10 essential resources for intermediate C programmers

C is one of the most common languages taught at university, even though more modern languages like Java and Python are considered easier to learn. Why is that? Well, learning C is considered a good foundation for learning fancier languages later, as you get a better idea of what is going on behind the scenes by doing some things yourself. It's also widely used, forming the majority of code written to create Windows, Linux, Mac, databases, embedded systems and more.

In this...

8 June 2018 | Development Tools

10 essential resources for intermediate Java programmers

Java remains one of the most popular programming languages to learn, thanks to its long history and reputation for being easy to pick up yet difficult to master. After you get through the initial tutorials and become more comfortable in the language, finding out how to progress further can be difficult. This article is intended to help with that, offering ten useful resources that will help you further improve your skills and work your way to becoming an expert programmer. Let's...

1 June 2018 | Java

Samsung set to switch from Tizen to Wear OS smartwatches

Prolific leaker Evan Blass (of @evleaks and Venture Beat fame) produced a rather interesting morsel this week: reportedly, Samsung employees have been spotted wearing smartwatches running Wear OS, rather than Samsung's own Tizen operating system.

Samsung has been committed to its homegrown platform for a few years now, with Gear smartwatches and fitness trackers exclusively using the Tizen OS, so seeing a switch to Wear OS is something of a sea...

25 May 2018 | Wearables

10 essential resources for intermediate Python programmers

So, you're an intermediate Python programmer. You've earned that title through coming into Python after knowing another language, or by going through Python tutorials or classes until you felt confident enough in the basics. That's great. Now, it's time to really spread your wings and really start thinking in a Pythonic way. Here are ten of my favourite resources to do just that, including fun challenges, must-read books, reference tools and projects. Python Module of the Week Website,...

24 May 2018 | Languages

Microsoft reveals little-known Notepad secrets – after *nix EOL support launched

Earlier this month, Microsoft proudly announced it had brought *nix end-of-line support to Notepad, more than a decade after it was first requested. The excitement from developers seems to have been quite palpable, as Microsoft has returned to the subject of Notepad in its latest MSDN blog.

In the blog, Microsoft reveals that Notepad is one of the most common test cases for apps and Windows features developed at the company. As soon as Microsoft developers need...

23 May 2018 | Development Tools

ARM reveals Project Trillium machine learning processor

Arm is best known for its mobile CPU and GPU processors, but the company is keen to also show its expertise in more emerging fields. This week, Arm unveiled its new Project Trillium machine learning processor (MLP), three months after first revealing its existence.

The MLP exists to allow smartphones and tablets to perform machine learning independently, without needing to connect to a server somewhere. While a smartphone has limited performance, there are many advantages to this...

23 May 2018 | API

Microsoft and Google say they have found a fourth Meltdown-Spectre variant

Bad news, everyone. If you thought we were out of the woods when it comes to the Meltdown / Spectre CPU security flaws, then think again. Researchers from Microsoft and Google have identified a previously unknown fourth variant of the processor design issues that made front page news when they were discovered last year.

Like its predecessors, variant 4 (or CVE-2018-3639, to give its full name) describes a processor design issue that could allow malicious software to discover...

22 May 2018 | Hacking & Security

Egretia mashes up HTML5 and blockchain

Beijing-based company Egret Technology is planning to combine two of the most important modern technologies, HTML5 and blockchain, in a project called Egretia. The idea behind Egretia is solving some technical issues in the HTML5 game industry—such as multiplayer matchmaking, digital item marketplaces, data storage, advertising and crowdfunding—using blockchain.

Egret is already well-known in the HTML5 community due to its work on HTML5 development tools, including an...

21 May 2018 | Development Tools

Legos new Powered Up line lets you drive and code the Batmobile

Lego took to the New York City Toy Fair this week to announce its new line of connected toys. They're called Powered Up, and they stride the line between traditional sets and programming-oriented brands like Boost and Mindstorms. The idea is to make sets that are fun out of the box, with nothing but building required, but to add in smarter elements for kids to take the toys further, like remote controls and programming.

The lead set is the Batman App-Controlled Batmobile, a...

18 May 2018 | Development Tools

Open source Android Wear alternative AsteroidOS released

After more than three years of development, AsteroidOS has finally reached the version 1.0 milestone. This open source smartwatch OS is designed to offer Android Wear owners an alternative, especially for older watch models that have stopped receiving Wear OS updates.

The first stable release of AsteroidOS includes what its creators call 'all the features needed for a modern wearable experience'. That includes core watch apps like alarms, timers and weather, plus smartphone...

17 May 2018 | Android