» TEELAMFORD | No.1 Home of All Needs

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Tech: Hangouts Takes Over as Google Talk Shuts Down

Google has officially shut down its Google Talk service which is more commonly known as GChat or GTalk. The tech giant had previous announced that it would be moving its Google Talk users to Google Hangouts and would begin streamlining the process from 2013.

However, Google which was offering both GTalk and Hangout options, has finally drawn the curtain over Google Talk and this is for good reason as Hangouts comes with better improvements. This is a departure from GTalk’s simplicity and personal tone. Hangouts, on the contrary, provides group chatting and video conferencing options. The interaction would take place on the basis of a list of conversation rather than a contact list. Moreover, it allows the users to share photos to a group of people.

Google Talk was quite popular back in the days when people used to primarily depend upon their computers rather than smartphones. Introduced in 2005, Google Talk has now been replaced by Hangouts which operates on both, Android and iOS other than Chrome. Moreover, it will integrate with other products from Google as well, including its business suite of office apps.

Google also has other products like Google Duo and Google Allo, which are basically built for mobile and compete with services like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and Telegram.

Tech: Brain Imaging Technology That Read Minds and Identify Thoughts

Using machine learning algorithm, US researchers have developed a novel brain imaging technology that can “read minds” and identify complex thoughts with 87 per cent accuracy. The findings indicate that the mind’s building blocks for constructing complex thoughts are formed by the brain’s various sub-systems and are not word-based.

By measuring the activation in each brain system, the new technology can tell us what types of thoughts are being contemplated.

“We have finally developed a way to see thoughts of such complexity in the fMRI signal. The discovery of this correspondence between thoughts and brain activation patterns tells us what the thoughts are built of,” said Marcel Just, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University, Pennsylvania.

For the study, published in the journal Human Brain Mapping, the team included seven participants and used a computational model to assess how the brain activation patterns for 239 sentences corresponded to the neurally plausible semantic features that characterised each sentence. Then the programme was able to decode the features of the 240th left-out sentence. They went through leaving out each of the 240 sentences in turn, in what is called cross-validation.

The model was able to predict the features of the left-out sentence, with 87 percent accuracy, despite never being exposed to its activation before. “Our method overcomes the unfortunate property of fMRI to smear together the signals emanating from brain events that occur close together in time, like the reading of two successive words in a sentence,” Just explained. “This advance makes it possible for the first time to decode thoughts containing several concepts. That’s what most human thoughts are composed of,” the professor added.

The management of The University of Obafemi Awolowo in Ile-Ife, Osun State, said it was not planning on increasing it's tuition fee to N55,700.

The chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Ibadan Chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, was recently quoted as claiming that no fewer than 38 universities across Nigeria had jerked up their fees.

He reportedly named OAU as one of the schools affected by the increment.

In a press statement on Tueday, the OAU Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, explained that the tuition fee remained as increased three years ago.

Olarewaju said, “The attention of the authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has been drawn to a news item that ’38 Varsities increase tuition fees’, where OAU was listed among the universities that have increased their tuition fees.

“Although there may be paucity of funds from the Federal Government in running the institutions of higher learning, which might have prompted some universities to upwardly review their fees, but the situation in OAU is quite different.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no meeting, either of the university management or Senate, where the fee increment was announced; and the vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Tope Ogunbodede, has not contemplated on increasing any fee in OAU.

“In actual fact, his administration is poised to making the welfare of staff and students a topmost priority.”

“Accordingly, the VC has advised the students, their parents and/or guardians to completely disregard as unfounded rumour the said news item.

“The administrative and academic affairs of OAU will not be run in secret. The VC will not renege on his pledge of running a very open and transparent administration,” he added.

The students of the school (OAU) currently pay between N19,700 and N33,700, depending on their course of study.

Inspirational Quote of The Day!

There is nothing God can not do.

Tech: Video Chat, Animated Reactions, Live Filters Sets To Be Featured In Facebook Messenger's New Update (Photo)

Facebook’s newest update for its Messenger app is going to roll out with a new video chat feature which includes live filters, saving screenshots directly and animated reactions. With animated reactions, the five emoji reactions on Facebook — the smiling face, a surprised face, an angry face, a crying face and a heart — will be overlayed on the user’s face. This means that if you have chosen the crying emoji, then tears will start falling from your eyes while the heart creates a halo of exploding hearts around your head.

Also, Instagram like filters have also been introduced into the live-video chat alongside a piece of Snapchat’s augmented reality face filters, which were present previously, have also been released.

Facebook is also adding an instant screenshot button, so that the users can save all the effects to the camera roll without ruining the shot with the Messenger interface. The new updates should be rolling out on all Apple and Android devices by 26 June, 2017.

This update comes when about a month back Instagram had taken a leaf out of Snapchat’ s book and introduced face filters to its own app. The options are an angelic wreath with God rays, koala ears and nose, geeky spectacles with floating equations, bunny ears, a circlet of flowers with fluttering butterflies, an icy crown, a tiara with purple feathers, and a beautification filter with sparkles.

Facebook has also planning to come out with a new app dedicated for creating Facebook videos. The app is believed to include exclusive tools such for Facebook live and the ability to add outros and intros. Moving over the lines of just creating a video, the upcoming app is also expected to have some analytical data which will let the user know more about who is watching the video and how. This is Facebook’s effort at pushing for the growth of videos as a popular medium for receiving information.

Meet Young Brilliant Nigerian Who Graduates In Poland With Perfect CGPA (Photos)

A young Nigerian has made academic history in far away Poland, graduating with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 5.0 in Computer Technology from the University of Computer Sciences and Skills, Lodz, Poland.

Already leading in first class from his first semester examinations in Babcock University, 20-year old Olukayode Mobolaji Oluwasona, was among the 17 outstanding students of Babcock University that left Nigeria at the beginning of their 200-level programme in 2014 to continue their undergraduate studies in Poland.

This was under a special degree exchange programme arranged by Babcock University with the University of Computer Sciences and Skills in Lodz, Poland, where they remained international student until the end of their four-year course.

Under the arrangement, they had to return to Babcock for their final year in 2016, during which they remained under the monitoring, supervision and mentorship of their lecturers in Poland.

A big congratulations to him.

Tech: Apple Reportedly Pulled Down 58,000 Apps From China App Store, Includes 33% Cloned Gaming Apps

Apple has been on its App Store clean up act since October last year, where it suddenly pulled down 50,000 apps at the time. This time the focus is on China as Apple has reportedly pulled down an even bigger chunk of apps, totalling 58,000, from its Chinese App Store.

While Apple seems to be on a spree against developers, the Cupertino giant is basically taking down clone and unsupported apps from its App Store as part of a much-awaited hygiene process.

According to People.cn, Apple pulled down 58,000 apps in just two weeks. While the move appears to be one related to hygiene, Chinese app developers claim otherwise.

33.5 percent of the apps removed were games. This isn’t surprising, given the high number of clone apps or template apps on the App Store. These would be apps that were be apps built using set templates.

On 15 June this year, Apple pulled down 22,000 apps from its crowded Chinese App Store. While users will be more than happy to see fewer sub-par apps show up in their search results, it’s the developers in China who are unhappy at the moment. They see the move as a counterattack by Apple on Tencent, where Apple came under fire for taking 30 percent of donations from Chinese social network apps, including WeChat, which is owned by Tencent. ASO 100, a Chinese data analytics company dismissed those claims that Apple did not take down any of these apps, nor targeted them in particular during the last purge. The company said that it was routine for Apple to do the same.

The need for the removal of apps from the App Store came from the fact that there are thousands of clone apps, abandoned apps and even problematic ones that make their way into search results, reducing the overall quality of apps available. An earlier report by TechCrunch, revealed renewed guidelines with a focus on abandoned apps that have not been updated for years. There are some apps that have never been downloaded in years. Adding to this, a number of apps will soon be taken down due to the lack of 64-bit support, those that have been ignored by developers for years. The lack of 64-bit support is indeed a big deal for Apple as the company’s OS 11 mobile software will see an App Store devoid of 32-bit apps. Apple has been sending out subtle warnings in the past coaxing developers to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit instruction sets to avoid being taken down in the near future.

Governor Ambode of Lagos state is Working no doubt because Lagos state stands out better than some states where the governors are Noise makers.

Ambode,Whilst addressing reporters on Monday has said his administration will focus on the state’s power, environment and transportation sectors in the next two years.

According to him, the sectors were crucial to driving social infrastructure in the state.

According to dailypost “There is nothing we can do in the next two years that is ever going to be enough. There are three things I want people to watch out for in the next 12 to 18 months, the issue of power, environment and the sanitation as well as transportation.

“I believe those three sectors are the key sectors that can drive every other social infrastructure that we will be dealing with in Lagos.”

Check Out These 5 Surprising Importance Of Playing Chess Game

The game of chess is often described as problem solving at its finest. It’s a game that requires strategic thinking, creativity, determination and even the ability to properly analyze body language. It’s a game that exercises the mind and is highly beneficial to mental and intellectual development.

Here are some 5 surprising importance of playing chess game.

1). Exercises Both Sides of the Brain
Studies have shown that playing chess involves the use of the brain’s left hemisphere (which deals with object recognition) and the brain’s right hemisphere (which deals with pattern recognition). Mainly because of the rules and techniques of the chess game, you end up effectively exercising and developing both sides of your brain over time.

2). Improves Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
Especially in children, learning and playing chess helps to significantly improve thinking, problem-solving and reading skills. The game’s complexity and the fact that problem-solving is foundational for tackling this complexity and winning the game, eventually helps to improve and develop the brain’s capacity and capability for thinking and problem solving overtime.

3). Improves the Brain’s Performance
Learning and playing a game like chess actually helps to stimulate the growth of dendrites (an extension of a nerve cell that conducts signals from the neuron cells in your brain to the neuron they are attached to).

The growth of these dendrites in turn helps increase the speed and improves the quality of neural communications throughout the brain. This increased processing power ultimately improves the brain’s performance.

4). It Helps Creativity
Mainly because playing chess exercises the right side of brain, it helps to enhance creativity and originality. The game greatly enhances creative abilities as it makes the player consider, analyze and prioritize a wide variety of possibilities.

Playing chess contributes significantly to growth and development in creative thinking.

5). It Improves Memory
The rules of the game that have to be remembered, alongside the memory recall needed to avoid mistakes and remember the specific opponent’s playing style, contribute to the memory improvement and optimization that playing chess offers. Playing chess largely helps to enhance memory performance and recall.

Sport: Bale Faces Critical Summer as Real Madrid Explore Choice

The summer transfer market formally opens for business July 1 and the pieces are in place for a domino effect of moves that would alter the landscape of European football. The future of Monaco's Kylian Mbappe appears to be the starting tile that will determine where and when the rest of the set will fall, but it may be time for Madrid to review the slamming of one of their prized assets on the line.

Rumours surrounding Gareth Bale's Bernabeu career are a constant and several of Europe's top clubs are regularly credited with an interest in the Wales international.

However, that interest carries a sell-by date and last season was not the greatest advertisement for Bale's longevity as he approaches his 28th birthday. Injuries restricted Bale to fewer than 2,000 minutes over 27 appearances in 2016-17 and he chipped in just nine goals and three assists -- fewer than Marco Asensio, James Rodriguez and Alvaro Morata, all of whom were used more sparingly by Zinedine Zidane. Bale's nadir came in April's Clasico when, not for the first time since he arrived in Madrid, he rushed back from injury only to limp off 39 minutes into the game, having aggravated a calf muscle problem that would rule him out for the rest of the season.

That particular injury has flared up on several occasions during his time at Real Madrid and contributed to his unavailability for roughly 80 fixtures in four seasons at the Bernabeu, although that total was exacerbated by a serious ankle injury that ruled him out for 17 games last campaign.

Still, the niggling feeling persists that Bale's muscle injuries are verging on chronic and given his reliance on explosive speed, it's unlikely to improve without an adjustment in his playing style.

In view of Isco's scintillating late-season form once Zidane shifted him into a more central role, and the Real manager's willingness to operate with either a single striker or two up front in the latter stages of the campaign (particularly in the Champions League), question marks over Bale's long-term viability as an automatic starter are uncomfortable but necessary.

Florentino Perez made a huge investment in Bale in 2013 with a long-term succession for Cristiano Ronaldo in the forefront of his mind. An instant impact was guaranteed in such a game-turning individual but suspicions still linger over his team ethic; the Bernabeu crowd is always quick to jeer every shot into the side netting when a colleague is free in a better position.

That is hardly a singular reaction from Real's home crowd, mind you. Similarly, another player who has laboured under their merciless glare is reportedly considering his future though the likelihood of Cristiano Ronaldo jumping ship recedes over the horizon with every passing day.

Perez may have earmarked Bale as Ronaldo's heir but the Real president has since unearthed Marco Asensio, who has perhaps already usurped the Welshman in that regard. This summer's transfer market could prove to be record-breaking, as several clubs are intent on strengthening their hands ahead of next season.

The Premier League will lead the way and both Manchester clubs have the means to set the wheels of a billion-euro merry-go-round in motion. Jose Mourinho is in the market for at least one marquee forward, possibly two, and Pep Guardiola has been getting some tidy business out of the way early.

Liverpool and Arsenal are positioning themselves to be involved in any negotiations for Mbappe -- even if economics will ultimately leave them in the wake of their domestic rivals -- while PSG are keen to flex their financial muscle.

Even if Mbappe remains in Monaco, Dortmund have intimated they will entertain offers for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (for a set fee) while Romelu Lukaku, Robert Lewandowski, Paulo Dybala and Eden Hazard are all accessible targets for the biggest spenders; the latter's ankle injury is unlikely to put off any serious suitors.

That leaves Real with a decision to make on Bale. As things stand the Welshman remains an attractive target for a club wishing to make a statement signing. Manchester United and PSG will head the queue if Perez decides to cash in, but the Real president will not have infinite opportunities to recoup the bulk of a then-world-record €101 million fee he splashed out four years ago

Another season beset by injuries or a slide down the pecking order at the Bernabeu, which is a more considerable possibility now than it was 12 months ago, and Bale's value could seriously plummet. Real are likely to pursue Mbappe if Monaco indicate they are willing to listen to offers and the 18-year-old's arrival would further undermine Bale's status at the club.

Even if that potential move is put off for another year, Perez is unlikely to ignore any indication that doing the same in Bale's case could really hit the club in the wallet.

Some Easy Ways To Discover Your Talent

Talent is natural aptitude or skill. This is the simple and precise result you will get when you Google talent. It is something that you can do effortlessly. While some people have discovered their talent at an early age, others are still struggling to find what they are good at. Even though it is important to uncover your talent from the onset, it is never too late.

Here are some ways to discover your talent and brings it up to the world.

1). Meditate
You have to take time out to meditate and open your mind to all paths. This is because talent comes in usual and unusual forms. Hence, you are likely to be blind to what some of your talents really are. A nice place to start when evaluating your talents is to meditate.

2). Listen to others
Your friends or family members are usually aware of your talents even if you don’t. They must have told and complimented you about what you are great at. Try to listen to them more.

3). What do you find easy
There are things that you do with little or no stress that others find very difficult. That is probably your talent. You should grab it with both hands and try to hone it.

4). What you enjoy most
Your talents may be displaying itself in other ways. It may come in the form of what you love or enjoy doing especially during your free time. If you are attracted to it, it is your natural talent. You just need to be self-conscious.

5). Analyse times you were successful
Look back on your life and analyse the times you were successful. Sometimes what you are successful at can actually be your talent.

6). Subjects you are passionate about
Like earlier stated, talent comes in various form. So, ask yourself, is there a specific subject that you love to talk about to the extent that your friends tell you to shut up or keep quiet? Consider that subject, perhaps it may be one of your hidden talents.

7). Just ask your friends
Do not be ashamed to ask your close friends you know that will give you an honest answer about what they think your talents are. There is no need for them to talk about your flaws. Allow them to share the few things that they think you are good at.

8). Know what you spend your money on
Your values are connected with what you spend your money and time on. Look closer at what this can tell you about yourself. Remember, it must be something good and positive.

The kidnapper was on his way to Canada when he was Arrested! A breakthrough by detectives has brought a fresh twist to the unfurling saga of captured Nigeria’s billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, alias Evans.

Recent discoveries indicated the infamous kidnapper is as much connected to Ghana as he is to Nigeria in his nefarious activities, throwing up a shocking portrait of a transnational criminal. Latest findings of investigations into the robbery/kidnap kingpin’s crime-ridden life suggest that Evans and his entire family hold dual citizenship of both Nigeria and Ghana, which he made his second home and to which, he normally escaped to hide from the arms of the law, whenever the heat was turned on after his many dare-devil operations.

Searchlight on the crime baron by detectives unearthed four Ghanaian passports belonging to him, his wife and two of their children.

Sleuths waddling through documents found during a search that the man identified by a Nigerian passport (No.A0500083) as Onwuamadike Chukwudumeme Somto, 37, is the same person as Asare Nelson, 39, according to Ghanaian passport (No.G0456327). His wife, known as Uchenna Precious Onwuamadike to Nigerians, is Precious Asare by her Ghanaian passport.

The Accra Passport Office of Ghana Immigration Service issued the couple’s Ghanaian passports and those of their two children, Sussan and Emmanuel Asare.

How they acquired Ghana passports The big question is: How did the family procure the foreign passports? Saturday Sun learnt that although the issuance of Ghanaian passport is also porous and susceptible to corruption and touting like Nigeria’s, the strict enforcement of criminal justice system in the West African country discourages many Ghanaians and Immigration officials from indulging in the practice.

This, however, does not stop some from taking the risk. On a typical day, the passport office located at Ridge, a stone throw from Ghana Parliament and near Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), is a beehive, brimming with passport applicants and others wishing to have the traveling documents renewed or reissued.

Mingling with this crowd, of course, are also touts. The newspaper gathered that a regular Ghanaian passport officially costs GHc50, while those who wish to expedite the process pay GHc100.

But, there are under dealings, which make it easy for a non-Ghanaian to obtain one, as long as he is prepared to pay the exorbitant unofficial fee, a source told Saturday Sun. Said he: “You pay Goro boys GHc1000 and you get it in a week.” Goro boys refer to the swarm of touts who hang outside the passport office.

The source explains that ordinarily: “You have to go to the passport office for your biometrics, because your picture has to be captured via camera, not scanned passport.

But there is nothing to fear, as the go-between would have greased the palms of those in charge.” Evans probably acquired the passport for himself and his family this dubious way.

Paying GHc1000 (about N85, 000 by the current exchange rate) per passport would be no big deal for a man like the notorious criminal, who rakes in $1m from a single kidnap operation.

The smart crook that he is, Evans, in choosing nomenclatures avoided the generic day names––such as Kofi, Kojo, Kwabena Kwesi or Kwame, which are common to some nationals of Cote D’Ivoire and Togo and could deny the family the much prized Caanadian visa that he sought.

Instead, he opted for Asare, an Akan name common to Southwestern part of Ghana, which, therefore, could raise no suspicion as to the genuineness of his family’s Ghanaian roots. With the name he could pass for an Ashanti, Akyem or a Fante.

Prayer Of The Day!

Amen!

5 Ways To Know A Evil and Wicked Person

As Christian counselors, pastors and people helpers we often have a hard time discerning between an evil heart and an ordinary sinner who messes up, who isn’t perfect, and full of weakness and sin.

I think one of the reasons we don’t “see” evil is because we find it so difficult to believe that evil individuals actually exist. We can’t imagine someone deceiving us with no conscience, hurting others with no remorse, spinning outrageous fabrications to ruin someone’s reputation, or pretending he or she is spiritually committed yet has no fear of God before his or her eyes.

The Bible clearly tells us that among God’s people there are wolves that wear sheep’s clothing (Jeremiah 23:14; Titus 1:10; Revelations 2:2).

It’s true that every human heart is inclined toward sin (Romans 3:23), and that includes evil (Genesis 8:21; James 1:4).

We all miss God’ mark of moral perfection. However, most ordinary sinners do not happily indulge evil urges, nor do we feel good about having them. We feel ashamed and guilty, rightly so (Romans 7:19–21).

These things are not true of the evil heart. Here are 5 Things with an evil heart rather than an ordinary sinful heart and how to differently treat them

1). Evil hearts are experts at creating confusion and contention.
They twist the facts, mislead, lie, avoid taking responsibility, deny reality, make up stories, and withhold information. (Psalms 5:8; 10:7).

2). Evil hearts are experts at fooling others.
But if you look at the fruit of their lives or the follow through of their words, you will find no real evidence of godly growth or change. It’s all smoke and mirrors. (Psalms 50:19; 52:2,3).

3). Evil hearts crave and demand control.
They reject feedback, real accountability, and make up their own rules to live by. They use Scripture to their own advantage but ignore and reject passages that might require self-correction and repentance. (Romans 2:8; Psalms 10).

4). Evil hearts play on the sympathies of good-willed people.
They demand mercy but give none themselves. They demand warmth, forgiveness, and intimacy from those they have harmed with no empathy for the pain they have caused and no real intention of making amends or working hard to rebuild broken trust. (Proverbs 21:10; 1 Peter 2:16; Jude 1:4).

5). Evil hearts have no conscience, no remorse.
They do not struggle against sin or evil—they delight in it—all the while masquerading as someone of noble character. (Proverbs 2:14–15; 10:23). If you are relating with anyone exhibiting these traits, be very careful. They try to pretend like Their actions have no serious consequences.

[MUSIC] Sweetkiz - Tatie {Prod. by Mr.Mezz}

LESTAT recording artist, Sweetkiz whose growth has depended less on hype, but mostly on his God given talent and ability to deliver HIT Songs, Now presents his New track, Titled Tatie, Produced By Mr. Mezz, which is now available on Teelamford.com

Download and enjoy!

Click here to DOWNLOAD

Search Here

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Tech: Hangouts Takes Over as Google Talk Shuts Down

Tech: Brain Imaging Technology That Read Minds and Identify Thoughts

"We Do Not Increase Tuition Fees" - Obafemi Awolowo University

Tuesday, June 27, 2017