Universal News

Google  services and products have enriched the lives of tech fans, businesspeople, and basically anyone who’s ever been curious enough to ask a question on the internet. We all know about  Search ,  Gmail ,  Maps ,  Chrome ,  YouTube , and, of course,  Android . We’ve recently seen new names added to the Google hall of fame too — most notably the  Pixel  smartphone brand and  Google Assistant -powered  Home  smart devices. Google in 2019: All in on AI What about Google’s epic fails? For all the Mountain View company’s many, many successes, a bunch of apps, devices, and other products it birthed or acquired ultimately floundered and died, often killed in unceremonious fashion. Websites like  Google Cemetery  and  Killed by Google  (as well as  Ars Technica ‘s  Google Kills Product  series) are dedicated to tracking the big G’s dead products, so we thought it’d be fun to sift through the corpse...

Qualcomm   has developed 3D Sonic Max, a brand-new and improved ultrasonic fingerprint sensor that is 17 times larger in recognition area than its predecessor, which was integrated with the Samsung Galaxy S10 series, and enables synchronous two-finger authentication, writes   Android Central . Initially, speculations said this sensor would be terminated from use on future Galaxy S series, but now it seems a better version is available. Revealed on December 3, the sensor is 20mm by 30mm, while the previous reader was 4mm by 9mm. The company claims the fingerprint sensor comes with the largest recognition area currently available in the market and delivers enhanced security and speed. Through these new features, Qualcomm addresses the issues experienced with the previous ultrasonic fingerprint sensor. Integrated with the Galaxy S10 series, the feature was widely criticized for poor performance and ease of hacking. Qualcomm did not reveal the names of the dev...

Safe in the temple: 18th century BC Wealth compressed into the convenient form of gold brings one disadvantage. Unless well hidden or protected, it is easily stolen.   In early civilizations a temple is considered the safest refuge; it is a solid building, constantly attended, with a sacred character which itself may deter thieves. In Egypt and Mesopotamia gold is deposited in temples for safe-keeping. But it lies idle there, while others in the trading community or in government have desperate need of it. In Babylon   at the time of Hammurabi, in the 18th century BC, there are records of loans made by the priests of the temple. The concept of banking has arrived.   Greek and Roman financiers: from the 4th century BC Banking activities in Greece are more varied and sophisticated than in any previous society. Private entrepreneurs, as well as temples and public bodies, now undertake financial transactions. They take deposits, make loans, change money fro...