Month: May 2024

Void Shadows Is Warhammer 40K: Rogue Trader’s First Expansion, Adding 15 Hours’ Worth of Content

Posted on by faz_business


Owlcat Games revealed today that the first expansion for their acclaimed cRPG Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader will be titled Void Shadows, and it’ll add about 15 hours’ worth of content to the game, as well as a new romanceable companion.

Aside from these (pretty big!) news, the developers also just confirmed that the game is now fully Steam Deck certified, letting prospective Rogue Traders conduct their galactic business on the go.

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is currently on sale on Steam for US$34.99 as part of the Warhammer Skulls event.

“Void Shadows” is the first DLC for Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, offering a massive amount of content with about 15 hours of fresh gameplay and a new romanceable companion. Fully integrated into the game’s main story, this DLC will allow players to delve into the depths of their voidship first-hand in an enthralling new story that will pit them against an unfamiliar enemy trying to bring ruin to the von Valancius dynasty from within.

A new story — a tense 15 hours of adventures on board the von Valancius voidship, filled with unexpected threats, various quests, unique equipment, and additional lore content, all of it fully integrated into the main campaign.

А new companion — Kibellah, a Death Cult Assassin, who is ready to pledge her life in service of the von Valancius dynasty just as her predecessors did for generations before, even possibly developing a strong personal bond with the Lord Captain.

А new looming threat arising from within the deepest and darkest bowels of the player’s very own voidship — the malignant Genestealer Cult — a horrific breed of xenos who operate from the shadows, infecting your crew with their genetic code to convert them, slowly twisting their faith in the Emperor to carry out their wretched designs.

New crew members — high-level officers integral to voidship operations, numbering thousands upon thousands of souls, stand ready to serve the Lord Captain.

New locations to explore — the sheer magnitude of the voidship hides many distant nooks and crannies where no Lord Captain has gone before.

Top 25 Mobile App Development Companies In USA

Posted on by faz_business


List of Mobile App Development Companies in USA, San Francisco, California

Top 25 Mobile App Development Companies in the USA

Smart Phones have tremendously changed the way people used technology as the ever-growing digital world has offered numerous possibilities. It the fact that the world is at our fingertips now!

The mobile application plays a significant role in the competitive business environment. From increasing sales of services or products to marketing mobile apps have become vital for the growth and development of businesses. Nowadays, almost every company/business, start-up, or well established are focusing on developing an eye-catchy and user-friendly mobile application.

In this competitive digital world, it is very challenging for business owners to find the top mobile application developer in the USA that creates a mobile app with advanced features. So, to make you free from doing research, we have performed an in-depth study on the best mobile apps on developers in the USA and listed out all in this blog post.

Hey Check-Out The Free Resource for You:

Top 25 Mobile App Development Companies In USA

To find the Top 25 Mobile App Development Companies In USA, San Francisco, California

#1 USM Business Systems

USM Business Systems is one of the esteemed mobile application development companies in the USA. With proven technologies and methods, the team of mobile app developers at USM will create mobile applications that are creative and result-driven. Since 1999, the company has been providing robust, cost-effective, and customer-oriented apps to businesses, enterprises, and startups across the USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Service Lines: Application development, Automation services & Solutions, Cloud Migration, HR management, and Workforce services
Clients: Leidos, Fannie Mae, Bank of America, HBO, Span On, CGI, Foreside, Lockheed Martin, Aamva, Walmart, University of Pittsburg, and many more.

If you want to create the best mobile application for your business, please reach them.

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#2 WillowTree

WillowTree is one of the best and largest mobile app development firms with expertise in Web Development, OTT Development, Custom App Development, Digital Product Design, and Digital Product Strategy. The agency got associated with the client at each step of the mobile app development process to deliver top-notch and feature-rich results. The former clients are Century Fox, PepsiCo, ABInBev, Synchrony Financial, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Alliant Credit Union, National Geographic, and Regal Cinemas.

#3 Hyperlink InfoSystem

Hyperlink Infosystem is a certified company, which has been providing services to its clients across the USA, Japan, UK, and Canada since 2011. They have a dedicated team to build mobile apps that not only providing superior quality but also satisfaction and support to their clients. The company design and develop mobile apps with a fantastic user experience that will make the users go crazy about it.

They got expertise in delivering several kinds of services such as Mobile App Development, Android app development, Windows app development, iPhone app development, Blockchain Development, Ecommerce, Wearable App Development, Flutter app development, Website development, etc.

#4 Rightpoint

Rightpoint is an award-winning mobile application development firm located in the USA. They have a dedicated team to build mobile apps that not only providing superior quality but also satisfaction and support to their clients.
Along with mobile app development, the company’s specialties include IT consulting, Microsoft technologies, digital transformation, systems integration, CRM, salesforce.com, etc.

#5 Blue Label Labs

Blue Label Labs is one of the renowned mobile applications development agencies in the USA, founded in 2011. The firm delivers a wide range of app development services, including mobile app design, android app design, ios app design, TV app design, mobile app development, on-demand service apps, AR/VR app design, and health care apps.
They have been partnered with various small and middle-level enterprises, namely PayPal, Fender, Bloomberg News, HowUdish, iHeart Media, El Dorado Airport App, Major League Baseball Player’s Association, Hello Sitter, Magic Money, Muncheez, and so on.

#6 TechAhead

TechAhead is well known for its excellent services for enterprise apps. Their team of professionals helps their clients’ businesses on priority through great collaboration, modern and user-friendly design for mobile apps, and web apps.
The company is recognized as the top 10 mobile application developments companies in the USA for offering services like android Application Development, iPad and iPhone Application Development, UI/UX Design, iOS Application Development, Open Source ( LAMP) Development, etc. since 2009.

#7 VironIT 

Viron IT is one of the top mobile application development firms in the USA. Since its establishment in 2004, it has worked for over 600 projects and delivered app design and development services to various startups, digital agencies, enterprise clients, and high-tech companies. The organization has proven track record for the most critical and complex mobile app developments with utmost quality.

#8 Appinventiv 

Appinventiv was founded in 2014 and is a pioneer for mobile application development services. The professional app developers at Appinventiv will bridge the gap between imagination and reality through their creative and innovative services. As per Clutch, the firm is ranked among the top 24 mobile application development companies worldwide,
Their services included Mobile App Development, iPhone App Development, Android App development, ibeacon app development, iOS Development, Apple TV app development, React Native Application Development, Flutter Application Development, and many more.

#9 Five

Five is the most innovative and hybrid mobile applications development agency, which was founded in 2008. The developers at ‘Five’ work on the latest technologies and methodologies to create mobile apps that help boost clients businesses. The firm has collaborated with various companies including Rosetta Stone, Marriott International, Napster, Consumer Affairs, Gennett, USA Today, Penguin Random House, Choice Hotels, etc.

#10 Zco

Zco Corporation is one of the largest and most trusted mobile application development companies in the world. Since 1989, the company is creating attractive and resilient apps to its clients through the most reliable methods.

Zco has a team with experts in offering services including, Custom Mobile Application Development, Mobile Game Development, Enterprise Software Solutions, Hybrid Mobile App Development, Enterprise Mobility, Android, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, and Windows Phone. It has partnered with many satisfied clients, namely Verizon, Microsoft, John Hancock, Liberty Mutual, Utz Quality Foods, BBC America, etc.

#11 Konstant Infosolutions

Konstant Infosolutions is a largest and world-recognized mobile app development company in USA and was founded in 2003.
With a team of skilled developers, the firm has vast experience in delivering various services including Mobile Web Design, Custom Web Application Development, Android App Development, PHP/.Net Development, OpenSource Application Development, WordPress Design & Development, Magento Ecommerce Solutions, iPhone/iPad Applications, etc.

They partnered with various famous clients, namely, Volkswagen, Project Action Star, Thomasville, RawBank, Stanley, Citrix, NASSCOM, Scholastic, United Nations, Nestle, and others.

#12 ItCraft 

Itcraft is the best software development company, delivering a wide range of mobile solutions across the USA since 2010. The company has highly talented developers to design and develop an application following a modern and creative approach to reach business owners expectations. Their core services include mobile apps development (Android, iOS), web applications and portal solutions, custom software, dedicated mobile applications, and designing IT systems.

# 13 Cheesecake Labs 

Delivering services since 2013, Cheesecake Labs is often considered as the best mobile application development firm. The company will give you a chance to do your projects into reality in the most reasonable cost. Their specialities include mobile application development, web application development, software consultancy, Ui/UX designating, and Software Consultancy.

The firm worked for several amazing companies such as Lockitron, Singularity University, Camio, Getable, Triple Point, Fishbit, OneAvenue.TV, etc.

#14 MindSea

Mindsea is a premier mobile app development agency in the USA that is leading by veteran developers who thinks out of the box and develops innovative and creative mobile applications for a wide range of industries.
The firm specialization is providing services like Mobile Apps, Mobile Software design, Android Development, iOS development, User experience design, Mobile Software, Mobile Marketing, and Mobile Advertising.

# 15 Reinvently

Reinvently is one of the best service providers in the USA for the development of mobile applications and web applications. Since 2010, the firm has been developing hybrid mobile apps on Android, iPhone, iPad, and Windows.
They collaborated with various startup and large entrepreneurs for delivers various services including mobile app development, UI/UX design, Mobile strategy, Business consulting, Machine Learning, Augmented Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, and many more.

Get App Development Quote for your Business!

#16 Fueled

Fueled is an award-winning mobile apps development company in the USA that has the calibre to transform clients business through emerging technologies and creative designs. With their decade of experience and professionalism, Fueled worked for numerous critical projects like Verizon, Warby Parker, QuizUp, 9GAG, Rite Aid, Crunchbase, Richr, Mysteryvibe, Afterlight, Dayo, Pollen, Trace, Barneys New York, and many more.

# 17 Blue Whale Apps

Blue Whale Apps is a top-rated mobile application development firm, located in the USA. Founded in 2006, the agency has been working with a team of highly skilled developers who have a passion for creating mobile apps for wide industries.

Apart from the mobile apps development, iPad app development, and iPhone app development, the company offers services in API Integration, App Testing Services, Hybrid Mobile App Development, and Conversion Rate Optimization.

# 18 ISBX

ISBX is an industry-recognized and award-winning agency that is focused on developing user-friendly mobile applications. Since its establishment in 2009, offering services to small and large entrepreneurs in web development, digital marketing, and SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

The firm has partnered with various companies like Loreal Paris, Apple, Science 37, WB, Lexus, DirectDerm, Arthritis Foundation, Red Bull, Pasco, The Queen Mary, Brain Coro, and so on.

#19 Dogtown Media

Dogtown Media since its establishment has been committed to delivering services in mobile app development, iPhone app development, iPad app development, mobile app design, android app developer, product strategy, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, mobile app marketing, etc. A firm is a group of developers who have incredible talent in mobile app development and designing.

They worked for several projects that include Udemy, Google Train Up, Cone Health, Sleep Life, United Nations, Aspire, Minneapolis Heart Institute, Worldwide Breast Cancer, etc.

#20 CodigoDelSur

CodigoDelSur is the place where you can discover the most valuable mobile application developers in the USA that have transformed the client’s businesses by providing them with outstanding applications. This agency has achieved great heights from the establishment in 2007 in the USA.

They partnered with the various pioneer clients namely, AVON, Subway, Kindara, Office Depot, Weev, Sharalike, USG, Logo Works, Antel, Bizzness Apps, Youplus, BHA, Pubnub, Zoom, Iongrid, Leapgo, Hotelli Corporate, and many more.

#21 Zealous System

Zealous System holds a good reputation with its best in class services in mobile app development. They are experts in creating apps for Android, iOS and Hybrid application development services. Their other specialities include Augmented Reality, Angular JS, Node JS, ASP.Net Core, React JS, Vue JS, ChatBot, IoT, Java, MVC.Net, PHP, WordPress, Shopify, Drupal, and Joomla.

The company has created several applications like AR Sports Finder, Digital Wallet App, Energytrac App, Fitness Tracking App, All-in-All Social Media App, Sonic Tonic App, A Supply Chain Tracking App, etc.

# 22 Dom & Tom

Dom & Tom is an esteemed digital product agency that has specialized in creating mobile apps for a wide range of industries. Since its establishment in 2009, the firm is offering customized mobile solutions from startup companies to large companies with the best quality and affordable prices.
Some of their services include Mobile App Development, Mobile App Design, Web App Development, iOS development, Augmented Reality, Enterprise Mobility, Android development, and Blockchain.

# 23 Cubix

Cubix is well known for its excellence and perfection in mobile application design and development. It was established in 2008 and became a full-cycle, mobile-first development firm with the highest clients’ satisfaction in the industry.

The company has expert developers to offer services like Mobile Application Development, Web Application Development, Custom Software, Mobile Game Development, Android Applications, iOS Applications, and Content Management System.

# 24 Crux Labs

Since 2010, Crux Lab has been designing, developing and delivering mobile and web apps that increase the business capability, creates good brand, and beats competitions from the business competitors. They have a team of professionals who have a passion for developing ultimate mobile applications within budget.
The company has collaborated with various firms, including Nauto, Podo, Uniwell, Wagner Meters, Cricket Health, Falke, Hooke, Image Metrics, and so on.

#25 RipenApps

RipenApps has a good reputation for providing the best and unique mobile applications to clients in a wide range of industries. The organization has a team of professionals that are experienced and highly skilled in developing mobile applications.

Apart from Mobile App Development, the firm has been delivering services in iPhone Development, Android Development, iOS Development, Hybrid App, Development, Web Development, Cross-Platform Development, Objective C Development, Healthcare Segment Application Development, Beacon based Mobile Applications, etc.

Conclusion

I hope the above-written information regarding the Top 25 Mobile App Development Companies In USA will be useful for you in finding the top-rated app developers.

If you know the top-rated mobile application developers in the United States other than above 25, please mention in the comment box.

Are you dreaming of a unique and user-interactive best mobile app development company in usa for your business project?
Contact us. We would love to assist you!

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Thank you for reading the blog.
Top 25 Mobile App Development Companies In USA

Inventors’ Guide to Using Physical Prototype Design Services for Product Innovation

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Product innovation is far from being easy and straightforward. However, it can work wonders in getting your name out there in the business world and open the doors to endless opportunities. The first and most important step to turn your envisioned idea into an actual product is to share it with the rest of the world. For instance, can you believe that only a handful of people were willing to buy into the concept of electricity when it was first theorized?

During the late 1800s, even Thomas Edison was criticized by most of the leading scientists of his time. The same scientists claimed that electricity was nothing but a concept from a fairy tale and that harnessing it on a wide scale is far from possible. Of course, everyone now knows these claims were rubbish as people enjoy a well-lit world.

RELATED: Different kinds of prototypes and how to use them for your design project

Imagine if Edison hadn’t come up with the idea, pursued his dream, and persevered to turn it into reality. And imagine how easier things would have been if Edison had a physical prototype of his idea back then. Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or you’ve been in the business for years, here’s a quick inventors’ guide to using physical prototype design services for product innovation.

What is a physical prototype?

A physical prototype is the first or test version of a product. You’ve likely already seen a prototype in the past. The material used or how the prototype is made depends on the specific things you would like to test. For example, if you plan to test the dimensions, you only need to test the physical space to ensure that every part isn’t too small or too big. This kind of prototype will not be functional and will just be hollow instead. 

RELATED: 21 Companies looking for your invention ideas to license new products

Different types of physical prototypes

Most prototypes are broken down into two major categories. Prototypes are used to test aesthetics or test functionality. 

Aesthetic prototype

An aesthetic prototype is precisely as its name suggests. This type of prototype tests the looks or aesthetics of the product. This includes the visual design, dimensions, and ergonomics. These prototypes come in handy for photos or presentations because they are meant to look “pretty.”

Functionality prototype

A functionality prototype tests mechanisms, material strength, reliability, and durability. These often look rougher and just like how you envision a prototype. It’s because these are only used to test functionality, which means that appearance is out of the question. 

RELATED: Elevating your company using CAD product design services during product development

new-invention-design-services

Popular methods of physical prototyping 

The following are the most popular processes and methods of creating prototypes:

3D printing

The past 20 years have seen significant breakthroughs and advancements in technology, including hiring professional 3D printing design firms. One of the most amazing inventions that the world has seen is the development of 3D printers. These machines can print full models or parts of a model with various materials. The most commonly used materials are PLA plastics, nylons, silicones, and others. It’s possible to print a prototype in just one go or print it into several parts and assemble it afterward, depending on its size. 

CNC machining

CNC (computer numerical control) machine is a maneuverable motorized tool that usually sits on a motorized platform with a computer controlling it. CNC machine is the umbrella term used to refer to different machines. These operate on various materials, such as metals or wood. CNC programming services have clear advantages over the standard NC operation, particularly when it comes to matters of parts precision.

RELATED: CNC programming c& CNC machining service rates for companies

Why do you need a physical prototype?

It doesn’t matter if you belong to a global conglomerate or you’re a start-up owner; it’s always a good idea to include a physical prototype design in your business plan for the following reasons:

Physical prototypes can spark ideas for other inventions

For example, you’re trying to make a prototype for a new remote control car, and during the testing process, you discover that a mobile app is required to control the car. Suddenly, you’re onboarding coders into your team. But what matters more here is that you’ve pinpointed another new product that needs and deserves to exist. 

Physical prototypes facilitate market research 

Every time you place a physical prototype in the hands of your potential consumer or present a visual prototype to them, their reactions can serve as your basis for gleaning more data about your target audience. 

RELATED: Key differences between prototyping and prototype engineering for companies & firms

Physical prototypes enhance your final design 

Take note that the purpose of your physical prototype is to serve as a passing stage in the production process. To get to the next level of success, it’s important to identify errors in the prototypes and work hard to fix these flaws. A new product design and product development firm can help.

Physical prototypes allow you to understand user experience 

By having a physical product available, you can better understand the design of the prototype in such a way that would otherwise be impossible if it’s only a written theoretical idea in your inventor’s journal.

3d product design & development company

How to use physical prototype design services to create physical prototypes

Whether you’re a veteran inventor or a complete newbie in the product manufacturing industry, here’s how you can take advantage of physical prototype design services to help you with your new product innovation:

RELATED: 6 Ways you can use 3D printing services to create a new prototype design

1. Craft your ideas first

One of the trickiest parts of product design is coming up with a product idea in the first place. As an inventor, your first question should be about your product’s ideal design, appearance, and how it feels. Working alongside a new invention design firm can proof to be invaluable.The answer to this question will depend on factors such as the market’s top design trends, the needs of your target customers, cost, usability, your current market position, and the scenario of your competitors. First, you can do thorough research, brainstorm with your team, and understand that your new product should solve your customers’ problems. 

2. Come up with a rough representation of your invention idea

After you’re done with extensive research and finalizing an idea, creating its simple representation is the next step. Since it won’t do any good to have the representation of your product in mind, you need to manifest it either virtually using a computer program or traditionally with a pen and paper. Today, software programs such as CAD let you come up with virtual 3D replicas of products.

RELATED: Advantages of using rapid prototyping services for your business

Aside from giving you a clear idea of the dimensions and size of your product, it will also let you observe the performance of your product in a virtual simulation. Using an early mockup also enables you to improve your product’s reputation. This is an excellent way of showing your seriousness about the design of your product and your willingness to go out of your way. After making a rough mockup of your new product idea, the most important and exciting part follows. 

3. Develop a physical prototype

This is the stage where physical prototype design services enter the picture. It’s the stage when you will finally start to develop your prototype. Take note that your physical representation must be 3D rendered correctly by an experienced 3D product rendering professional. This should be made in a way that will best represent the final product. Physical prototype design services often use two approaches to create physical product prototypes: CNC prototyping and 3D printing. 

RELATED: Why is industrial design important for new product and prototype development?

4. Polish the prototype to perfection

The last stage is the most time-consuming and painful of them all. It’s because this is the stage when your product needs to undergo a series of redesigns and tweaking to meet your expectations. Ensure you invest in rapid prototyping design services to assist you every step of the way. Below are some of the most common reasons why you might need to redesign your product:

  • The market’s product trends are changing. 
  • There are ergonomic problems with the product. 
  • You want to expand your product’s functionality.
  • Early prototypes showed functional and structural problems. 

Other essential things to remember as you work on the refinement process of your physical prototype:

  • Always be ready for changes. Understand and remember that your product needs to go through several changes so that you can effectively launch it in the market. 
  • Ensure you stay updated with the latest product design trends to maximize your profitability and appeal to your target audience better. 
  • Don’t stop updating and upgrading—the industry of product manufacturing changes day by day, which means that your product should, too. Continue to experiment with new ways and methods to enhance your product. 
  • Please note that your product will always have room for improvement, no matter how perfect you think it is. 

RELATED: Top tips to create impactful prototype designs for company products

One more tip to remember is to ensure that your product is patented within a year before you disclose your product to ensure that your idea won’t be duplicated or plagiarized. Working with a patent lawyer is also recommended to protect your ideas better. 

How Cad Crowd can help

Physical prototype design services are essential in the different stages of your product development process. Cad Crowd can help you achieve great success with your physical prototypes by helping you find the best services that will bring your new ideas to life. Contact us for a free quote.

Big Data Analytics in the Energy Sector

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Editor’s note: Big data analytics has already taken root in the energy industry. In this article Alex Bekker, Head of Data Analytics Department at ScienceSoft, describes how exactly big data analytics can drive value in the electric power sector. In case you’re one of those considering the launch or improvement of a big data solution, you are welcome to explore ScienceSoft’s offering in big data services.

Electric utilities go for smart grids with advanced metering infrastructure and big data capabilities to get strategic insights that would foster efficient energy use. Based on the experience gained from our cooperation with electric utilities, I will show you three practical examples of how big data analytics augments the energy industry.

big data analytics in the energy industry

Fault detection and predictive maintenance

It’s not news that failures in the energy industry equipment may result in catastrophic power blackouts and vast sums of money spent on new assets, restoration works and energy losses. To avoid or minimize such outcomes, I advise developing an efficient equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance approach, the key technologies of which are smart meters and big data. As well as sensors, whose operating principle is described by my colleague, Alex Grizhnevich, in the article dedicated to IoT-based predictive maintenance, smart meters generate all kinds of equipment state data to communicate disturbances, their localization and fault types to the utility in real time. It allows electric utilities to employ advanced big data technologies to detect disturbances early enough to avoid breakdowns and costly downtimes.

Do you want to benefit from predictive maintenance to extend energy equipment’s lifespan and avoid costly breakdowns?

ScienceSoft’s experts can share our proven big data best practices to help you avoid unplanned downtimes due to equipment failures.


Analyze my big data needs

Electric power quality

Electric power quality influences the safe operation of a power grid and consumers’ satisfaction. Fortunately, big data software goes far beyond detecting disturbances a posteriori. For example, we at ScienceSoft offer our customers to implement continuous power quality monitoring to create “an early warning system” empowered with deep learning and pattern recognition algorithms. With this system, you can analyze all the information related to power quality, detect and classify deviations from the norm appearing in power grids quickly and accurately. Once the deviation is classified, it is possible to determine its causes and take measures to prevent it, avoiding downtimes and production losses.

Load management

Advanced big data analytics methods enable accurate load forecasting, which is the basis for effective energy management. Here, let me set an example of how data science can help electric utilities forecast the load and save the investments. To enable that, they partition the geographical area according to local weather information and use data from smart meters. Smart meters, constantly collecting data, feed the AI technologies with data to identify consumers’ typical behavior, match behavior patterns with historical data on weather conditions and make accurate predictions about customers’ real-time behavior under certain weather conditions. And utilities are not the only ones to win in this situation: in combination with in-home displays and programmable communicating thermostats, electric power users obtain the information that can encourage them to initiate a change in the energy consumption, which advances the era of conscious energy consumption.

It’s time to secure the energy gains!

Considering the benefits that predictive maintenance, power quality monitoring and load management bring into the energy industry, many electric utilities have already leveraged big data analysis. The use cases I’ve outlined here are by no means exhaustive. If you’d like to learn more about the value, which big data analytics may bring, you are welcome to explore the overview prepared by my former colleague Olga Baturina.

A big data journey may be long and full of risks to overcome. But I’m convinced, with the right strategy at hand, the result is always worth it. If you are not sure where to start or think your current big data solution leaves something to be desired, ScienceSoft’s data analytics team will be glad to help, just let us know.


Big data is another step to your business success. We will help you to adopt an advanced approach to big data to unleash its full potential.

Visual Studio 2022 17.10 and GitHub Copilot: Your Coding Partner for Faster and Smarter Development

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Today, as we kick off the //BUILD 2024 conference, we’re thrilled to share the general availability of Visual Studio 2022 17.10! This release features a new, single GitHub Copilot extension, marking a significant leap forward in AI-assisted development by embedding the power of advanced AI directly into strategic parts of your Integrated Development Environment (IDE). 

With the integration of GitHub Copilot directly into Visual Studio, we’re offering you a coding partner with improved context, providing smart suggestions and code completions that help you stay focused and productive. While GitHub Copilot is implemented as an extension, it’s not acquired through the Visual Studio Marketplace or Extension Manager. Instead, it’s available directly from the Visual Studio installer as a recommended component—meaning it’s installed by default, though you can choose not to install it if preferred. We’ve updated the familiar features to use the latest AI models with the goal of keeping you in the creative flow for longer. To enable these AI experiences, activate your GitHub Copilot subscription today by signing in to GitHub and starting a free trial.

Today’s post will focus on GitHub Copilot, but over the next few weeks we will continue to provide additional details on the improvements in the 17.10 release, which includes the General Availability of .NET Aspire, further expanding Visual Studio’s capabilities into cloud-native application development. For a complete list of our latest enhancements check out the Release Notes. We invite you to try out Visual Studio 2022 17.10 GA and discover these new features and improvements for yourself.

Accelerating your coding experiences with GitHub Copilot

GitHub Copilot’s latest experience is integrated into Visual Studio and combines the features of GitHub Copilot’s code completion capabilities and GitHub Copilot Chat into one convenient package, eliminating the need to install two separate extensions.

Image Copilot Badge

This AI-driven inline companion understands your code, offering real-time suggestions and intelligent code completions. Additionally, GitHub Copilot chat presents the opportunity for a sustained, threaded conversation in which you build context and background for the problems you are investigating. It’s like having a coding partner that speeds up your development process, allowing you to focus on innovation rather than getting bogged down by the basics.

Onboarding developers to new teams and projects comes with the challenge of knowledge sharing, but when code commits are moving faster than documentation the most important source of truth becomes the code itself. GitHub Copilot Chat provides convenient slash commands and references to get better answers that are scoped to your specific solution and projects.

In the following example we ask GitHub Copilot to explain (/explain) a method from a specific class by including a reference to the class file using the # symbol:

/explain the AddItemToBasket method in #file:BasketService.cs

Or in this example we ask it to fix a problem in a method:

/fix the HashThisData method in #file:StringExtentions.cs

Slash commands allow you to quickly set the intent for many common development tasks (e.g. /doc, /explain, /fix, /optimize, /generate, etc.). While references allow you to be more specific about the information you want GitHub Copilot to consider when answering your question (e.g. #solution, #locals, #file.cs, etc.).

Debugging faster

With GitHub Copilot debugging and validating code in Visual Studio becomes a less daunting task. For example, one of the most common bugs developers are forced to investigate comes from exceptions. Now when an error is caught the AI-powered Exception Helper can assist you through the troubleshooting process. The Exception Helper uses a combination of the exception type and call stacks to help form a context rich question from diagnostics data available to Visual Studio’s best in class debugger.

We are also supporting rubber ducking techniques where we invite you to articulate the problem in your natural written language while the debugger is paused. By including the local’s reference (#locals) you can ask direct questions about the state of a variable. For example, I might ask:

Why is the value of InterestRate NaN? #locals

Our newest set of debugging features include a deadlock detection helper that identifies blocking states in your running application, and more importantly, it can also suggest solutions for the underlying code. We have also integrated GitHub Copilot into our breakpoint workflows, allowing you to easily define your break point conditions, giving you the opportunity to strategically pause the debugger at key moments of an investigation.

Scaffold tests and summarize code commits

GitHub Copilot can also assist you in both the generation and resolution of unit tests, helping teams conserve code coverage and health. While scaffolding these kinds of tests is necessary work, it can also be a time consuming and repetitive task. In this example we create a set of tests for a selected class:

/tests #file:StringExtentions.cs

The outcome of GitHub Copilot assistance is a more productive development process, where time spent on crafting unit tests and error resolution is minimized, and code quality is consistently high.

We know that you can grow frustrated with the time you spend maintaining a healthy code base. It can be hard to recall and condense the hours of design and development into notes and documentation that communicate the appropriate intent to your team. GitHub Copilot enables smart PR and commit suggestions, it’s easier than ever to maintain clarity and consistency across your developer projects.

We found that 80% of developers find the generated PR description suggestion helpful enough to use. In all, GitHub Copilot helps developers complete their code faster, reduce their mental effort, while allowing them to focus on more enjoyable work.

As we wrap up our exploration of Visual Studio’s latest enhancements with GitHub Copilot, it’s clear that this integration creates an important opportunity to help you achieve more. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, the latest updates to Visual Studio are designed to help you be more productive. We invite you to download the latest version of Visual Studio, activate your GitHub Copilot subscription today and start a free trial to enjoy the latest AI experiences.

Share your feedback and stay connected with Visual Studio!

We appreciate the time you’ve spent reporting issues and submitting suggestions and hope you continue to give us feedback when using Visual Studio on what you like and what we can improve. Your feedback is critical to help us make Visual Studio the best tool it can be! You can share feedback with us via Developer Community: report any bugs or issues via report a problem and share your suggestions for new features or improvements to existing ones.

Stay connected with the Visual Studio team by following us on YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Twitch and on Microsoft Learn.

On behalf of the entire Visual Studio team, thanks for reading and Happy Coding!

 



Building a Talent-Seeking Culture | Wahve

Posted on by faz_business


When Business Insurance published its list of the Best Places to Work in Insurance, readers saw some familiar names. It seems the same companies tend to perpetually find their way onto the list thanks to their employees.

What does it take to be called one of the Best Places to Work in Insurance? Several attributes set apart the companies on the latest list:

  • An entrepreneurial culture and plenty of support
  • A flexible and fun work environment
  • A people-first focus
  • Employee ownership
  • Charitable support
  • Work-from-home options and flexible start times
  • Team-building programs that include employees and families

What can your company learn from this list? Plenty, starting with how to attract and retain top talent.

The companies that are considered the best places to work share one key attribute: they understand the value of building a strong workplace culture.

Top companies understand that their people are their greatest asset. While many companies say that, few put that thought into action.

Fortunately, creating a company culture that vastly improves morale and employee retention is not hard. With a few changes to how your company operates, you can deliver a better employee experience.

You should want to, too. A Gallup poll shows that companies with employee engagement programs see a 20% increase in employee engagement, a 41% reduction in absenteeism, a 21% profitability boost, and a 59% reduction in turnover rates.

To see improvements in your employee morale and retention, try these changes:

Put employees in charge. Let your employees take the lead on projects and encourage them to be active participants in meetings and brainstorming. Employees who feel part of the overall success of the company are more engaged and more satisfied.

Make well-being part of the culture. Focusing on well-being – both physical and emotional – means that your employees feel their company cares. It does more than that; putting employee well-being at the core of your business builds stronger relationships, telegraphs that management values employees, and helps employees be their most productive.

Build a flexible, hybrid work culture. You can improve productivity by giving employees the option to work from home – and to do so at times when they know they are most productive. Not every employee can give 100% between the hours of nine and five. Trust your employees to get the work done in a way that best fits their approach and lifestyle.

Create cohesive teams. Even in hybrid cultures, teams can be established and nurtured. We at WAHVE schedule team-building activities within our workday, such as virtual happy hours, virtual celebrations of milestones, games, and shoutouts for a job well done. We also plan an annual retreat so we can relax and build stronger work connections.

Communicate, communicate, communicate. Keep open channels of communication in various forms – video, chat apps, email, and phone, to name a few. Make sure to check in with each employee regularly. Find out what’s new in their lives at work and beyond work. Review accomplishments and roadblocks. Ask if they need further training or assistance with any issues that arise. Be the support, not the authority. Each of these changes takes a shift in focus but all are manageable. Moreover, they are changes that will be well-received by your employees and job seekers. With just a few changes to how you manage your workforce, your employees can experience a better work-life balance th

Prototype iPod Features Apple-Designed Tetris Clone Called ‘Stacker’

Posted on by faz_business


Apple once designed a Tetris clone called “Stacker,” with the game featured on a prototype version of the third-generation iPod. AppleDemoYT, known for sourcing rare prototype devices, shared images and a video of the unreleased iPod.

The iPod in question is a “DVT” device, which means it was a mid-stage prototype that was still in “Design Validation Testing.” It has a model number of A1023, which is not a known model number of any version of an iPod Classic, and had custom serial interfacing designed by an Apple engineer.

ipod game stacker
The third-generation iPod was manufactured in week 14 of 2003 (over a month before the release of the third-generation iPod), and it was purchased from an electronics recycler in China that sold it as is for parts. The device was non-functional when it was purchased, but was able to boot when the hard drive flex cable was replaced.

ipod 3g dvtipod 3g dvt
The iPod runs a prototype version of iPodOS 2.0, and one of the games is “Stacker.” Stacker works a lot like Tetris, where the Tetris pieces are moved from left to right using the scroll wheel. Pieces fall when the middle button is pressed, and the idea is to clear more lines at once to rack up points.

There are other games on the iPod, and all of them have placeholder non-release names, including Block0, Chopper, and Klondike. There’s also a battery testing playlist on the device that has classical songs that play in a loop, suggesting Apple used this iPod to test the battery life of the third-generation iPod before it was released.

ipod battery testing prototypeipod battery testing prototype
AppleDemoYT says that he asked “iPod godfather” Tony Fadell why the Stacker game was not released, and Fadell said that it was because games were added “with a later software release.”

Apple did add several games to the iPod 3G over time, including Brick, Solitaire, Parachute, and Music Quiz. In 2006, Apple released games through the iTunes Store that people could purchase for later versions of the iPod, including an official version of Tetris.

Other games available through the iTunes Store included Bejeweled, Mini Golf, Mahjong, Zuma, Cubis 2, and Pac-Man, all of which pre-dated the App Store.



What are Motherboard VRMs?

Posted on by faz_business


What are Motherboard VRMs?

Motherboard VRMs are the often overlooked spec that has direct and often drastic impacts on system stability, performance, and longevity. What are they exactly though, why are they important, and how do you pick a motherboard with suitable VRMs for your build? Read on to learn more.

Motherboard VRMs – A Quick Explainer

VRM stands for Voltage Regulator Module. It consists of a set of motherboard embedded components that form a circuit which takes the 12-volt output generated by the power supply and converts and regulates it to meet the specific voltage requirements of the CPU, GPU, and RAM. Steady voltage from the VRMs without surges, spikes, or drops is essential to the overall stability of the PC. More on that later.

We won’t go into the advanced electrical engineering specifics of how VRMs actually perform these tasks in this article, but you can check out this post on WikiChip if you’re into that kind of thing. We will do a quick overview of each component that makes up that circuit though.

  • MOSFET – standing for Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor, you can think of a MOSFET as an insulated switch that opens or closes to either amplify or minimize the electronic signals, depending on necessity.
  • Chokes – Chokes are the (usually) cubic parts on the board which take the higher frequency 12v power and convert it down to the more stable 1.2-1.4 volts which the CPU and other components need. Generally speaking, the higher quality the chokes, the more overclockable the board.
  • Capacitors – Motherboard capacitors serve the same purpose as all electrical capacitors – storing and rapidly releasing energy. In this case, that energy is from those previously mentioned chokes. The capacitors take that energy, store it, supply what’s needed to the CPU, then release the rest via ground.
  • PWM Controller – standing for Pulse Width Modulator, the PWM controls the electrical flow by providing pulses to those analog components mentioned above

VRM Diagram

Why are VRMs Important?

Choosing a board that has both quality Chokes, Capacitors, MOSFET, and PWM as well as the total number of VRMs appropriate to manage the TDP of your processor directly impact your PC in the following ways:

  • Stability and Longevity – For one, cheap VRMs can wear over time, especially when under constant or heavier load than intended, leading to failure and crashes even at stock CPU speeds. Incorrect or inconsistent power distribution from your VRMs can also damage your CPU, GPU, and RAM, leading to shortened PC lifespan.
  • Performance – Pairing poor or insufficient VRMs with higher end processors like Intel i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 can result in higher than optimal CPU temps despite the cooling solution used. This is because the byproduct of this voltage regulation is heat. The more heat produced, the more resistance of the semiconductor is impacted by that heat, creating a feedback loop of hotness. These thermal issues can impact RAM performance or directly throttle the CPU down to lower speeds.
  • Overclocking – PC Overclocking at its core involves sending additional voltages to the processor to make it run faster than stock speeds. The more voltage added, the harder it is to regulate that voltage, making the size, quality, and quantity of the VRMs critical to successful overclocking.

Motherboard VRMs vs Power Phases

As important as they are, most motherboards don’t go into VRM details in their list of specs…or do they? Perhaps you’ve seen something referred to as Power Phases (sometimes called Power Stages or Power Solution) listed amongst the key selling points of higher end boards. This spec is usually provided as something like 16+4, 20+1, etc. This is in fact a listing of the total number of VRMs circuits on the board, with the first number dedicated to CPU VRM quantity specifically.

But what’s a Power Phase exactly? Well, remember how part of the job of VRM is to regulate voltage? And the MOSFETs act like a gate, opening and closing at ultra-fast speeds to do that job? Well, this movement creates fluctuations in the voltage that are minute, but still higher than a CPU can tolerate. To further regulate the voltage, board manufacturers have added more and more VRMs to create phases. Doing so keeps the voltage fluctuation to a minimum, as the diagram below shows. The idea is that the more phases, the less voltage fluctuation, and the more total TDP the board can safely handle without throttling.

Motherboard VRMs vs Power Phases
Image courtesy https://beebom.com/

So there you have it. If you have more questions about VRMs, Power Phases, or which board to choose for your next build, give our team a call. But always know that when you see a motherboard listed on one of our configurator pages, that it’s been fully rated and certified by our engineers to support those components listed.

Customize your next Gaming PC or Workstation now!

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Josh has been with Velocity Micro since 2007 in various Marketing, PR, and Sales related roles. As the Director of Sales & Marketing, he is responsible for all Direct and Retail sales as well as Marketing activities. He enjoys Seinfeld reruns, the Atlanta Braves, and Beatles songs written by John, Paul, or George. Sorry, Ringo.



SoftServe and Continental Drive Digitalization With OpenUSD and Generative AI

Posted on by faz_business


Editor’s note: This post is part of Into the Omniverse, a series focused on how artists, developers and enterprises can transform their workflows using the latest advances in OpenUSD and NVIDIA Omniverse.

Industrial digitalization is driving automotive innovation.

In response to the industry’s growing demand for seamless, connected driving experiences, SoftServe, a leading IT consulting and digital services provider, worked with Continental, a leading German automotive technology company, to develop Industrial Co-Pilot, a virtual agent powered by generative AI that enables engineers to streamline maintenance workflows.

SoftServe helps manufacturers like Continental to further optimize their operations by integrating the Universal Scene Description, or OpenUSD, framework into virtual factory solutions — such as Industrial Co-Pilot — developed on the NVIDIA Omniverse platform.

OpenUSD offers the flexibility and extensibility organizations need to harness the full potential of digital transformation, streamlining operations and driving efficiency. Omniverse is a platform of application programming interfaces, software development kits and services that enable developers to easily integrate OpenUSD and NVIDIA RTX rendering technologies into existing software tools and simulation workflows.

Realizing the Benefits of OpenUSD

SoftServe and Continental’s Industrial Co-Pilot brings together generative AI and immersive 3D visualization to help factory teams increase productivity during equipment and production line maintenance. With the copilot, engineers can oversee production lines and monitor the performance of individual stations or the shop floor.

They can also interact with the copilot to conduct root cause analysis and receive step-by-step work instructions and recommendations, leading to reduced documentation processes and improved maintenance procedures. It’s expected that these advancements will contribute to increased productivity and a10% reduction in maintenance effort and downtime.

In a recent Omniverse community livestream, Benjamin Huber, who leads advanced automation and digitalization in the user experience business area at Continental, highlighted the significance of the company’s collaboration with SoftServe and its adoption of Omniverse.

The Omniverse platform equips Continental and SoftServe developers with the tools needed to build a new era of AI-enabled industrial applications and services. And by breaking down data silos and fostering multi-platform cooperation with OpenUSD, SoftServe and Continental developers enable engineers to work seamlessly across disciplines and systems, driving efficiency and innovation throughout their processes.

“Any engineer, no matter what tool they’re working with, can transform their data into OpenUSD and then interchange data from one discipline to another, and from one tool to another,” said Huber.

This sentiment was echoed by Vasyl Boliuk, senior lead and test automation engineer at SoftServe, who shared how OpenUSD and Omniverse — along with other NVIDIA technologies like NVIDIA Riva, NVIDIA NeMo and NVIDIA NIM microservices — enabled SoftServe and Continental teams to develop custom large language models and connect them to new 3D workflows.

“OpenUSD allows us to add any attribute or any piece of metadata we want to our applications,” he said.

Boliuk, Huber and other SoftServe and Continental representatives joined the livestream to share more about the potential unlocked from these OpenUSD-powered solutions. Watch the replay:

By embracing cutting-edge technologies and fostering collaboration, SoftServe and Continental are helping reshape automotive manufacturing.

Get Plugged Into the World of OpenUSD

Watch SoftServe and Continental’s on-demand NVIDIA GTC talks to learn more about their virtual factory solutions and experience developing on NVIDIA Omniverse with OpenUSD:

Learn about the latest technologies driving the next industrial revolution by watching NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang’s COMPUTEX keynote on Sunday, June 2, at 7 p.m. Taiwan time.

Check out a new video series about how OpenUSD can improve 3D workflows. For more resources on OpenUSD, explore the Alliance for OpenUSD forum and visit the AOUSD website.

Get started with NVIDIA Omniverse by downloading the standard license free, access OpenUSD resources and learn how Omniverse Enterprise can connect teams. Follow Omniverse on Instagram, Medium and X. For more, join the Omniverse community on the forums, Discord server, Twitch and YouTube channels. 

Featured image courtesy of SoftServe.



Absen Unveils Cutting-Edge LED Display Solutions at InfoComm 2024

Posted on by faz_business


Absen, a global leader in LED display technology, proudly introduces its latest innovations—the Pixel Reality RGBW Series, Jupiter Pro Series, Jupiter V2 Series, and Flex Series—at InfoComm 2024. These state-of-the-art display solutions, part of the AbsenLive lineup, are tailored to meet the diverse demands of the live event and staging industry.

Neil Morrison, VP of Rental and Staging at Absen, expressed, “With the launch of the Pixel Reality RGBW Series, Jupiter Pro Series, Jupiter V2 Series, and Flex Series, we continue our legacy of innovation, providing our customers with the tools they need to create immersive and unforgettable experiences. We are excited to unveil a comprehensive range of displays designed specifically for the dynamic requirements of live event and staging applications.”

Pixel Reality RGBW Series

The Pixel Reality (PR) Series is a professional-grade LED wall solution designed for virtual production. Featuring pixel pitches from 1.5 to 5.2 mm, it’s perfect for creating immersive backdrops and ceilings in virtual studios. The PR Series excels in color reproduction, crucial for cinematic content, and supports essential virtual production features like frame multiplication, frame remapping, and high frame rate content.

Jupiter Pro Series

The Jupiter Pro Series is engineered for rental and staging environments, offering an ultra-lightweight and highly transparent display. With brightness levels up to 4500nits and a 10000:1 ultra-high contrast ratio, it ensures vibrant visuals. Features such as hanging installation and compatibility with virtual production studio ceilings make the Jupiter Pro Series versatile and high-performing.

Jupiter V2 Series

The Jupiter V2 Series features an innovative L-shaped display with flexible connections, combining an ultra-lightweight design with high transparency. With a brightness of 4500nits and a transparency rate of 35%, this series uses a composite structural design that enhances strength while reducing weight, enabling seamless installation and stunning visual effects.

Flex Series

The Flex Series offers unparalleled flexibility, supporting large-angle concave or convex shapes, cylindrical or 90-degree arc shapes. It complements Absen’s NT/PL V10/PL V2 series, merging advanced performance with sleek, curved aesthetics for a high-quality, captivating visual experience.

Read the full Press Release from Absen HERE