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You may be familiar with the new Matter smart home standard and how it will simplify the purchase and configuration of connected devices. Additionally, those devices ought to now function with any voice assistant, smart speaker, or smart phone running any smart home platform, including Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, or any other Matter-compatible choice.


One of the two wireless protocols Matter employs (the other being Wi-Fi) is Thread. If you got enthusiastic and went out and bought a new smart socket or smart light bulb to try this out, you might have done so. What happens next, then?




Although Matter is intended to simplify every aspect of the smart home, there are still some teething pains, especially with Thread — after all, the smart home didn't just appear overnight! Here's an overview of everything you need and how to set up a Matter-over-Thread device so that you can ensure that your new smart plug, smart shade, or smart light switch is installed correctly the first time.




WHAT IS THREAD?

Originally created in conjunction with the first Nest thermostat, Thread is a wireless mesh networking protocol. It is intended to provide better range, longer battery life, and faster, more dependable connectivity for smart home devices than alternative solutions. Door locks, light bulbs, sensors, shades, switches, plugs, buttons, and thermostats are some of the most well-liked smart home accessories that contain it.


You require both a Matter controller and a Thread border router to configure any Matter-over-Thread device on a Matter-compatible smart home platform. It is possible to set up the controller and border router as two independent devices or as one merged one.



 The unique feature of Matter controllers and Thread border routers is that they can be integrated into almost any device, including smart speakers, TVs, fridges, streaming boxes, smart home hubs, thermostats, and light switches. While these look and function largely like conventional smart home hubs and bridges you may have connected to your router in the past. 



Set up Matter-over-Thread device in your smart home

image courtsey: popeart_


Microsoft today officially launches the Starfield Xbox controller and headset following weeks of leaks. Since the release of its Xbox Series X/S consoles in 2020, Microsoft has produced a number of limited edition controllers, the most recent of which is the one bearing the Starfield brand.


The Starfield-branded controller, which costs $79.99, will be sold starting today and features a look that was influenced by Starfield. The controller has textured hand grips and accents in gold and grey to match the Starfield branding.






Today also marks the debut of the $124.99 Starfield-branded headset. The wireless headset has a similar design to the controller and is based on Microsoft's currently available and well-received $99 Xbox Wireless headset.


In addition to the controller and headset, Bethesda is including a unique watch with the Starfield logo as part of the collector's edition of the game. The watch, which serves as a compass and provides planet-specific environmental data, is also playable in the game. Your physical watch will display notifications when it is connected to your phone.




Microsoft's Starfield Branded Controller now available for purchase



 With the announcement that passkeys, a new cryptographic keys solution requiring a preauthenticated device, is coming to Google accounts on all major platforms, the company's next step toward a password-free future has arrived. Google users can switch to passkeys as of right now and completely do away with passwords and two-step verification codes when logging in.




Google, Apple, Microsoft, and other tech firms affiliated with the FIDO Alliance are promoting passkeys as a safer, more practical substitute for passwords. They can substitute a local PIN or a device's built-in biometric authentication, like a fingerprint or Face ID, for conventional passwords and other sign-in mechanisms like 2FA or SMS verification. Since there is no password that could be stolen in a phishing attack, this biometric data isn't shared with Google (or any other third party), and passkeys only exist on your devices, which offers greater security and protection.




When a passkey is added to a Google account, the platform will start asking for it when you sign in or whenever it notices potentially suspect behaviour that calls for additional verification. Passwords for Google accounts can be stored on any hardware that supports it, including iPhones running iOS 16 and Android devices running Android 9, and shared to other devices from the OS using services like iCloud or password managers like Dashlane and 1Password (scheduled to launch in "early 2023").


In order to temporarily access your Google account, you can still utilize another person's device. Instead of transferring the passkey to the new hardware, choosing the "use a passkey from another device" option just creates a one-time sign-in. Creating passkeys on a shared device is never a good idea, as Google warns, as anyone who can access and unlock that device will also have access to your Google account.




If users believe that someone else may be able to access their Google account or if they lose the lone device that contained the passkey, they can immediately revoke the passkey in the account settings. Users who have signed up for Google's Advanced Protection Program, a free program that offers extra security safeguards against phishing and harmful apps, can opt to utilize passkeys instead of their regular physical security keys.

You can now access your Google account without entering a password.

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With the advent of online casinos, the world of gambling has become more accessible and convenient than ever before. From the comfort of your own home, you can now enjoy a wide range of casino games, from slots and poker to blackjack and roulette. However, with so many online casinos to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start.

 In this article, we'll take a look at some key factors to consider when choosing the right casino for your gaming needs.


Reputation and License

One of the most important things to consider when choosing an online casino is their reputation and license. You want to ensure that the casino you choose is reputable and trustworthy. Look for casinos that have been around for a while and have a good track record of fair play and customer satisfaction. One way to gauge the reputation of a casino is by perusing online reviews and assessing their ratings on reputable review websites.

 

Another important factor to consider is the casino's license. Make sure that the casino is licensed by a reputable authority, as this will ensure that the casino is operating legally and that their games are fair and unbiased.

 


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Game Selection

Another important factor to consider when choosing an online casino is the selection of games on offer. Different casinos specialize in different types of games, so it's important to find one that has a good selection of the games you're interested in playing.

 

Look for a casino that offers a wide range of options, including popular games like slots, blackjack, poker, and roulette, as well as more niche offerings like baccarat, craps, or keno. Some casinos, like Fanduel Casino, may also offer sports betting options.

 

 The quality of the games being offered also needs to be considered. Look for casinos that work with reputable software providers, such as Microgaming, NetEnt, or Playtech, as these providers offer high-quality games that are fair and enjoyable to play.


Software and Technology

The software and technology used by an online casino can have a big impact on your overall gaming experience. Look for casinos that use reputable software providers, such as Microgaming, NetEnt, or Playtech. These providers offer high-quality games with smooth graphics and reliable performance.

 


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Mobile Compatibility

In today's world, many people prefer to do everything on their mobile devices, including playing casino games. If you're one of those people, make sure that the casino you choose is compatible with mobile devices. Look for casinos that offer mobile apps or mobile-optimized websites for easy access to your favorite games on the go.

 

Payment Methods

When choosing an online casino, it's important to consider the payment methods they offer. Look for casinos that offer a variety of payment options, including debit and credit cards, e-wallets, as well as bank transfers. Make sure that the payment methods offered are safe and secure, and that the casino has a good track record of timely payouts.



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Bonuses and Promotions

Finally, consider the bonuses and promotions offered by the casino. Look for casinos that offer generous welcome bonuses, as well as ongoing promotions and loyalty programs. These can help you maximize your winnings and make your overall gaming experience more enjoyable.

 

Conclusion

Finding the ideal online casino to fulfill your gaming requirements may seem overwhelming, but you can simplify the process by taking into account these crucial aspects. This way, you'll be able to locate a casino that guarantees a secure, protected, and pleasurable gaming environment.

 

With a plethora of online casinos at your disposal, you're sure to discover a casino that matches your gaming preferences, no matter what kind of game you enjoy. Whether you're a fan of classic slots, exhilarating table games, or immersive live dealer games, there's a casino out there that's customized to your liking. Dedicate ample time to scrutinize all your alternatives, evaluate their advantages and disadvantages, and select the casino that delivers the ultimate gaming experience for you.

 


How to Choose the Right Casino for Your Gaming Needs

 



With Chrome 113, which is scheduled to launch in about three weeks, Google has announced that WebGPU, an API that gives web apps more access to your graphics card's capabilities, will be enabled by default.




A blog post claims that WebGPU offers "more than three times improvements in machine learning model inferences" and can help developers produce graphics at the same level as they can currently with much less code. The last one is really shocking; while better machine learning performance was intriguing in 2021, when the feature was added to Chrome on an experimental basis, it may now be even more useful in the era of generative AIs and sophisticated language models. There is plenty of room for cool machine learning applications that utilize your local hardware, even though services like Google's Bard and Microsoft's Bing don't really do so.




This month's release, according to Google, "serves as a building block for future updates and enhancements," promising "more advanced graphics features" and "deeper access to shader cores" along with improvements to how you actually create content that uses WebGPU, in the future.


The API has been under development for a while. Design work on it began in 2017 and has continued ever since. Additionally, it is not a Chrome-only standard; in the future, Firefox and Safari should also support it. According to Google, the company is attempting to broaden the implementation to support more operating systems, including Linux and Android.



Google webGPU tech for next-gen browser gaming

Today, you can ask Siri to tell you the temperature in your bedroom or Alexa to turn on the lights, and sometimes they'll get it right. You might also hear something like, "You have 15 lights; which one would you like to control?" or "Kathmandu's current temperature is 53 degrees." What if your voice assistant could provide "intelligent" responses to vague questions like "I've had a tough day; what's a good way to unwind?" in addition to being consistently accurate? For instance, by drawing the shades, turning down the lights, lowering the thermostat, and setting some Netflix treats on hold?




Alex Capecelatro, co-founder of the Josh.ai home automation system, claims that is the potential of voice assistants powered by new AI language models. Josh.ai has already begun developing a prototype integration using ChatGPT from OpenAI. In this proof-of-concept clip, Capecelatro requests that Josh's assistant open the blinds, turn off the music, and provide the current weather (controlling three things at once is a capability Josh already has). When he says, "I'm filming a video; it's kind of dark in here," the voice assistant responds — somewhat awkwardly — by turning up the lights in the room. He then uses more natural voice commands for the smart home.







Josh can parse when it hears "satellites" instead of "turn on the lights" and respond appropriately thanks to extensive knowledge graph models. It might sound like "Open the drapes" means "Get some grapes," but Josh is savvy enough to realize you don't live near a vineyard. Capecelatro explains that even when you say, "Turn on the goddam lights," we understand what you mean because we spend a lot of time working behind the scenes to correct mishearing, understand different accents, and do other things of the sort.





Only custom smart home installations powered by Crestron, Control4, or Josh's own standalone smart home control system can currently use Josh as a voice control layer. Josh has established a reputation for being a more dependable, more private voice assistant in that more secure setting, where the system is set up and largely controlled by a professional installer and using Josh.ai's proprietary hardware, despite having a higher barrier to entry. (While Josh has a cloud component, the majority of requests are processed locally on the Josh Core or the Josh Micro, and when using cloud-based APIs, personally identifiable information is stripped out, according to Capecelatro.)




Would you let ChatGPT control your smart home?

 Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O) sought to reassure investors that its significant investment in artificial intelligence (AI) is paying off, despite the fact that Microsoft customers are scrutinizing their cloud spending due to the current economic climate.

The use of GitHub Copilot, a little-discussed tool that can write computer code for programmers, provides some preliminary evidence.






The tool attracted 400,000 subscribers in a month after it was made available to the public in June of last year. According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, more than a million people have used Copilot till date.

Microsoft this week said it would embark on a multibillion-dollar investment including supercomputer development and cloud support to power a startup it first backed in 2019, known as OpenAI, which is at the forefront of generative AI.

Copilot itself, as well as ChatGPT, a well-liked chatbot that Open AI released last year, rely on OpenAI's technology. Microsoft claims that ChatGPT, which can write both code and prose or poetry, will be available via its cloud.





In the event that it is updated, ChatGPT could potentially respond to any user query, giving Microsoft's Bing search engine a chance to challenge the market leader, Google, owned by Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.O). According to a previous Reuters report, Google is developing a significant AI launch of its own.


According to Nadella, the Azure OpenAI Service, which makes startup technology available via Microsoft's cloud, has already drawn 200 clients, including KPMG and Al Jazeera.





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Microsoft is attracting users to its generative AI software.

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