during the first year.
The cheapest plan offers 6 GB of storage space, no branding ads, and the ability to upload audio files.
WordPress.com also offers plans for enterprises that start at $25,000/a year. These options include a content delivery network (CDN) hourly backups, and a GitHub repository.
As for using WordPress.org, you’ll need to look for a domain name and a web hosting provider before getting started.
(Image credit: Hostinger)
If you go with a popular web hosting company, such as Hostinger, the prices will be lower than the WordPress.com premium plan
Hostinger’s WordPress hosting solutions range from $1.99-$9.99/month. With its lowest-tier plan, users will get 50 GB of storage space, 24/7 live chat support, and free WordPress themes and plugins.
It’s also possible to purchase a custom domain name from Hostinger, making it more convenient to keep and manage your hosting and domain registration in one place.
A custom domain name usually costs between $0.99-9.99/year. But users can get a free domain if they opt for Hostinger’s WordPress Starter plan that costs $2.99/month.
With WordPress.org, you’re free to start with the basic hosting plan and only upgrade it when your site grows and needs more resources.
If you’re a beginner and looking for a way to start a website for free, WordPress.com can be a good choice. However, if you intend to build a business website or any other large personal project without going over your budget, consider choosing WordPress.org.
Features
When picking a website platform, look for a service that will provide you with all the necessary features for your project, such as customization options, analytics, and SEO tools.
WordPress.com, for example, comes built-in with the essential features to build a fully functioning blog.
(Image credit: Automattic)
Its free plan also includes Jetpack, plenty of free themes to choose from, and the ability to make simple changes on your WordPress site template.
However, you’ll need to upgrade to WordPress.com’s Premium plan to access more templates and advanced design customization.
Unlike WordPress.com, WordPress.org lets you fully customize a website regardless of the hosting plan you choose. Using this platform, you’re able to modify your site through code and plugins and make full use of the best WordPress themes available on the internet.
WordPress.org users can also install and use Google Analytics straightaway to track site metrics like bounce rate, time spent on pages, and conversion rates.
Meanwhile, Google Analytics isn’t available on WordPress.com’s free plan and lowest-tier premium plan.
Both WordPress.com and WordPress.org have the same high-quality SEO performance. However, WordPress.org gives you more flexibility to make manual changes to improve your site’s SEO, thanks to the many plugins available.
It’s worth noting that WordPress.com only includes advanced SEO tools on its Business, eCommerce, and VIP plans.
With WordPress.org, users can customize and add tools to their sites from the start. On the other hand, WordPress.com requires web owners to upgrade to a higher plan to acquire more features and customization options.
Another difference between WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org is how each platform extends a site’s functionality.
With WordPress.org, you have full access to the code that powers this software, allowing you to create custom tools or implement any extra functionality to fit your needs.
(Image credit: CreativeMinds)
The self-hosted WordPress.org also lets you install the best WordPress plugins to enhance your site’s performance. It’s also possible to use other free and premium third-party plugins from websites such as CreativeMinds.
On the flip side, plugins are only accessible on WordPress.com’s Business, eCommerce, and VIP plans.
For a simple website or blog, the built-in features of WordPress.com’s free, Personal, and Premium plans might suffice.
However, for those who want the freedom to modify their site without any additional payments, WordPress.org is the go-to choice.
Security
To ensure that your site is safe from malware and other cyber attacks, pick a platform that offers security tools out-of-the-box.
With WordPress.com, web owners won’t need to worry about any maintenance issues, as they will be automatically taken care of.
Moreover, users can’t access and modify their web server configuration, helping to protect their WordPress.com site from security risks.
WordPress.com also includes a pre-built SSL certificate on all of its plans, which will protect the site’s data and its visitors’ personal information.
WordPress.org’s system is also secure by default. However, users are responsible for updating the software regularly and taking care of backups on their own.
Moreover, many hosting providers provide additional security features that help protect your WordPress site. For instance, Hostinger’s WordPress plan includes weekly backups, a free SSL certificate, and the Cloudflare DNS Firewall to safeguard a website from DDoS attacks.
Using WordPress.com means your site will be secure and easy to maintain from the start. However, WordPress.org gives more options to secure your website further.
Ease of Use
A website platform should also be easy to use, ensuring that anyone can build a website without having to master its intricacies and spend hours coding.
WordPress.com and WordPress.org offer a similar user experience and page builders for content creation. The difference is that setting up a WordPress.com site is quicker than starting a WordPress.org website.
With WordPress.com, users simply need to create an account from this platform’s official homepage. Then, they can pick a template from a collection of pre-made themes, make a few changes, and start adding content to the site right away.
Meanwhile, setting up a site with the WordPress.org software requires more steps, including registering a custom domain name and choosing a hosting plan.
Fortunately, many hosting companies like Hostinger provide a one-click installer, allowing users to install and create a WordPress.org site quickly.
WordPress.com is an excellent platform for those who want a hassle-free way of setting up a website. If you pick the right hosting provider, however, it should be as easy to create a website with WordPress.org.
Support
Support is another critical aspect to discuss when comparing WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org – it determines how fast and efficiently a user can get help when facing a problem.
WordPress.com offers different types of support for each of its plans. With the free service, users can only ask for help on the WordPress community forums.
Those who sign up for any of the WordPress.com premium plans will be able to access the email support. However, gaining assistance via the 24/7 live chat support will require upgrading to WordPress.com’s Business plan.
On the other hand, WordPress.org offers no direct support from the platform itself. Instead, it provides a community support forum and extensive documentation.
WordPress.org users can also get help from their web hosting provider. For instance, Hostinger offers 24/7 support via email and live chat, ready to lend a helping hand whenever you need them.
Other than that, users can learn from the many resources on the internet covering WordPress.org topics.
Those who are new to web development should consider using WordPress.org and picking a hosting provider with a support team that is available anytime. The open-source platform also has a large support community, offering a lot of self-help resources.
Monetization Options
If you want to generate income from your site, it’s crucial to choose a platform that offers several monetization options.
With WordPress.com, the choices to make money from a website are limited. Users on free and Personal plans can’t monetize their sites at all.
WordPress.com also places its ads on free sites without sharing the earnings with the web owners.
(Image credit: BuySellAds)
To integrate with monetization tools like Google AdSense and BuySellAds, users also have to upgrade to the Premium plan at a minimum.
Before you get to sell online, it’s also essential to sign up for WordPress.com’s eCommerce plan. This option lets you accept payments in over 60 countries, sell unlimited products, and integrate with top shipping carriers.
In contrast, the self-hosted WordPress version allows you to monetize your site in any way without restrictions, from selling physical items to embedding referral links into blog content.
Although it’s possible to make money online with WordPress.com, it’s much more efficient to use WordPress.org when building an online store or selling ad space on a website.
Which do we recommend?
Knowing the differences between WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org is crucial for deciding which platform to choose for your online presence.
In the end, the right choice will come from knowing your goals, budget, and skill set to determine which platform is the right choice for you. If you’re looking for great customization options and the ability to build any website that you imagine, then WordPress.org is the right choice for you. If you lack the technical knowledge and are looking to build a site using ready-made templates without worrying about the budget too much, then WordPress.com is your go-to platform.
Also check out our complete list of the best web hosting services
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