Fortnite Is Boosting The Framerate To 90FPS On Some Samsung Devices
If you're playing Fortnite on a recent Samsung tablet, you could soon find that the game is a much more fluid experience. From October 13, the Tab S7 and Tab S7+ will be able to run Fortnite at a boosted framerate, reaching up to 90FPS.
This feature, which was previously exclusive to OnePlus devices, means that these phones will have the smoothest possible version of Fortnite. Of course, due to a current legal battle, Fortnite currently isn't available to download or update on many mobile devices--but Tab S7 owners can still jump in with players across PC and consoles.
Fortnite has previously been playable at 60FPS on mobile devices.
5 Binge-Worthy Freelance Developing Blogs Every Coder Must Read
With increasing supply of freelancing platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Toptal in the programming industry, more and more companies decide to hire expertise remotely over the Internet. The demand for freelance developers in Python, web development, machine learning, and data science surges—as can be seen by the double-digit growth rates of all of those platforms.
Freelancing is the new way of organizing the world’s talents in the 21st century. To some people, this trend “threatens” their existing job safety. Others believe it’ll help creating a more meaningful working relationship based on respect and value. No matter what you think, you want to belong to the winners of this mega trend, don’t you?
This article shows you the 5 best blogs that teach you how to thrive in this new work environment for decades to come. We selected only blogs that focused on two topics: coding AND freelancing/business. If a blog focuses on only coding or only freelancing, we excluded it from the list.
The Finxter blog is the world’s largest blog on Python freelancing. In addition to that, it provides plenty of valuable articles, videos, and business strategies for all kinds of freelancers and freelance developers.
The idea is to help you reach six-figure earning potential, which is the average income of a Python freelancer in the US, via 100% remote work on freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr.
“We help web developers launch and grow their freelancing business.” This is the slogan of the Study Web Development blog. You can see their focus clearly: web developers and freelancing business.
If you’re a web developer, this blog is definitely of interest to you. Traditionally, most freelancing jobs appeared in the web development industry. However, this is rapidly changing. Due to the surge of machine learning and data science, a larger proportion of better-paid professionals sell their Python rather than their web development skills.
Overall, the number of blog articles about freelancing is much smaller than the number of articles at the Finxter blog. However, the ones that are there are interesting reads—check them out!
Upwork is the biggest freelancing platform on the planet. Connecting millions of clients with freelancers, they know a thing or two about how to become a successful freelance developer.
The blog is quite general, with lots of tips for non-developers as well—so, it doesn’t strictly fit our requirement of being focused only on freelancing AND coding. However, if you search for the keyword “developing” on the blog, you’ll find countless of resources specifically tailored towards freelancing as a programmer.
Here are some of the best articles on the Upwork blog for freelance developers:
However, be careful—this blog is mainly focused on bringing you to the Upwork platform. I wouldn’t recommend this resource if this wouldn’t align with my recommendation in 2020. Upwork is a very attractive freelancing market for clients and freelancers alike.
This recommendation is a bit off topic. There are many resources on freelance web developing and remote work as a programmer. However, there are also many resources for employed programmers. Thus, the blog’s sentiment is kind of neutral against the freelance developing opportunity.
These are some interesting articles about freelance developing though:
There are other blogs about only freelancing and only developing. In this article, we focused on the blogs that addressed both topics. If you want to become an expert, and you have a coding background, you should focus mainly on the business side of things. Business skills such as marketing, selling, positioning, negotiating, and accounting are much more important than coding skills on your road to freelance developing success.
Where to Go From Here?
Enough theory, let’s get some practice!
To become successful in coding, you need to get out there and solve real problems for real people. That’s how you can become a six-figure earner easily. And that’s how you polish the skills you really need in practice. After all, what’s the use of learning theory that nobody ever needs?
Practice projects is how you sharpen your saw in coding!
Do you want to become a code master by focusing on practical code projects that actually earn you money and solve problems for people?
Then become a Python freelance developer! It’s the best way of approaching the task of improving your Python skills—even if you are a complete beginner.
Massive Gameplay Giveaway restocked, Metal Gear Sale
Massive Gameplay Giveaway is live for a few more hours!
[www.indiegala.com] We have just recently restocked the prize pool with over 100 thousand Steam keys, plenty of new games for you to win, or rather earn. And to celebrate this new addition, we will be holding a special half a day event, in which you may join the Massive Gameplay Giveaway and thrive! Read more about it here.[blog.indiegala.com]
A custom USB-C cable can jailbreak the T2 chip in a MacBook Pro
The security researchers that found a vulnerability in Apple’s T2 chip have developed an exploit using a clone of an internal debugging cable that can hack a Mac without user action.
Earlier in October, the checkra1n team disclosed the unfixable vulnerability that essentially allows an attacker to jailbreak the T2 security chip in a Mac. Once they do, all types of malicious attacks can be carried out on an affected macOS device.
Now, the team has demoed a real-world attack that takes advantage of a specialized USB-C cable used internally by Apple for debugging.
As depicted in a YouTube video, the exploit causes a machine to crash once the cable is plugged in. A second video posted to the team’s YouTube account showed that the attack was successfully by modifying the Apple logo at boot.
The attack is carried out by a specialized debug probe cable used by Apple and known internally as “Kong,” “Kanzi,” or “Chimp.” These cables work by allowing access to special debug pins within a USB port for the CPU and other chips.
these “Chimp” cables have leaked from Cupertino and Apple retail in the past, but security researcher Ramtin Amin created an effective clone of the cable. Combined with the checkra1n team’s exploits, it allows for this type of attack to be carried out.
Although the video demonstration shows they modifying the Apple logo, the team notes that the same exploit can be used to replace a device’s EFI and upload a keylogger. That’s possible because a mobile Mac’s keyboard is connected directly to the T2 chip.
The proof-of-concept exploit was disclosed by checkra1n security researchers Rick Mark, Mrarm, Aun-Ali Zaidi, and Home3us34. The team also announced that a version of the cable will soon be available for sale.
Who’s at risk, and how to protect yourself
As noted earlier, these specialized debug cables can sometimes be found in the wild. With a commercial clone soon to be available, there’s a good chance that most Mac models on the market with a T2 chip could be vulnerable.
Of course, the attack requires direct physical access to a Mac, which rules out most types of scenarios for the average user.
However, users who may find themselves targeted by nation-states or cybercriminals should ensure that they have keep their MacBook or Mac safe by ensuring no one they don’t trust has physical access to it.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-13-2020, 01:45 PM - Forum: Windows
- No Replies
Autonomous systems 101: Optimizing manufacturing processes with AI
This is one part of a four-part introductory series about autonomous systems. To learn more, read the rest of the series and the free e-book linked at the bottom of this post.
In manufacturing, the name of the game is optimization. With many complex processes working together to build a product or solve a logistical issue, cutting even a little waste can turn into big savings over days, weeks and months.
A major revolution in manufacturing optimization was automation, in which machines carried out the process of building products without as much human intervention. As the manufacturing sector grows, businesses look for more ways to make building products easier and more cost-effective.
That’s where autonomous systems come in. By adding AI to machines, processes or lines, manufacturers have a new weapon in their fight for optimization and efficiency. Engineers are using these new tools that can adjust to their environments and adapt in real time to better meet operational objectives. This stands to disrupt not only how we think about industrial processes, but how humans and machines can work together for maximum impact.
Autonomy, control systems and advancements in AI
Manufacturers know that there are limits to automation—namely, that it’s limited in flexibility and requires high levels of precision and unchanging operating conditions. Think about a modern car assembly line: As a car moves down the line, everything must be just right: location, angle, position. If something is even slightly off, the machines responsible for any aspect of that car can, and probably will, miss their mark (or signal for a human to intervene).
The next step in the evolution of these automated systems is “autonomous” systems. Instead of the automation of a predetermined set of steps, autonomous systems use AI to learn from their environments and engage them dynamically. These machines adopt strategies, rather than rote recipes for action, and then execute them in response to their environment.
The Microsoft approach to autonomous systems
Intelligent, autonomous machines can learn to account for challenges like resource scarcity, managing fail-safe conditions and adaptive object manipulation. To accelerate this learning, Microsoft has pioneered a method that allows control and process experts to teach the AI agent using their own expertise. This allows the AI agent to learn similarly to how a human would: a little at a time, based on a lesson plan from an expert. This includes getting feedback and using that feedback to improve. This AI training methodology allows the most expert engineers to impart their wisdom to the AI agent without needing a data science background, to get the AI agent trained quickly.
The AI agent can then be deployed to assist or advise humans or even work autonomously to optimize a system or process to significantly reduce waste, cost and time.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Are Heading To SMITE As Playable Characters
The pizza-loving superhero gang of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will soon be available as playable characters in popular MOBA, SMITE, it’s been revealed.
Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello all appear as skins in the all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Battle Pass, which will be available in November. Purchasing the pass gives you instant access to Leonardo – a new Osiris skin – and through playing the game, you’ll then unlock Raphael Loki, Michelangelo Mercury, and Donatello Sun Wukong.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Battle Pass is chock full of content for dedicated fans of the series, including a Mouser ward skin and a global emote for whenever you want to say “Cowabunga!” For the most hardcore of fans, bonus prestige skins in the Battle Pass feature a unique 80’s cartoon-inspired look for all four Turtles.
Players will also be able to become the Turtles’ master, Splinter, or their arch-rival Shredder through this crossover event. Splinter Hachiman and Shredder Ravana skins will be available as separate purchases.
If you’re yet to play SMITE, it’s free-to-play on Switch and could well be worth a try. In our review, we said that “there’s a slow grind to earn skins via the Season Pass, but the game itself is one of the best entries in the genre and it’s right here on Switch – a cause for celebration and no mistake”.
The TMNT Battle Pass’ full reveal is set to be broadcast live on the official SMITE Twitch channel tomorrow at 3pm EDT.
Just like before, this video aims to replicate how a theoretical, higher-performance Switch console – such as the rumoured, 4K-ready model – would display our favourite titles. SnazzyAI has taken a trailer that was originally at 1080p/30FPS and used AI upscaling and interpolation to produce a 4K/60FPS version, which you can check out for yourself above (as long as you have a device that can display 4K, of course).
SnazzyAI says that any updated Switch console would likely use an upscaling method like this to hit 4K rather than boasting the feature natively, and while such a console hasn’t even been confirmed yet, we’d have to agree that this does sound like the most likely way that Nintendo would enter the 4K space, if at all.
Either way, seeing Mario and the gang strut their stuff in 4K is a treat to behold. Let us know what you think in the comments.
Microsoft is offering up to $300 off the Surface Pro 7, its flagship 2-in-1 device. The discount depends on the configuration you choose. For instance, the Intel Core i5 model with 16GB RAM and a 256GB SSD is on sale for $1,100, down from $1,400. Meanwhile, the Intel Core i7 model with the same RAM/SSD is $200 off at $1,300.
If you're in the market for a gaming laptop, the Lenovo Legion 5 is a solid mid-range option. It's equipped with a Nvidia GTX 1650 Ti graphics card, which is capable of playing most games at at least medium settings. It boasts an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD. The Legion 5 has a 15.6-inch full HD display and has impressive internal speakers along with Dolby Atmos headphone support.
For those who desire peak performance, the Razer Blade 15 is one of the best gaming laptops around. With a Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q graphics card, the Razer Blade 15 is capable of running intensive games without a hitch at high settings. It's equipped with an Intel Core i7 processor that can boost to 5.10 GHz, 16GB of fast DDR4 RAM, and a 512GB SSD. You'll also get a PC copy of Marvel's Avengers along with exclusive skins for free.
While the original Xbox controller was a bit of a head-scratcher in 2001, the "Duke" has gained a rather dedicated following. If you're one of its devoted fans, Hyperkin's updated version of the Duke is discounted to $49 at the Microsoft Store. Though that's still kind of pricey, the Duke normally goes for $70 and isn't discounted very often. The wired controller is authentic to the original while boasting modern flourishes like shoulder buttons. It's ideal for those with larger hands and is one of our favorite Xbox controllers.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 just released in August, and right now you can save on a pretty sweet bundle. The Note 20 Essentials Bundle comes with a PowerA Bluetooth controller, controller clip, and a 3-month subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate--everything you need to stream Xbox One games on your phone. You'll also get Samsung Galaxy earbuds and a 15-month family subscription to Microsoft 365.
First Impressions: Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition On Switch
It’s rare that a game launches these days without a dreary, ill-defined subtitle hanging off the end, and that’s doubly true of Switch ports. ‘Definitive’, ‘Enhanced’ and ‘Special’ Editions are ten-a-penny, and it generally takes some digging to find exactly what makes when so. Frontier’s upcoming Switch version of its well-received dinosaur park builder and management sim looks to make things much simpler for Nintendo gamers from the outset: Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition does exactly what it says on the tin.
The ‘Complete Edition’ is just that: the base game that launched on PS4, Xbox One and PC back in 2018 along with every single update, patch and DLC pack released to date, now available to play on your favourite Switch-able Nintendo console. We recently caught up with director Rich Newbold and the team at Frontier for a remote hands-off demo and a chat about its journey to Switch, and after probing to find out what might have been lost in translation to the handheld platform, it seems this game really earns its subtitle.
Our session began with a look at the main campaign mode. Preserving the full experience on Switch seems to have been Frontier’s top priority. During the demo, Rich described how every studio department revisited its previous work to rework audio codecs, textures, game code and more with optimisations across the board. For a game that originally began development well before Switch was ever announced, a handheld port was always going to be complicated, but the team was up for the challenge.
According to Newbold, a Switch version was first properly discussed following the release of the ‘Return to Jurassic Park’ DLC pack last year, which saw Sam Neill, Laura Dern and the inimitable Jeff Goldblum reprise their roles in a scenario set just following the events of the 1993 film. Being big fans of Switch, the team proceeded with preliminary tests on the platform and were evidently satisfied with the results. Given the type of game — with players able to zoom in and drive jeeps around the park, or zoom right out and view the entire park and terrain from afar — it’s certainly not the easiest genre to port to a handheld, but what we’ve seen so far is encouraging.
After viewing Jurassic World Evolution running on Switch for around 40-minutes, Frontier seems to have done a commendable job… it ran well for the duration and looked better than we expected
After viewing Jurassic World Evolution running on Switch for around 40-minutes, Frontier seems to have done a commendable job (check out the video at the bottom of the page for edited highlights of our session). Taking into account the familiar caveats of the console’s mobile chipset versus other non-portable systems, it ran well for the duration and looked better than we expected. It’s certainly worlds away from the horrors of certain other dino-filled ports we’ve witnessed on Switch, and although it remains to be seen how gameplay holds up in handheld mode, docked mode looked acceptably solid.
No, you’re obviously not getting the crispest foliage or the highest LODs or a locked frame rate, and you’ll notice distant trees and shadows fade into view as you pan around the terrain, but given the scale of the world and nature of this park sim, performance and texture detail on the dinos in particular was surprisingly good.
All the beasties you’d want to see from across the entire franchise are faithfully reproduced and available to breed and release (once you’ve obtained the requisite DNA), and Frontier paid close attention to the differences between the representations of the same species between movies. Triceratops from ‘Return to Jurassic Park’, for example, are based on Stan Lee’s animatronic model from Spielberg’s original movie; the more modern iteration is subtly different, and this impressive eye for detail extends to the buildings and other facilities you’ll place around your park as well.
During the demo, Rich described the new behaviours and additional aspects of the dinosaurs that the team had to be implemented beyond what you see in the films — sleeping dinosaurs, for example. Managing the happiness and well-being of the animals and park guests is one of your primary goals, and building and maintaining the appropriate amenities affects your overall rating. You’ll also have to deal with other (dino) crises, including storms and disease. However, we’re reliably informed that at no point are players required to go elbow-deep into a steaming pile of triceratops dung. Frontier side-stepped replicating that particular facet of the universe. Probably for the best.
The team’s attention to detail will excite anyone who loves any or all of the movies. As we mentioned, the Complete Edition comes with every expansion (so that’s ‘Return to Jurassic Park’, ‘Claire’s Sanctuary’, and ‘Secrets of Dr. Wu’). You also get four Dinosaur Packs and the Raptor Squad Skin Collection into the bargain. If you simply want to build a kickass dinosaur park without the pressures of storms or saboteurs knocking out the power supply and escaped dinosaurs eating your customers, Sandbox mode offers a totally tweakable experience. Turn off any threats, adjust the day-night cycle to whatever you wish (it cycles approximately every 15 minutes in the regular modes) and simply build the island how you desire without the worries of making money or keeping animals and attendees in check.
the only difference [between versions] mentioned during our demo is a 100-dinosaur limit in the Switch version designed to maintain a smooth experience
If you’ve played the game elsewhere and were hoping to pick up where you left off on Switch, you’re out of luck unfortunately: there’s no cross-play or cross-save compatibility here. There’s no touchscreen implementation, either, with the total rework to the user interface and text this would require cited as the reason. UI and text scaling between docked and handheld modes apparently isn’t employed, although for the most part, the interface looked reasonably legible to our eyes. The frequent use of capital letters helps keep the most important info readable, although you may have to crack out your specs for the tool tips, flavour text and dilogue snippets (which are voiced anyway). We’ve seen far worse offenders when it comes to small text on Switch, although how text holds up on Switch Lite’s smaller screen will be something to investigate.
While the lack new or Switch-specific features may be a tad disappointing, the game maintains almost 100% feature parity with other versions. In fact, the only difference mentioned during our demo is a 100-dinosaur limit in the Switch version designed to maintain a smooth experience. That’s still a fairly large number, and far from a deal-breaker if you’re interested in the building dino parks on-the-go, but it’s still a limit that doesn’t exist elsewhere. Given the restrictions of the platform and the desire for smooth performance, it’s probably the right compromise to make.
Speaking of smooth performance, the majority of the movies’ principle surviving actors reprise their roles (with the notable exception of Chris Pratt). Rich tells us that working with them was a particular delight as, having lived with the characters for many years, they provided their own insights and suggestions for dialogue tweaks. Happily, it seems the bespokely eccentric Jeff Goldblum was more invested in this project than previous Jurassic Park video games.
Add in some classic John Williams musical cues (tastefully and sparingly weaved into the fabric of the soundscape so as not to pall after the fortieth time you hear ‘dah-dah-DAAA-dah-daaah’), as well as the vehicles, architecture and calamitous atmosphere of the movies, and this could be the perfect way for Switch-owning franchise fans to get their dino fix while waiting for the upcoming film in 2022. We enquired as to future DLC plans or tie-ins, although Frontier has nothing to announce on that front.
Overall, we went into the demo ready to accept compromises but, from what we’ve seen, Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition looks to translate the experience to Switch in largely intact form and we’re eager to get our hands on it. And we haven’t even mentioned that it’s got Mr. DNA bouncing around the menu screen. If that doesn’t get dino-fans grinning like a ‘raptor, we don’t know what will.
Well, would you look at that — not a single ‘life found a way’ throughout the entire article! Our thanks to Rich and the team at Frontier for their time.Jurassic World Evolution: Complete Edition is out on Switch eShop on 3rd November 2020. It’s confirmed to be a digital-only release on Switch at present, with no current plans for a physical version
Let us know your thoughts on what you’ve seen so far below, and look out for our review of the game in the coming weeks.
Posted by: xSicKxBot - 10-13-2020, 12:01 AM - Forum: Python
- No Replies
9 Freelance Developer Books Every Coder Must Read
Freelancing is the new mega trend of our time. Large freelancing platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr grow double-digit—they’re out to disrupt the organization of the world’s talents. And it seems like they’re succeeding!
Do you want to participate in this trend rather than only holding on to your cozy developer job as long as you can? Between you and your freelance developing success is only one thing: education.
This article shows you how to accelerate your career as a freelance developer by presenting you the best freelance developer books on the market. Reading books is among the highest-ROI activity you can do as a self-employed full-time or part-time freelance developer.
So, here’s an overview of the 9 best freelance developer books every coder must read!
Leaving the Rat Race with Python shows you how to nurture, grow, and harness your work-from-home coding business online — and live the good life!
It’s an insider’s guide to freelance developing. Start your new thriving coding business now!
Do you want to learn about becoming a Python freelancer and start your thriving coding business online?
Do you want to regain control of your life?
Are you committed to succeeding in life and business?
This practical how-to book will help you nurture, grow, and harness your new online coding business plant—even if you’ve got little or no experience as a programmer and business owner.
“The Software Engineer’s Guide to Freelance Consulting will help teach you to be an effective freelance software consultant, which will enable you make more money, dedicate more time to hobbies, spend more time with your loved-ones and even discover new businesses.”
“Are you ready to jump-start your freelance career? Freelance Newbie has you covered! In this book, you’ll learn practical, actionable steps you can start using today to get your first client by the end of the week. Featuring all the methods, techniques, tips, tricks, and insights you need to succeed, Freelance Newbie was written by a working freelancer whose mission is to help people like you find personal success and financial independence. The material you’ll read here has never been featured at a lower price — you simply cannot get this kind of value for less. We go through everything step-by-step with real-world examples so you know exactly what you need to do to become a successful freelancer.”
“This book dives deep on making freelancing more stable, beating “treading water” cycles, repelling ‘bad apple’ clients, multiplying online exposure and follows the journey of Liam, with honest, clear advice and guidance from laptop and rented desk to $1m web agency.”
“Working for a design company? Freelancing? Under-utilised, unappreciated or uninspired? Do you want to break free from employment and run your own business, call the shots, and be your own boss? This is the book for you.”
“Done right, a web design business can be an excellent way to create a main source of income. The problem many face is getting enough clients to provide that income without giving up everything else in life to support their business.Whether you’re thinking about doing web design on the side or you have an established business, this book is for you. You’ll learn easy-to-implement strategies to set up your business for success. Web design is a fun, profitable and fulfilling business you can do anywhere with an internet connection. But for many it can be a roller coaster ride of feast or famine, wondering when they’re going to get their next client. Or having so many projects to juggle that they feel overwhelmed. What many web designers take for granted is learning how to take the art and skill of web design and turn it into a profitable business. That’s what Secrets to Scale will show you.Learn how to take the art and skill of web design and turn it into a profitable business—one that doesn’t make you extremely stressed.”
“Most business books give you the same old advice: Write a business plan, study the competition, seek investors, yadda yadda. If you’re looking for a book like that, put this one back on the shelf.”
“In this thoroughly revised edition of his classic book, Alan Weiss shows how consulting fees are dependent on only two things: value provided in the perception of the buyer and the intent of the buyer and the consultant to act ethically. Many consultants, however, fail to understand that perceived value is the basis of the fee, or that they must translate the importance of their advice into long-term gains for the client in the client’s perception. Still others fail to have the courage and the belief system that support the high value delivered to clients, thereby reducing fees to a level commensurate with the consultant’s own low self-esteem. Ultimately, says Weiss, consultants, not clients, are the main cause of low consulting fees.”
“Many developers would love to go solo and be their own boss. Being self-un-employed can be great, but it’s not easy. Bear Cahill has been a professional software developer at companies since 1990 and freelance since 2008. He has learned vital lessons, many the hard way, and has shared them in this book. Learn great practices about how to manage clients, watch for red flags and thoughts on invoicing practices. Though Bear’s insight you’ll see way a bad client is worse than no client. You’ll have a better picture of what to charge a client – one of the key things that makes it hard for many developers to stay freelance. The wisdom and knowledge it takes to stay solo for the long-term doesn’t come easy. To find so many valuable lessons in one place is rare. If you desire to be on your own, be your own boss and control your destiny, this book is for you. While developers are smart, motivated people, that isn’t all that it takes. You need to understand the dynamics of being freelance, how to deal with clients, how to manage the business, sales… and everything else. Are you good with people? Are you social? Do you balance your time, relationships, priorities and budget well? Do you have a passion for development but not able to wear the hats necessary? This book will help show you the things to consider both in concept and concretely in navigating the waters alone.”
To become successful in coding, you need to get out there and solve real problems for real people. That’s how you can become a six-figure earner easily. And that’s how you polish the skills you really need in practice. After all, what’s the use of learning theory that nobody ever needs?
Practice projects is how you sharpen your saw in coding!
Do you want to become a code master by focusing on practical code projects that actually earn you money and solve problems for people?
Then become a Python freelance developer! It’s the best way of approaching the task of improving your Python skills—even if you are a complete beginner.
