How Do Hard Drives Work and Store Tons of Data?

BY ADARSH VERMA · NOVEMBER 1, 2015

Short Bytes: Hard Drives are the most used storage devices in our personal computers. This palm-sized device holds more information that your nearby library. But, do you know how do hard drives work? Here are the answers.

The battle of Hard Drives vs Solid State Drives is something that has been ongoing since the development of first SSDs began in 1950s. Today, in the form of modern options of cloud storage, the humble hard drives are facing another stiff competition.

As a data storage device, hard drives have a long history, starting from IBM’s RAMAC in 1956. A hard disk is actually a mechanical device with moving parts like its circular disk where data is stored.

Even though SSDs are becoming a great replacement, HHDs aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. With new technologies like Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR), the life of data on a hard drive and its storage capacity is expected to witness a big jump in upcoming years.

Ever wondered how does this small device hold so much data? Here I’m going to share a video that will tell you how do hard drives work. Take a look at this informative video below:

Doodle 4 Google Contest Wants to You to Draw What Makes You…You

Short Bytes: This year’s Doodle 4 Google contest has been flagged off by Google on October 19, asking to create something refreshing this time, an art unprecedented. The theme is ‘What makes me…me’

Did you always wonder how Google come up with amazing doodles every other day? Well, it is just sheer creativity and an intense desire of expression. Now, you or your child can be a part of it too.

Google has opened its Google Doodle contest in which the tech giant has asked the students from kindergarten to 12th grade to show their creativity and artistic side to the world. For that, Google has spread its homepage canvas for all the budding artists and if you are a lucky winner not only your Doodle will be displayed on its homepage but you’ll be rewarded with a college scholarship of $30,000.

Google has asked the students to come up with refreshing ideas while telling the world “What makes me…me”, which is the theme of the Google Doodle contest by the way.

The Doodle 4 Google contest will continue till December 7, 2015, so everyone would get ample time to submit their best art. Children can use any material while creating a Doodle which shows their uniqueness. It could be crayons, clay and even graphic designs. However, there is only one condition, the Doodle must incorporate the letters G-o-o-g-l-e. Fair enough.

10 Best Features of Ubuntu 15.10 Wily Werewolf

 Ubuntu 15.10 is now released by Canonical and available for download. Read this article, know the features of Ubuntu 15.10 and take your upgrade decision.

After six months in development, Ubuntu 15.10 Wily Werewolf is released and available for download. 

In this article, we are here to tell you the 10 best features of Ubuntu 15.10 Wily Werewolf. Let’s take a look:

1. Linux Kernel 4.2

The Ubuntu 15.10 is based on the kernel version 4.2, which was released in the August end.

Among the major improvements in Linux 4.2, there is new AMD GPU kernel driver support, new ARM development board support, NV-DIMM support, F2FS file-system encryption support and more.

2. Unity 7.3.3 Default Desktop Shell Unity

Ubuntu’s default desktop shell Unity has been given small fixes and improvements in 15.10. It offers a preview of Unity 8, Canonical’s next-gen user interface. One of the major noticeable change is Ubuntu leaving behind the Unity’s overlay scrollbars.

Now you can drag and drop apps from Unity Dash to the desktop, session exit button now have a click effect, page up/down keyboard navigation works like a scroll in the Dash, and many other minor improvements.

3. Ubuntu Make

Ubuntu Make is a command line utility that allows easier installation of popular developer tools. Now it supports even more platforms, services and frameworks, and a complete Android development environment.

4. OpenStack 2014 2.0

The Ubuntu 15.10 comes with the OpenStack 2014 2.0 which is codenamed Liberty. This open source software for creating private and public clouds is now in sync with the Ubuntu development cycle.

5. Stateless Persistent Network Interface Names

The latest Linux Ubuntu 15.10 distro comes with stateless persistent network interface names. This means that naming the network interface with more comprehensive names is now possible and they’ll remain valid even after a restart or change in hardware.

6. GNOME 3.16

With the Ubuntu 15.10, there comes the upgraded GNOME 3.16.x and the most of the GNOME 3.16 applications have been now added. This could also be upgraded to GNOME 3.18. The MATE desktop used by the Ubuntu MATE is now version 1.10.

7. LXD Container Technology

LXD for containers was debuted in Ubuntu 15.04, but is now production ready and comes with more capabilities like those of a virtual machine. According to Canonical, now you have the ability to take snapshot images and live container migration.

8. Steam Controller Support

The Ubuntu 15.10 has native Steam Controller support out of the box and the gamers don’t need any tweaks or modifications.

All you need to do is install Steam using the Ubuntu package in the software center and plugin you new controller.

9. GCC 5 and Python 3.x Support

Ubuntu 15.10 has arrived with GCC 5 and Python 3.x support. Developers will have to wait for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, that will makes Python 3.x default.

10. Updated Apps:

• LibreOffice 5
• Firefox 41
• Chromium 45
• Nautilus (aka ‘Files’) 3.14.2
• Totem (aka ‘Videos’) 3.16
• Rhythmbox 3.2.1
• Empathy 3.12.10
• Shotwell 0.22

Happy Birthday Google : Some Fun Facts About the Company You Didn’t Know

Today is the 17th birthday of Google. It was the day when it was launched by founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. To mark the occasion, we have come up with some lesser know fun facts about the company.

28 Words:

Google’s founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page still prefer to keep home page simple and it shouldn’t exceed 28 words.

Google Loves Dogs:

Google backs bringing dogs to work and a “company dog” called Yoshka. Yoshka escorts Urs Holzle, senior VP operations and Google Fellow to theGoogleplex.

Google Loves Food:

Founders said that no Googler should ever be more than 100 feet from a micro-kitchen with snacks and food.

Google Loves Goats:

Google rents goats from a company called California Grazing for mowing its lawn and other weeds at Google HQ. The operation of 200 goats good for the environment, and according to Google, it is “A lot cuter to watch than lawn mowers.”

Google Loves Star Wars:

The Google homepage can also be viewed in the language of Klingon (from Star Trek), in case the aliens attack the world and need Google to navigate through the situation at https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-klingon

Google Loves Dinosaurs, LEGO, Flamingos and Everything:

At Google HQ there is a T-Rex skeleton – nicknamed “Stan” after a “real” dinosaur. There is also a to the scale replica of the SpaceShipOne, Android-themed models, pink flamingos, a large LEGO man, Google-coloured phone boxes and grown-up size ball pits.

First Tweet:

Google’s first ever Tweet in February 2009 was: “I’m 01100110 01100101 01100101 01101100 01101001 01101110 01100111 00100000 01101100 01110101 01100011 01101011 01111001 00001010.” In binary it means: “I’m feeling lucky.”

I am feeling Lucky:

“I am feeling Lucky” button is rarely used by users but a survey shows that users like to have this button on homepage.

The First Google Doodle:

The first Google doodle was a Burning Man symbol. Founders went to the Burning Man festival in 1998 and added the doodle to let users know they were away from the office that weekend.

5 Ways How Oculus And Samsung’s Gear VR Can Change Virtual Reality

 New $99 Gear VR by Oculus for VR  Samsung GALAXY Note 4, S6, or S6 is making virtual reality affordable. Now you can experience Virtual reality, anytime, anywhere – that too at a $99 price

Did you know the hidden powers of your phone? Well, if not, now you may. As, together with Samsung, Oculus introduced the new edition of Gear VR, unlocking the hidden powers and features of your phone, for just $99.

Now you can experience Virtual reality, anytime, anywhere – that too at a relatively affordable price.

Here’s the top 5 reasons how Oculus and Samsung have made it big this time:

1. Drastically lower prices

The new Oculus powered Samsung Gear VR comes at almost half the price of its last mobile VR headset which was for $199. While the last one worked with only few phones, the new Samsung Gear VR works with the whole 2015 line of Samsung Smartphones including the Note 5, S6, S6 Edge, and S6 Edge+. This makes the device much more accessible.

2. Edge Cutting-edge Technology

The technology used includes cell phone screen technology and super-low-latency sensor tracking. The new Gear VR is 22% lighter, adding to the ease and comfort of using it. The track-pad on the temple of the headset  has a tactile directional pad on it so your finger will know where it’s touching. Also, owing to the wireless technology, virtual reality is at your commands.

3. Your own portable gaming system

Ever been thrilled by a video game that you’re playing to an extent, that you wished it to be true?

Well, for all video game lovers out there, here’s the great news. The gaming in Gear VR will let you step inside the world of your video games and be a part of the action and thrill as if you’re really there. Head movements can be used conveniently to explore, aim weapons, or even interact to a large extent.

4. The home theater of your dreams

Have you ever wished for a personal home theater to get drowned in your favorite movie? Of course we all did. But then it’s barely affordable for most of us. Isn’t it? Well, this Gear VR lets you have the experience of watching a movie in a way you’ve never felt before. What’s more? Well, you can now carry your own theater where ever you go.

5. Simple and Portable

Not only is it mesmerizing but also really easy to use. All that one has to do is just slide the Gear VR headset in GALAXY Note 4, S6, or S6 edge and you’re up for a virtual vacation. Be it fighting with the spaceships or watching a movie in your personal movie theater, the  possibilities with Gear VR are boundless and fascinating.

Hackers Are Using This Malware to Make ATMs Vomit Cash

Short Bytes: Security firm Proofpoint has noticed some instances of a new ATM malware called GreenDispenser. Hackers can empty the whole ATM machine without leaving any trace as the malware uses a deep delete process to erase itself.

Anew type of ATM malware has been detected by security researchers in Mexico. The malware enabled the cybercriminals to take the complete control of the cash dispensing machines.

The security firm Proofpoint has reported that it has noticed some instances of a malware called GreenDispenser that gives a fake error message that reads, “we regret this ATM is temporary of service”. So far the attacks have been centred on Mexico, but the researchers think that it could be easily implemented anywhere in the world.

This ATM malware leaves no trace of its activities as it uses a deep delete process that helps hackers to erase all the tracks of crime.

As the ATMs show the error message, only the hacker can bypass this error and empty all the cash. This malware uses two-factor authentication that could be bypassed using a pin code that has been earlier hard-coded into the system. After this, the hacker uses the smartphone to scan the OR code that is seen on the ATM screen.

This malware is suspected to be an insider’s job as it required physical access to the ATM.

Kevin Epstein, vice president of threat operations for Proofpoint, said, “ATM malware such as GreenDispenser is particularly alarming because it allows cyber criminals to attack financial institutions directly, without the extra steps required to capture credit and debit card information from consumers – and with correspondingly less traceability.”

The GreenDispense ATM malware has a self-destruct mechanism. So, it only works till a certain date and then disappears.

In recent years, ATM malware instances are on the rise. To keep themselves safe from such attacks, financial institutions must re-examine their security layers and consider modern security methods to counter these threats.