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The (MWC) in Barcelona, that started on the 25th of February, showed some new developments in smartphone manufacturers implementing blockchain features into their devices. While this might seem like a logical step, it actually says a lot about the interest in cryptocurrency. Implementing cryptocurrency wallets and blockchain features give the idea it is something people expect when buying a new device. Smartphone 2.0 devices are preparing the blockchain generation for the future. A world where cash payments are out and cryptocurrencies are widely accepted. Mobile World Congress In this article, I want to highlight companies that introduce smartphones with implemented blockchain features. So let’s start off with one of the leading global smartphone manufacturers. Samsung Galaxy S10 After weeks of rumors, Korean-based smartphone manufacturer, finally confirmed the implementation of a cryptocurrency wallet on its new flagship smartphone called the Samsung Galaxy S10. With previous flagship models in the Galaxy S-series selling between 30 and 50 million devices, the integration of blockchain features will provide cryptocurrency access to a new range of customers. Samsung During the MWC in Barcelona, a Samsung representative gave a speech in which he stated that Samsung will support blockchain based payment options and dApps on the Galaxy S10 range, through . On the big screen, during the event, the support for Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), (ENJ) and COSMEE (COSM) was shared. After the presentation, the project behind COSMEE, , officially announced their partnership with Samsung. Samsung Knox Enjin CosmoChain Fun fact, another South-Korean blockchain project, Icon, already has a partnership with Samsung, in which they , that was implemented in , and they have also developed the blockchain for CosmoChain. co-created Chain ID Samsung Pass The relationship between Enjin and Samsung is not quite clear yet, but it is expected to be supported as a payment option during the launch. Galaxy S10 specifications: Android 9.0 OS, 6.1-inch QHD screen, Samsung Exynos 9820 Octa chipset, 3400 mAh battery, 12MP rear camera and 10MP front camera. The release date is set at the 8th of March 2019 and the initial retail price will be around 799GBP, 899EUR or 779USD. HTC Exodus 1 Another smartphone that saw a great promotion during MWC Barcelona is the , which is a blockchain enabled smartphone, with an integrated crypto browser. The Exodus 1 offers an all-in-one private vault to securely store your cryptocurrency (BTC, ETH, LTC, ERC20 and ERC721). Cryptotracker Blockfolio is integrated into the smartphone as well as IoT connectivity provider and Taiwanese activity tracker dApp Numbers. HTC Exodus 1 Opera Nodle During the MWC, HTC announced support for both Decentraland and Ethereum-blockchain game . to provide a Decentraland marketplace on the Exodus 1. Etheremon Decentraland is working with HTC HTC Exodus 1 specifications: QUALCOMM Snapdragon 845 CPU, 6-inch screen, 3500 mAh battery, Android 9.0 OS, 12MP+16MP rear camera and 8MP+8MP front camera. The HTC Exodus 1 can be purchased for 750EUR or 699USD. Electroneum M1 The smartphone is introduced at the MWC Barcelona as a Google Mobile Services (GMS) certified smartphone. With the M1, the Electroneum team is focused on selling the device in developing countries. The smartphone can be used to mine Electroneum and is expected to produce $3 worth of ETN every month. Users can then use ETN to pay for mobile top-ups, services or online shopping. Electroneum M1 Specifications: Android 8.1 Go Edition OS, Quad Core 1.3 GHz CPU, 4.5-inch screen, 5MP rear camera and 2MP front camera, 1600 mAh battery and a 1-year warranty. The M1 will be priced at $80. An estimated launch date has not been made available yet. PundiX XPhone PundiX announced its decentralized blockchain smartphone called XPhone last October. During the CES 2019 in January in Las Vegas PundiX showcased the device to the public. XPhone has an ‘X’ button that leads you straight to the blockchain OS of the phone, clicking the X again, leads back to the ‘regular’ OS. Function X, the blockchain OS, allows you to run phone calls, messages and dApps on a decentralized network. This way your data is not controlled by the centralized carrier. Specifications: The phone has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor, Android 9.0 OS, 5.65-Inch Full HD display, 3500 mAh battery, fingerprint sensor, 48MP rear camera and 16MP front camera. Users can toggle between tradition OS and blockchain-based system. The XPhone will cost $599 retail. The XPhone is projected to be available in late 2019, according to recent sources, which is a 6-month delay based on the roadmap on the PundiX website. Sirin Labs The FINNEY ™ Named after renowned computer scientist and early Bitcoin adopter, Hal Finney, Sirin Labs introduced the FINNEY ™, a blockchain-based, cyber-secure smartphone. The FINNEY ™ was introduced by international soccer star, Lionel Messi, back in 2017. According to the official website, SIRIN OS™ includes an outstanding Security Suite Layer, Embedded Cold Storage Wallet, Token Conversion Center and the best of DApp nation featured on Sirin’s dCENTER. Specifications: Built-in ‘cold storage’ crypto wallet, 12MP rear camera and 8MP front camera, 6-inch screen, QUALCOMM Snapdragon 845, Android 8.1 OS. The FINNEY ™ has a price tag of $999. Concluding remarks As I see it, the adoption of people using smartphones continues to grow year after year. This implementation of blockchain features on new devices, to me, is a sign that the world is starting to get ready for large scale blockchain adoption. I am looking forward to start testing the features after I purchased one of the phones in this article. What is your opinion? Do you think this is a good move from smartphone manufacturers? Disclaimer : This article is not intended as investment advice. I am not being rewarded to write this article. You should always do your own research. I am not being rewarded for writing this article. All the information provided in this article is based on my own personal opinion. If you like my content about blockchain and cryptocurrencies, you can give me a follow. I also have an account on and . You are welcome to follow me there as well. On my page you will find a bit more personal information. You can ask me questions on Telegram: @LindaCrypto. Steemit Twitter LinkedIn I hope you have enjoyed this article, and please comment in the allocated section below if you have any further questions. Thank you! Linda Willemse

Smartphone Manufacturers Like Samsung and HTC are Upping Their Game With Blockchain

Smartphone Exodus users can now be rewarded for participating in the Nodle Network Nodle, a connectivity provider for the Internet of Things just announced the launch of its mobile application, , made exclusively available now for HTC Exodus users. Once users launch the app, they will be directly rewarded for participating in the Nodle Network. Nodle The Nodle app connects and collects data from IoT devices like environmental sensors, BLE tags, cars, bikes and scooters. The company has built a robust Bluetooth Low Energy-powered network to help companies and cities connect and collect data from their devices, sensors and tags. , Nodle co-founder, mentions that “Any individual can be directly rewarded for the work performed using their smartphones resources. This is made possible using the Stellar blockchain and HTC Exodus secure hardware module on the phone and the Zion Wallet.” Micha Benoliel The and create . Every smartphone owner has the opportunity to participate. All that is required is a smartphone and a mobile application. No special investment, knowledge or skill is necessary. Nodle Network has been built to empower individuals atomistic competition Once a user has joined the community and their mobile application has launched, they can automatically participate in the Nodle Network. This participation is called Every rewarded coin has been minted. A summary of the proof of work is stored on InterPlanetary File System (IPFS), and is attached to the minted coin on the blockchain via a link. “proof of connectivity”. Phil Chen, Decentralized Chief Officer at HTC Exodus, said “ Nodle offers Exodus users cryptocurrency in exchange for moving IoT and sensors data. There is no other app on the market that allows users to easily earn cryptocurrency in exchange for connectivity. The provision of the Nodle, Get Crypto app on an HTC Exodus device ultimately empowers individuals and takes us closer to realize our vision to rebuild the internet in favor of end users.” The Nodle app will be preinstalled on the HTC Exodus phone. Users can start earning NODL coins in minutes from launching the app. The NODL coin is built on top of the blockchain. The Nodle team and the Exodus team worked closely to add the Stellar blockchain support to the Zion hardware wallet. Stellar About the Stellar blockchain and ecosystem, , Nodle co-founder, mentions that “Stellar enables us to deploy complex smart contracts with simple atomic operations, providing an efficient payment platform that is interoperable with the traditional fiat world. That makes it a perfect fit for Nodle.” Micha Benoliel Nodle Exodus app on the HTC Exodus 1

Nodle App launches on the HTC Exodus Blockchain phone

The State of The Market — October 23, 2018 : $6,477.03 (-0.65%) : $202.96 (-1.24%) : $0.4436 (-2.13%) BTC ETH XRP Bitcoin continues to move sideways, fluctuating between $6,450 and $6,550. However, Ethereum has managed to maintain its price above $200. With most major cryptocurrencies in red, the total market cap experienced a minor dip, going from $212 Billion to $208 Billion. In other news, , a decentralized social networking platform. Through the investment, Overstock CEO will join the Minds board of directors. Also, . Backed by institutional investors like Sequoia Capital, Matrix Partners, and ZhenFund, IOST is now live on GBX against USD, ETH, and BTC. Medici Ventures, the venture capital subsidiary of Overstock, recently took part in the Series A investment round of Minds Inc. Gibraltar Blockchain Exchange (GBX), the cryptocurrency exchange run by Gibraltar Stock Exchange (GSX) has announced the listing of IOST Founded in 2015, Vertex Ventures is a subsidiary of Singapore-based government-owned investment company Temasek Holdings. According to the press release, the investment aims to support Binance in developing a cryptocurrency-fiat exchange in Singapore, along with other crypto-fiat services throughout South Asia. ( ) 1) Vertex Ventures has announced an investment in the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance to facilitate its expansion into Singapore. Read More HTC Exodus 1 will be accessible to thirty-four countries, including US, UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The blockchain phone costs 0.15 BTC or 4.78 ETH and can be pre-ordered before December. Exodus 1 comes equipped with a crypto wallet called Zion to work with its hardware. ( ) 2) HTC’s Exodus 1.0, a Blockchain-based smartphone has launched today. Read More Trezor users can now exchange cryptocurrencies within the device, without having to transfer funds out of the wallet. Trezor has partnered with crypto trading platform ShapeShift and crypto exchange service Changelly for its exchange feature. ( ) 3) Cryptocurrency hardware wallet Trezor, which is owned by SatoshiLabs, has followed through with its plans to launch a trading feature in its products. Read More Subscribe to the Berminal Brief Newsletter Download Berminal App for Free The Berminal Website Berminal Official Telegram Berminal Twitter

Singapore Government Invests In Binance, And HTC Launches Its Blockchain Phone

What Crypto insiders are reading on Asia. Subscribe now 🌟 Top News , through a partnership with the Taiwanese phone maker. . CryptoKitties to roll out a mobile app on HTC’s flagship phone, the U12+ http://bit.ly/2zzd9v0 Be sure to check out our podcast with Benny Giang, co-founder of Cryptokitties, on their go to market experience in Asia. Authorities in . India are likely to choose against a sweeping cryptocurrency ban and treat them as commodities http://bit.ly/2usbFN9 The In China. dilemma of consortium blockchain projects http://bit.ly/2um7aDY Chinese police cracks down on . $1.5 billion cryptocurrency World Cup gambling ring http://bit.ly/2utDiWc Korea Blockchain Association indirectly admitted that its in-house inspection of 12 cryptocurrency exchanges’ safety and security may have loopholes. http://bit.ly/2uqlJXe 💼 Business and Regulation News automakers and component companies have decided to implement a vendor management system on blockchain technology, potentially porting some 2 bn transactions a year to the new platform. In the biggest open ledger initiatives in India to date, http://bit.ly/2zyh4rP Members of South Korea’s on it during the National Assembly, from July 13 to 26. political parties will present their draft bills on Cryptocurrency and Blockchain http://bit.ly/2zzcolM The vs the Yuan that accounts for less than 1% of global volume. Japanese Yen accounts for more than 44 percent of global volume https://bloom.bg/2utDKDS 💰 Coin and Exchange News Managing Director James Mendes to join Block.one as Chief People Officer. Citibank Human Resources http://bit.ly/2uzibCb which will bring the Bitcoin Cash community support to LendChain. LendChain invested in BITMAIN’s BCH Angel Fund, http://bit.ly/2NaZqfI Forbe’s “top 10 new blockchain companies to watch for In 2018” . includes FCoin http://bit.ly/2zyfVRh 🌹🌹🌹 What did you guys think of our thus far with co-founder and Fortune Cat, , from Cryptokitties? And be sure to check out our latest collaboration with TechBuzz China on , with commentary directly from and . Global Coin podcast Benny Giang their 12th podcast episode Bitmain Jimmy Song Tim Swanson Check our past 5 weekly pieces on , , , , and Takeaways on Asia Crypto from Techcrunch Zug Cryptokitties Binance Bitmain China’s Crypto winners Podcast guests (yes, we have more than 1!) to be revealed today! Wait for it…

CryptoKitties debut app on HTC; India likely treat crypto as commodities; World Cup $1.5

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If you've been following the VR industry, you know it's been around for decades. Companies have been trying to make virtual reality a mainstream success for ages. While Apple coined the buzz-worthy term “spatial computing” with their Vision Pro headset, they're certainly not the first to try. From the failed Virtual Boy in the 90s to the moderately successful Oculus and HTC Vive VR headsets, tech giants have struggled to find that elusive killer app. But if you just scroll through TikTok or Instagram, you'll see what's really on people's minds these days. And it definitely isn't about bigger screens to watch Netflix or play games. No, what's driving the conversation is beauty, looks, fashion, and how to glow up. So, as transformative as spatial computing could become, the multi-trillion-dollar global beauty and fashion space will lead AR. Our universal desire to look and feel good provides the real-life use case everyone’s looking for. The promises and challenges of AR beauty The core premise of AR beauty is simple but compelling: Using advanced computer vision and rendering to virtually overlay any makeup look, hairstyle, outfit, or accessory onto your face and body with hyper-realistic precision. Consumers can experiment endlessly, sampling different looks and products with no mess, effort, or commitment. If you've ever ordered a piece of clothing online only for it to look completely different (or just not fit right) when it arrives, you know how frustrating that can be—or bought an expensive watch or pair of kicks, only to regret the purchase when it doesn’t look quite how you expected. What if you could virtually try on anything before committing your money? That's the big idea of AR beauty and fashion—getting rid of the guesswork and potential disappointment by allowing you to realistically experiment with any look or product before pulling the trigger. But, some rudimentary AR makeup apps illustrate the significant technological challenges involved. Poor facial tracking, clunky interfaces, and unconvincing visual realism hamper the experience. Faithfully simulating the intricacies of how cosmetics interact with diverse facial geometries, skin tones, and movements at a high fidelity is an enormously complex computational problem. Implementing AI and AR technologies The latest breakthroughs in AI and AR technologies have proven useful in cracking these challenges. For example, Perfect Corp's AI Makeup Virtual Try-On uses machine learning to realistically render different makeup colors and textures like lipstick, eyeshadow, and more, with the simulations customized to each individual's unique facial features and microexpressions for an ultra-personalized virtual experience. If you're not all that into fashion and beauty, this may not seem like a big deal. But for those obsessed with looking their best, the ability to visualize any look or product before buying could be hugely transformative. Their AI Skin Analysis tech goes further, using artificial intelligence to scan faces and detect 14 different skin conditions and concerns, then surfacing customized product and skincare recommendations tailored to the user. And the AgileHand technology allows realistic virtual try-ons to extend beyond just faces by precisely tracking hand motions. This enables photorealistic AR visualizations for intricate products like jewelry, watches, and nail polish. Some other AR beauty solutions include Makeup AR for virtual makeup try-ons, AI Foundation Shade Finder and Matcher for accurate skin tone detection and foundation shade matching, AI Skin Analysis for accurate skin concern detection and personalized product recommendations of products, and Emulation Technology for Skincare Treatment for accurate representations of the expected results of a course of treatment, overlaid directly onto their faces with the latest advancements in AR technology. The AI tech for AR beauty The recent renaissance of AI breakthroughs, especially around areas like generative adversarial networks (GANs), facial semantic segmentation, and neural rendering, is what's enabling the kind of hyper-realistic and personalized AR experiences that were merely SciFi just years ago. Using GANs, AI models can now learn to generate highly realistic representations of human faces, facial attributes, and facial animations from just a handful of source images. This opens up possibilities for instantly generating virtual makeup looks and hairstyles that are custom-tailored to each user's individual facial geometry and characteristics. Facial semantic segmentation allows AI to precisely understand and map out different facial features like skin, facial hair, eyelashes and more - enabling AR effects to seamlessly integrate and move in harmony with the user's face. Neural rendering techniques leveraging AI can also realistically synthesize the complex ways light interacts with different materials and textures in real time, far beyond what's possible with traditional rendering pipelines. Looking ahead, AI is set to transform AR beauty experiences into something much more akin to having a personal beauty guru. Using deep learning, an AI assistant could continuously analyze your unique attributes, habits, and preferences, automatically surfacing ideal products, trendy looks, and personalized recommendations for you to try virtually in AR with just a voice command or subtle gesture. The possibilities extend far beyond just virtual try-ons. AI could help formulate bespoke beauty products optimized for your individual needs and environmental conditions. Or DTC brands could let customers co-create new cosmetic products and shades with the assistance of AI. The takeaway: Beauty and fashion are the AR killer app While the metaverse is still largely vapourware, the humble makeup tutorial may push spatial computing into the mainstream sooner than we think. With an insatiable consumer appetite for looking our best and plenty of money to be made, the global beauty and fashion industry has both the motivation and resources to drive AR innovation and adoption harder than any other sector. If executed well and key technical barriers around rendering, tracking, and hardware are overcome, AR holds the transformative potential to reshape how we discover, purchase, use, and even perceive beauty products. Immersive virtual try-on experiences, AI-driven personalization, and participatory product development could not only reinvent the beauty consumer experience but also make individual self-expression more accessible than ever before. So, as the tech world covers each new OS update and app ecosystem announcement, keep your eye on the influencers and beauty fanatics pioneering the spatial computing frontier with a fresh face of makeup in every video. They may low-key catalyze the next ubiquitous computing paradigm while just trying to look fly. If you've been following the VR industry, you know it's been around for decades. Companies have been trying to make virtual reality a mainstream success for ages. While Apple coined the buzz-worthy term “ spatial computing ” with their Vision Pro headset, they're certainly not the first to try. spatial computing spatial computing From the failed Virtual Boy in the 90s to the moderately successful Oculus and HTC Vive VR headsets, tech giants have struggled to find that elusive killer app. But if you just scroll through TikTok or Instagram, you'll see what's really on people's minds these days. And it definitely isn't about bigger screens to watch Netflix or play games. No, what's driving the conversation is beauty, looks, fashion, and how to glow up. So, as transformative as spatial computing could become, the multi-trillion-dollar global beauty and fashion space will lead AR. Our universal desire to look and feel good provides the real-life use case everyone’s looking for. The promises and challenges of AR beauty The core premise of AR beauty is simple but compelling: Using advanced computer vision and rendering to virtually overlay any makeup look, hairstyle, outfit, or accessory onto your face and body with hyper-realistic precision. Consumers can experiment endlessly, sampling different looks and products with no mess, effort, or commitment. If you've ever ordered a piece of clothing online only for it to look completely different (or just not fit right) when it arrives, you know how frustrating that can be—or bought an expensive watch or pair of kicks, only to regret the purchase when it doesn’t look quite how you expected. frustrating frustrating What if you could virtually try on anything before committing your money? That's the big idea of AR beauty and fashion—getting rid of the guesswork and potential disappointment by allowing you to realistically experiment with any look or product before pulling the trigger. But, some rudimentary AR makeup apps illustrate the significant technological challenges involved. Poor facial tracking, clunky interfaces, and unconvincing visual realism hamper the experience. Faithfully simulating the intricacies of how cosmetics interact with diverse facial geometries, skin tones, and movements at a high fidelity is an enormously complex computational problem. Implementing AI and AR technologies The latest breakthroughs in AI and AR technologies have proven useful in cracking these challenges. For example, Perfect Corp's AI Makeup Virtual Try-On uses machine learning to realistically render different makeup colors and textures like lipstick, eyeshadow, and more, with the simulations customized to each individual's unique facial features and microexpressions for an ultra-personalized virtual experience. AI Makeup Virtual Try-On If you're not all that into fashion and beauty, this may not seem like a big deal. But for those obsessed with looking their best, the ability to visualize any look or product before buying could be hugely transformative. Their AI Skin Analysis tech goes further, using artificial intelligence to scan faces and detect 14 different skin conditions and concerns, then surfacing customized product and skincare recommendations tailored to the user. AI Skin Analysis And the AgileHand technology allows realistic virtual try-ons to extend beyond just faces by precisely tracking hand motions. This enables photorealistic AR visualizations for intricate products like jewelry, watches, and nail polish. Some other AR beauty solutions include Makeup AR for virtual makeup try-ons, AI Foundation Shade Finder and Matcher for accurate skin tone detection and foundation shade matching, AI Skin Analysis for accurate skin concern detection and personalized product recommendations of products, and Emulation Technology for Skincare Treatment for accurate representations of the expected results of a course of treatment, overlaid directly onto their faces with the latest advancements in AR technology. The AI tech for AR beauty The recent renaissance of AI breakthroughs, especially around areas like generative adversarial networks (GANs), facial semantic segmentation, and neural rendering, is what's enabling the kind of hyper-realistic and personalized AR experiences that were merely SciFi just years ago. Using GANs, AI models can now learn to generate highly realistic representations of human faces, facial attributes, and facial animations from just a handful of source images. This opens up possibilities for instantly generating virtual makeup looks and hairstyles that are custom-tailored to each user's individual facial geometry and characteristics. Facial semantic segmentation allows AI to precisely understand and map out different facial features like skin, facial hair, eyelashes and more - enabling AR effects to seamlessly integrate and move in harmony with the user's face. Neural rendering techniques leveraging AI can also realistically synthesize the complex ways light interacts with different materials and textures in real time, far beyond what's possible with traditional rendering pipelines. Looking ahead, AI is set to transform AR beauty experiences into something much more akin to having a personal beauty guru. Using deep learning, an AI assistant could continuously analyze your unique attributes, habits, and preferences, automatically surfacing ideal products, trendy looks, and personalized recommendations for you to try virtually in AR with just a voice command or subtle gesture. The possibilities extend far beyond just virtual try-ons. AI could help formulate bespoke beauty products optimized for your individual needs and environmental conditions. Or DTC brands could let customers co-create new cosmetic products and shades with the assistance of AI. The takeaway: Beauty and fashion are the AR killer app While the metaverse is still largely vapourware, the humble makeup tutorial may push spatial computing into the mainstream sooner than we think. With an insatiable consumer appetite for looking our best and plenty of money to be made, the global beauty and fashion industry has both the motivation and resources to drive AR innovation and adoption harder than any other sector. If executed well and key technical barriers around rendering, tracking, and hardware are overcome, AR holds the transformative potential to reshape how we discover, purchase, use, and even perceive beauty products. Immersive virtual try-on experiences, AI-driven personalization, and participatory product development could not only reinvent the beauty consumer experience but also make individual self-expression more accessible than ever before. So, as the tech world covers each new OS update and app ecosystem announcement, keep your eye on the influencers and beauty fanatics pioneering the spatial computing frontier with a fresh face of makeup in every video. They may low-key catalyze the next ubiquitous computing paradigm while just trying to look fly.

Why the Beauty and Fashion Industry is the Future of AR and Spatial Computing

কেন সৌন্দর্য এবং ফ্যাশন শিল্প এআর এবং স্থানিক কম্পিউটিং এর ভবিষ্যত

Warum die Beauty- und Modebranche die Zukunft von AR und Spatial Computing ist

Por qué la industria de la belleza y la moda es el futuro de la RA y la computación espacial

Pourquoi l'industrie de la beauté et de la mode est l'avenir de la réalité augmentée et de l'informatique spatiale

सौंदर्य और फैशन उद्योग क्यों AR और स्थानिक कंप्यूटिंग का भविष्य है

美容とファッション業界が AR と空間コンピューティングの未来である理由

뷰티 및 패션 산업이 AR 및 공간 컴퓨팅의 미래인 이유

Por que a indústria da beleza e da moda é o futuro da AR e da computação espacial

Почему индустрия красоты и моды — это будущее дополненной реальности и пространственных вычислений

Güzellik ve Moda Endüstrisi Neden AR ve Uzamsal Bilgi İşlemin Geleceği?

Tại sao ngành làm đẹp và thời trang là tương lai của AR và điện toán không gian

为什么美容和时尚行业是 AR 和空间计算的未来

As I sit here, enveloped in the hum of technology and surrounded by the glow of screens, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder. The concept of a digital and virtual world has captivated imaginations for years, and now, the idea of a metaverse is finally materializing. The metaverse, a virtual realm designed to be immersive, interactive, and shared by countless individuals, was once a staple of science fiction but is now emerging as a tangible reality, thanks to advancements in virtual and augmented reality technologies. My first experience with a VR headset was unforgettable. It felt like stepping into an entirely new dimension, with a profound sense of immersion and presence. Today, with companies like Meta Quest3, Apple Vision Pro, Lenovo ThinkReality VRX, and HTC Vive introducing high-quality VR headsets, VR has transcended its gaming origins and found utility across diverse industries such as healthcare, education, and architecture. The metaverse represents a natural evolution from VR, aspiring to create a fully realized digital domain that transcends the constraints of the physical world. It offers a canvas where social norms and value systems can be reimagined and liberated from the shackles of cultural and economic rigidity. The possibilities are endless - envision a world where one can traverse any landscape and undertake any endeavor. Art has always held a special allure for me, and the advent of NFTs has opened up new possibilities. NFTs, digital assets representing unique items like art, music, or collectibles, are stored on a blockchain, ensuring their scarcity and authenticity. Remarkably, artists can now sell their creations at prices that reflect their value. Gamification is a fundamental aspect of the metaverse, fostering the development of captivating and interactive experiences that drive user engagement and loyalty. Within the metaverse, gamification takes myriad forms, including virtual rewards, challenges, social interactions, and role-playing. It enhances the allure of the metaverse, making it a more enjoyable and immersive environment that beckons people to spend more time within its digital confines. Numerous companies are actively developing products and services for the metaverse, spanning virtual reality headsets, augmented reality devices, smart glasses, game development software, and blockchain-based games. Apple introduced its first spatial computer device, Apple Vision Pro, and is making headway with AR technology. Apple is looking towards a vision of mixed reality. Meta Platforms Inc.: Facebook is known for its social media platforms. Meta rebranded to focus on the metaverse, with plans to create virtual office spaces, shopping, events, travel, and socializing. Microsoft: Microsoft Mesh provides a business function that builds on Microsoft Teams. It allows people to meet virtually through avatars or holograms. Nvidia is developing the NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud, a suite of cloud services for development teams and artists to create and operate metaverse apps. Epic Games: Famous for Fortnite, Epic Games invests in the metaverse, with plans to create virtual social experiences and infrastructure for metaverse avatars. Roblox: A platform where people can play games made by Roblox users, with plans to build a metaverse where people can create avatars in games, purchase items, socialize, and use real voice chat. Unity Software Inc. is a game development software company used by those in the metaverse. It provides software to build and run 2D and 3D games and software to monetize creations. Decentraland is a decentralized virtual reality platform that allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. The Sandbox is a metaverse platform owned by Animoca Brands on which users can create, sell, and own digital assets and experiences. Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game in which players collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Axes. Battle Infinity: A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Battle Infinity. Bloktopia: A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Bloktopia. NFT Worlds allows users to create, buy, and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens) representing digital assets. Lenovo: It aims to make the ThinkReality VRX headset, focusing on virtual conferencing. The journey toward a digital and virtual world is exhilarating, and I am privileged to be a part of it. The metaverse, NFTs, and gamification represent just the beginning of a transformative era. I eagerly anticipate the unfolding of this journey, whether as an artist, a gamer, or simply an enthusiast of cutting-edge technology. Join me on this journey towards a digital and virtual world. Let's explore the metaverse, NFTs, and gamification together. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm excited to find out. As I sit here, enveloped in the hum of technology and surrounded by the glow of screens, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder. The concept of a digital and virtual world has captivated imaginations for years, and now, the idea of a metaverse is finally materializing. The metaverse, a virtual realm designed to be immersive, interactive, and shared by countless individuals, was once a staple of science fiction but is now emerging as a tangible reality, thanks to advancements in virtual and augmented reality technologies. As I sit here, enveloped in the hum of technology and surrounded by the glow of screens, I can't help but feel a sense of excitement and wonder. The concept of a digital and virtual world has captivated imaginations for years, and now, the idea of a metaverse is finally materializing. The metaverse, a virtual realm designed to be immersive, interactive, and shared by countless individuals, was once a staple of science fiction but is now emerging as a tangible reality, thanks to advancements in virtual and augmented reality technologies. My first experience with a VR headset was unforgettable. It felt like stepping into an entirely new dimension, with a profound sense of immersion and presence. Today, with companies like Meta Quest3, Apple Vision Pro, Lenovo ThinkReality VRX, and HTC Vive introducing high-quality VR headsets, VR has transcended its gaming origins and found utility across diverse industries such as healthcare, education, and architecture. My first experience with a VR headset was unforgettable. The metaverse represents a natural evolution from VR , aspiring to create a fully realized digital domain that transcends the constraints of the physical world. It offers a canvas where social norms and value systems can be reimagined and liberated from the shackles of cultural and economic rigidity. The possibilities are endless - envision a world where one can traverse any landscape and undertake any endeavor. The metaverse represents a natural evolution from VR Art has always held a special allure for me , and the advent of NFTs has opened up new possibilities. NFTs, digital assets representing unique items like art, music, or collectibles, are stored on a blockchain, ensuring their scarcity and authenticity. Remarkably, artists can now sell their creations at prices that reflect their value. Art has always held a special allure for me Gamification is a fundamental aspect of the metaverse, fostering the development of captivating and interactive experiences that drive user engagement and loyalty. Within the metaverse, gamification takes myriad forms, including virtual rewards, challenges, social interactions, and role-playing. It enhances the allure of the metaverse, making it a more enjoyable and immersive environment that beckons people to spend more time within its digital confines. Gamification is a fundamental aspect of the metaverse, Numerous companies are actively developing products and services for the metaverse, spanning virtual reality headsets, augmented reality devices, smart glasses, game development software, and blockchain-based games. Numerous companies Apple introduced its first spatial computer device, Apple Vision Pro, and is making headway with AR technology. Apple is looking towards a vision of mixed reality. Apple introduced its first spatial computer device, Apple Vision Pro , and is making headway with AR technology. Apple is looking towards a vision of mixed reality. Apple Apple Vision Pro Meta Platforms Inc.: Facebook is known for its social media platforms. Meta rebranded to focus on the metaverse, with plans to create virtual office spaces, shopping, events, travel, and socializing. Meta Platforms Inc. : Facebook is known for its social media platforms. Meta rebranded to focus on the metaverse, with plans to create virtual office spaces, shopping, events, travel, and socializing. Meta Platforms Inc. Meta Platforms Inc. Microsoft: Microsoft Mesh provides a business function that builds on Microsoft Teams. It allows people to meet virtually through avatars or holograms. Microsoft : Microsoft Mesh provides a business function that builds on Microsoft Teams. It allows people to meet virtually through avatars or holograms. Microsoft Microsoft Mesh Nvidia is developing the NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud, a suite of cloud services for development teams and artists to create and operate metaverse apps. Nvidia is developing the NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud , a suite of cloud services for development teams and artists to create and operate metaverse apps. Nvidia NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud Epic Games: Famous for Fortnite, Epic Games invests in the metaverse, with plans to create virtual social experiences and infrastructure for metaverse avatars. Epic Games : Famous for Fortnite, Epic Games invests in the metaverse , with plans to create virtual social experiences and infrastructure for metaverse avatars. Epic Games Epic Games invests in the metaverse Roblox: A platform where people can play games made by Roblox users, with plans to build a metaverse where people can create avatars in games, purchase items, socialize, and use real voice chat. Roblox : A platform where people can play games made by Roblox users, with plans to build a metaverse where people can create avatars in games, purchase items, socialize, and use real voice chat. Roblox build a metaverse Unity Software Inc. is a game development software company used by those in the metaverse. It provides software to build and run 2D and 3D games and software to monetize creations. Unity Software Inc . is a game development software company used by those in the metaverse. It provides software to build and run 2D and 3D games and software to monetize creations. Unity Software Inc Unity Software Inc . Decentraland is a decentralized virtual reality platform that allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. Decentraland is a decentralized virtual reality platform that allows users to create, experience, and monetize content and applications. Decentraland Decentraland The Sandbox is a metaverse platform owned by Animoca Brands on which users can create, sell, and own digital assets and experiences. The Sandbox is a metaverse platform owned by Animoca Brands on which users can create, sell, and own digital assets and experiences. The Sandbox The Sandbox Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game in which players collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Axes. Axie Infinity is a blockchain-based game in which players collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Axes. Axie Infinity Axie Infinity Battle Infinity: A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Battle Infinity. Battle Infinity : A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Battle Infinity. Battle Infinity Battle Infinity Bloktopia: A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Bloktopia. Bloktopia : A blockchain-based game that allows players to collect, breed, and battle creatures known as Bloktopia. Bloktopia Bloktopia NFT Worlds allows users to create, buy, and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens) representing digital assets. NFT Worlds allows users to create, buy, and sell NFTs (non-fungible tokens) representing digital assets. NFT Worlds NFT Worlds Lenovo: It aims to make the ThinkReality VRX headset, focusing on virtual conferencing. Lenovo : It aims to make the ThinkReality VRX headset, focusing on virtual conferencing. Lenovo Lenovo The journey toward a digital and virtual world is exhilarating, and I am privileged to be a part of it. The metaverse, NFTs, and gamification represent just the beginning of a transformative era. I eagerly anticipate the unfolding of this journey, whether as an artist, a gamer, or simply an enthusiast of cutting-edge technology. Join me on this journey towards a digital and virtual world. Let's explore the metaverse, NFTs, and gamification together. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm excited to find out. Join me on this journey towards a digital and virtual world. Let's explore the metaverse, NFTs, and gamification together. Who knows what the future holds, but I'm excited to find out.

A Journey Towards Digital and Virtual Worlds

Will a LinkedList be faster? Should I swap the `for each` with an `iterator`? Should this `ArrayList` be an `Array`? This article came to be in response to an optimization so malevolent it has permanently etched itself into my memory. Before going head-on into Java and the ways to tackle interference, either from the garbage collector or from context switching, let's first glance over the fundamentals of writing code for your future self. Premature optimization is the root of all evil. You've heard it before; premature optimization is the root of all evil. Well, sometimes. When writing software, I'm a firm believer in being: as ; you should try to narrate intentions as if you were writing a story. descriptive as possible as ; which means that you should know the fundamentals of the language and apply them accordingly. optimal as possible As Descriptive as Possible Your code should speak intention, and a lot of it pertains to the way you name methods and variables. int[10] array1;        // bad
int[10] numItems;      // better
int[10] backPackItems; // great Just by the variable name, you can already infer functionality. While is abstract, tells you a lot about expected behavior. numItems backPackItems Or say you have this method: List<Countries> visitedCountries() {
    if(noCountryVisitedYet)
        return new ArrayList<>(0);
    }
    // (...)
    return listOfVisitedCountries;
} As far as code goes, this looks more or less ok. Can we do better? We definitely can! List<Countries> visitedCountries() {
    if(noCountryVisitedYet)
        return Collections.emptyList();
    }
    // (...)
    return listOfVisitedCountries;
} Reading is much more descriptive than Collections.emptyList() new ArrayList<>(0); Imagine you're reading the above code for the first time and stumble on the that checks if the user has actually visited countries. Also, imagine this is buried in a lengthy class, reading is definitely more descriptive than , you're also making sure it's immutable making sure client code can't modify it. guard clause Collections.emptyList() new ArrayList<>(0) As Optimal as Possible Know your language, and use it accordingly. If you need a , there's no need to wrap it in a object. The same goes for using a if all you actually need is an . double Double List Array Know that you should concatenate Strings using or if you're sharing state between threads: StringBuilder StringBuffer // don't do this
String votesByCounty = "";
for (County county : counties) {
    votesByCounty += county.toString();
}

// do this instead
StringBuilder votesByCounty = new StringBuilder();
for (County county : counties) {
    votesByCounty.append(county.toString());
} Know how to index your database. Anticipate bottlenecks and cache accordingly. All the above are optimizations. They are the kind of optimizations that you should be aware of and implement as first citizens. How Do You Kill It First? I'll never forget about a hack I read a couple of years ago. Truth be said, the author backtracked quickly, but it goes to show how a lot of evil can spur from good intentions. // do not do this, ever!
int i = 0;
while (i<10000000) {
    // business logic
    
    if (i % 3000 == 0) { //prevent long gc
        try {
            Thread.sleep(0);
        } catch (Ignored e) { }
    }
} A garbage collector hack from hell! You can read more on why and how the above code works and, while the exploit is definitely interesting, this is one of those things you should ever do. in the original article never Works by side effects, has no purpose in this block Thread.sleep(0) Works by exploiting a deficiency of code downstream For anyone inheriting this code, it's obscure and magical Only start forging something a bit more involved if, after writing with all the , you've hit a bottleneck. But steer away from concoctions as the above. default optimizations the language provides How to Tackle Garbage Collector? That If after all's done, the Garbage Collector is still the piece that's offering resistance, these are some of the things you may try: If your service is so latency-sensitive that you can't allow for GC, run with . "Epsilon GC" and avoid GC altogether -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+UseEpsilonGC This will obviously grow your memory until you get an OOM exception, so either it's a short-lived scenario or your program is optimized not to create objects If your service is somewhat latency sensitive, but , run GC1 and feed it something like (default is 250ms) the allowed tolerance permits some leeway -XX:MaxGCPauseTimeMillis=100 , say one of them calls or which are stop-the-world garbage collectors, you can override offending behavior by running with If the issue spurs from external libraries System.gc() Runtime.getRuntime().gc() -XX:+DisableExplicitGC If you're running on a JVM above 11, do try the , performance improvements are monumental! . You may also want to check this . Z Garbage Collector (ZGC) -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+UseZGC JDK 21 GC benchmark VERSION START VERSION END DEFAULT GC Java 1 Java 4 Serial Garbage Collector Java 5 Java 8 Parallel Garbage Collector Java 9 ongoing G1 Garbage Collector Note 1: since Java 15, is , but you still have to explicitly activate it with . ZGC production-ready -XX:+UseZGC Note 2: The VM considers machines as server-class if the VM detects more than two processors and a heap size larger or equal to 1792 MB. If not server-class, it . will default to the Serial GC In essence, opt for GC tuning when it's clear that the application's performance constraints are directly tied to garbage collection behavior and you have the necessary expertise to make informed adjustments. Otherwise, trust the JVM's default settings and focus on optimizing application-level code. - you'll want to read the u/shiphe full comment Other Relevant Libraries You May Want to Explore: Java Microbenchmark Harness (JMH) If you're out of feeling without any real benchmarking, you're doing yourself a disservice. JMH is the Java library to test your algorithms' performance. Use it. optimizing de facto Java-Thread-Affinity Pinning a process to a specific core may improve cache hits. It will depend on the underlying hardware and how your routine is dealing with data. Nonetheless, this library makes it so easy to implement that, if a CPU-intensive method is dragging you, you'll want to test it. LMAX Disruptor This is one of those libraries that, even if you don't need it, you'll want to study. The idea is to allow for ultra-low latency concurrency. But the way it's implemented, from to the brings a lot of new concepts. I still remember when I first discovered it, seven years ago, pulling an all-nighter to digest it. mechanical sympathy ring buffer, Netflix jvmquake The premise of is that when things go sideways with the JVM, you want it to die and not hang. A couple of years ago, I was running simulations on an HTCondor cluster that was on tight memory constraints, and sometimes, jobs would get stuck due to "out of memory" errors. jvmquake This library forces the JVM to die, allowing you to deal with the actual error. In this specific case, HTCondor would auto-re-schedule the job. Final Thoughts The code that made me write this post? I've written way worse. I still do. The best we can hope for is to continuously mess up less. I'm expecting to be disgruntled looking at my own code a few years down the road. And that's a good sign. You can find this and other articles at wasteofserver.com Edits & Thank You: to for catching the mutability error in and the detailed explanation. FlorianSchaetz visitedCountries() to and for explaining that , you get Serial GC u/brunocborges u/BikingSquirrel on lower-end machines to for taking the time to better explain when you should mess with the GC and u/shiphe when you shouldn't to for putting me on the right track regarding what practice u/tomwhoiscontrary should be considered standard to (again) for providing the link to the JDK 21 garbage collector benchmark u/BikingSquirrel Also published on wasteofserver.com

Software Thrives Unless You Kill it First: Premature Optimization and a Tale of Java GC

সফ্টওয়্যার উন্নতি লাভ করে যদি না আপনি এটিকে প্রথমে হত্যা করেন: অকাল অপ্টিমাইজেশান এবং জাভা জিসির একটি গল্প

Software gedeiht, wenn man sie nicht vorher tötet: Vorzeitige Optimierung und eine Geschichte von Java GC

El software prospera a menos que lo elimines primero: optimización prematura y una historia de Java GC

Le logiciel prospère à moins que vous ne le tuiez d’abord : optimisation prématurée et histoire de Java GC

सॉफ्टवेयर तब तक फलता-फूलता है जब तक आप उसे पहले खत्म नहीं कर देते: समयपूर्व अनुकूलन और जावा जीसी की कहानी

ソフトウェアは、最初に殺さない限り繁栄する: 時期尚早な最適化と Java GC の物語

소프트웨어는 먼저 죽이지 않으면 성공한다: 성급한 최적화와 Java GC 이야기

O software prospera a menos que você o elimine primeiro: otimização prematura e uma história de Java GC

Программное обеспечение процветает, если вы не убьете его первым: преждевременная оптимизация и рассказ о Java GC

Yazılım, Siz Önce Onu Öldürmediğiniz Sürece Büyür: Erken Optimizasyon ve Bir Java GC Hikayesi

Phần mềm phát triển mạnh trừ khi bạn tiêu diệt nó trước: Tối ưu hóa sớm và câu chuyện về Java GC

软件蓬勃发展，除非你先杀死它：过早优化和 Java GC 的故事

United States v. Apple INC Court Filing, retrieved on March 21, 2024 is part of . You can jump to any part in this filing . This part is 17 of 25. HackerNoon’s Legal PDF Series here E. Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone and performance smartphone markets 180. Apple has monopoly power in the smartphone and performance smartphone markets because it has the power to control prices or exclude competition in each of them. Apple also enjoys substantial and durable market shares in these markets. Moreover, Apple’s market shares likely underestimate Apple’s power because they are protected by significant barriers to entry, network effects, and switching costs. Apple recognizes and exploits these barriers to entry, network effects, and switching costs to protect itself from competition from rival platforms and innovations, products, and services that may diminish consumer reliance on the iPhone. Apple’s power will likely increase over time. 181. In the U.S. market for performance smartphones, where Apple views itself as competing, Apple estimates its market share exceeds 70 percent. These estimates likely understate Apple’s market share today. For example, Apple’s share among key demographics, including younger audiences and higher-income households, is even larger. Even in the broadest market consisting of all smartphones—including many smartphones that Apple and industry participants do not view as competing with Apple’s iPhones and other higher-end phones— Apple’s share is more than 65 percent by revenue. Similarly, even if consumers choose one phone over another, the vast majority of developers consider iPhones and Android devices as complements because developers must build apps that run on both platforms due to the lack of user multi-homing. In effect, the lack of multi-homing among users necessitates multi-homing among developers. This market reality increases the power that Apple is able to exercise over developers that seek to reach users on smartphones—especially performance smartphones that run sophisticated apps. 182. Apple’s high market shares are durable. Over the last decade, Apple increased its share of smartphones sold in the United States most years. Through the same period, Apple collected more than half the revenue for all smartphones sold in the United States. 183. Apple’s monopoly power in the relevant markets is protected by substantial barriers to entry and expansion. For example, since fewer than ten percent of smartphone purchasers in the United States are buying their first smartphone, there are fewer new customers available for Apple’s rivals. Instead, rivals must encourage existing iPhone users to switch from using an iPhone to using another smartphone when they replace or upgrade their phone. As a result, switching costs—many created or exacerbated by Apple—impose substantial barriers to entry and expansion for rival smartphones. This barrier is increasingly impenetrable. Nearly 90 percent of iPhone owners in the United States replace their iPhone with another iPhone. At least one U.S. carrier estimates that as high as 98 percent of iPhone users on its network replace or upgrade their iPhone in a given quarter by buying another iPhone. The increased switching costs that consumers experience because of Apple’s conduct underpins these exceedingly high retention rates. 184. Apple’s monopoly power in the relevant markets is protected by other barriers to entry, expansion, or repositioning as well. For example, introducing a new smartphone requires considerable investments in acquiring expensive and scarce components such as mobile chips and specialized glass for screens. Other significant barriers to entry include product design, software development, regulatory approval, manufacturing, marketing, and customer service. Because most smartphones are bought through mobile carriers including Verizon, which has its operations headquarters in this district, new entrants or those seeking to expand or reposition must meet the carriers’ technical requirements to access the major carrier networks in the United States. New entrants and smaller rivals must also negotiate distribution agreements and persuade carriers and other retailers to promote their products to consumers. As explained above, rival smartphones must also overcome the substantial network effects generated by interactions between users, developers, and others who interact with the iPhone. 185. Apple’s iPhone platform is protected by several additional barriers to entry and expansion, including strong network and scale effects and high switching costs and frictions. For example, if an iPhone user wants to buy an Android smartphone, they are likely to face significant financial, technological, and behavioral obstacles to switching. The user may need to re-learn how to operate their smartphone using a new interface, transfer large amounts of data (e.g., contacts), purchase new apps, or transfer or buy new subscriptions and accessories. These switching costs and frictions are even higher when software applications, APIs, and other functionality do not help the different devices and operating systems communicate and interoperate. These switching costs and frictions increase the “stickiness” of the iPhone, making users more beholden to the smartphone manufacturer and platform operator. 186. Many prominent, well-financed companies have tried and failed to successfully enter the relevant markets because of these entry barriers. Past failures include Amazon (which released its Fire mobile phone in 2014 but could not profitably sustain its business and exited the following year); Microsoft (which discontinued its mobile business in 2017); HTC (which exited the market by selling its smartphone business to Google in September 2017); and LG (which exited the smartphone market in 2021). Today, only Samsung and Google remain as meaningful competitors in the U.S. performance smartphone market. Barriers are so high that Google is a distant third to Apple and Samsung despite the fact that Google controls development of the Android operating system. 187. Apple’s monopoly power is separately demonstrated by direct indicia. For example, Apple can and does profitably forego innovation without fear of losing customers to competitors. For example, Apple’s vice president of iPhone marketing explained in February 2020: “In looking at it with hindsight, I think going forward we need to set a stake in the ground for what features we think are ‘good enough’ for the consumer. I would argue were [sic] already doing *more* than what would have been good enough.” After identifying old features that “would have been good enough today if we hadn’t introduced [updated features] already,” she explained, “anything new and especially expensive needs to be rigorously challenged before it’s allowed into the consumer phone.” 188. Apple’s profits and profit margins, for nearly every aspect of the iPhone, are further evidence of Apple’s monopoly power. For example, Apple’s per-unit smartphone profit margins are far more than its next most profitable rival. Apple charges carriers considerably more than its rivals to buy and resell its smartphones to the public and employs contract clauses that may impede the ability of carriers to promote rival smartphones, a harmful exercise of monopoly power that is hidden to most consumers. Apple extracts fees from developers—as much as 30 percent when users purchase apps or make in-app payments. Apple also extracts a 0.15 percent commission from banks on credit card transactions through its digital wallet, while none of its smartphone competitors with digital wallets charge any fee. Apple predicts that it will collect nearly $1 billion in worldwide revenue on Apple Pay fees by 2025.A recent report by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggest these revenues will only increase, as “analysts expect the value of digital wallet tap-to-pay transactions will grow by over 150 percent by 2028.” 189. Apple increasingly charges developers additional fees to promote their apps in the App Store as well. In fact, this is one of the fastest-growing parts of Apple’s services business, with revenue “increasing by more than a third to $4.4B in FY 2022.” 190. These indicia of Apple’s monopoly power are direct evidence of its monopoly power in the relevant markets. Continue Reading . Here About HackerNoon Legal PDF Series: We bring you the most important technical and insightful public domain court case filings. This court case retrieved on March 21, 2024, from is part of the public domain. The court-created documents are works of the federal government, and under copyright law, are automatically placed in the public domain and may be shared without legal restriction. justice.gov

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