It was quite a strange sight...

I would have almost missed this strange sight of mushrooms (probably the species called Agaricus campestris )in clusters, quite large ones at that growing in the form of an elliptic ring. It was quite interesting and as I was a bit late in arriving at the site, the elliptic ring was only some 60 to 70% of the original.

Here is a picture of a part of the ring which I found near Chaminade University in Honolulu, Hawaii (11/27/2015). It had rained heavily for the past 3 to 4days. I live quite close by and this is neither a wooded area nor a forest. The ring was right in front of the statue of William Joseph Chaminade which you see in these photographs.

It seems to be not too uncommon and the phenomena is referred to as 'Fairy Ring' or 'Elf Ring' or 'ronds de sorciere' which is supposed to grow around a tree that has been removed. I am not sure about this regarding the ring of mushrooms here.

Here are some pictures and I regret I missed the complete ring that my son told me he saw.

Mushroom clusters

Facing the statue. The ring was right in front of the statue

From behind the statue looking at Waikiki far away.

Fixing the Window 10 tiles that disappeared

I start my laptop, Windows 10 (x32bit) and the programs are very slow. Internet connection is lousy, no matter what browser I use, the Edge, Firefox or the Chrome. Then to my utter dismay, I find that I do not see the Tiles although I see the Windows Icon and the Cortana. Unfortunately Cortana can only take you to a link. I cannot ask her to troubleshoot or repair. Right now I can only see the items that I get by right clicking the Windows Icon in the start position(extreme left).

Finally I searched and might have solved the problem (a trojan), perhaps it will work for you too, I hope. Follow this link here.

Save a bundle, configure Wi-Fi Sense

Wi-Fi Sense helps you to save on cellular data as it automatically connects you to Wi-Fi networks it finds. You can also assist in networking with password protected contacts.

You can do all of the following (or none if you so desire):

• Automatically connecting you to crowdsourced open Wi-Fi networks it knows about.
• Accepting a Wi-Fi network's terms of use on your behalf and providing additional info for you to networks that require it. 
• Letting you exchange password-protected Wi-Fi network access with your contacts to give and get Internet access without seeing each other's Wi-Fi network passwords.

As Wi-Fi sense use location service you may need to give permission.
Read more here. :

Here is how you turn on Wi-Fi Sense in Windows 10 (What I am showing is on a Preview copy in Nokia Icon)
You can get to Wi-Fi Settings from your Start screen and you see the following displayed (I am connected to my Wi-Fi in the apartment):

When you scroll down further you will see the button for Wi-Fi Sense as shown here:

Click on Wi-Fi Sense button to display Wi-Fi Sense settings screen.

 I have not checked the boxes as I do not intend to share.

Now I go out of my apartment to the common area in our condominium and I have lost my Wi-Fi connection, but Wi-Fi Sense has already found the condo's Wi-Fi (RegencyPark). I get connected to it using the password. If it is a public site like Whole Food or some other, I get connected without searching for them or entering a password (if allowed by the business).

 The screens look somewhat differently in Windows 8.1 (Nokia Icon).
This is Wi-Fi sense screen

 Scroll down further to see this

Why buy a PC, all you need is this phone...

You get the PC-like experience by connecting your phone to a Microsoft Display Dock and connect a monitor and keyboard to it. This is possible because of the Continuum feature in Windows 10. Of course your phone functionality is not compromised and you can still attend to your calls.
Microsoft Display Dock is offered free with Lumia 950XL  available at Microsoft Stores.

Nice feature for kids on Windows 10 Phone

 

Set up kid's corner and take care of your kids using your phone

Children are curious about phones and a child playing with a phone is an all too familar scene. Yes, you should allow the child to use phone, but you should allow only things that you make sure kids can access.

Windows 10 Mobile (aka, Windows 10 phone) provides you with the feature called Kid's corner which allows your child to play with games, apps, music and videos that you add to the kid's corner.

Setting up is easy but it requires you to set up a password and /or pin. The unattended device needs the password/pin to get back. However, the child who encounters the screen can swipe the screen from left to right to get to the Kid's corner (the child, he/she does not need password), but can only see what you allowed them to see or play with.

I do not have Windows Phone 10 or Windows 10 Mobile, but only a preview allowed for developers.
Here are some screen shots for setting up the kid's corner.

 Kind's Corner is displayed

 Decide what your kids should see or play; or what app to use.

 At first you need to set a password and or pin. (I had no password)

 You set a pin as well, the 4-digit pin is very useful for quick access(do not use 1111 or 0000)

 Set up sign-in duration; you can also change pin.

Well this should bring up the following:

 

Click OK. The next time your child can get to the Kid's Corner by swiping the login screen from left to right. 

Well, my child could not get to the Child's corner by sweeping from left to right as this is a preview program on a device ill-suited to Windows 10. I am sure there should be no problem on a supported phone.

This screen was not useful in getting to the kid's corner. I am not sure what emergency number this is supposed to call (perhaps parents' number?).

It's a phone, no it is a computer...

Continuum with regard to Windows mobile devices is a mode of working where you can use the Windows 10 phone to connect to a larger display; connect to a keyboard etc. Windows 10 PCs like the Surface Pro and Surface Book already have this- you can detach the keyboard and use it as a tablet.

For Windows 10 Desktop (Build 10240) you already have this feature by changing your settings to Tablet Mode.

For mobile devices Continuum features are supported if you buy a Continuum Display Dock.

 With this docking device you can extend the way you interact with phone using an external monitor; key board or mouse. You can also have scaled up office apps. This will not take away your phone capabilities. The Continuum Display Dock (rumored to cost $99) should be available soon (?).
Presently Microsoft's new phones Lumia 950 and 950XL are the only ones that can use this feature however since it is supposed to connect via Miracast as well, it is just possible that Nokia Icon may be able to use it as well.

However if you are a developer and using Windows 10 Developer Preview then the Windows 10 build should be 10586 as it is on my Nokia Icon. Personally I do not like 'dock' of any sort with wires hanging. In fact many others may feel the same way.

More here.

Looks like a giant inhaler but makes a historic flight

Amazon's New Shepard Space vehicle which looks like a giant inhaler made historic vertical takes off and  makes a gentle, whispering vertical landing making Bezos grin with joy. Right now Elon Musk has to take a second place as SpaceX has not done any thing spectacular.

This technical feasibility is sure to open up many more venues, transport, tourism etc.

The race began like what you see in this video on YouTube.
Blue Origin's Goddard test rocket- Uploaded Jan 3,2007



This video is at the finishing line today. The feeling is incredible
Historic Landing of New Shepard Space Vehicle  -- Nov 23

Vacationing in Europe, set up your Cortana to use the local language

Well first of all language settings for Cortana is supported in couple of countries like UK, China, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and perhaps few other countries. Let us say you travel from US to France and you want to find things there using Cortana. Then you can switch the language that Cortana understands by default (US English in USA) to French. I assume you can access Cortana on your Windows 10 Desktop, If not go here.

In Windows 10 Desktop you can open Control Panel and choose to change your language preferences.

CortanaLang_01

In the above, I have added couple of languages ( this means I have downloaded the necessary language packs) and I have also set the default as French. You can add another language by hitting the Add a Language button. You may have download the language pack.

With just this setting my Cortana settings in Windows 10 desktop is as shown.

CortanaLang_02

 Of course you cannot use it in USA and you will have to be in France.

Now I move up Japanese to the top in 'Change your language preferences'  as in the following:

CortanaLang_03

Voila! Cortana language settings has changed as well.

CortanaLang_04

You return to USA and you want to restore. It is just as easy. Just bump up English(United States) to the top (you need not restart the computer).

How about voice commands to Cortana? How about in Windows Phone? Well you will have to work with speech and speech recognition settings.

Come back again to learn, How?

Better get Cortana on your desktop before making restaurant and movie reservations...

 It is very convenient and you do not need to do any book marking etc. It can do lot more than of course. Everything you do via Cortana gets into your Notebook and you are always on top.

It was a sensation on Windows Phone 8.1. It is not in the All Apps group on desktop running Windows 10 OS. . If you type 'Cortana' in the 'Search the web' on your desktop running Windows 10 OS you get the following:

CortanaSearch_01

Click 'Cortana Search and Settings'(system Settings)

CortanaSearch_02

Turn OFF to ON.

Cortana welcomes you and before proceeding you need to agree to her terms.

CortanaSearch_03.png

Click I agree and she is ready at your bidding.

CortanaSearch_04.png

Before asking for license agreement she may ask to use the 'Notebook' where user items are stored. If you do not want to use 'Cortana' just turrn it off, but the Notebook items will be saved but not accessed.

These are the items that go into Notebook.

CortanaSearch_05.png
Now your 'Search the web' at the bottom of screen, it will read 'Ask me anything'

If you hit the microphone you get the following and you may need to follow her advice before she can listen to your voice commands.

Mitsubishi Jet takes to commercial aviation

Mitsubishi's Mitsubishi Regional Jet successfully completed a test flight inside Japan and has thus entered the commercial aviation market targeting the short haul regional flights.

There is a huge market from countries like India, China, African countries etc. but there is also quite bit of competition from not only those already in the market like Brazil's Embraer and Canada's Bombardier but also a whole lot of others (China, Russia, etc) gearing up to produce to this market.

Here is a video from NHK off a Samsung TV:

 This one from YouTube:

3D Viewing on a Samsung Smart TV

In order to view 3D movies/video you need to buy a TV that supports 3D Viewing. The Samsung Smart TV (also Sony's Smart TV) support 3D viewing if content is available. Samsung TV has an app called 3d Explore which has some 3D content. The Tv comes boxed with the active glasses for 3D Viewing.

The TV I have is Samsung UN55F7100 which is a 55" TV of 7100 Series. You can buy more recent models.

It is good TV and comes with 4, 3D active glasses with the CR2050 batteries. The glasses are quite light and comfortable to weer. If you loose them or need extra pairs order the Samsung Model: SSG-5100GB active viewer. The active glass viewer comes with some red/blue plastic stickers, remove these stickers from both sides of the active glasses before use. In the body of the active viewer (looks like a spectacle) in the bridge region is the housing for the battery. You will have to pull the battery cover down, pull out the battery to replace with a new one. At the top of the spectacle/goggle there is a little switch which you can use to switch on or off. The manual says a couple of things about pairing and how the indicator light helps you to pair the glasses with the TV. However, I did not find these to work well

Viewing 3D video
Turn on the TV and switch to smart hub. Move from 'On TV' to 'apps'. Click on Explore 3D app and choose the one you want to see (the Jurassic one is good). On the remote there is a switch that switches the monitor between 2D and 3D. It may take a finite time for this switching to be effective as far as viewing 3D is considered. Change to 3D. Now put on your 3D Active glass and switch on the active glass and you may observe that the background light that you see with the glasses on changes from bright to dark. This is the indication of the switching in the glass and that the pairing is successful. You will not miss the 3D effect.

There is a 3D video called "Extreme 3D" that are very cool, one with a buy brandishing a sword. He really gets the sword inches from your nose and you will see his super long hand reaching out.

Microsoft Azure Cloud Hovers Over India

Microsoft recently added 3 data centers in India beefing up its cloud coverage. The data centers are in Chennai(South), Pune (Central) and Mumbai(West). The operation is still not full scale and according to Microsoft,

"The India regions are available to volume licensing customers and partners with a local enrollment in India. The India regions will open to direct online Azure subscriptions in 2016."

Read more here.

http://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-building-data-centers-india-offer-azure-and-office-365-services-locally

It appears this is what Satya Nadella said about this,

"Last year, our cloud business in India grew over 100 percent. Buoyed by that success we have now decided to offer cloud services from local data centres. This will help us make global infrastructure and make that available to local data centres. Microsoft's locally available cloud services will open opportunities for banking, financial services, and insurance companies, state-owned enterprises and government departments."

This is a good opportunity to Start ups.

Connected cars and driver-less cars

The future looks bright with all kinds of possibilities:

• Hydrogen powered cars sharing roads with all electric and hybrids
• Connected cars sharing a cloud of some sort
• Driver-less, connected cars driving in and out of smart cities.
• Artificial intelligence in-lieu of our own

It remains for us to become smarter!

Connected cars; connected homes; connected devices has become the prime mantra of IoT which is going to make a world of difference in our lives.

I suppose connected cars will come first followed by driver-less cars, but for this auto nation of ours this is going to be big business and all vendors/carrier companies will be fighting for their share.

AT&T being a carrier is of course interested like all others in getting into action and they were the first movers to set up The Drive Studio to evaluate all aspects of the connected car experience. Here is a AT&T video.

But AT&T being a carrier is poised to participate in a big way in the IoT.

The source of all media on this post came from AT&T sites such as this one:
http://www.att.com/edo/chooseATT/chooseATT.jsp?primary=010000&pageTitle=Our%20Resources#/OurResources