These Guys Made $3 Million In Four Days From The Bitcoin Craze

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/guys-made-3m-from-bitcoin-craze-2013-11

Say what you want about the long-term viability of Bitcoin, the digital currency that's been going crazy lately.

Bitcoin has been incredibly lucrative for Sam Cole, Marcus Erlandssona and Andreas Kennemer.

Because of Bitcoin, they made $3 million in just four days.

Their company, KnCMiner, doesn't own Bitcoins or trade them. They make the special computers that allow people to "mine" Bitcoins from cyberspace.

From November 7 to 10, 2013, while Bitcoin prices were climbing wildly, Stockholm-based KnCMiner sold out of its newest Bitcoin computer, selling 5,000 units. These computers cost $7.000 a piece (and yes, they take Bitcoin as payment).

At one point, the computers were selling so fast that KnCMiner generated $600,000 in less than five minutes, it said.

That's because there's basically three ways to get a hold of a Bitcoin. You can buy them. You can take them as payment for products or services. You can go out into cyberspace and create them, otherwise called "mining."

Mining a Bitcoin is hard for a typical computer to do. A computer has to solve a series of difficult cryptography problems and most computers don't have the computational power to do that.

So companies like KnCMiner developed special Bitcoin computers using custom computer chips. (Such chips are called ASICs which stands for "Application-Specific Integrated Circuit.") These computers do only one job: mine Bitcoins.

We asked cofounder Andreas Kennemer about the business of Bitcoin computers.

Business Insider: How is a Bitcoin "mined"?

Andreas Kennemer: Bitcoins are built from cal! culating an algorithm (or encryption problems) called SHA-256. By using the processing power from your ASICs or graphic cards, you try to solve the algorithm (called "solving a block") to create new Bitcoins. If you succeed in solving the algorithm, your result is verified by the other processing “computers” in the Bitcoin network.

If you are the lucky first to solve a block you get rewarded with Bitcoins, currently 25 per block. The algorithm also keeps track of how many Bitcoins are allowed to be created. If the creation exceeds more than 3600 Bitcoins a day, the difficulty to create Bitcoins increases. This means that it gets harder for the computers to solve a block and the amount of Bitcoins that can be created remains the same.

BI: What's different about a Bitcoin computer from a regular PC, like a high-end MacBook pro? Or a "supercomputer"?

AK: A Bitcoin computer has an ASIC chip specifically designed for calculation of the Bitcoin algorithm (SHA-256). This computer has only one task and can only perform that task. Because it is specifically designed for that purpose, it can calculate the Bitcoin algorithm extremely fast compared to a [regular computer] CPU or a graphic card.

We have spoken to Chinese engineers running the world’s strongest supercomputer  in China. If that supercomputer were to calculate the Bitcoin algorithm, it would be the equivalent of 40 of our Jupiter models [550 gigahashes per second, gh/s, or 550 billion computations per second] to be equal in performance. 

BI: How fast can one of your top computer mine bitcoins?

AK: Current average mining speed of our fastest model (Jupiter) is 0.6 coins a day per device.

BI: Are serious Bitcoin minors also using supercomputers to mine?

AK: No, those computers can’t compete with our devices. The ASICs are specifically designed for calculation of the SHA-256 ! algorith m and the cost-per-Gigahash (calculation power) is much lower.

SEE ALSO: Researchers Say 'Bitcoin Is Broken' And Could Collapse

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Pinterest's APIs let developers embed pins directly on their websites (updated)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/14/pinterest-embed-pins-search-api/

A lot of people use Pinterest to keep track of stuff they'd like to buy, places they want to go and food they want to eat, but there's always been separation between Pinterest and the actual sources of those desires -- you only had the option to click a Pinterest button on a site to pin the content in question to your board of choice. No longer.

Pinterest has taken another step to strengthen its partnerships with third-party websites with the release of its APIs today. The tools allow web developers to embed recent, trending and most-clicked pins (that update regularly according to what folks are pinning), and even implement a Pinterest search surface that surfaces pins of items from your domain surface custom search results on their pages, too. Folks will also now be able to pin stuff directly from websites, so as to not interrupt the retail experience with a detour to Pinterest proper. To illustrate these newly bestowed powers, Pinterest has partnered up with a slew of well-known sites, including Zappos, Target, Walmart, BuzzFeed, and Better Homes And Garden -- and if you'd like the full list and further description of how to use the new APIs, hit the source below.

Update: Our earlier version of this story mistakenly indicated that the new APIs enabled searching Pinterest on third party sites. In fact, the APIs only allow devs to create a custom keyword search and embed those search results on a webpage.

Filed under: Internet

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Source: Pinterest blog

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Wolfram working on a 'symbolic' programing language, will be its 'most important' project yet

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/14/wolfram-language/

What Wolfram has accomplished with Alpha is nothing short of stunning. Sure, it can't help you find videos of cats dressed as sharks riding Roombas, but the company's goals were always much loftier. Using the technological foundation it built with Alpha and Mathematica, it's now working on bring its natural language, knowledge-based computational prowess to programming languages. Many of the details are still quite vague but, according to founder Stephen Wolfram, it will be a general purpose programming language, like C++, except it will be largely self contained. That means no (or at least less) pointing to external libraries to accomplish complex tasks. Those other languages focus mostly on structure and leave the difficult task of graphing or processing images to extensions, while Wolfram Language will have at its heart a "giant web of algorithms" to perform many operations. As you'd expect, it integrates quite tightly with Wolfram Alpha, so stock prices, tide times or images of adorable pit bull puppies are easily pulled up in whatever app you're building.

Perhaps most importantly, though, because it uses the natural language approach pioneered with Alpha, even the least tech savvy among you should be able to start programming in no time. While we'll clearly have to reserve final judgement for when Wolfram language is available to the public, it sounds like an ideal tool for a child to learn programming on. With its forgiving syntax and deep database, students could quickly and easily whip up simple, but surprisingly functional programs while still leaning the necessary procedure and structure for more advanced languages like Python or Dart. If you're itching for more details, hit up the source for Stephen Wolfram very, very long post on its development.

Filed under: Misc

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Via: The Verge

Source: Stephen Wolfram

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The Next Big Superfruit: The Buffaloberry

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/buffaloberry-is-the-new-superfruit-2013-11

A relatively unknown fruit, called the buffaloberry, could be the world's next big superfruit, according to a new study published in the Journal of Food Science.

Researchers who collected wild buffaloberries in North and South Dakota found the tiny red, slightly sour fruits are rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that appears to lower the risk of certain types of cancers, as well as an acidic compound called methyl-lycopenoate that can be used as a natural food colorant. They are a type of pigment called carotenoids that give fruits and vegetables like tomatoes and carrots their red or orange colors.

The fruits are also a good source of other phenolic antioxidants, the compounds responsible for their tartness and generally thought to play a role in preventing cancer and slowing cellular aging.

According to the study, the lycopene content of buffaloberries tends to be "high in comparison to tomatoes and other commercially available fruit."

The shrub on which the edible berries grow is native to North America and is found growing on many Indian reservations, land that's unsuitable for most other crops. The hardy shrubs can grow pretty much anywhere, even in dry environments with poor soil quality.

These berries have traditionally been eaten by Native American people, but the new findings suggest that it could be a valuable food crop, especially for regions in need of economic development. 

Buffaloberries are high enough in sugar to taste good as a fresh or dried fruit (they have the consistency of a raisin when dried) and its acidity makes it desirable f! or wine makers.

Although commercial production of these fruits is currently very limited, researchers believe that the "potential for growing, consuming, and marketing buffaloberry fruit on and around Midwestern Native American Reservations provides both and economic and nutritional opportunity that should be exploited."

QUIZ: Which Food Has More Calories?

SEE ALSO: Man Goes On 60-Day Juice Fast To Save His Life

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Google's homegrown Dart web programming language emerges from beta

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/14/googles-dart-1-0-sdk-released-out-of-beta-to-web-programmers/

While Google giveth and taketh away end-user apps, it's generally been good to developers -- all the better to get new tools into the wild. One of those pet projects, Dart, is now out of beta and into a "production ready" version 1.0 SDK, according to Mountain View. In a nutshell, it's a programming language that aims to simplify, speed up and (it hopes) one day replace Javascript as the app of choice for web developers. Though no browser actually supports Dart natively (except its own Dartium browser), the SDK comes with a Javascript translator that Google claims produces faster and tighter code. It's also added code completion, debugging and more, while adding that Adobe and others have started supporting it. Though the idea of learning another programming language makes us tear up, if you're game, hit! the sou rce.

Filed under: Software, Google

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Source: Google Developers Blog

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IBM preparing to launch a Watson cloud service, lease out APIs to developers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/14/ibm-preparing-to-launch-a-watson-cloud-service-lease-out-apis-t/

Need a little help from a supercomputer? You just might get it: IBM is getting ready to release a more powerful version of its Watson supercomputer, and it'll be available for rent. According to the PC World, the company is working on a Watson-based cloud service that developers can use to build richer, more interactive applications. The project uses a smaller, more scaleable version of Watson to build cognitive supercomputers as needed -- potentially leaving a smaller footprint. IBM is already working with partners to kick the service off, specifically Fluid, who is creating a Watson-powered retail assistant that's said to actively converse with customers to help them make "more informed buying decisions."

Developers familiar with RESTful APIs shouldn't have too much trouble using Watson, IBM's Rob High told the PC World, although it won't be exactly like traditional programming. "Cognitive systems are different in that they have the ability to simulate human behavior. For the most part humans have had to adapt to the computer. As we get into cognitive systems we open up the aperture to the computer adapting to the human." IBM has yet to specifics on when the Watson-powered cloud will be available, or how much it'll cost developers to work with the Jeopardy star. Hopefully, the cognitive computer will still be able to put together a tasty pastry.

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Source: New York Times, PCWorld

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Facebook Open Academy puts students on real coding projects for college credits

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/14/facebook-open-academy/

While books and lectures are essential, there's nothing like real world experience, and that's what Facebook's Open Academy offers to budding software developers. The initiative, which debuted as a pilot program at Stanford, has now expanded to 22 universities' computer science departments across the globe. It not only gives students a chance to work on real open source projects like Ruby On Rails and Mozilla Open Badges, it also pairs them up with mentors for guidance. Of course, we wouldn't be surprised if Facebook's using the program to hunt for gifted devs -- or if young hopefuls see it as their entry into one of the best companies to work for. If you'd like to get involved, or bring the program to your university, check out the program's Facebook page for contact information -- but hurry, the 2014 winter session kicks off in February.

[Image credit: Facebook Open Academy]

Filed under: Facebook

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Via: The Next Web

Source: Facebook Open Academy

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The TV of the future is already in Japan and it feels like real life

Source: http://sploid.gizmodo.com/8k-tv-films-arrive-to-japan-and-they-feel-like-looking-1464050347/@caseychan

Watching Ultra HD 4K content—with 2,160 lines of vertical definition—on a Ultra HD 4K TV set is impressive. But 8K—four times the total pixels—is so incredibly realistic that it feels like you're looking through a window into real life, as demonstrated by this film screened by the Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK).

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Zepp's multi-sport sensor arriving November 19th for $150

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/13/zepps-multi-sport-sensor-arriving-november-19th-for-150/

Most of us flail wildly at a ball without any clue about what happens to it, then wonder why we don't get better. To help out, Zepp's 3D sports motion sensor is designed to put hard numbers to your golf, baseball or tennis swing by showing you (via an iOS or Android app) your swing's speed and contortions. We now know that you'll be able to grab one for $150 from Zepp now, or at Apple and Verizon on November 19th, though personally? We're kind of afraid to see exactly how bad we are. %Gallery-slideshow121586%

Filed under: Cellphones, Tablets, Wearables

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Jolla phone will use Nokia Here map data, get Android apps through Yandex

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/13/jolla-deals-with-nokia-and-yandex/

Those who pick up Jolla's first smartphone won't be hurting for content. The mobile startup has just struck a deal to use Nokia's Here services for map data in Sailfish OS; early adopters will have detailed location info in 190 countries. They'll have an easy time finding software, too, since the company has also unveiled plans to include Yandex's Android app store. The Russian web giant will give Sailfish users access to about 85,000 apps, including major titles like Skype and Twitter. Between these two agreements, Jolla is practically ready for prime time -- about all it has left to do is ship its inaugural device to carriers.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: Jolla (PDF), Yandex Blog

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Newly launched Smithsonian X 3D Collection offers historical models you can print at home

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/13/smithsonian-x-3d-collection/

We've already seen first-hand that the Smithsonian has a keen interest in 3D printing and modelling, and it's now turned that interest into something of a public service with a new online collection that's just launched today. Dubbed Smithsonian X 3D, the collection not only includes a browser-based 3D viewer that lets you get up close with the objects it's already scanned -- everything from fossils to historical artifacts like the Wright Flyer -- but also lets users download the necessary files to print an actual model on your own 3D printer at home. That's all coinciding with a two-day conference of the same name that's started today, and is also being webcast on Ustream. You can start exploring the options available at the source link below.

Filed under: Misc, Science, Alt

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Source: Smithsonian X 3D

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Dual-screen YotaPhone is shipping in time to impress nerds at your holiday party

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/13/yotaphone-shipping/

If you wrote Santa asking for a dual-display phone this year, the fat man from the North Pole may be gliding down your chimney with a YotaPhone on Christmas Eve. It's been nearly a year since we first spied the LCD and E Ink-packing handset, and now TechCrunch says the Russian-based company is finally ready to make good on its promise to bring the device to consumers "before Christmas." As you might recall, the Android-based handset with a split personality features a full-color, Gorilla Glass 4.3-inch 1,280 x 720 LCD display on the front and a 200 dpi E Ink display on the rear. The company has yet to stick a price tag on either screen and the specs aren't exactly earth-shattering , but if it does make good on its promise, we're sure someone will pick up the YotaPhone for novelty sake alone.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: TechCrunch

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IBM Buys Fiberlink: One Of The First Tech Companies To Help Enterprises With Google Glass (IBM)

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/ibm-buys-fiberlink-2013-11

IBM today bought FiberLink Communication, a company that plays in the hot enterprise market with the un-sexy name of "mobile device management" (MDM).

MDM software helps enterprises cope with all the devices that employees bring to work: their own smartphones, their tablets, their PCs. (In enterprise speak, that's a trend called "bring your own device" or BYOD.)

IT pros don't control these devices, but they still need to make sure that they won't introduce viruses to the corporate network and that they have access to corporate software. MDM software does this sort of thing.

There are quite a few MDM players out there, and it's not surprising that IBM would acquire one. One unique thing about FiberLink is that it was the first MDM player to support Google Glass, prepping for the time when employees bring them to work. Market research firm Gartner expects companies to be using Glass (and similar devices) big time by 2017.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. FiberLink raised $50 million in 2003 from Technology Crossover Ventures.

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Xi3's Piston modular PC runs a custom UI on top of Windows, we go eyes-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/13/xi3-pistons-modular-pc-custom-UI-hands-on/

There isn't much mystery left surrounding Xi3's modular gaming PC: we know it'll run Windows 7 Embedded, and we know it'll go on sale November 29th for $1,000. But there's one lingering detail that's continued to confuse us: what's the user interface like? So far, we've only gotten a brief look at some custom UI running on top of Windows, and even that wasn't final software. Finally, though, we caught up with the Xi3 team and had a chance to see the still-unnamed UI in action.

By default, the Piston boots straight into this custom interface, as opposed to Windows. As promised, it hooks into various web services like Netflix and iTunes (to name just two examples), so if you click on "Hulu" or something like that, you'll just need to enter your login credentials to run the "app," as it were. Additionally, you can pin your favorite games to the main menu so that you can get at them with one click, without having to dig deeper into the menus. Conversely, you can remove items from the menu entirely if they're not relevant to you, as well as reorder them. Oh, and if you're ever using Windows and want to get back into the custom-UI side, you can just double-tap the Start button on your keyboard. It's very simple, really (the whole point is to stay focused on gaming), but you know what they say: a picture says a thousand words. Check out our demo video below if you want a better feel for how the whole thing works.%Gallery-slideshow121523%

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

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Google opens education-only Play store

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/11/13/google-play-education/

Granted, they missed the back-to-school season by a couple of months, but now appears to be the time to launch educational initiatives. Yesterday, MakerBot offered up some pomp and circumstance for its Academy offering, working to make 3D printing more accessible for public schools. Today, Google's opening up an education-themed version of Play, designed specifically for K-12 schools. The store offers bulk purchasing for classes and and districts, which should be a pretty solid enticement for devs attempting to break into the education market. There's more info on the offering from a developer's perspective in the source link below.

Filed under: Software, Mobile, Google

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Source: Android Developers Blog

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